The Greatest Green Lantern Of All Shows How It’s Done In Hal Jordan And The GLC #38

Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner just got their butts kicked by General Zod. Now they’re held captive without their rings, completely cut off from all communications, so the rest of the Corps has no idea they’re in trouble. Kyle is particularly beat up as he took a very brutal beatdown from Ursa. They’re going to have to get creative to escape this one.

While it’s a little cocky for Hal Jordan to be referred to as the greatest Green Lantern of all, he does prove that he’s earned that title time and time again. Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #38 is just another reason. The Eradicator is examining the rings, although we don’t know for what purpose just yet. Hal’s ring is not like normal ones as it was created out of his pure will. This allows him to pull a fast one on his captors and break out, carefully carrying his injured comrade along.
This is a pretty intense scene as you see close-ups of Hal concentrating, carefully reciting the oath which works to summon the ring. The page is broken up into a number of smaller panels, each focusing on specific details, such as Hal’s face, the ring itself, and the Eradicator’s look of concern and speculation. It culminates in an exciting shot of the ring bursting from its cage and delivering a startling blow to the Kryptonian robot. It’s the kind of image that might make you yelp with joy.

General Zod has always been depicted as a ruthless tyrant and that’s definitely what Hal and Kyle think when they first arrive on the planet now known as New Krypton. We see a slightly different side to the man here, first as he dines with his family, and then how the residents of the planet view him. It gives Hal pause. To him, this is black and white. Zod is a bad guy. He’s obviously doing something bad. He has to stop him. But what if that’s not what these people want?
The scenes with Zod and his family eating provide a nice juxtaposition to Hal and Kyle’s plight. Here you have a group of super powerful Kryptonian warriors peacefully sharing a fine meal in an extravagant room created with crystals. Meanwhile, Kyle Rayner lies half dead in another room and servants are digging for ages in a mine nearby.

This leads to a shocking discovery as to the mineral resources of New Krypton. It ups the ante considerably, forcing Hal and Kyle to make some desperate moves in order to ensure the safety of the galaxy and the Green Lantern Corps itself. We already knew Zod was a great Superman villain, but this elevates him to the same status for the Green Lanterns.
Oh, and just in case we needed it, we get another moment to show how great Hal Jordan is. This comes in a pretty powerful scene as Hal demonstrates his mastery of his will-created ring and some additional gorgeous panels. Although I may disagree with his latest online antics, Ethan Van Sciver does draw some awesome Green Lanterns.

Robert Venditti has been delivering fantastic Green Lantern comics month in and month out. Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #38 is no different. It puts the Corps in a new and challenging spot where even the most powerful weapon in the galaxy is not enough to save them. Fortunately, they’ve got the greatest ring-slinger of all on their side and he does not give up without a fight.
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #38 is currently available at your local comic shop and digitally through ComiXology and Amazon Kindle.