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GREEN LANTERN #50

BLACKEST NIGHT spreads with an oversized anniversary issue! Surrounded by friends and enemies, Hal Jordan goes into battle with a being he will never defeat – the Black Lantern Spectre! Can Saint Walker, Sinestro and the others put a stop to this bizarre Spectre rebirth?

Plus, Atrocitus reveals a tie to a power that may make him the most unbeatable of all the Lanterns!

Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Jim Lee
Sketch Variant cover by Doug Mahnke

Price: $3.99
iFanboy Community Pick of the Week Percentage: 6.7%

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Comments

  1. Avatar photo AmirCat says:
    January 25, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    very exciting! 40 Pages! Here is the variant cover too.

    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_j00PDhcWMlE/S0fcu4bJOOI/AAAAAAAACWs/s53WBKeGowM/s1600-h/greenlantern%2350.jpg

  2. Avatar photo Slockhart says:
    January 25, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    Hey look, it’s ParallWHAT!

  3. Avatar photo mrowland90 says:
    January 25, 2010 at 3:30 pm

    Would this be a good issue to jump onto? Im reading all of the main blackest night titles and I really want to start reading Green Lantern

  4. Avatar photo stuclach says:
    January 25, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    @mrowland90 – You shouldn’t have any trouble keeping up since you have been reading the main BN issues.  Jump in.

  5. Avatar photo mrowland90 says:
    January 25, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    Nice, as if my week wasn’t already expensive but it’s Green Lantern!

  6. Avatar photo Slockhart says:
    January 25, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    My prediction?  The "Rainbow Rodeo" ends up having to become Parallax/Ion/Predator/the red, orange, blue, and indigo equivalents in order to take on Nekron.

  7. Avatar photo JumpingJupiter says:
    January 25, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    What’s a good place to start with Green Lantern?

     

     

     

     

    … is that still funny? I can’t tell anymore.

  8. Avatar photo drakedangerz says:
    January 25, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    @JJ-Nope. No longer funny. Nice try though 😉

  9. Avatar photo TheDude007 says:
    January 25, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Doug Mahnke is going to be at my LCS, Hot Comics in New Hope MN, this week to do a signing. It’s going to be awesome.  

  10. Avatar photo PraxJarvin says:
    January 25, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    I really would have liked a homage cover to GL #50, but I’ll take a homage in spirit. 😉 So excited for this. 

  11. Avatar photo supertrackmonkey says:
    January 25, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    I’m so excited for this issue!!! Or any issue of Green Lantern for that matter. I can’t wait until March!!!

  12. Avatar photo TheNextChampion says:
    January 25, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    Now if I get the Phantom Stranger one shot in time…..Should I read that before this? Cause I hear the Spectre is a big factor in that one shot.

    But yes, Mahnke is back! This is gonna be a good issue, I can feel it in my bones.

  13. Avatar photo dneufeld says:
    January 25, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    @TheNextChampion – I don’t think it’s necessary to read the tie in first, but it seems to sort of set up GL #50, so yeah, read it first.  The Spectre isn’t really the focus of the issue however…

  14. Avatar photo ABirdseysView says:
    January 25, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    I think I’ll start telling people that this is, definitively, absolutely, NOT a good place to start.  in fact, the only way to truly get a feel for Green Lantern is to start at Showcase #22.  otherwise, you’ll be completely lost.  while you’re at it, might want to get some Alan Scott stuff as well.  you never know when a minute Golden Age plot detail might become the crux to Blackest Night.  DON’T JUMP IN HERE!

  15. edward says:
    January 26, 2010 at 2:19 am

    @JJ; drakes is just too cool for school. it’s funny

  16. Avatar photo stuclach says:
    January 26, 2010 at 9:16 am

    I think it is safe to say that everyone on this site is easily too cool for school.  Let’s not play favorites.

    On a side (and much more relevant) note, I really like @Slockhart’s theory about the entities that represent each of the colors.  That would be interesting.  Can you contain them once you unleash them? 

  17. Avatar photo drakedangerz says:
    January 26, 2010 at 11:57 am

    School is for suckers, so drakes don’t go.

  18. Avatar photo TheDude007 says:
    January 26, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    UPDATE! Along with Doug Mahnke; Patrick Gleason and Tom Nguyen are going to be at Hot Comics in New Hope MN tomorrow!

  19. Avatar photo g0ofgnewt says:
    January 27, 2010 at 4:36 am

    @drake "Daddy I don’t wonna go to school Cause the teacher’s a jerk!", he must think I’m a fool 

  20. Avatar photo forestjwp says:
    January 27, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    To me this issue was like a great TV episode I can’t wait to read/watch the next one to see how are heros get through this mess!

