Green Lantern Volume 2 The Revenge of Black Hand Review

The second volume of Geoff John’s New 52 Green Lantern series picks up exactly where the first volume left off. Sinestro has arrived on Hal Jordan’s doorstep after learning of a prophecy that will mean the end for the Green Lantern Corps and it will be the doing of their makers, the Guardians of the Universe. The former adversaries turned allies Hal Jordan and Sinestro discover that Black Hand, the villain behind the Blackest Night is found and is part of the Indigo Tribe, adding more mystery to that of many of the Indigo Tribe. Collects Green Lantern #7 – 12 and Green Lantern Annual #1 with art by Douge Mahnke, Ethan Van Sciver and others.

Picking up where the last one ended Sinestro envisions a prophecy of the Green Lanterns at the hands of the Guardians and its connection to the Indigo Tribe. Sinestro interrupts a reluctant Hal Jordan and during their confrontation the wielders of the indigo light appears, abducting the two and forcibly induct Sinestro into a member of their tribe.

This was one exciting read, the story features the villain Black Hand, the herald of Nekron during the events of 2009 event; the Blackest Night. In the epic , Black Hand resurrects an army of the dead as Black Lanterns. The story also marked one of the first major appearance of the Indigo Tribe and their leader known as Indigo-1. The story concluded with their disappearance along with Black Hand, taken prisoner on their home world. He seems to have been rehabilitated under the influence of the Indigo ring.

The collection covers two story arcs; the Secret of the Indigo Tribe and Revenge of Black Hand, this story arc about his return home and mission to resurrect the as many as the dead as he can with the underlying subplot throughout the book is of the Guardians preparing for their newest plan to replace their Green Lantern Corps, setting the stage for another amazing Green Lantern story, Rise of the Third Army. It’s a very thrilling read concerning two great characters once again on the same side; Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and Sinestro. It’s a great story with some fantastic visuals, with his power ring having limited functionality Hal Jordan must create other ways to get around as he can’t fly. This gives artist Doug Mahnke to be very creative for transport for Hal around the jungle of the home world of the Indigo Tribe giving way for few great moments. The story acknowledges the past Green Lantern stories, the formation and mission of the Indigo Tribe is very much tied to Abin Sur, the predecessor to Hal Jordan, the end fight between Hal, Sinertro and Black Hand is very reminiscent of the first time the trio first crossed paths in a graveyard in the revised back story Green Lantern Secret Origin. As you settle down to read prepare to read the final issue Green Lantern Annual #1 the dripping blood style Green Lantern logo, similar to the style of the Death of Superman story, lets you know that this 48 page special was going to be something else and it was. Ethan Van Sciver returns to Green Lantern, the hero he helped relaunch with Geoff Johns in their Rebirth miniseries that saw the return of Hal Jordan and launched a new Green Lantern series in 2005. It's fitting to have the artist back in the brilliant annual issue that sets the stage for the next big event in the Green Lantern universe.

The second volume of the amazing Green Lantern series is on track to setting up one big event and cross over, where the eradication of the Green Lantern Corps is at hand, but unlike other threats of before their extermination will be undertaken by their makers, the Guardians of the Universe, setting the stage for a soon to be epic; Rise of the Third Army. Longtime readers are rewarded with the origins of the Indigo Tribe, the ever-mysterious Corps were the only group not to have a back story since the Blackest Night, and it’s a creepy and eerie story.The tale makes use of prophecy scenes on page that Johns is famous for, creating a level of excitement for fans for what’s to come.

Green Lantern Volume 2 The Revenge of Black Hand is brilliant and better than the first, not to say the Sinestro Volume 1 arc was bad it was just a smaller scale story after the events of the War of the Green Lanterns arc that preceded it. The previous story had the reader guessing what Sinestro was up to or if we could fully trust him. That trail of thought leaves the reader in this story, the Sinestro arc was a more personal story as he attempts to free his home world from his own evil Sinestro Corps. This story sheds a little more light on his past and becomes more of anti-hero. Hal Jordan fans will be happier that the hero has more of active role in this epic that the earlier volume. After eight years and over 80 issues of Green Lantern Geoff Johns still provides fantastic stories in the series that shows no signs of dipping in quality or substance. Johns building to another fantastic story, revealing the origins and shedding more light on the formation of the mysterious Indigo Tribe while bringing the villain Black Hand back for another story before building to a shocking and eventful conclusion that builds the level of anticipation for the third volume in the series; Green Lantern Volume 3 The End.

