Writer: Geoffrey Thorne / Artist: Dexter Soy / DC Comics
We got a new era for the Green Lanterns in this new #1, and they’re led by the true greatest of all time, John Stewart. And behind the scenes, this book is powered by Geoffrey Thorne and Dexter Soy.
A Black and brown creative team with a Black lead means I had to be here from the jump.
This first issue has a lot of set up, but that doesn’t mean important things don’t happen and that it isn’t fun. Because they do, and it is.
It begins with the Green Lanterns along with the Guardians attending a summit so the newly minted United Planets can vote on whether or not they think Oa should join. As well as who should help serve the galaxy and protect it from danger.
John Stewart is the Corps Leader, so he’s there to represent basically all of the Green Lanterns.
But things soon pop off as not everyone wants Oa to join the United Planets, and they’ll do whatever it takes to stop that from happening.
John has to put his diplomacy to the side and put on his battle tested helmet and lead his people through this skirmish with as little casualties as possible.
In addition to that, Teen Lantern is an important character in this book, and it looks like we’ll be getting more of her backstory and figuring out the mystery of her gauntlet. Other characters included are Simon Baz and Jo Mullein. Seriously, this book was made for me.
I love seeing John Stewart with some agency. He’s a Black man in space, something that still seems like an impossibility for so many, and he’s often underused. I can’t wait to see his character fleshed out over the course of this run as he’ll no doubt go through many ups and downs. But whatever happens, his sheer presence in a position of power is already enough to solidify this book as an all-time run. Even just one issue in. Because honestly, he’s not in this position that often.
As I stated earlier, Dexter Soy is on art duties, and I think he’s the perfect man for the job. He can handle the scale of intergalactic conflict and action, as well as understand that Simon Baz and John Stewart should have distinct differences in the way their hair is styled despite them both being brown.
I am so excited to see how this story unfolds in the coming issues.
Green Lantern #1 gives us John Stewart as the man in charge as he leads the Green Lantern Corps into a new era of galactic history.
10 Ceremonial Uniforms out of 10
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