"Secret Origin" (conclusion)

Plot: In the prelude to "Blackest Night" Hal and Sinestro are summoned to Oa to do some 'splaining to the Gaurdians. Hal goes all agro on the Gaurdians. Sinestro and Hal have a touchy feely moment, or as close to a touchy feely moment as you're going to get with Sinsetro. Sinestro is warned by Atrocitus of his future and the future of his homeworld, Korugar. Hal has a touchy feely moment with his brother.

Comments: When I first heard Johns was going to retell Hal's origin once again, my reaction was "UGH!" Did we really need Hal's origin told for what seemed like the sixth time in as many years? Well, after reading "Secret Origin" I find myself answering, "Yes." What Johns was able to do here was rebuild and restructure Hal's origin to tie up and pull together a lot of loose elements. He also was able to lay the ground work for future storylines. In lesser hands this might have come off as a really bad retcon job, but, let's honest here, Johns is arguably the best pure superhero writer writing today. Nothing ever really comes off as forced. That's not to say he knocks it out of the park every time out, but he's always good for at least a triple. (Being October I figured I should try to slip in one baseball reference, despite not being a big baseball fan.)

Reis's artwork is once again gorgeous. His storytelling is never sacrificed for a "cool shot." He's always consistent with his character renderings. There's never really a weak spot in the issues he draws, much like who appears to be Reis's biggest influence, Alan Davis. Albert's inks are nice, clean and never bury Reis's pencils. They make for a really good team.

I'm giving this issue a four rating only because it's the last part of a story arc. But I'd give the whole of "Secret Origin" a five. If you enjoy well told superhero stories, then you should do yourself a favor and start reading Green Lantern. It really is one of the best books going right now; intricately layered without being to heavy-handed. This issue may not be the best jumping on point for a new reader, simply because it's the end of a story, but that just means the next issue will be since it starts a whole new adventure.

---

What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!

---