Green Lantern Corps: Revolt Of The Alpha Lanterns (DC Comics)
Written by Tony Bedard & Sterling Gates, drawn by Adrian Syaf & Nelson
Collects Green Lantern Corps #48-52, 21, 22

I actually read these two volumes of Post-Blackest Night, Brightest Day Green Lantern Corps trades at the same time I read their Green Lantern and Emerald Warriors counterparts, but kind of ran out of steam writing about GL books again. Like those books, these have a somewhat new status quo with the Honor Guard’s ranks swelling to include Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, Ganthet (now a Lantern), Stel, Soranik Natu, Boodikka and Hannu after they save the universe from Cyborg Superman…again. I really liked this trick the first time it was pulled back in one of Johns’ earliest arcs on Green Lantern and I get the recurring theme of Cyborg wanting to figure out a way to die and thus using various machines to help him get that (Manhunters earlier, the Alpha Lanterns and Stel’s robotic people here). That’s what the majority of this arc deals with, which I appreciate because it’s not like the other books and so obviously a set up for War of the Green Lanterns, but the more I think about it now, the more original I wish the story was. Bedard does a good job of working with these characters, their relationships and their quirks, but, like I said, I wish it was more on its own and blazing new trails. What I’m saying is, Cyborg Superman needs a long break (does he even exist in the New 52?).

Meanwhile, this collection also brings together the two issue arc by Sterling Gates that chronicled Boodikka, some of her past and her present as an Alpha Lantern. These aren’t the greatest stories to ever be told, but you guys know how much issues getting skipped over bothers me, so I’m glad they’re in here.

I know I sound pretty down on this book, but I like how Bedard handled the characters and Syaf’s art is growing on me. He does good, bold characters, has some solid faces but comes off a little muddy (that might be on the inker or colorist, though). I also dig this team. It might be further away from the previous GLC idea of “NYPD Blue in space,” but I have an affinity for these characters from the old days.

Green Lantern Corps: The Weaponer (DC)
Written by Tony Bedard, drawn by Tyler Kirkham
Collects Green Lantern Corps #53-57

I enjoyed this second volume a lot more than the first. Not only is the team I enjoy already established, but it deals with evolving issues like Kyle’s relationship with Soranik and her father Sinestro as well as a new villain who has the power to wield an aspect of the White Lantern in The Weaponer. See, this guy actually created Sinestro’s first yellow ring on Qward by harnessing the power of their god the Anti-Monitor. Because he was successful, Sinestro returned and essentially enslaved his fellow Qwardians to make enough yellow rings for the burgeoning Sinestro Corps. This eventually made him an outcast to his people which made him go a bit mad. There’s some Brightest Day stuff in here that I don’t really know about (including the very clumsy inclusion of Firestorm for an issue or two) but the important thing is that the Weaponer figured out how to manipulate some of the white lantern energy into all kinds of weapons.

Since he understandably hates Sinestro, the Weaponer takes Soranik captive and tells Kyle that he’ll let her go if Kyle brings Sinestro to Qward. But, Sinestro refuses. Instead he sends his corpsmen into the fray and a war erupts. This is the kind of stuff I dig if you’re going to get away from the space cop idea. Space army works just as well in my book if it’s handled well. There’s an added element here that I also found interesting as the Sinestro Corps members wind up on opposite ends of a battle with some Green Lanterns because all the Corps have a cease fire on the heels of Blackest Night. How the various characters dealt with that bit of business was fun to watch. I also appreciated the ending which I won’t ruin, but showed exactly what kind of character we’re dealing with in the Weaponer.

I really dug Kirkham’s art on this book. I don’t know how many of his comics I’ve actually read, but he’s got a really nice dynamic style that works well with the mix of constructs, muscles and drama found in these pages. Flipping through the book again, I’m hard pressed to find a panel that doesn’t look kinetic and interesting.

KEEP OR DUMP? There’s no real question here, I’ll be keeping both of these books. I’m pretty proud of my Green Lantern trade collection (I’ve got everything post-Rebirth up to but not including War Of The Green Lanterns. I think it’s a solid series that I’ll keep getting the books for, though, as always, I’m curious to see how things transfer over into the New 52. That’s something I’m completely unfamiliar with at this point, but I hear things carry over pretty well. However, if it turns out I don’t like where things go, I’ll go back and evaluate where I want to cut off my involvement with the collections. Wow, I really made that sound a lot more in depth than it is.