Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay’s Absolute Green Lantern #2 sees Abin Sur arrive in the Absolute Universe to pass judgment on everyone in Evergreen, including Jo Mullein and Hal Jordan. Is this alien visitor a friend or an enemy, and what will his judgment mean for our heroes?
Picking up immediately in the diner, issue #2 sees Jo and Hal radiating immense alien power, with Jo’s abilities revealed as a gift from Abin Sur and Hal’s new “Black Hand” intriguingly not controlled by willpower. A flashback then takes us to Abin Sur, who, proclaiming his Green Lantern origin, passes “Judgment” on a fan-favorite character, igniting a brutal action sequence vividly illustrated by Jahnoy Lindsay, complete with dismemberment and beheadings. Returning to the present, we learn Hal’s “Black Hand” craves “light” energy and is potentially sentient, culminating in a vow to defeat the alien with a surprising weapon that holds deep implications for Green Lantern lore.
Credit: DC Comics
Absolute Green Lantern #2 pumps the brakes, offering a few answers but piling on even more questions. We’re still in the dark about Abin Sur’s agenda, why he’s even here, how Hal got his new powers, or what he did to Guy Gardner, John Stewart, and Jo Mullein. It’s a cascade of questions that, while potentially intriguing for some, leaves much hanging.
Jahnoy Lindsay’s art is, without a doubt, the star of this issue. It injects a serious dose of tension and raw fear into the pages, especially as this alien Abin Sur mows down everyone in his path with chilling ease. You see it right away in his design, Lindsay draws Abin Sur as a tall, menacing being, his stern face and white color scheme echoing the menacing White Martians. He looks utterly terrifying under Lindsay’s hand, with a green glow washing over the panels as Abin Sur cuts through cop after cop.
The main drawback, though, is that this issue is mostly a flashback. This saps the energy from Hal and Jo’s present-day standoff. Moreover, neither seems all that bothered about why they’re both suddenly crackling with new powers, and it feels like they just picked up their conversation where they left off before Abin Sur even showed up. It’s confusing and makes it hard to see where the story is headed.
Credit: DC Comics
Lucas Gattoni’s clean and easy-to-understand lettering effectively concludes the issue. Subtle yet impactful details, like the green energy in Abin Sur’s speech bubbles signifying his power, and Hal’s speech turning black as the entity within him takes hold, are particularly appreciated.
Absolute Green Lantern #2 sees Abin Sur’s arrival bring judgment and brutal, vividly illustrated action, though the issue primarily functions as a flashback, slowing the present-day momentum.
‘Absolute Green Lantern’ #2: New Powers, More Questions as Abin Sur Arrives
Absolute Green Lantern #2 sees Abin Sur’s arrival bring judgment and brutal, vividly illustrated action, though the issue primarily functions as a flashback, slowing the present-day momentum.
