Lobo's a monosyllabic knuckle-dragger, but probably still gets the best lines here?

I found this in the garage, while looking for one of the Legends of the Dead Earth annuals I thought I had (and I did! That's four bucks I'll keep in my pocket) but until I looked it up the other day, I would've sworn there was a Lobo annual in LotDE. There wasn't, but man, wouldn't that have been fun to write? 40 pages of Lobo going "aww, diddum widdle pwanlet blow up? What'cha gonna do, nancypants, cry 'bout it?" and then exaggerated stories about how he kicked the living crap out of everyone in the so-called Heroic Age, from Superman down to the Red Bee. It would end with him having a cheerful guffaw that annoying planet was long gone, then having a coughing fit; before it was time for his pills and bowel irrigation at the nursing home...Anyway, on to this comic: from 2010, Green Lantern #55, "The New Guardians, chapter three" Written by Geoff Johns, pencils by Doug Mahnke, inks by Christian Alamy, Tom Nguyen, Keith Champagne, and Doug Mahnke.

Most of these GL comics I got from the cheap bins, but two surprises right off the start: this looked like a multi-part story completely within the title. Usually, the first chapter was here, then over to Green Lantern Corps or a myriad of other books, but this was maybe setting up one. Also, it opens in Montana! Specifically in Grass Range, Montana: I'm not sure I've ever even been through there, but it also may not be drawn with any reference besides "outsides." The Crispus Allen Spectre investigates a dead cow, which warns him to "stay away!" in a Red Lantern bubble. Meanwhile, in New York City, we find Lobo throwing down with Hal and Atrocitus, already in progress, with a two-page spread that I hope Mahnke got some folding money for on the back end.

Hal and Carol are momentarily unsure who they should help on that one, but Hal gets a message from the White Lantern that Atrocitus has his mission. So, killjoy Hal muzzles Lobo's dog, then runs him over with his own bike. After going over the rules, which Hal admits he doesn't really follow either, Hal does get a good shot in with giant green brass knuckles--the big green boxing glove wasn't going to cut it there, I suppose. This issue moves fast, without a lot of transitions, as Sinestro is also there, and coldly throws the works at Lobo: a giant skeletal hand, what looks like metal tentacles, and some chainguns. A disgruntled Lobo wonders "what god ate a rainbow and threw it up across the universe," then Carol tries to contain him, which only works for a few seconds, and Lobo whispers to her what he really loves...which catches him a power-construct slap. Dex-Starr takes on Lobo's dog, who was not expecting red rage vomit hairballs; Lobo tells him to suck it up.

Finally, since the bigger mission with the power ring entities had priority, Hal reluctantly tells Lobo if he wanted Atrocitus, he would have to go through all of them. Lobo scoffs, "yeah, I'm the one with screwed-up priorities," but still leaves; and Hal isn't quite sure why. Sinestro suggests, Lobo was afraid of Hal, that he still had a little Parallax in him. But, the real reason is, the one who set the bounty on Atrocitus was...Atrocitus himself! Not because he hated himself, as we'd see later in Red Lanterns, but because he needed the others to work with him. Job done, Lobo ponders his payment: a red power ring, 'cause if you can't beat 'em...

Also this issue, and possibly more of a draw than Lobo at the time: the secret origin of Dex-Starr! "Dex-Starr" Written by Geoff Johns, art by Shawn Davis, with special thanks to Jamie Grant. It's a tear-jerker, as little kitty Dexter is adopted by a lonely woman, who is later killed in a home invasion. He's then given the boot from his home by the cops, under the guise of not contaminating the crime scene, then grabbed by some punks who put him in a bag and throw him off a bridge; making him a veritable beacon of rage, perfect for a Red Lantern ring. We don't see him murder the punks, but that's gotta be a given. The story ends with Dex-Starr sleeping cuddled against what I think was his owner's skull, as he promises to find and kill her murderer. "I good kitty." I don't know if Dex-Starr ever did, though; because comics: he's been sucked into other things, and if he did find the killer, would it be like Batman finding Joe Chill? Would he have a reason to keep hating? (Probably because they weren't fully codified until later, Dex-Starr doesn't seem to follow the same rules as other Reds; but that could be just because he's a cat and always has a certain baseline of hate running in the background.)

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He's secretly undercover, she's secretly seeing someone else, now another one's secretly alive? Where's 'trust' on the emotional spectrum?

In the DCU alien races probably see earthlings as trouble, mavericks and rule-breakers. I wonder if they don't also see us as emotionally stunted, to boot. From 2013, Green Lantern Annual #2, "Lights Out, part five: the Source" Written by Robert Venditti, pencils by Sean Chan, inks by Jon Sibal and Walden Wong.

