Green Lantern Annual #1

green-lantern-annual-1-coverWriter Geoff Johns uses Green Lantern Annual #1 to kick off the next big Green Lantern event – “The Rise of the Third Army” which has been teased over the past few months. Apparently the Guardians of the Universe have decided the Green Lantern Corps, much like the Manhunters before them, have failed in their mission to bring order to the universe. Their solution? To make zombie soliders out of their own flesh, side with Black Hand over Hal Jordan and Sinestro, and destroy the Corps.

You had to wonder who the first casuality of the New 52 was going to be. Sadly, it appears to be Hal Jordan. Both Jordan and Sinestro are killed by a Guardian super-powered Black Hand, although we’ve already been teased that a Black Lantern Hal is on his way. You know what? That doesn’t make me feel any better about this arc.

The Third Army itself, a zombie-like Borg race that assimilates and converts others into its ranks, doesn’t really interest me. And removing my favorite GL (and Sinestro, whose arc back in the Corps has been pretty good) before the real battle even starts sure doesn’t instill me with much confidence. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $4.99]