  21. Avatar photo stuclach says:
    January 27, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    SPOILERS

    All this Parallax/Spectre stuff puts me to sleep.  It feels too repetitive. I’m also not overly fond of the way personalities change after receiving a ring.  The swing (especially for Mera) feels too extreme.

  22. Avatar photo TheNextChampion says:
    January 27, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    Fantastic issue! POTW for me!

    Everything about was just pure perfect comic book. Mahnke has become one of my favorite artists and the splash pages he does here are just gorgeous. Can’t think of a single thing wrong with this.

  23. Avatar photo JumpingJupiter says:
    January 27, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    Woohoo! Good stuff!

  24. Avatar photo gnanniv says:
    January 27, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    Very cool.

  25. Avatar photo PraxJarvin says:
    January 27, 2010 at 9:35 pm
    This issue was full of win. This is why I love Hal. This is why I love Sinestro. This is why I love Barry. Johns gets it. He just does. And it all just… works. The little character moments were nice touches. Scarecrow being able to FEEL fear was amazing. There are some awesome scenes throughout. However, the real prize of the issue belongs to Doug Mahnke. This man was firing on all cylinders here. From the wonderful double-page spread to start the issue to the last double page spread, the art was breathtaking and fully realized. 5/5 and my POTW. I enjoyed this issue so much… energy in comic form.  
     
    *SPOILER* I don’t even envy the colorist’s job on the Parralax-dragon double page spread!
     
    @stuclach She was quite angry in the First issue when the Black Lanterns took over Arthur, having him taunting her with their dead child would probably piss most people off to the point of spewing. 😉 As well, her son was killed by Black manta, she probably was quite angry at seeing Aquaman (the reason the son was killed) holding the son up to try and get to her. I don’t really see it as out of character, though I’m most likely more familiar with the character than most.
  26. Avatar photo stuclach says:
    January 27, 2010 at 9:43 pm

    @PraxJarvin – I’m glad you liked the issue.  I understand that she would be angry, but "I never wanted children" and "and then we kill the king" don’t seem to fit with the levelheaded Mira we saw in the first few issues of BN (that being my only exposure to the character).  I agree that the Scarecrow scenes were pretty cool.  And I certainly can’t argue with the quality of the art.

  27. Avatar photo PraxJarvin says:
    January 27, 2010 at 9:53 pm

    @stuclach I get what you’re saying, and agree to an extent. But here, her rage felt more… directed and personal – more real than it does with the asinine "SMASHY SMASHY! KILL! KILL!" that Guy Gardner is exhibiting over in GLC. Indeed, the little moment where Atrocitus goes "I have nothing else to say but ‘Welcome.’" is evidence that he finds her rage amusing because it’s similar to his, it’s directed at a few, specific entities. It’s not blanket. All that said, if it doesn’t work for you, it never will and I admit it can be seen as out of character.

  28. MisterJ says:
    January 28, 2010 at 1:22 am

    Some of the most georgeous and fitting art that one could ask for.  Mahnke’s sense of horror and fitting details really made me enjoy every page of this book.  Well done!

  29. Daflash00 says:
    January 28, 2010 at 1:42 am

    I just liked the symmetry of Hal Jordan becoming Parallax in Green Lantern 50 for the second time. He became Parallax in Green Lantern 50 the first time too. Verrrrry Clever.

  30. Avatar photo Arrrggghhh (@Arrrggghhh) says:
    January 28, 2010 at 8:24 am

    Artwork fantastic!
    Story though . . . it’s getting a bit too much.
    Are they fighting Nekron, Spectre, Black Lanterns?
    Just seems to be going in too many directions at once.
    It also seems like months since we saw Nekron emerge – because it was months ago . . . what’s he been doing all this time?

  31. Avatar photo JaqueNargg says:
    January 28, 2010 at 9:05 am

    Oh man. This was astounding. My enthusiasm for this title is fully renewed. And Mahnke can stick around a while and I wouldn’t complain.

  32. MikeFarley says:
    January 28, 2010 at 11:14 am

    @Arrrggghhh although it’s been a few months worth of issues for us, it’s really only a very short period of story-time–I’d say well under an hour.

  33. OwlyFan says:
    January 28, 2010 at 12:15 pm

    My POW, especially enjoyed Scarecrow’s scenes

     

  34. Avatar photo MarkS says:
    January 28, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    "I never wanted children!" LOL

  35. Avatar photo Slockhart says:
    January 28, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    Ho.

    Lee.

    Crap. 

