Friday, I reviewed three comic books from my subscriptions last week. Today, I will cover the last four. They are all part of a large crossover series called GODHEAD, which I have been collecting for the last couple of months. They represent collectively the last four parts of that series, and since they all came out the same week and more or less tell one continuous and VERY blogworthy story, I thought I'd review them all together here.
This crossover turned out to be good. Not great, but good. At the core of it all was the exploration of something like divine corruption. High Father, ostensibly a god, is corrupted over time by the power that Kyle Rayner, the White Lantern, wields. Meanwhile, the various Lantern Corps had to team up to face down the morally degrading High Father and his New God army. Having those who wield the raw powers of life itself (The Lantern Corps) fight a pantheon of demigods, gave the writers ample time to explore all manner of theological issues: What makes a being 'god'? Can power corrupt even a god? Is life greater than death? Is life worth living in a maltheistic world?...and the like.
Here at the end, the whole gamut of issues were explored and some answers were given to some of the questions. Simon Baz, the Muslim Green Lantern and the most recent human addition to the Corps, kind of sums up the theistic position on the whole matter: life is worth living because God is GOOD, only a truly morally grand being can be called God, the New Gods are NOT truly gods, and the fact that power corrupts them proves it. I loved Simon's confrontations with Red Lantern Guy Gardner, and their conversations over Guy's death wish. The basic theological impulse, the most foundational experience that LEADS to God, is that life is good, and worth living.
This becomes the basic theme of the entire series, at least here at the end. I was overjoyed when the Blue Lantern Saint Walker finally discovered hope in his heart again, and was able to reignite the Blue Lantern Ring, and help save the day. The Black Lantern is used by the forces of life and virtue to help overcome the New Gods, but his own powers turn against him, implying that death's power is not ultimate even in the DC universe. Kyle Rayner embraces his role as the guardian of the Life Equation, and ultimately the Green Lanterns even turn to help the New Gods after the war is won, which helps bring redemption to High Father, who learns his own fallibility, but does not give up his claim to divinity.
In the end, this crossover series was about the affirmation of life in the face of great difficulties and overwhelming odds. The Lanterns' don't give up despite great losses and seemingly overwhelming odds, and because of their tenacity and the power of life and freedom over death and domination, they are able to bring hope back into the DC universe. All in all, this was a great series, and the last few issues tied all up nicely.
Aesthetically, most of these books were solid. There was only one that I thought seemed a little off. The art was strong throughout, as were the stories. The one issue had some pacing issues, and you'll see that reflected below.
DC's RED LANTERN #37
Storyline: 3.5 Stars
Dialogue: 4 Stars
Pacing: 3.5 Stars
Art: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars
DC's SINESTRO #7
Storyline: 3.5 Stars
Dialogue: 4 Stars
Pacing: 3.5 Stars
Art: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars
DC's INFINITY MAN & THE FOREVER PEOPLE #6
Storyline: 3 Stars
Dialogue: 3 Stars
Pacing: 3 Stars
Art: 3.5 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars
DC's GREEN LANTERN Annual #3
Storyline: 4 Stars
Dialogue: 4 Stars
Pacing: 3.5 Stars
Art: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars
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