Green Lantern #39

When I look back on the Sinestro Corps War issues and wonder why they appealed to me so much I immediately think of the page layouts. Reis and EVS were so much on top of their game at the time that I think it could be difficult to capture that kind of momentum again.

Not only were the pencils strong but the inks and coloring were phenomenal as well. And what really made the panels stand out so strongly was the white background chosen to lay the cosmic scenes atop of.

Often times it might appear strenuous following thru the page dialogue in regard to the layout, wondering at times where you ought look next. Yet, somehow, Reis and EVS made it simple. I never once wondered. My eyes were always guided naturally to the next panel. And THAT is sequential art at its finest.

I bring this up because of what Tan and his collaborators accomplished in this issue. Everything I just mentioned is featured here in GL#39: the white backgrounds, the intense panel structure and the natural eye flow of the reader amidst all featured chaos. I love it and I want all of my comics to look like this!

I don't mean to imply that this has fully captured the strength of the Sinestro Corps War as of yet, but it's a strong lead in to the Blackest Night and I can feel that the creative team really wants to bring back the excitement that's been missing since the War ended.

So, kudos to Philip Tan. You've done your homework.

In regard to the writing, Johns has opened up another avenue down his sandbox alley. This story/world of his has long since taken on a life of its own and all he need do is guide it as any good captain would. I'm inclined to admit scenes with Larfleeze were my least favorite of the issue, as his schizologues were just too similiar to Golem's.

There were some interesting seeds laid forth in Hal's dialogue with the Blue Lanterns and Guardians. The most important being: how he's going to remove the blue ring and why he's after Sinestro in order to do so.

I just know that before this is all said and done Hal and Sinestro will be fighting along together side by side and I'm really looking forward to it. When it does happen Sinestro's motives will be put to even more question. He'll still be public enemy #1, but Hal will struggle even more in his relationship to him. THAT is some fine conflict.

So in conclusion, fine sequential art + fine conflict = a damn fine book.