My Collection: DC Universe Classics Wave 20 Green Lantern All Star Action Figure Review.

When I first saw this figure a few years ago I thought it was really cool. At the time I wasn’t a big Green Lantern but in the last two years I become more and more a Hal Jordan fan. It was Justice League books that I had gotten me more and more interested in Hal Jordan as a Green Lantern, especially the New 52 Justice League series. Hal Jordan is one to the most important characters in the DC Universe. Possibly like most people I was introduced to the Green Lanterns thorough the Justice League animated series. In the series John Stewart was earth’s Green Lantern. The stern straight laced militaristic Stewart did not instantly appeal to me. It wasn’t until I was first discovered Hal Jordan in the DC Animated Original Movie - Green Lantern: First Flight and later animated movies where I became more liking of the character. I really enjoyed the 2011 live action movie which I thought was great fun and gave another great introduction of the character and his universe. I hugely enjoyed the complex and the complex and dynamic relationship with Thaal Sinestro and along with the animated series which was great also, I felt like I got to know enough about the character and his surroundings to get into the books. 

Hal Jordan as Green Lantern became a growing favorite and his characterization in Geoff John's New 52 Justice League series really won me over and I began getting into the best of the pre-New 52 Green Lantern graphic novels from the 2005 series also by Johns. His departure from the team in the Villain’s Journey story arc and the how big a role the character played in Justice graphic novel by Jim Kruger and Alex Ross really influenced me to start getting into his books. Starting with Green Lantern:Secret Origin, the updated origin story which covered familiar ground and later got into John’s big Green Lantern trilogy; Rebirth, The Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night miniseries. I'm currently reading and enjoying the continuation of Geoff John's run on Green Lantern of as part of the New 52.

Hal Jordan made his comic book debut in Showcase #22 October 1959. This new Silver Age Green Lantern was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in a revamp of characters away from the magic and supernatural based stories of the Golden Age and replaced them with the science fiction based superhero stories.The Green Lantern of the Golden Age whose powers were derived from magic was named Alan Scott. Hal Jordan was the first human inducted into the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force. This new Green Lantern along with along with re-imagining of other DC heroes such as the Atom, the Flash and Hawkman marked the beginning of the Silver Age of DC Comics.

While training in a flight simulator, test pilot Hal Jordan was suddenly transported to the crash site of an alien spacecraft. The injured pilot named Abin Sur - Green Lantern of Sector 2814 passed on to Jordan his green power ring. Hal Jordan was chosen by the ring to become a member of the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force. The ring allowed him to make real anything that he could imagine, one of the most powerful weapons in the Universe. Hal Jordan is the most well-known Green Lantern and was the first earth man ever inducted into the Green Lantern Corps and has been heralded as possibly the greatest Green Lantern of all time. He fights evil across the Universe with a ring that grants him a variety of extraordinary powers. Hal is also a founding member of the Justice League of America. Hal’s been through some pretty dark times. He’s responsible for nearly decimating the entire Green Lantern Corps while possessed by Parallax, the evil yellow entity of fear. But since that event - and the subsequent redemption attempt during Final Night story line where he died trying to save Earth. Hal was later revived in the stellar 2005 miniseries Green Lantern: Rebirth by Geoff Johns making him a Green Lantern once more, representing the model Green Lantern and one of the greatest heroes in the DC Universe.

