Comic Review: The Green Lantern (2018-) #9

The Green Lantern (2018-) #9

DC Comics

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Liam Sharp

Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp’s run on The Green Lantern is one of the most out-there comics on the stands right now. I wouldn’t expect less from Grant Morrison, as he’s been doing some of his best work on this run. Every issue so far has landed Hal Jordan in a new wild adventure, and #9 is no different. We find our hero embroiled in a conflict on the sword and sorcery world of Athmoora, where his ring doesn’t function properly. And he does battle with a familiar face…

One of the strongest points of this run is the characterisation. Even when Morrison is throwing out all kinds of wild concepts, he doesn’t lose sight of the core of Hal Jordan’s character. Hal’s indomitable will and determination are present in every issue. Here, he fights to the bitter end despite his failing ring. This issue throws us right in the middle of the conflict. Therefore, if you haven’t been reading, it requires no knowledge of the previous issues. The concept of his ring draining rapidly ratchets up the stakes and brings a palpable tension to the story.

This book is very much a love letter to the bonkers superhero comics of the Silver Age. Liam Sharp’s art evokes both those and the 2000AD comics that Morrison got his start in. Sharp’s design work is incredible, tackling all manner of alien creatures and environments. His clean lines and dynamic perspective make the medieval fantasy/sci-fi setting of this world feel vibrant and lived-in. The Sir Hal outfit is particularly cool, and his opponent (pictured on the cover) is a fresh take on a familiar character. Any Green Lantern fan should recognise him instantly, but I’ll leave his identity a surprise just in case.

Steve Oliff’s colour art enhances the pulpy vibe of the book. His shades of green are distinct, which is important in a Green Lantern comic. The ring constructs contrast nicely with Hal’s uniform and add splashes of bright light to this grim and grotesque world. Tom Orzechowski’s letters bring Hal’s conversations with the ring to vivid life. He does a good job with the alien speech here too. It’s easy to make alien languages look like gibberish, but there is a structure to the symbols that keep things grounded.

Overall, this is another fun and engaging issue of The Green Lantern. It’s still early, but I truly think Morrison and Sharp are creating a once-in-a-lifetime comic run. The next issue looks set to bring in some of that multiversal goodness that Morrison excels at, and I’m sure Sharp will readily tackle all manner of strange characters.