Green Lantern #49 – Review

By Geoff Johns (writer), Ed Benes & Marcos Marz (artists), Ed Benes & Luciana Del Negro (inkers

The Story: John Stewart guest stars in Hal’s book this month to single handedly take on the Black Lantern planet Xanshi.

The Good: Wow. I love, love, love it when a comic can get me to re-examine characters I thought I knew. It’s not that I never liked John Stewart, but I will admit it was always hard to view him as being anything other than Hal’s wingman. With this issue, my respect for Stewart and his abilities has gone through the roof, and if DC ever wises up and gives Stewart his own monthly series, I’ll be the first in line to pick it up, this issue was that damn good. Under Johns’ guidance, Stewart is the eternal soldier: stoic, taciturn, and utterly dedicated to achieving the mission at hand. When that mission turns out to be taking on an entire Black Lantern planet, conventional wisdom would tell most people to wait for some back up. But not John Stewart, oh no. In the greatest and best-drawn moment of the comic, Stewart…well, let’s just say he calls on a different Corps to help him kick ass and take names. I was initially disappointed when I saw that Doug Mahnke wouldn’t be drawing this issue, but after reading it I have to say Benes was the perfect choice to bring Stewart’s tale to life.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Picks Of The Week

Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Fables #91 -Fables is on a roll these days, and this was the best issue yet.  It’s an issue that completely satisfies in every way that a Fables comic can and is also a very rich, dense issue that is a steal for $2.99.

Most Anticipated: Hellboy: The Bride of Hell – In a week absolutely jam-packed with quality releases, it’s the reunion of the Eisner-award winning duo of Mignola and Corben that has me most excited.  I’ve always enjoyed Hellboy’s shorter stories quite a bit.

Other Picks: Powers #2, Wolverine: Weapon X #8, Fantastic Four #574, Detective Comics #860, Invincible #69, Northlanders #23, Madame Xanadu #18, Secret Warriors #11, New Avengers #60, Green Lantern #49, Justice Society #34, Unknown Soldier #15, Spider-Woman #4, Thor #605, Uncanny X-Men #519

DS’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Power Girl #7 – Although Doctor Voodoo was a good, solid offering for a Sorcerer Supreme fanboy like me, Power Girl #7, against all my odds, edged the good doctor out by doing something fresh and becoming an overt sexual satire instead of just a funny book with eye candy.

Most Anticipated: Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield? #1 – do you even need to ask!? I’m a huge Bucky fan now – Steve: You deserve retirement!

Other Top Picks: Detective Comics #860, Blackest Night: Justice League #1, Green Lantern #49, Wonder Woman #39, X-Men Legacy #231, Uncanny X-Men #519, Guardians of the Galaxy #21.

Ray’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Green Lantern Corps#43 – With an emotional and action-packed issue, Tomasi delivers not only the best Blackest Night book of the week, but a solid, entertaining, and relatable comic book .

Most Anticipated: Detective Comics #860 – I cannot get enough of Kate Kane. I haven’t looked forward to a a conclusion to arc as much as this tale of Batwoman’s origin.

Other Top Picks: Detective Comics #860, Blackest Night: Justice League #1, Green Lantern #49, Wonder Woman #39, X-Men Legacy #231, Uncanny X-Men #519, Gotham City Sirens #7, Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield? #1