We're coming up on a year worth of 80-Page Thursdays, and I still have some more to do, even though I sometimes hit an issue we've seen a bit from before. Like today's! Green Lantern 80-Page Giant #1, featuring stories from Ron Marz, James Robinson, Denny O'Neil, and more; and art by Tom Grindberg, Mike Mayhew, Dan Jurgens, and more.
Last year, we took a look at "Whatever Happened to G'Nort?" from Ty Templeton and Steve Ellis; what else does this one have to offer? Well, this was set when Hal Jordan was still the Spectre, and Kyle may have been in space; so John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Alan Scott meet at Warriors to tell tales; even though Guy points out without Kyle around they aren't passing down any heroic legacy, they're just a bunch of old farts reliving past glories. Well, maybe.
James Robinson goes Golden Age with Alan Scott, as he tells of the moment he realized he loved his sometimes-sorta-villainess, the Harlequin. Right before he wouldn't see her again for three decades. That's not depressing. Next, in a Denny O'Neil story, John Stewart helps a race of alien slaves learn how to be free...
...by teaching them how to dig? OK, moving on. Beau Smith and Guy Gardner spin a yarn of jungle hijinks on an alien planet, with an uncharged power ring, then John (and Dan Jurgens) tell a Hal Jordan story: on a test flight, Hal is attacked by an alien that wants him, not Green Lantern! The alien's race is at war, and while they can build fighters, they can't fly it. Hal then helps the alien by augmenting their flying skills, even though he was mad at them just a moment ago, and did not do any sort of background check or anything. Seriously, the aliens could've been evil as hell, but Hal is seemingly more concerned that they be able to fly. Hmm.
There's a weird, and not great, anti-bullying tale with young Kyle Rayner; and the aforementioned G'nort/Catman story as well. Although the issue ends with the guys feeling pretty good about where they are and the legacy of Green Lantern; most of this issue is a little maudlin, and so much of it has been rolled back: Hal, Guy, and John are all Green Lanterns again, and Alan has been Sentinel and Green Lantern and older and younger. I liked the team-ups of GL 80-Page #2 better; now I'll keep an eye out to see if I can ever find #3. I already wanted it before I saw for the first story, "Synopsis: A manhunter lands on Apokolips and doesn't free the citizenry." Ooh, I'm sure it's not like I picture it, but still.
I thought you were already done with "Depression week" man. I saw that 1st panel and was like well that ruined my good mood ya' bastard!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Naww that was actually sweet. Sweet, but depressing.
OH and check it this out; I went to Wal-mart yesterday to get a new bike tube, and saw they put out a Bronze Tiger figure on the self. WTF indeed.
I love those 80 page giants! Wasn't this the one where they are all hanging around Warriors telling stories? I always liked those books.
ReplyDeleteAnd the one with Guy is hilarious.