This was the end of another Lantern book crossover, and bits of it feel like homages even if they were established DC lore: the bad guy, Relic, was from the universe before this one, like Galactus was. And the Source Wall is involved: I hadda look up if it predated Star Trek's galactic barrier: it does not, although it does seem nicer. While he was trying to wipe out the assorted ring-bearers, Relic might have a point: their assorted usages of emotionally-charged light was draining the universe's supply of it; no one had considered it might be a finite resource. Well, except maybe David Byrne: I always thought he said there was a finite amount of music in the universe, but he might have said jokes instead.

I don't know when this happened, but somewhere there was a retcon making Guy Gardner and John Stewart much closer pals than I remember; John is pissed at Guy for defecting to the Red Lanterns, and still pissed when he finds Guy had gone undercover there. Kyle had been captured by Relic, and no one knew where they were, but Carol can sense him through the Star Sapphire and the power of love; which Hal takes with the emotional maturity that you'd expect. Kilowog saying "Awkward" is funny; but kinda feel like he'd want them to keep on mission there. At the Source Wall, Relic experiments with White Lantern Kyle, in the hopes of...I don't know, cracking him open like an egg and somehow refilling the universe's emotional reservoir. The remaining assorted Lantern corps show up, and in the fight attempt to shove Relic into the Source Wall, where he would become part of it: Kyle realizes he gains power by fighting for life, and charges up, dragging himself and Relic in.

With Relic defeated, the Greens were down to like 2% power, and Hal seemingly resigns himself to death: Guy tells him the Reds wouldn't help, maybe not out of any particular beef with them, they just weren't a helpful lot. I can't recall if the Pinks could make constructs, since Hal tells Carol to go rather than watch them die in space. John had planned ahead though, and had the Indigo Lanterns to teleport them home, which after the destruction of Oa, was now Mogo! Complete with rebuilt power battery: John had asked the Indigos to help with that as well; but they also inadvertently teleported Guy with the Reds, seemingly leaving him in danger. (I think Guy was fine, and possibly more at home with the Reds at that point.) The moment of triumph is further stepped on by some Greens quitting, since they thought using the power would drain the universe again, and didn't want in on that.

Back at the Source Wall, the New Guardians are studying Relic, when Kyle returns: a big deal, since that was supposedly impossible, although I feel like Darkseid and possibly Metron had done it four or five times before. The emotional entities of the various spectrums had sacrificed themselves, but Kyle didn't remember anything else. One Guardian tries to look in Kyle's memories but seemingly can't; although it would be more fun if that wasn't Lantern-stuff but just Kyle's artist-head that was too much for him. (Don't look in Kyle's head without permission, he has to clean up a few things first...) The Guardians proclaim his return had to be kept secret...for reasons; I don't know. Probably to wreck his relationship with Carol, no doubt. Read more!

Did I buy this one before? I'm worried about what that would say about me...

Okay, I guess I just mentioned it before. Whew! From 1973, Superman #261, "Slave of Star Sapphire!" Story by Cary Bates, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Murphy Anderson. 

Old Superman stories are probably not considered to have strong plots, but this one isn't just doing "let's you and him fight," it's going the long way around. The Star Sapphire--the stone itself, not the lady--is on loan to Metropolis, so of course Lois Lane is writing a story about it: Carol Ferris wasn't publicly known as Star Sapphire, so she was a bit of a mystery. The museum curator also has a replica of Star Sapphire's uniform, and suggests Lois wear it--purely for research purposes, of course. He even says Lois and Sapphire look alike: is this a subtle dig at DC, that the heroes' girlfriends are basically interchangeable? Nah, they aren't that self-aware or meta. 

Meanwhile, Clark Kent has to make an elaborate exit from a helicopter-shuttle (which had a very elaborate escape system for its passengers, that was probably immediately scrapped after Kent 'accidentally' sets it off) because a local mobster has a suicide-vest full of nitro...for reasons. I think his reasoning is, the cops and Superman can't do anything to him, or he'll explode and probably take out a city block or two. He's also holed up in the Green Lantern tavern, which actually appeared before, in Action #317! But, another passenger on the helicopter is watching this situation: Carol Ferris! Seeing the 'Green Lantern' seems to trigger something in her, which is probably exasperated when Superman blows up the bar--somewhat literally, with his super-breath. That doesn't hurt the mobster, and seems like a lot of property damage, but it lets Carol watch the scene with binoculars. Only, she sees it as Superman killing Green Lantern, which changes her persona to Star Sapphire's, seeking justice. She needed her sapphire first, though.

