The Green Lantern #2 Makes Good On Its Promise Of Being A Cop Drama In Space

Grant Morrison wanted to give us a Green Lantern book that promised to be a cop comic set in space and with issue #2 of The Green Lantern he certainly makes good on that promise. With a good chunk of this issue focusing on Hal Jordan and fellow Green Lantern, Trilla-Tru, interrogating rich girl-pirate, ‘Spider-alien’, on a cop killing murder charger, it’s a familiar scene from so many police-procedural dramas. But it’s kept fresh with the substitution of real world police with the most bizarre looking aliens (just check out Volk), and cop precincts, with the exotic, mind-blowing planet Oa as astonishingly rendered by Liam Sharp on art. The one page splash that introduces Oa barely fits on the page, it’s that gargantuan, richly layered and detailed. Breathtaking, really.

But the interrogation scene is only one part of this comic book. We have a further look into the Blackstars and their devilish dealings. One such dealing is the capture of a rather hokey old school Lantern villain to further their plans, which we learn more about here. Familiar to long-term GL fans but maybe not so to others. Nonetheless Morrison has a proven track record of taking such sappy DC villains and breathing new life and new significance unto them. Or, maybe not in this case, as you’ll see if you pick up the comic.
All this and the disappearances of planets from across the stars as well as a touch of horror, too. It’s turning into a busy week for Hal and the Green lantern Corps. Bet they pay great overtime rates, though.

Like a Green Lantern powered ring, Liam Sharp’s artwork once again shines, effortlessly jamming in a great amount of interaction among the various characters onto every panel and page. There are a few nods to DC’s past too, with some of the Darkstars being such that hardcore fans will recognise them almost immediately. There’s even knowingly a touch of Neal Adams to Sharp’s Hal Jordan, no more so than on the very last panel of the book. A panel and a cliffhanger that only promises a ramping up of action in subsequent issues.
Steve Oliff only adds to the sheen with colours that, on occasions, literally sparkle. And, with so much fine detail, I must tip my hat to seasoned letterer Tom Orzechowski. What an accomplishment in lettering in each issue with hardly a wasted space.  It’s a well oiled team and a beautiful balanced looking book. No to say the least about last issue’s startling revelation, that isn’t even mentioned here in the hope we’d forget. It looks like it’s going to get a lot darker before it gets light again. Even with a cosmic powered lamp. Well worth picking up if you’re visiting your LCBS any time soon.
The Green Lantern #2 is available now from DC Comics.