Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Green Lantern: Blackstars #1 Review and **SPOILERS**



Controller Mu’s Peace



Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Xermanico

Colorist: Steve Oliff

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover: Liam Sharp

Variant Cover: Darick Robertson & Diego Rodriguez

Associate Editor: Jessica Chen

Editor: Brian Cunningham

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: November 6, 2019



**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**



Uh oh! Continuing right after the events of The Green Lantern #12, wherein Hal Jordan joined the Blackstar gang after igniting the Wish Machine with his iron will, we see Hal Jordan: Blackstar! I wonder if he’ll still be an insufferable prick? Let’s find out in my review of Green Lantern Blackstars #1, right here!




Explain It!



Whenever a new boss is hired at your workplace, you know shit is about to get messed up somehow. It can be okay at first, but then they have to “distinguish” themselves in their upward trajectory of mediocrity, and so after a while this new boss is going to assert their opinion and, more than likely, “fix” something that isn’t broken. Some miniscule change in efficiency or way to bilk precious extra seconds from the workday that continues to fill the ledgers with black ink. The worker drones abide by new rules and regulations with a smile because, if all is as normal, the changes will be temporary; once this new boss moves upward into more patronage and nepotism and abandons the vital structure that once “distinguished” them among the other middle management dickheads.

Or, like Blackstar Belzereth, you can get hired and start fucking shit up. Now that Controller Mu is in charge of the Blackstars, he’s made his own cool little cult, and Belzereth, Jordan, and seemingly all former Green Lanterns are working doggedly at his whim. That includes humiliating the former Ysmault monsters that now reside on a wrecked Oa, sapping Mongul of his energy and wrecking Warworld, and next on the docket to destroy—planet Earth! Which is of particular interest to Hal Jordan, I’d think,

This is a pretty good issue. It’s gorgeous to behold, and in a more “standard” way than Liam Sharp’s more baroque artwork. Belzereth’s ‘tude was cool, and the implications of her arranged marriage to Hal are interesting. I also liked how Controller Mu was treated like Rajneesh Purim when he showed up to the planet that had been lovingly prepared for his arrival. My only problem with this issue—and I’m sure there will be a reason revealed down the line—Hal Jordan didn’t really do anything but smirk a couple of times. Hal Jordan is kind of a douchebag, though, maybe all he needs is a smirk to assert the destructive will of Controller Mu.




Bits and Pieces:



A well-drawn opener revealing the scope of Controller Mu’s plan. Hint: it’s not to distribute boysenberries. If you liked The Green Lantern, you’ll keep reading this series.

8/10

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