Comics Review: The Green Lantern: The Blackstars #1

The Green Lantern: Blackstars #1

DC Comics 

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Xermanico, Olyoptics & Steve Oliff

Picking right off where Green Lantern #12 ended, Green Lantern: Blackstars #1 throws us right in the thick of the situation. Grant Morrison chooses to start this story uniquely, by starting on the fourth day of his new status quo and then going back. 

The storytelling in this issue is phenomenal. Seeing Blackstar Parallax and Blackstar Beelzebeth already established and with no-nonsense personalities illustrates the new status quo. As the issue moves forward, the readers move back in time. 

The story puts us in the headspace of villains. Their goals may be to achieve a form of peace but it will be done by total submission to the Blackstars. They dominate the demons of the planet Ysmault and the effectiveness is so complete, it’s creepy. 

Speaking of creepy, let’s talk about Xermanico’s art. The demons of Ysmault look like Eldritch abominations, and I can’t stop looking at them. Beelzebeth also looks equal parts unsettling and commanding. Oliff’s colorings also add to everything, making the worlds look vibrant. He also shrouds Parallax’s and Beelze’s face in shadows at several moments and it completes those scenes. 

This issue set up this new status quo very well, but we all know this is temporary. The unpredictability of Morrison really is serving to tell an interesting story. I look forward to seeing where Morrison takes this story in the remaining two issues. Even if you haven’t caught up on Morrison’s Green Lantern run, it’s still easily followable. 

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