Green Lantern: Rebirth - Dark Publications

Location: Home » esoterica » General AAS » Green Lantern: Rebirth

Similar Items:

•	Green Lantern Vol. 1: No Fear
•	Green Lantern Vol. 2: Revenge of the Green Lanterns
•	Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 1
•	Green Lantern Vol. 3: Wanted - Hal Jordan
•	Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 2

Customer Reviews: Read 30 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

One of DC's finest December 20, 2005
26 out of 26 found this review helpful

He turned evil and tried to destroy the world. He was killed by his closest friend, but came back even more powerful -- and more evil -- than before. He had a last-second change of heart and sacrificed himself to reignite the sun. His spirit was used to drive the earthly manifestation of the Wrath of God in a war against injustice. And he was replaced in his old job by a younger, hipper hero.

And yet, Hal Jordan's return as Green Lantern was always inevitable. The question was how -- and how well -- it would be done. Geoff Johns succeeded admirably in "Rebirth," a book that neatly reconciles the various personae of Hal Jordan in one man -- the one he was always meant to be.

"Rebirth" isn't just another chapter in the ongoing story of the Green Lantern Corps. It's an in-depth study of the mythology of the Guardians, the rings of power and the entities that bear them. It is a dazzling portrayal of personality and conflict, not just of Jordan and his immediate circle of friends, but of many familiar DC characters. And, it's a much-needed reinvention of Jordan himself -- the hero he was and, for many readers, always would be.

The art by Ethan Van Sciver is ultra-realistic, his lines are crisp, clean and startlingly expressive. Johns' story flows from the pages in bright colors and shadows, and the glowing green light of Lantern's power will dazzle your eyes with blinding intensity. It's a brilliant story, artfully written and packaged, of incredible scope. "Rebirth" is truly one of DC's finest.

5 out of 5 stars

After reading this, I taught my son that daddy's wedding band is a power ring. You'll do the same. January 26, 2006
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

Can Geoff Johns do any comic wrong? He writes the most amazing stories. This one is so big, involving so many characters and so much continuity, but it is SOOOO fun! This collects the 6-issue mini.

#1-#2. Everyone knows that Hal Jordan is being brought back as GL, but it's not easy - Batman remembers all too well that Jordan is responsible for horrible chaos in the past, and is very reluctant to trust him. Really, can you blame him?

#3. We get the works here: drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat, big action, the JLA, the secrets behind Spectre/Parallax/Jordan, and one mischievous lover of yellow. I couldn't be more pumped for the new start of the ongoing Green Lantern series.

#4. The last page of this book will send shivers down your spine. It is that good. The whole series has been building up to this point, and it pays off.

#5. Hal Jordan vs. Sinestro in an AMAZING battle! The art was spectacular, and the layout very good. So many great splash pages that maximized the action scenes. In the final scene, Batman holds Jordan back from fighting against Parallax. Bats still doesn't trust him, given his murderous past while under the influence of other beings.

#6. The 5 lanterns take on Parallax together, and we get resolution for the JLA-Jordan conflict. Big action, nice character moments.

5 out of 5 stars

The return of Hal Jordan August 4, 2005
16 out of 21 found this review helpful

A few years back, when DC was busy killing off many of their icons (which as of now, they're having a blast doing it again), Ron Marz and the then editors at DC had the "brilliant" idea of killing off the Silver Age Green Lantern Hal Jordan. As that story unfolded, Hal went crazy, killed countless other Lanterns, got himself a new costume, and called himself Paralax. Eventually, Hal sacrificed himself in a final heroic act, and later became the vengeance seeking Spectre in an effort to redeem himself. Kyle Rayner, who became the new GL after Hal went nuts, was never embraced by comic readers, but the character comes into his own here in Green Lantern: Rebirth, a six issue mini-series written by Flash and JSA scribe Geoff Johns. Beginning with Kyle crash landing to earth with the body of Hal Jordan, he warns that Paralax is coming. Something strange is also happening to JLA Green Lantern John Stewart and former GL Guy Gardner, as Hal's spirit struggles with the Spectre, and the return of Paralax. It sounds convoluted, but Johns somehow manages to make the past Paralax story make sense, as Hal Jordan makes his triumphant return as Green Lantern, and the re-establishment of the Green Lantern Corps. Guest stars, including classic GL villain Sinestro, alien GL Kilowog, the JLA, the JSA, and the Teen Titans, are all here; culminating in a just plain awesome battle between the new GL Corps and a posessive evil. Ethan Van Sciver's art gives Hal a return to his classic look, while Kyle looks more intimidating than one would ever think before. Some won't like it, but Rebirth is just that: a rebirth not only for Hal, but for the entire Green Lantern mythos, and it's done masterfully.

