World Famous Comics: Green Lantern (Book 8): Secret Origin
Green Lantern (Book 8): Secret Origin
By: Geoff Johns Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 160 Publication Date: December 16, 2008 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: December 16, 2008
Geoff Johns's take on the Green Lantern origins Geoff Johns has almost single-handedly reinvigorated the Green Lantern series through a string of spectacular tales. So it was only appropriate that Johns produce his own origins story. Of course, "origins" means the origin of Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern, not the origin of the Green Lantern corps.
Johns's Green Lantern stories have been some of the best things to come out of the DC universe in recent years (at least by anyone not named Grant Morrison). This story is a good one, but it is one of the least original (no pun intended) that Johns has produced, perhaps because it had to more or less conform with previous origins stories. Coming hard against the Sinestro Corp War stories, it is nice to read a story where Hal Jordan and Sinestro are not only colleagues, but Sinestro is something of a mentor to Hal.
This ought to be a must-read for anyone who is a newcomer to the DC universe. It provides the best current introduction the the Green Lanterns, explains who is who and the role everyone plays int he greater scheme of things. With the Green Lanterns playing a key role in the recent DC big events (Final Crisis and Blackest Night, for instance) any fan of comics will enjoy this.
Great place to start or come back. If you think you knew the orgin of Hal Jordan into the Green Lantern Corps, then think again. Geoff Johns continues writing for a great series by expanding the the history of Hal Jordan and the world of the Green Lanterns. If you have never read this series then this is the perfect place to start. If you haven't read comics since the 70's, 80's or even the 90's now is the time to look at a decades old character with new eyes. Geoff Johns does a wonderful re-telling of how Hal Jordan became earth's protector while setting the foundation for this summer's BLACKEST NIGHT story arc. After reading SECRET ORIGIN you can easily continue into the other collections, SINESTRO CORP WAR, RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS and forward. This is considered one of DC's best written series and is a great piece of science fiction. Even if you don't care much for superheros with capes, the world of the Green Lantern Corps should make any Star Trek/Star Wars fan happy.
Great Book A great book that combines some of the original green lantern story lines with foreshadowing for the upcoming Darkest Night storyline. A must read for Green Lantern and Geoff Johns fans.
Terribly drawn out. This is a sad case of a popular concept for comic companies now: taking exactly 6 issues to tell an arc.
This entire tale could have been condensed into 2 issues, if not an extra-sized special.
Bogged down the ongoing storyline terribly.
I guess if you dunno Hal's origin, you can go get Showcase Presents Green Lantern, and pretty much pay less and get more bang for your buck. Yeah, that origin's retconned by this one, but still: 6 issues to tell a 2 issue arc is terrible and not worth the money to buy a hardcover of it.
Green Lantern's origins revised and expanded Green Lantern: Secret Origin collects issues #29-35 from Geoff Johns' current run on the title, and was published after Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 2. However, instead of continuing the story, Johns chooses to go back in time with a look at Hal Jordan's origin story.
This is a great read, and is a nice change of pace after the "blockbuster movie" status of Sinestro Corps War. Over seven issues' worth of comics, we learn about Hal Jordan's childhood and his eventual employment with Ferris Aircraft, his acquisition of the Green Lantern ring from Abin Sur, training under Sinestro, and the origin of some Green Lantern villains. True Johns has stuck in bits and pieces of this story all throughout his Green Lantern run, but it's nice to get it all collected and fleshed out. There are a few new twists, however, where the origin story has been re-tooled to foreshadow Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns and the forthcoming Blackest Night saga. I don't know if these changes will become lasting canon, but it's a nice expansion of what we know.
What's missing? The story stops right before Sinestro's turn to evil, and without this crucial moment Secret Origin does feel a bit incomplete. I also would've liked to see Johns' personal take on the Blackest Night prophecy, which is mentioned and alluded to but never fully explained. Those who want to know the actual prophecy would do well to check out a collection like DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore and read the original story.
But in all, Secret Origin is a solid effort. Ivan Reis continues to provide very modernized-yet-classic artwork for Green Lantern, and the colors and inking by Randy Mayor and Oclair Albert respectively are clean and sharp. This is a great book to recommend to new Green Lantern fans, or to refresh yourself with who Hal Jordan is and where Geoff Johns is about to take him.
NOTE: The Sinestro Corps War collected edition ends with issue #25, while Secret Origin picks up in issue #29. Issues #26-28 will be collected with Rage of the Red Lanterns. Don't worry, this doesn't ruin continuity.
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