Al Ewing, Jahnoy Lindsay, and Sid Kotian ramp up the energy in Absolute Green Lantern #12, but the series continues to grapple with a persistent identity crisis. While this issue finally injects some much-needed adrenaline via a high-stakes pursuit, the emotional core remains as murky as the shadows Jo Mullein is currently outrunning. This issue brings back Tomar-Re into the fold, yet even this cosmic heavyweight can’t quite steer this ship toward a clear destination.
The Terror of the Obsidian Beast
The issue kicks off with an immediate sense of dread. Jo Mullein, Cameron Chase, and Hal Jordan find themselves hunted by a shadow entity that feels genuinely menacing. The art team deserves massive credit for the visual design of this beast: giving a formless shadow a distorted human face makes it far more unsettling than your standard space monster. Letterer Lucas Gattoni elevates the horror, using jagged black lettering for the creature’s screeches that practically vibrate off the page. It’s a stellar opening that promises a level of intensity the series has lacked for several months.
A Flashback to Evergreen and “Precious” Rings
Ewing dips back into the past to show Jo and Hal leaving a funeral in Evergreen. The mystery of who they’re mourning remains tucked away, but the conversation turns toward dreams and the weight of bad decisions. The standout moment (and a genuinely concerning one) is Jo’s reaction when Hal jokingly suggests pawing her wedding ring. She snaps into a defensive, almost “Gollum-like” state. It’s a surreal, dark beat that suggests the ring’s influence on Jo is far more parasitic or addictive than we’ve seen in traditional Green Lantern lore. This is the kind of “Absolute” reimagining that works, adding a layer of psychological tension to a familiar weapon.
The Problem with Jo and Cameron
In the present, the dynamic between Jo and Cameron Chase continues to be the weakest link. Their dialogue is stiff, and while the narrative insists there’s a complex “love angle” or a failed relationship there, the chemistry is nonexistent. It’s hard to care about their bickering when the emotional stakes haven’t been earned. Bringing Hal into the mix as the “best friend” only muddies the waters further. We’re told they have an unbreakable bond, but we rarely see the warmth or history required to make the reader feel it. For a series so focused on these three, the lack of a relatable connection makes the quiet moments feel like filler.
Cosmic Bubbles and Light Shows
The action eventually takes center stage, and this is where the art team truly shines. Jo’s lime-green constructs look spectacular, particularly a massive classic fist used to launch the shadow entity. The “Obsidian Beast” fights back with lightning-blue eye blasts, creating a vibrant contrast against the green.
Things get “Ewing-esque” when the spectrum begins to shift. Hal starts glowing with a pinkish-red hue (Star Sapphire love spectrum, anyone?), sprouts some cosmic babble, and identifies the shadow creature as a victim rather than a monster. It’s a cool reveal, but it feels a bit dense for casual readers who haven’t been meticulously tracking every thematic crumb Ewing has dropped so far.
Tomar-Re’s Underwhelming Entrance
The solicitation for this issue pitched Tomar-Re as a major player, but his appearance is essentially a last-page cameo. It’s a bit of a letdown considering how much the marketing leaned on his debut. However, his redesign is fantastic. He looks like a seasoned warrior, radiating power and energy. If the next arc focuses on his interaction with the crew, we might finally get the “epic” scale this book has been missing.
Absolute Green Lantern #12 is a book that still feels like it’s looking for its North Star. The action is great, and the horror elements work, but the emotional core of the series (the bond between its leads) needs to catch up to the scale of the threats they’re facing, and fast.
‘Absolute Green Lantern’ #12 | Still Feels Lost in Space
Absolute Green Lantern #12 is a book that still feels like it’s looking for its North Star. The action is great, and the horror elements work, but the emotional core of the series (the bond between its leads) needs to catch up to the scale of the threats they’re facing, and fast.
