Final Crisis, much like any other Grant Morrison joint, has to be read in a different mindset than your normal, run of the mill, event book. While things like Civil War and Infinite Crisis can be broken down issue by issue and judged on their own merits, Final Crisis will more than likely need to have the pause button hit on any in depth reviews.
I can say I liked the inclusion of the Alpha Lanterns. I can say I didn't see the point of the first quarter of the book dealing with people we've never seen before just to have Shilo Norman show up to form a team. In the end though, and I do mean the end, Morrison has a plan. Will it suck? History says probably not.
Keeping this in mind, you have to take what you can get out of every Morrison issue. There won't be slap-bang awesome-o moments around every corner. In the end you will end up much more satisfied.
With that out of the way, i was very happy with this issue as a whole. Morrison knows how to pace like no other and kept me hooked all the way through. Yeah if you read DC Universe #0 you knew what was going to happen at the end, but that doesn't mean he didn't do it well. I've seen the Shawshank Redemption too many times to count (thank you TNT) but I still enjoy it everytime. Why? Well it didn't need to surprise me to keep me interested. It did it just by telling a compelling story.
The pieces are slowly coming together and while you can enjoy this story on its own, you do need atleast a moderate knowledge of the DCU. You didn't need to know about the Alpha Lanterns since Hal introduced her as his superior officer. But if you read Green Lantern you enjoy the moment a lot more. that goes double for Seven Soldiers. If you haven't read it yet go spend the money at in stock trades and treat yourself. I have gotten a lot more enjoyment, and understanding, out of these issues since I just read it three months or so ago.
I haven't said anything about the art because, well, it's so good it doesn't stand out. The art shouldn't be the sole reason you buy a comic. It should add to the story instead of cause it to pale in comparison.