Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment

How The Green Lanterns Comic Tackles Anxiety In A Remarkably Superheroic Fashion

Published Thu, 19 Jan 2017 14:00:35 -0600

Last updated Thu, 09 Feb 2017 10:51:44 -0600

So I'm a grown-up (allegedly) who reads superhero comics. Not just superhero comics, obviously, and not just comics, honest, but I can't deny they make a sizeable dent in my cultural experience. So every now and then I like to ask why. I don't always have an answer.

This week, I did. Because I came across a grand example of one of the reasons why I like the superhero comic so much.

At its heart, superheroes are a conservative wish fulfillment fantasy. A combination of individual duty and responsibility rather that state reliance, might makes right vigilantism, maintenance of law and order and the status quo – and a roar of pain against authority.

As children, as adolescents, that authority are parents, teachers and school bullies, people who will stop us or prevent us from acting on our every whim, and will punish us for it. That is then extended to the concept of The Man, the boss, the politician, the businessman, keeping us all down, in out place.

But there is so much more scope for a better-aimed power fantasy and superhero comics could point it in any direction they wish.

Because superhero comics – and fantasy in general – can be very good indeed in making subtext into text, and exaggerating that to a ridiculous level to make a point. And then say it, again and again, underlining where necessary. This is no place for subtlety, but for Harley Quinn's sledgehammer.

So, to this week's Green Lanterns #15 by Sam Humphries, Tom Derenick, Miguel Mendonca, Scot Hanna and Blond. For those unfamiliar with the current iteration, it is an ongoing twice-monthly comic book from DC Comics starring two new lead Green Lanterns, Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz.

And in this issue, chronicling Jessica's battle with anxiety, with a first person narrative.

With Jessica running through her life as a Green Lantern, as a member of the Justice League, doing incredible things but hiding her thoughts, her emotions, her fears from all around her.

Well almost everyone.

Before making the subtext the text, speaking out the problem, without subtlety or nuance.

The contrast between getting out of bed and catching a submarine is immense and makes the point so much stronger as a superhero comic, taking the fantastic and finding a relateable point. Making that subtext into text as powerful as and musical. There's a showbiz saying, if it's too silly to say, sing it. Also works if you catch it with a Green Lantern ring as well.

Never really been a big Green Lantern fan. But I really liked this one. Thought I should say

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