Green Lantern: The Road Back

Green Lantern: The Road Back
Green Lantern: The Road Back

By Gerard Jones, Pat Broderick and Bruce Patterson (DC Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-56389-045-1

Green Lantern has been a star of DC in one form or another since the company’s earliest days, but often that’s led to some rather extreme revamps and odd takes on what seems to be an extremely pliable character with an invaluable shtick. This book collects the second relaunch (issues #1-8) of the Hal Jordan incarnation.

The Silver Age GL debuted in Showcase #22 in 1959, got his own title in the summer of 1960 and blazed his way through the decade before being cancelled in 1972 with issue #89, at the peak of what many consider the finest run of stories the series – and the industry – have ever produced.

He hung around as a back-up in the Flash and as part of the JLA until he regained his own title (#90) in 1976. Via many tales and stunts he hung on until issue #181 when Hal resigned and was replaced in the role by John Stewart. During Crisis on Infinite Earths, Guy Gardner became Earth’s Green Lantern and from issue #201 Hal rejoined and the comic became Green Lantern Corps. It ran until #224 before being cancelled again and the Green Lantern series became a component feature of Action Comics: at that time a weekly anthology package.

In June 1990 he returned again. The new Green Lantern title had elder statesman Hal undergo a mid-life crisis, forsaking the ring to discover himself through honest toil and a normal life. However Guy Gardner and the dangerous world of super-heroing won’t let him deny his destiny…

At this time there were only three Green Lanterns and they are all Earth men. John Stewart has been investigating in space only to be trapped on Oa, decimated home of the Guardians of the Universe, by the most terrifying threat imaginable… Meanwhile, places where Hal used to live in his earlier career are being plucked from the face of the Earth.

With lots of soul-searching and a smidgen of humour to balance the cosmic wonder and high action content, this is a very satisfying reboot for a fundamental DC lynchpin. The seeds of many future epics (most specifically the highly experimental Green Lantern: Mosaic) all begin in this readable little thriller. So if you’re looking for solid slice of Costumed Adventure this is a great place to start.

© 1992 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.