4/11/2012
It's no secret that I've felt that Red Lanterns has been a bit of a let down and I've made it a point to try to let it stand on its own merits and not color my opinion with my own preconceived notion of what the title should be by focusing on what it is. I really felt that issue 7 was a step in the right direction and that the book had finally found a focus with the arrival of Rankorr and a brewing civil war. Issue 8 adds another plot to the mix which could render the civil war a meaningless affair as the ghosts of Atrocitus' past comes back to haunt him in a most volatile way.
The Story -
In a form of a short flashback Abysmus makes his way to the Red Lantern central battery and taints it with one of his ribs, promising that this will pollute the Red Lanterns and destroy Atrocitus and his Corps from within. Returning to the present moment we rejoin Rankorr and Atrocitus and Jack Moore fights to maintain his humanity against the tide of rage that swells within him. He feels the effects of Abysmus' attack but he is somehow able to throw off the effects and move to aid his new master Atrocitus.
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| Abysmus provides a change to how we might view Atrocitus and the formation of the Red Lanterns |
Meanwhile in space Bleez learns of the newest member of the Red Lantern Corps and sends Skallox to Earth to learn more about the human, a story which will pick up in May's issue of Stormwatch. Speaking of Earth, the scene shifts there where Guy Gardner interrogates Baxter about Jack Moore before leaving to go to Ysmault.
Abysmus has found a ship on Ysmault which once belonged to Iroque, a reference to Indigo-1's identity before she became a part of the Indigo Tribe. The failed experiment explains his origins to his minions and provides a clue that his resurrection might have been intentional. As Abysmus makes his ascent Rankorr continues to battle Zox while Atrocitus and Dex-Starr make their way to the central battery and the issue comes to a close with their discovery of affects of Abymus' poison.
The Writing -
Despite how I feel about this issue as a whole there are a couple of bright spots to be found with one of them the continued inner dialogue of Jack Moore as we get to witness his descent into the darkness of being consumed by the forces of rage that flow in his veins. I find this journey to be the best part of the series so far and to be honest I think had this been the focus from the get-go I'd be a very happy camper right now. While I still feel that Moore's story isn't tragic enough to warrant his selection as a Red Lantern I find his journey to be compelling.
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| Jack Moore's descent continues to be the high point of the series |
Something that Abymus alludes to in the opening of the issue is something that I have an issue with, however. Abymus states that Atrocitus murdered his own people, building the Red Lantern battery from the blood of his people that died by his own hand. I am rather hoping that he recollection is inaccurate and that Atrocitus forged the battery using the blood of the remaining members of the Five Inversions since I think the notion that he killed his own people undermines the thought that he was entirely a victim of Krona's folly to send the Manhunters to destroy all life in the sector just to prove a point to his fellow Guardians.
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| A link in the connection between Abin Sur and the Indigo Tribe |
The Art -
With Ed Benes taking a break before his last issue next month the art for this issue is by Andres Guinaldo and Jorge Jimenez. While the artwork was serviceable I was a bit disappointed by the lack of detail and background work on nearly every panel that took place on Ysmault. This issue featured one of my biggest coloring pet peeves as well with Guy Gardner's boot being white rather than green. The art isn't horrible, but it's just average enough to not elevate the book in any way.
What Do I Think?
After eight issues I'm still struggling to find the enjoyment with Red Lanterns that I do with other books. I really do want to love this series but I find that I'm really only reading out of wanting to keep tabs on the Red Lanterns between their appearances in the rest of the DC Universe. Despite a couple of pieces of new information this issue is just average at best. Three out of five lanterns.
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Posted in: Abin Sur, Abysmus, Atrocitus, Bleez, Comics Reviews, Dex-Starr, Ed Benes, Guy Gardner, Indigo Tribe, Peter Milligan, Rankorr, Red Lantern, Skallox, Zilius Zox
2 comments:
You didn't post this on Facebook, so I'll comment here. I was kinda disappointed in this issue as well. I didn't understand why Rankorr can speak so eloquently. Is it because he is human and we haven't had much experience with a human Red Lantern? Though, Guy was incoherent, so maybe thats not it. Or is it because Moore is fighting against Rankorr internally, like Hulk vs. Banner? I was sorta confused. It was like Milligan wanted to reveal Moore's interactions with Atrocitus as a plot device, but couldn't if Moore acted like Rankorr and sound like he's gargling marbles. And, is Zox's first name spelled Zilius or Zillius? It showed up as Zillius in this issue, which makes more sense in the way I've heard his name pronounced. I liked the Guy Gardner angle, and I'm excited to see where Milligan is going with this. But, you're right that there are so many plots and ideas going on at once, some of them quickly introduced and then dropped. It reminds me of Invincible written Robert Kirkman. There are so many plots that go on at the same time, but it's a really well thought out book. I wonder if Milligan's plots are at the genius level as Kirkman? So, on to the art: without Benes, there was still a Bleez buttshot. It thinks its an homage to Benes.
Nice review. You shortened the plot section this issue, so I can tell you weren't really into this issue.
u guys think guy gardner its going to be a red again ?
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