Review: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #20

[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers.]

Writer: Robert Venditti
Penciller: Rafa Sandoval
Inker: Jordi Tarragona
Colorist: Tomeu Morey

Summary
The Corps is under attack on Mogo from Sarko’s prism creatures.  Hal dives in head first as he always does and quickly realizes it’s going to take more than he’s got to make an impact against these things.  John directs the Corps’ defenses and soon realizes he’s not getting anywhere either.  It’s no solace that Rip Hunter claims that these things don’t exist in the future.

Meanwhile, Sarko himself explains to Space Ape and Gorin-Sunn that the creatures they are fighting are not his creations.  He explains that when Hal wore Krona’s gauntlet too long, the gauntlet developed its own sentience and became a powerful being in and of itself when Hal used it to create his own ring with it.  The creatures are creations of the gauntlet and the gauntlet is back to make trouble.

Back on Mogo, the Corps’s assault are ineffective and they are forced to give up their rings in order to save themselves.

Positives
It would be easy to think of all Green Lanterns as alike because they all have the same power base, the ring, and the same attribute to power it, will.  However, John, Guy, Hal and Kyle all exhibit unique personalities.  It is most interesting that Hal’s personality which drives his modus operandi is the thing which is root cause of the trouble the Green Lantern Corps is facing.  Despite the inherent cliche, it comes off as believable, because of the differentiation of character between the members of the Corps.  It doesn’t come as a surprise, when once again Hal puts the good of the universe before his own hide.  But, it’s not just Hal-  Kyle, Guy and John all get their moments again to exemplify their character.  And, it’s another action heavy issue.

Negatives
Only taking away half a point for the cliched feel to Hal having “created” the big bad this issue.  It’s mostly forgivable because the whole concept fits Hal’s character so well.

Verdict
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps continues to balance action with character in a meaningful way.  Even if you think “I’ve heard this one before…”  You really haven’t.  Not like this.