‘Green Lantern: The Animated Series’ is based on the Cartoon Network show of the same name. I watched the animated show when it had its premiere episode a couple of weeks ago and it was actually pretty darn good for being a CGI DC cartoon that didn’t involve Bruce Timm.

This issue, the first of the comic series, takes place sometime after the animated series’ first episode. The first episode of the cartoon established that Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and Kilowog were trapped in a sector of space that falls outside of the regular jurisdiction of the Green Lantern Corps. Here, on this outlying fringe, a group of Red Lanterns is building an army to take revenge on the Guardians of the Universe for some unnamed past transgression. Trapped with the two lanterns is a sentient space ship called Aya that is powered by the same green energy as the Lanterns’ power rings.

The story this issue begins with the two Lanterns investigating an unusual energy signal. Upon reaching the signal, they discover that it is a Green Lantern ring… or at least it appears to be! Very quickly, it’s revealed that things are not as they seem to be and the Red Lanterns attack! The Red Lanterns capture Kilowog and it’s up to Hal Jordan to rescue the gruff Lantern before the villains can take his power ring.

This comic, like the show, is aimed at a younger audience than the regular ‘Green Lantern’ title. It’s published under the new ‘DC Nation’ line that looks to be a replacement for the ‘DC Kids’ line, and is also the title of the new lineup of shows coming to Cartoon Network in early 2012. With that audience in mind, the story from Art Baltazar and Franco is still quite dark (as was the show’s premiere) if a little simplistic. The art from Dario Brizuela mimics the CGI look of the show pretty well with thick cartoony lines and lessened detail. It’s hard to call it bad art since it is true to the source material but it does come across as rather plain.

‘Green Lantern: The Animated Series’ #0 was a fun done-in-one sort of Green Lantern tale that I would have loved reading when I was a young lad. As it is, I’d say it’s a great title for comic reading parents to give to or read with their kids.

Verdict: Borrow

GREEN LANTERN: THE ANIMATED SERIES #0
Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
Art and Cover by DARIO BRIZUELA