Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #27 Review and **SPOILERS**

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Keep Orion the Prize

Writer: Robert Vendetti 

Penciller: Rafa Sandoval 

Inker: Jordi Tarragona 

Colorist: Tomeu Morey 

Letterer: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Sandoval, Tarragona and Morey 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: August 23, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

It’s cool that this New Gods story landed in the middle of Jack Kirby’s birthday month, and even better that it seems relevant to the Dark Nights: Metal crossover. Plus Rafa Sandoval is drawing again? What are we waiting for, let’s dive right into my review of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #27, right now!

Explain It!

The problem with inserting Jack Kirby’s Fourth World into regular DC Comics proceedings is that it’s almost impossible avoid the New Gods overshadowing every other character. It’s like having Jesus Christ as a supporting character on your sitcom—perhaps the nosy neighbor, who can always be seen spying at the window because of the glowing halo above his head. If you throw Darkseid into the mix, you’re bringing along a literal planet of characters and politics and terrible torments. Orion has always eased most gracefully into the DC Universe, sometimes aiding the Justice League or hanging out with Wonder Woman or even, at times, hosting his own series. He one of the most “just a superhero” guys in the Fourth World, so it’s not jarring to see him hanging around with other capes and tights.

Vendetti’s done a good job to recognize that the Green Lantern Corps just recently dealt with the New Gods, and that while the parting was amicable, it wasn’t all friendly between them. It makes sense that Hal Jordan and his posse would be wary of Orion, even as he gets blasted by Omega Beams and endangers everyone around him. Seems that when the New Gods ascended, the Old Gods created some gigantic golems to snuff them out, in a last ditch attempt at bitter revenge. The golems, which are really just tremendous robots, are attuned to Orion’s heartbeat, so there’s only one thing for him to do to stop the world he’s on from getting trashed: stab himself right in his New God heart!

This gets rid of the golem, but now leaves Orion in the unpleasant condition of being dead. Luckily, Salaak’s homeboy designed an artificial heart, he just hadn’t built a working model as yet—so Kyle creates one made from interlocking constructs, which apparently takes more willpower or something? In any case, they can keep Orion in a comatose state so long as Kyle keeps his toy heart pumping, which sounds like a flawless plan since Kyle doesn’t ever need to sleep or poop or anything like that. After a quick mind meld with Orion and a little more hemming and hawing, John orders Hal to warn the folks on New Genesis that the golems are coming—and he’s got to get there before the golems do! Naturally.

On the cusp of drawing in the New Gods and potentially making this story overly-complicated, I really enjoyed this issue! That Sandoval/Tarragona/Morey connection is as strong as ever, though there weren’t as many space scenes to showcase that aspect of their combined skills here. This moved at a good clip with not too many dead scenes of exposition (just one, really) and I liked the thing where Kyle is keeping Orion alive by the sheer force of his ability to pay attention. That’s a tall order for someone with Attention Deficit Disorder! I don’t really relish the inclusion of Lightray and whatever-the-hell-else, but I probably shouldn’t assume too much, and I can’t judge an current comic book on what I think might happen down the road. For the moment, I’m having a swell time!

Bits and Pieces:

As the picture sharpens, we learn that the stakes are at a peak--and honed enough to pierce the very breast of truth itself! Here's a selfless Orion you could learn to like, and a foolhardy Hal Jordan that you already know and love. Plus: terrific artwork. Here's what comic book ought to look like.

8/10