GREEN LANTERN #147
"Standing Up"
Recommended (7/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Judd Winick
Pencils: Dale Eaglesham
Inks: Rodney Ramos
Colors: Moose Baumann
Letters: Kurt Hathaway
Editor: Bob Schreck
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
Not surprisingly, this title is bolstered by a renewed focus on down-to-earth, human stories. Winick shifts away from the more cosmic tone of the ongoing plotlines and delves into the character of John Stewart. The more narrow focus in the writing brings with it greater focus in the art as well. This is the sort of story I look for in Judd Winick's work.
Weeks ago, the assassin known as Fatality told John Stewart that his paraplegic condition was, in fact, psychosomatic, and though it wasn't entirely true, Kyle Rayner, thanks to his Ion powers, makes it possible for John to walk again. But it doesn't take. There is some kind of mental block preventing him from standing on his own two feet again, and he and his therapist try to get to the bottom of it during a session.
This is a story about emotion, and Eaglesham captures the feelings, associated memories and humanity of it all quite well. The artist conveys Stewart's intensity and stubornness, and those elements are key to the tale. This had the potential to be a visually disorienting piece, given the number of flashbacks and psychologically symbolic sequences, but Eaglesham, along with the dialogue, keeps things flowing clearly. Baumann's colors are also appropriately dark and moody.
This story delves into the complex and rather contrived history of what one could describe as a minor character in the DC Universe. Winick's use of John Stewart in the past has been strong, but to my surprise, this spotlight on the character was thoroughly accessible. Winick tells the reader everything s/he needs to know to follow the story, but he doesn't bog the reader down with unnecessary bits of continuity either. Winick doesn't even require the reader to be up to speed on the ongoing Ion storyline that's currently running in this title.
What's really wonderful about this story is that John's problem has nothing to do with his time as a super-hero, or his subsequent peripheral adventures as one of the title character's pals. No, this is a story that could have worked without the super-hero elements altogether. Winick's greatest strength as a writer is that his characters -- whether they're wacky or wondrous -- always remain human beings.
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