Posted in: Comics, DC Comics | Tagged: dc comics, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lanterns, guardians, HRL, jessica cruz, rami, rebirth, simon baz, volthoom the first lantern

Green Lanterns #28 Review: Getting To Know The First 7 Green Lanterns

With Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz trapped on Earth billions of years in the past, they have been placed in the path of the first seven Green Lanterns ever recruited. We also learn the identity of the final recruit, a Kryptonian named Jan-Al. She was an interstellar explorer for Krypton with the intent of finding another planet to colonize.

The first seven Lanterns are apprehensive of each other, as well as Jessica and Simon. They receive a message from Rami, who tells them of their mission and asks them to help the Guardians in their struggle against Volthoom, the First Lantern. They are unwilling to comply, and they break down into infighting. Jessica and Simon have to break these seven into a fighting force if they want to save the universe and make it back to their own time.

The story of our titular Green Lanterns Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz takes another interesting turn here, as they have to quickly transform themselves from fresh-faced rookies into hardened drill sergeants for these seven disparate and strong-willed Green Lanterns. Worse yet, there are no safeguards on these Rings, and we learn the dangers that can bring in this issue.

Sam Humphries does an excellent job of characterizing these first seven. Kaja-Dox, a Coluan, is a free-spirited mischief maker. Alitha is a driven and idealistic god of the Third World. Calleen is a plant elemental who is zen yet slightly elitist. Z'Kran Z'Rann is a White Martian who is driven to mete out vengeance against oppression. Tyran'r is a Tamaranian pirate and thief. Brill is an optimistic living AI who wants to explore the beauty of the universe. Jan-Al is a zealous follower of the Kryptonian god, Rao.

Seeing Jessica take charge of these first seven Green Lanterns is really cool and continues her character arc in a satisfying manner. In the beginning, she was so anxiety-ridden that she wanted to quit being a Green Lantern and couldn't form a construct. Now, she is proud to be a GL, has mastered constructs, and is leading seven very different and independent beings.

Meanwhile, the more headstrong Simon is having to take a back seat without his own Green Ring. However, he has faith in Jessica, and that's pretty damn sweet.

Eduardo Pansica's art is really damn good. He adds loads of detail, and it makes every panel absolutely gorgeous. Every character looks unique and different from the others. The power of the Green Rings is shown fantastically. The visual design of each costume says a lot about each of the first seven Green Lanterns.

Blond's colors pull it together well with bright greens, dark blacks, and a lot of bright and appealing color in the background details.

Green Lanterns continues to be a joyous and exciting ride through the lives of Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz as Green Lanterns. This expansion on the cosmic lore of the Green Lantern Corps is interesting and very engaging. This is still my favorite DC comic running right now, and I highly recommend hopping on board with the series.

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