Sunday, November 16, 2008

Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns - DC


I loved this book. I really like the way that DC has expanded on the Green Lantern Corps of late. And, the fact that they're developing so many of it's characters . . . they don't all just come and go. This book really had it all. Blackest Night is coming soon, and I think that the emergence of the Red Lanterns is really just the precursor. I also like the developments with the Guardians. It appears that the one Guardian . . you know, the one with the scars on his/her face . . it appears that she may be in league with the Sinestro Corps. But, I have to think, that it's not for the reasons that we're automatically going to assume. I think it all has to do with the way that the Guardians are becoming more . . involved. "We must not overestimate the incursion of the emotional spectrum. We must extinguish all other light." All of the sudden . . there appears to be lots of other lights. We got the Sinestro Corps . . Yellow. The Rage of the Red Lanterns . . I think that's kind of self explanatory. The Zamarons and Star Sapphire . . Purple. Obviously the Green Lanterns. And now . . now we have the Blue Lanterns. Well . . a Blue Lantern. "There is only me. Saint Walker. It is imperative that we retrieve Sinestro before he is sacrificed. If this universe is to survive the Blackest Night, we will need him alive." I'm not exactly sure what the hue of his uniform has to do with his emotional response . . yet, but . . I'm sure we'll find out soon. Also, it seems like everything stems out of the slaughter that happened in sector 666, all those years ago, by the little blue guys first policing agency . . the Manhunters. We still don't know what the whole story there is, but somehow it's all connected. This issue was written by Geoff Johns, so of course it's brilliant. To me, he is to the story what a brilliant artist is to the page. You can feel the emotion and essence of the story coming across through all the dialogue. But, he was aided in his expression of this tale . . this issue . . by the fantastic renderings of Shane Davis. This guy has just grown leaps and bounds in the short time that he's been around. To me, the most disturbing part of this book was the visuals of the Red Lanterns. Apparently when they're indoctrinated they go through this ritual where they expunge all of their own blood . . through their mouth, much like vomiting. "Do not fight the Red light as it purges you of your tainted blood. We will spill the blood of those who wronged us. Their blood will anoint us. Our rings need to feed." But, as gruesome and disturbing as those pages were . . the pages with Hal flying through the skies with Carol . . like a 'wing-man' to her jet . . those pages were crisp and clean and almost calming and relaxing. The disparity between the scenes were amazing. And proof to Shane's incredible talent. This story is going to continue through the pages of Green Lantern . . following up the Secret Origins story-line. I can't wait to see how this part of the Final Crisis unfolds.

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