Green Lantern Hal Jordan has been released several times in Mattel's DC Universe Classics. As the most popular Green Lantern Hal Jordan first appeared in Wave 3 of the line several times since with various differences all with the stand 21 points of articulation. This final release comes in standard package design for the series since Wave 16. This All Star figure was included as part of Wave 20 of the action figure line. All Star are a series of figure of DC’s most popular characters re-released sometimes with new paint deco for the purchasing by newer collectors. All Star figures does not include collect and connect piece. The Green Lantern is the final Green Lantern by Mattel's DC Universe Classics.


To me this is the best DC Universe Classics Green Lantern figure available, and there has been quite a few. The new shiny metallic Green Lantern figure is great, the paint job speaks for itself. It’s a modern rendition of the same Wave 3 sculpt that was released in 2007 that featured his classic and best know look but now this 2012 release feature an improved figure featuring the modern look of Hal Jordan as Green Lantern. The new look is ditches the small over shorts look thus begins the iteration of the modern Green Lantern look, the green parts of the costume stops pointed above the waist, the look that Hal Jordan has wore since his return in the Rebirth story arc and is still retained this look since the New 52 reboot whereas most of the characters has their costumes had changed and updated. The change is style to his costume and the metallic paint application helps the costume looks more modernized. As well as making the costume appear like it is energy based uniform that would be part on an intergalactic police force. It is the only Green Lantern action figure to be given the metallic paint brings a new shade of green, The first and only of DC Universe Classics Green Lantern figures to get this metallic paint job. Green Lantern is such a big part of the DC Universe that it has its own sub line of figures as part of DC Universe Classics.


Hal Jordan has been released many times in Mattel's series of figures, having more repaints and re-releases than Batman. The character appeared several times as a Green Lantern as well as Yellow, Black and White Lantern action figures. This marks sixth figure release of Hal Jordan as Green Lantern. The initial five releases were the original Wave 3 release the classic look, first appearance with black shoulders that featured a two pack with his predecessor Abin Sur, 90’s Hal Jordan with grey sideburns that appeared in the Green Lantern’s Light 5 pack. Then came the metallic paint variations of the figure. First was the classic look with the metallic green, old fashioned logo and added pupils released in the Hal Jordan VS Sinestro two pack.

The first modern rendition of the figure was released in the Toys R Us exclusive 75 years of Super Powers All Stars release. The figure had the same look but had the metallic green paint only, the rest of the figure had the standard matt black and white along with a pale reddish brown hair colour which didn’t look right. This Wave 20 All-Stars version fixes that snafu and restores the darkness to Hal’s hair, making this figure complete and totally recognizable as the Hal Jordan. This new figure features all over new paint deco, the metallic green and the new glossy black and white that gives the gloves a peralised appearance. The one thing that the previous that figure release did have going for it was that included a lantern accessory. 


In my opinion the best Green lantern figure, this latest release is the best of the lot. The main selling-point of this Green Lantern figure is its shiny metallic paint job and luckily, the paint job turns out to be pretty spectacular. The green used is a nice reflective deep green metallic paint that makes Hal really shines as a cosmic action figure. Exceptionally neatly painted and the logo is clean and crisp on the figure. Photos don’t do the figure justice, it’s a real standout figure. The body is the basic figure mold that has been used on countless figures since but the detailing and focus is that paint job, it adds the necessary layer of depth to what would be otherwise a plain figure. It is what we’ve seen before but better, it looks stunning and is unlike any of the other DC Universe Classics collectors action figures I own.

It's a fitting end for the last of Mattel figure I will more than likely add to my collection. It's an excellent figure and representation of Hal Jordan who is on to the most important characters in the DC Universe. I never thought I would have wanted a Green Lantern figure until I seen this one a over a year ago. Initially I wasn’t a Green Lantern fan at the time but I really appreciated how distinctive this figure was. The more I got into DC comics graphic novels and became more of a fan of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps. All of the books I’ve read have been by one of the best and modern writers in comics Geoff Johns this brilliant writer who's always able to convey the best qualities in superhero comics and his highly acclaimed nine year run that was one of the main reasons I was such a big fan of Green Lantern Hal Jordan. 