  36. Avatar photo TheNextChampion says:
    January 28, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    @arrrgggh: Yeah it’s been a short time in DCU’s frame. It is a bit annoying that the main baddy has been shown very little in months time. But hopefully the last couple of issues he is the main focus.

  37. Avatar photo OnASunday says:
    January 28, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    I bought Action Comics #775 by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke on Josh’s recommendation in the iFanboy mini 133 and the art in that was amazing. That was from 2001 and he way kicks more ass now that he did then.

  38. Avatar photo JumpingJupiter says:
    January 28, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    There were some nitpicks for me. Scarecrow used basically only one construct, crows. Some potential wasted. It was a little expositiony in parts but I’m kind of a fan of that myself. Don’t care for Mahnke’s close-ups of Hal.

    Just little things…
  39. Avatar photo drakedangerz says:
    January 28, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    @JJ-Well, Sinestro did tell him to quit dicking around and help him. After that, he started to shape up. And sometimes Hal did indeed look a bit off in the closeups.

  40. Avatar photo Zeppo says:
    January 29, 2010 at 7:50 am

    I’m a little disappointed. The cover gave it all away, and so the story was just a drag. I think covers that spoil the cliff hanger are worse than generic pose covers.

    For a 50th issue I’ve come to expect more. Entertaining, but anti-climatic.

  41. Avatar photo JumpingJupiter says:
    January 29, 2010 at 8:09 am

    @Deake: Hmm, that’s true. Interesting.

    @Zeppo: Yeah, it sort of ruined the surprise.

  42. Avatar photo ABirdseysView says:
    January 29, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    man, if anyone thought Cap Reborn felt like the Power Rangers…

    joking aside, this doesn’t feel like it’s coming to an end.  there are only three more key issues to the story, I suppose that should be enough.  I just don’t get what happens after defeating Spectre, why is he such a key factor all of a sudden?  so much so that Hal has to take such a diversion as becoming Parallax again?  maybe there’s something I’m missing here. 

  43. Avatar photo PraxJarvin says:
    January 29, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    @birdseyesview There’s no upper limit of Spectre’s powers. He’s a half-step down from god, essentially. So… Nekron having the Spirit of Vengeance at his beck and call is not a good thing. 

  44. Avatar photo ABirdseysView says:
    January 29, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    so Spectre is the final Koopa-Kid before King Koopa himself?

  45. MisterJ says:
    January 29, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    @abirdseysview-nice reference.

  46. Avatar photo NathanNicdao says:
    January 29, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    @TNC : I just think Johns is making Nekron very special by not making him appear all the time.

    @Daflash00 : Maybe that explains last issue being a filler. 

  47. Avatar photo TheNextChampion says:
    January 29, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @Nathan: Well if that is his plan, then I imagine the next time we see Nekron it will be badass. But as of right now it still is weird to barely see any glimpse of your ultimate baddie.

  48. Avatar photo NathanNicdao says:
    January 29, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    I like your brain so much, dude.

  49. Avatar photo WadeWilson says:
    January 30, 2010 at 3:43 am

    I wanna rate this 5/5 for the art alone, but the whole Blackest Night has kinda become more of a series of "OH shit!" splash/pages & moments, one after another, more than an actual story. You could probably summarise the story of the whole event in 2 or 3 sentences.

    Still, it’s good fun & SICK art in this issue. Up there with the best single issues I’ve seen from Mahnke. 

  50. Avatar photo NathanNicdao says:
    January 30, 2010 at 5:38 am

    @TNC: one thing Johns has is patience, bro. All of his planted seeds are well thought out. They ruined Galactus with over exposure.

  51. Avatar photo Simon says:
    January 30, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    I loved this issue. Did anyone else got like a Dragon Ball Z feel about it.

  52. Avatar photo NathanNicdao says:
    January 30, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    @Simon : yep. Sinestro is Vegetta.

  53. Avatar photo Aalbatr0ss says:
    January 30, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    2 observations:

    1) Luthor just has to kill Larfleeze. 

    2) Wouldn’t it have been great if Luthor got to Parallax first?

  54. Avatar photo NathanNicdao says:
    January 31, 2010 at 5:46 am

    Ifanbase, what was that one dude trying to get from beloved Lex Luthor?

  55. Avatar photo iDan says:
    January 31, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    @Aalbatr0ss – I’m with you. I think Luthor is going to kill Larfleeze… which wouldn’t bother me. 

    @Simon and @NathanNicdao – agreed. 

  56. Avatar photo PraxJarvin says:
    January 31, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    @nathanNicdao Larfleaze was trying to take back Luthor’s Orange Lantern ring because he doesn’t want to share his power.

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