Green Lantern: Earth One Review

Green Lantern: Earth One GN

Writers: Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman
Artist: Gabriel Hardman
Colorist: Jordan Boyd
Publisher: DC Comics

Review by Cory Webber

Green Lantern: Earth One is the latest in DC Comics’ Earth One series — a series designed to offer fresh takes on well-established characters. This is the fifth title in this series, following graphic novels of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Teen Titans — and it might be the best one of them all.

Green Lantern: Earth One is written and drawn by married couple Bechko & Hardman, who also created Invisible Republic, a gritty science fiction title at Image Comics. They bring that same realism and grit to Green Lantern, making it more science fiction and less super hero. This is a good thing. I have read a smattering of Green Lantern titles, mostly Johns’ run, some of the New 52, and the current ongoing title. Now, I’m no expert, but I find this to be the best iteration of this character, ever.

This creative couple has created something very unique and fresh, even though they are working on a character who has decades of continuity. The changes to Green Lantern’s mythology feel organic to the story being told without diverting too far from the original source. One that I liked, in particular, is that the ring doesn’t choose its next owner; rather, the person that finds it can use it according to their free will, but they must prove their worthiness to wield it.

The art in Green Lantern: Earth One does an amazing job of creating a gritty atmosphere, but it’s not all bleak — the use of color is fantastic. This really provides a wonderful contrast to the dark shadows and rigid lines. The flow from panel to panel and page to page is impeccable. It reads so smoothly, and looks so gorgeous, that I read it twice and flipped through a couple more times.

This book needs to be the basis for the upcoming Green Lantern film. If it isn’t, I’ll be disappointed, but at least I’ll have this book to wipe my tears, metaphorically speaking. I mean, I wouldn’t actually dry my tears with it…this book is too perfect, but you get the point. And the ending, oh, the ending! It wraps up the story soundly, but then it hints at a greater story to be told. I hope there are several more volumes by this creative tour de force.

Verdict:
Buy it as soon as you can! Green Lantern: Earth One reads like an indie masterpiece in spite of being a retelling of a well-established character. Just enough of the main continuity is changed to give this book a unique feel. Seriously, DC, please make this the next Green Lantern movie.