I got this last Mattel DC Universe Classics figure at a great price when I was becoming a bigger fan of Hal Jordan. The final Green Lantern before Mattel DC Universe Classics called in a day in 2014. When I first got into comics, heroes like Batman and Daredevil appealed to me most, the gritty and realistic stories I was interested in. Green Lantern stories is the antithesis of those kind of heroes. Space, aliens, an intergalactic police force and a ring as the most powerful weapons in the universe. All these science fiction elements are of imagination and creativity is the reason superhero comics exist, taking inspiration from the one that stared it all, Superman in 1938.

All in all there is not as much detailing in this figure as other in the DC Universe Classics line and doesn't come with any accessories. The new paint job speaks for itself. Not a lot else to say, it’s the same figure that has came out before but different in one big way that makes up for it. Its modernized look fits in great with my other modern versions of DC heroes; Green Arrow, Superman and Batman. Signalling the time when I became a Green Lantern fan.

In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power... Green Lantern's light!

Green Lantern Volume 1 Sinestro Review

Sinestro, once one of the greatest of the Green Lanterns that were ever was. And in the wake of War of the Green Lanterns he has become a Green Lantern once more. One of the greatest villains in the DC Universe seeks the assistance of long-time adversary and Hal Jordan who is struggling with his own life that he was stripped of his power ring and is no longer a Green Lantern that is until Sinestro makes him an offer to once again become a Green Lantern and rescue the inhabitants of Korugar, the renegade Green Lanterns home world from the his own Sinestro CorpsCollects Green Lantern #1 – 6 by Geoff Johns with artist Douge Mahnke as part of DC Comics the New 52.

When I started getting into comics it just shortly before the DC Comics initiative the New 52, in which DC relaunched all its titles with new #1’s acting as a fresh start to all its titles. On first impression it appeared the Green Lantern title went back to when SInestro was a Green Lantern. The misconception here is that Green Lantern is one of the only titles of DC’s relaunch that remained unchanged by The New 52. The villain becoming a Green Lantern is just the next exciting chapter in long time writer Geoff John’s amazing Green Lantern saga with artist Douge Mahnke.

With conclusion of the previous story arc Hal Jordan is no longer a Green Lantern due to the belief that the Guardians of the Universe deem him to be too dangerous, they discharge him for the Corps taking his ring and sending him back to earth. As Hal tries to pick up the pieces of his life, struggling to live a normal life and mend his relationship with Carol Ferris, Sinestro is on Oa being reluctantly being re-inducted back into the Green Lantern Corps. As he is now reinstated as a Green Lantern the former villain sets out to protect his sector including his home world of Korugar which is under the control of his own Sinestro Corps. He requires help and gives Hal Jordan a chance to be a Green Lantern once more in exchange for his help to free his people. The two have a long history, and this story becomes more of a character driven story with complex rivalry between Hal and Sinestro. Even though the Green Lantern series follows Hal Jordan as its main character, in this story Sinestro becomes more of a main role in the tale. It’s a smaller scale story that follows the event of the massive War of the Green Lanterns story building towards another big Green Lantern epic by Geoff Johns. The best thing about the story is these two characters in a “buddy cop” style, emulating the relationship of the former friends back to their roles in Green Lantern Secret Origin, the origin story for Hal Jordan as Green Lantern and his first meeting of the pair. This story revisits the original relationship between the two characters while not forgetting their long complex history, it reinstates the teacher and student relationship with Sinestro in charge and Hal in the student role with limited power ring. 

It's a smaller scale story that's a bit more intricate than most, the pair have a long history with different methods and views paired together back in a story that makes for a great story with great art with imaginative work by artist Mahnke. The story has an interesting intriguing hook, that turns out to be a great character drama as they seek to rescue mission without being fully trusting of the rouge Green Lantern. The story produces some interesting character work, and after the previous arc of the War of the Green Lanterns, it stays away from galactic sized threats allowing time to build up a new larger scale story. It’s a nice change of pace while foreshadowing bigger threats to come. It’s a joy to read before what’s to come. It’s a more personal story focusing more on the entertaining rivalry of Hal Jordan and Sinestro.