3 out of 5 stars

The Best Written Load of Crap I Have Read In a While January 7, 2006
14 out of 24 found this review helpful

The way in which DC comics brought back Hal Jordan is an entertaining story but it doesn't make sense. The whole Parallax thing works as a retcon explaining the yellow weakness in the original Green Lantern rings, but it's a cop out, whitewashing Hal Jordan for the clamoring fan boys. Many will say that it rights a wrong done to Jordan by an earlier story, but doesn't it also take away the relevance of some of all time great Green Lantern stories of the past? When Jordan says "No more doubt, no more road trips..." he is also denying part of what made the character at all interesting and turns him into a one dimensional caricature. The story treats Jordan's return like the second coming of the messiah. In truth, he is pretty flat.

The better characterization comes when Johns deals with the other Green Lanterns. I have never much cared about John Stewart until I read Rebirth, it makes him a lot more interesting than he has been in a long time. Johns even made me glad Guy Gardener was back in that hideous green jacket of his. And while I was afraid that Kyle Rayner would be handled badly in Rebirth, he is treated with respect. Then again, perhaps the reason Rayner never gained as much of a following was the fact that his own title often featured lackluster stories. The best stories for a Kyle Rayner fan are probably found in the JLA volumes written by Grant Morrison.

Johns' writing is well paced and overall quite good, Van Sciver's art is very good throughout, its sad that the story rather misses the mark. DC gave in to fan pressure to bring back Hal Jordan, which is fine in and of itself, but the way in which it was done is too easy. Batman has the right idea in the story when he questions if everyone is just supposed to accept the very convenient story about possession where no evidence of this had presented itself before. Bringing back Hal Jordan is actually a good idea, but it could have been a far more interesting story, one about actual redemption rather than a whitewash of the character. If Hal Jordan had come back, penitent but wishing to redeem himself and driving himself to be a true hero again it would have fit into DC's "return to the light" without leaving a bad taste in my mouth. It is not worth buying, but it is worth reading once, borrow it from a friend

5 out of 5 stars

YEARS OF QUESTIONS FINALLY REVEALED! October 26, 2005
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Green Lantern: Rebirth ties up loose plot lines and reveals answers to questions that have plagued Green Lantern fans for decades, such as what really is the story behind the power ring's impurity and its vulnerability to yellow, as well as some startling new information about GL's arch-enemy Sinestro. No one re-tools their major characters like DC, due in part to their own lack of confidence in the character often times. And no one has had a bumpier ride in recent years than poor Hal Jordan. Seeing Coast City destroyed Hal tries to recreate it leading to a conflict with the Guardians, and Hal's usurping the power of the central battery to become Parallax, destroying most of the Guardians and other Green Lanterns, before finally sacrificing himself to save Earth's sun. Hal would then become bonded with the Spectre as the new Spirit of Vengeance.

All of the surviving Green Lanterns play a role in the book including Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, Killowog, and yes, even Guy Gardner. While off at the edges of space Kyle learns finds an alien race living in terror. His ring translates the name "Parallax". Kyle returns to Earth as he and the other Green Lanterns soon come under the influence of a menacing influence. Guy Gardner even has his body turned inside out as he's taken for treatment to the JLA and Mr. Terrific. Meanwhile Hal is having his own problems controlling the Spectre's thirst for vengeance which is growing more and more aggressive, literally turning the hand of the villain "Black Hand" to coal.

The Justice League is growing suspicious of Hal as well, particularly Batman who has never had a great affinity for Jordan to begin with. Soon the appearance of Ganthet, the last of the original Guardians, brings some startling revelations about the history of the Guardians, Parallax, the power rings, Sinestro, and the source of the impurity. I won't play spoiler and reveal and of this, but the words astonishing and shocking come to mind right off the bat. You know of course that Hal returns as Green Lantern and has his first formal introduction to the man who replaced him, Kyle Rayner. He also has a long overdue confrontation with Batman who still doesn't trust him.

In many ways, this is Kyle Rayner's finest hour as he provides the first warnings about Parallax, and takes on a supped-up Sinestro on his own...just in time for Hal to return, not to mention Guy Gardner. Long time Green Lantern fans are sure to be ecstatic about the return of one of the original Silver Age icons as they never really took to Rayner or Stewart and Gardner was generally only good for a few laughs. How DC handles Hal (not to mention the Spectre) from here on out becomes the new question. The story wraps up nicely and for a change we have a story that doesn't leave issues dangling. The Story was written by Geoff Johns, one of the most stalwart and reliable scribes in comics today. The art by Art by Ethan Van Sciver and Prentis Rollins was very solid without being too "showy".

The hardcover book also provides background information and creator commentary on various aspects of the story which also serve to help tie things all together. A gallery of alternate covers is also included. Green Lantern: Rebirth is without a doubt one of the most important storylines from DC in recent years.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Powered by Associate-O-Matic