Back at the museum, the curator realizes he's accidentally given Lois the real Star Sapphire. Almost like you were distracted by something, huh? At GBS, Lois gives Clark a momentary hassle about his helicopter ejection and Superman showing up, but she had been burned so many times when she suspected Clark was Superman that she's given up on that one. When Lois won't tell what's in her bag after she drops it, Clark uses his x-ray vision, and sees the Star Sapphire outfit. Time for some fun! Or mean-spirited revenge, either or. Downstairs, Carol is storming the building, homing in on her gem.

Clark causes Lois's electronic desk to 'malfunction,' and 'finds' the Star Sapphire outfit. Why, Lois, you aren't really--Lois indignantly protests, while Clark gets to enjoy the shoe being on the other foot for once, until the Sapphire starts spinning in mid-air! It returns to Carol, who transforms into Star Sapphire before Clark gets a look at her. Then, she zaps Clark, launching him into the elevator shaft and nearly taking out a full car of passengers. Sapphire goes outside and starts wrecking things, to draw out Superman. 

Supes is pretty sure Green Lantern isn't dead, but also can't bring himself to punch Sapphire out, either. That gives her the chance to get the gem around Superman's neck--but still under her control! And it works pretty well, as she forbids Superman from removing the gem, or opening his mouth, and forces the cover scene, to kiss her boots! Still, using super-ventriloquism, Supes is able to call Lois, who still has the replica costume...

Sapphire orders Superman to destroy the Galaxy building and everyone in it, and he can't do a thing to stop himself--except, another Sapphire orders him not to! Lois orders Superman to fly up, knowing the real Sapphire would counter that and order him to fly down, causing the gem to fall off. Recovering the gem, Star Sapphire escapes, swearing vengeance...until the next day, when she sees a newspaper story with Green Lantern alive, and reverts back to Carol. Superman thanks Lois for saving him, but she asks him not to tell Clark, he already thinks she's Star Sapphire, and she'd never hear the end of it.

EDIT: It occurred to me later, I have no idea how well this fits in with Carol/Sapphire lore from Green Lantern, since this makes it seem like the gem had the power, true, but the Sapphire persona was inside Carol somewhere. I'm not positive that was always the case, though. Read more!

If you told me in '86 I'd like them better than Hal, I would never have believed it.

There are some pairings in comics that are virtually unbreakable: even though DC might try to get some mileage from Wonder Woman and Superman together, c'mon. You know Supes is going to be back with Lois sooner or later. Diana and Steve Trevor, maybe, maybe not. I'm always surprised when this one hasn't been rolled back, although I'm happy she's done better; and at first glance of the cover I thought it was going to be the break-up/reset. From 2015, Green Lantern #38, "Leave" Written by Robert Venditti, art by Admira Wijaya.

As often happens, we randomly saw the previous issue a couple months back. After the Godhead crossover, the Guardians of the Universe have the traditional performance review for Hal, and they have notes: maybe he saved the universe, but he disobeyed orders by bringing in Black Hand, and Oa was gone. Hal is sent back to earth while the Guardians chew over what to do with him, on leave. Before he can get there, there's also the now-traditional jurisdictional dispute, as earth is now Red Lantern turf, overseen by Guy Gardner! Hal doesn't want any trouble, just a quiet beer. Yeah, like that's gonna happen.

Hal's evening is immediately crashed by Guy, who ropes him into a game of pool; but Barry calls next, having run over from Central to say hey. Guy, in a bit of remarkable helpfulness, had called him; although both of them seem oblivious to Hal's sourpuss as they complain about everything going on for them. After the mandatory barroom brawl, they get thrown out, and Hal finally blows up at them both: he'd wanted an evening without Lanterns or the JLA. He wants to go back in the bar alone, but is stopped by Carol; leaving Guy and Barry to finish boozing together. It's weird to see Carol in casual, contemporary clothing; I think she was business wear in most of her GL appearances I remember.

While Carol was currently with Kyle Rayner, she still cared about Hal, and wanted to check up on him. While they both seemingly felt surprised they didn't end up together, and weren't opposed to maybe reuniting later, right now she tells him he's the only one that can answer what he's supposed to be. (Kyle doesn't show up here, since I figure he'd be the type to trust Carol absolutely and not get weird and jealous. Maybe when he first started, but not now.) Still, Hal seems like kind of a dick to everyone here: Guy was trying to help in his Guy-way, since he knows bothering Hal takes his mind of his own problems. Barry needed a friend and advice and gets neither; and Hal acting less cocksure than usual with Carol almost seems like a ploy to get her back.

Back in Green Lantern #200, Guy and Carol both attack Hal; almost 30 years later they're incredibly supportive and more likeable than him. Some things in comics do change, eventually!


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