This issue we finally get the history of William Hand. I'm not sure if you remember, it was just a footnote really, but he was mentioned by Atrocitus back during the Green Lantern Origin story in issue #32. Anyways, we see that William, a son of a mortician, has had a fascination with death since his early childhood. He's considered the black-sheep of the family, but nobody really pays him that much attention. He seems harmless enough. That is until he decides to make an outfit out of a body-bag, and call himself the Black Hand. Since then, Green Lantern #29 1964, he's been a recurring villain through the Green Lantern and Flash books. He's been thought to be a bit of a genius, because of his device that absorbs the Green Lantern energy, but we find out in this issue, that it was actually left behind by Atrocitus and William just absconded with it. Up until now, it seems like his main motivation was a hatred, or intolerance, of the Green Lanterns. Although, when he was experimented on by the aliens, he did receive a hand, after his was removed by the Spectre, that could suck the life-force out of anything it came in contact with. And, he's getting information from somewhere. He hears a voice and assumes that it is Death talking to him. It nudges him in certain directions, and gives him information. He knows the names of all the heroes, and villains that have died over the years. And he also knows those that have escaped Death. William says, "You want them back." The voice replies, "I want them all." We then see the actions that turn him into the first Black Lantern. He goes home, to his parents and brothers, and uses his energy device to kill them all. He then turns the device on himself. Shortly after . . Scar shows up. She's talking to the same voice that William was. She then vomits up a Black Lantern ring. "William Hand of Earth. Rise. Like Ion . . like Parallax . . like the Predator. You are the embodiment of our corps.
You are the black incarnate. You are our lord's herald." William, who now looks like he's been freeze-dried . . or smoked, says "I . . know what I am. I am the Black Hand. And with this power, I will finally extinguish the light." This issue is actually the prologue to the Blackest Night story-line. And now that all the pieces are in place . . the main event can begin. This was a fantastic issue by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke. Doug's work is especially poignant with this type of story . . this topic. His art can really have a dark, eerie edge to it. The page where William blows his brains out with the energy device was creepy . . and disturbing. By the way, I saw that Friday they announced that Ryan Reynolds will be playing Hal in the upcoming movie. That may change, but . . for now, that's what we got.
This issue we finally get the history of William Hand. I'm not sure if you remember, it was just a footnote really, but he was mentioned by Atrocitus back during the Green Lantern Origin story in issue #32. Anyways, we see that William, a son of a mortician, has had a fascination with death since his early childhood. He's considered the black-sheep of the family, but nobody really pays him that much attention. He seems harmless enough. That is until he decides to make an outfit out of a body-bag, and call himself the Black Hand. Since then, Green Lantern #29 1964, he's been a recurring villain through the Green Lantern and Flash books. He's been thought to be a bit of a genius, because of his device that absorbs the Green Lantern energy, but we find out in this issue, that it was actually left behind by Atrocitus and William just absconded with it. Up until now, it seems like his main motivation was a hatred, or intolerance, of the Green Lanterns. Although, when he was experimented on by the aliens, he did receive a hand, after his was removed by the Spectre, that could suck the life-force out of anything it came in contact with. And, he's getting information from somewhere. He hears a voice and assumes that it is Death talking to him. It nudges him in certain directions, and gives him information. He knows the names of all the heroes, and villains that have died over the years. And he also knows those that have escaped Death. William says, "You want them back." The voice replies, "I want them all." We then see the actions that turn him into the first Black Lantern. He goes home, to his parents and brothers, and uses his energy device to kill them all. He then turns the device on himself. Shortly after . . Scar shows up. She's talking to the same voice that William was. She then vomits up a Black Lantern ring. "William Hand of Earth. Rise. Like Ion . . like Parallax . . like the Predator. You are the embodiment of our corps. 
You are the black incarnate. You are our lord's herald." William, who now looks like he's been freeze-dried . . or smoked, says "I . . know what I am. I am the Black Hand. And with this power, I will finally extinguish the light." This issue is actually the prologue to the Blackest Night story-line. And now that all the pieces are in place . . the main event can begin. This was a fantastic issue by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke. Doug's work is especially poignant with this type of story . . this topic. His art can really have a dark, eerie edge to it. The page where William blows his brains out with the energy device was creepy . . and disturbing. By the way, I saw that Friday they announced that Ryan Reynolds will be playing Hal in the upcoming movie. That may change, but . . for now, that's what we got.
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