I’m honestly still a bit confused by how the Absolute Green Lantern works, even though I love the vibe Al Ewing is going for in issue #14. It feels like every time I think I’ve got a handle on the rules; the creative team throws another curveball that changes the game. We’re following Jo Mullein, Hal Jordan, and Guy Gardner as they try to make sense of being beamed into a liminal space inside the Green Lantern itself. It’s a lot to take in, especially with John Stewart acting like a professor explaining different levels of light while Jo is just trying to survive.
Title: Absolute Green Lantern #14
Creatives: Al Ewing (Writer), Sid Kotian (Artist), Pressy (Colorist), Lucas Gattoni (Letterer)
Characters: Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Jo Mullein, Tomar-Re, Simon, Todd Rice
Villain: Tomar-Re, Hector Hammond, Blackstars
Format: Ongoing Series
Our Rating: 8/10 Stars
The Weird New World Inside the Light
The setting for most of this issue is basically a doorway to Oa, but it’s tucked away inside the Green Lantern. Sid Kotian’s art makes this place look like a neon fever dream, which is pretty cool but also a little narratively disorienting. Pressy’s colors really pop here, using bright greens, reds, and gold to show off the different powers at play. It’s visually stunning, but I’m still scratching my head over the power structure in this new universe everyone keeps talking about. Lucas Gattoni’s lettering helps keep the chaotic conversations organized, which is a lifesaver when you’re dealing with multiple Lanterns arguing in a void.
Tomar-Re and the Chaos on the Ground
The biggest shock is definitely the Absolute version of Tomar-Re. He’s an anomaly who survived his world being wiped out by the Blackstar. He’s got this red power that he reveals uses “restraint,” and he uses it to give Jo Mullein a massive mental headache to keep her in line. He’s not the Tomar-Re we’re used to, nor is he very interested in being a hero; instead, what he wants is revenge, to use the Green Lantern as a literal gun to hunt down and kill Mogo. It’s a dark, gritty take on the character that makes the classic version seem like a Boy Scout. He even claims his flame is stronger because he’s suffered more, which is a pretty intense way to win an argument.
While all the space-magic is happening, we get a glimpse back at Earth where things are just as messy. Simon and Cameron are trying to protect Todd Rice, who’s been turned into the monster, Obsidian, by Hector Hammond. The transition between the grounded, bullet-filled action on Earth and the trippy Oa-space is a bit jarring, but it keeps the narrative interesting.
Verdict: Should You Read Absolute Green Lantern #14?
The lore in Absolute Green Lantern #14 is a lot to wrap your head around, but you shouldn’t sleep on this issue. Al Ewing’s move to turn Tomar-Re into a Mogo-hunting anomaly is the kind of bold swing the Absolute line thrives on. Between Sid Kotian’s trippy visuals and the high-stakes mental warfare against Jo, it’s easily one of the most interesting Green Lantern books on the shelf right now. It’s a solid read, even if you’re still piecing together how these new flames actually work.
‘Absolute Green Lantern’ #14 Review: Tomar-Re’s Chilling Mission
The lore in Absolute Green Lantern #14 is a lot to wrap your head around, but you shouldn’t sleep on this issue. Al Ewing’s move to turn Tomar-Re into a Mogo-hunting anomaly is the kind of bold swing the Absolute line thrives on. Between Sid Kotian’s trippy visuals and the high-stakes mental warfare against Jo, it’s easily one of the most interesting Green Lantern books on the shelf right now. It’s a solid read, even if you’re still piecing together how these new flames actually work.
