‘Green Lantern’ #1 was a refreshing read. It got back to the basics of what it means to be a member of the Green Lantern Corps. Despite it’s cosmic setting, it read like a good old fashioned buddy cop tale featuring Green Lanterns Guy Gardner and John Stewart in the lead roles. The two heroes were off tracking down a mysterious killer that was bumping off Green Lanterns and collecting their ring fingers.

This issue picks up in the aftermath of the Lantern murders (as well as the genocide of an entire planet… you know… just to keep it intergalactic). Gardner and Stewart have picked up a few other GL Corps members bringing their investigative team up to seven. Still, Gardner and Stewart are the focus here. As the investigation progresses, it appears that whoever is killing Green Lanterns is also stealing natural resources from various planets. This issue turns to more action as the seven Lanterns attempt to protect a planet from the resource thieves. As the issue closes, it seems like ‘Green Lantern’ #3 will be even heavier on the action than this one and the reason behind the Lantern murders, finger collecting, and even the planet destruction isn’t totally revealed… yet.

As a major fan of Sinestro over in the main ‘Green Lantern’ title, I begrudgingly have to admit that ‘Green Lantern Corps’ is probably the best of the Lantern books that DC is putting out right now. Peter Tomasi is doing a bang-up job with the team of Lanterns and bringing the stories back to the basics by giving us a crime drama in space. His characterizations of the Lanterns are spot on. The only downside I’d give this book, and this isn’t Tomasi’s fault, is that all of the ‘Green Lantern’ titles seem to just continue directly out of the old DC universe despite the New 52 relaunch. That may leave some new readers a bit lost coming into the Lantern series. That said, Tomasi is doing his best to re-introduce the main players here so, if you’re trying to get into the Lantern tales, this is probably about as good as it’s going to get.

Look at that cover! Even if you have no idea what’s going on in the Lantern universe, that image from Alex Garner, featuring three dead Lanterns in a layout that reminds me of the biblical Mount Calvary, is sure to grab your attention on the comic rack. Fernando Pasarin does an equally impressive job on the inside artwork. When Green Lantern stories get into the battles, it gets epic. It also gets hard to see what’s going on at times. Pasarin does a great job of handling all the minute details of the battles without ever letting his linework become overwhelming.

I’m looking forward to where the mystery behind the murders and thefts will lead. If you like cop drama, look no further than ‘Green Lantern Corps’! And be back here next month when I review ‘Green Lantern Corps’ #3.

Verdict: Buy

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #2
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by ALEX GARNER