Much as I hate Identity Crisis, I have to admit that it's brought a lot of former Marvel zombies and a lot of mainstream attention to DC, and that can only be a good thing. Green Lantern: Rebirth compares to Identity Crisis in those terms, being a tour of the DC Universe wrapped around a strong central story, but without the trappings that make me dislike Identity Crisis so much. Which is to say that when it comes to Green Lantern: Rebirth, believe the hype. Johns is still hinting at the story here, but if I'm guessing right about his intentions, he truly has found a way to make Hal's actions understandable and even forgivable, something I honestly wasn't sure was possible. Even if he hasn't, this is a great testament to the storytelling potential of the Green Lantern Corps and all of its Earth-bound members as much as it is a Hal Jordan spotlight, and it has stunning artwork by Van Sciver, Rollins and Baumann as well.
One of my few complaints about the first issue of Green Lantern: Rebirth was that the plot seemed a bit sketchy. In this issue, the plot comes a bit more into focus, and I like the direction it's going. The Green Lanterns are both the heroes and villains of this piece, and the mechanism which causes some of them to go bad is a very interesting take on the events that lead up to "Emerald Twilight" way back when. Again, I'm just guessing about where Johns is going, but if his take on Parallax is what it appears to be here, he's given a way to forgive Hal, because really any and every Green Lantern was susceptible to the temptation, and it really was just his bad luck to be the one to give in first. It's not as good as never having that story take place in the first place, but it's probably as close as we're going to get.
Hal Jordan is presented here as a very interesting character, not the stiff that he is often portrayed as. His affection for Carol Ferris, his memory of and inspiration by his father, his determination and will even in the face of something that deliberately tried to steal that from him, these show the core of the character that many of us got and missed for so long. It is also an example of Johns showing the fans who never "got" or cared about Hal Jordan just why they should. But I shouldn't give the impression that this is just Hal's book. There's a moment here that will make most any Guy Gardner fan jump up and cheer, and Johns turns one of Kyle Rayner's biggest weaknesses as a character into a strength, giving him an early warning as to the nature of the danger. In addition, Kyle's actions in the face of deadly peril are very heroic, and not of the easy power-wielding heroism that he has so often used, but more driven by an inner strength that we rarely saw in him. John Stewart's role in this issue is not as prominent as his front-and-center role in last issue, but he does get a couple of key moments as well.
Though Johns's ideas and characterization definitely grab my interest in the book, it is the beautiful artwork by Van Sciver, Rollins and Baumann that keeps it on every page. There's a spectacular shot of the Justice League in this issue that really shows off their power and presence, and I was particularly pleased with the bat-like appearance of Batman's cape that Van Sciver put in. There are any number of impressive pyrotechnic sequences when the Green Lanterns begin to assert their power. Kilowog looks more massive and more alien than he generally has, and as a result looks more dangerous, which fits the role he is given. And the subtler moments, like the meeting between Carol and Hal, are just as powerful and effective. Folks who read my reviews know that I tend to notice colorists in general, but I really have to give a special shout-out to Moose Baumann, whose work here is just crucial to the look of the book. The way he draws the Green Lanterns' powers, with a mixture of ethereal and fiery effects, really captures the nature of those powers, and given how much of this book is by necessity drenched in green, it says something that Baumann retains subtle shadings and clear, bright colors all the while.
Truth be told, I was starting to think that the DC Universe had lost me as a reader. The events of Identity Crisis and the desire to show the ramifications of that crossover means that many of the big characters are involved in stories I'd rather not read about. However, Green Lantern: Rebirth not only restores my faith in the Green Lantern character, it has helped to remind me that there are a lot of things I like about these characters and this universe, and that powerful, heroic stories can be told with this backdrop and epic scope as well. 9/10
