The Power Ring Connection
After all we've seen of Simon Baz, this is an excellent cover. The simplicity of the close up view emphasizes the intensity of the meaning. It says all that needed to be said with nothing more than a set of arms handcuffed behind his back.
Ok, there's a lot of awesome things to talk about in this issue, but after reading a bunch of comics without my laptop nearby, I had to jump on this one to review right away because... am I SERIOUSLY the only reviewer thus far to realize the significance of The First Lantern's identity? Geoff Johns hasn't pulled a mythology move this epic since The Predator, so maybe it's my specific knowledge/character love that made me drop my jaw right away when we find out who The First Lantern is. VOLTHOOM. For those of you who don't know, Volthoom is the name of the entity that is confirmed to be inhabiting the ring of Power Ring. Power Ring as in the CSA counterpart to Green Lantern. I am a MASSIVELY HUGE FAN of the CSA, so this tie absolutely blew my mind and makes a ridiculous amount of sense. I hope everyone soon appreciates how genius a move this was, because it seems to have flown over most people's heads.
The beginning of this issue has perhaps the most intimidating portrayal of The Third Army we've seen thus far, as a swarm melds into nearly a thick ooze of emotionless life, threatening to spread like a cancer through the entire body of the universe.
This month, the Rise of the Third Army crossover is really coming together. Simon wraps up a lot of loose ends to his origin story just in time for the full cosmic weight of the Green Lantern Corps comes crashing into him. The Third Army has finally arrived in all corners of the Green Lantern universe, and Baz meets his first fellow Green Lantern just in time to initiate his 'trial by fire' entry into the Green Lantern Saga proper. Baz;s story is finally kicking into motion, and honestly the only complaint I really have about this issue is that the one page scene of Hal and Sinestro really doesn't add anything, it's just that they now know what we've known for about 1/3 of a year; they're dead.
In Conclusion: 5/5
After being the slowest participant in this story, despite being the core Green Lantern title, this issue finally opens the floodgates and lets Simon Baz into the full brunt of the Geoff Johns Green Lantern Saga. THIS is essentially how this works for new readers, letting them slide into the story the way Baz is. I think I'm probably going higher than most on this issue specifically because I was just so damn impressed by the revelation of The First Lantern's name. Do yourself a favor and research it if it's unfamiliar to you and you might begin to understand why I'm so mind blown.
