With Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams' Hard Travelling Heroes run in Green Lantern (vol 2), comic books had struck a new note. By focusing on real-world issues, creators rejuvenated DC Comics by making plots and stories relevant and recognisable to readers. Issues such as the environment, race, politics, and drugs, had rarely been given oxygen by creators until 1970. With Green Lantern (vol 2) 89, the title was cancelled due to poor sales. But only a few years later, the title returned with O’Neil back at the helm. Alongside him was Mike Grell, then a new artist who’d later make a name for himself on Warlord (1976-1982) and Green Arrow (vol 2, 1988-1994). With Green Lantern teaming up with Green Arrow once again, what tales do we have this time?
Green Lantern (vol 2) 90-99 was written by Dennis O’Neil with art by Mike Grell, Robert Smith, Terry Austin, Dick Giordano, Vince Colletta. Published from September 1976 to December 1977, the stories have been recently reprinted in Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Space Travelling Heroes, and thus far it’s the only instance of these issues being reprinted. Is that a sign of their quality?
Those Who Worship Evil’s Might --- Written by Dennis O’Neil with art by Mike Grell
As the title of the hardcover collected edition suggests, this returns Green Lantern to his science-fiction roots. Some may groan or tut at such a change, especially away from brilliant real-world concepts. But with O’Neil at the helm once more, perhaps he can re-energise sci-fi for the 1970s by being creative with different issues, outer-space races, or characters to create an interesting story. Green Lantern (vol 2) 90 is our first taste of this relaunched title.
To start things off, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern gets a new power ring from the Guardians of Oa! Neat. That has little of anything to do with the story – frankly, I don’t know why he needed a new power ring, but there we are. Green Lantern reports to a desert near Las Vegas, where a mysterious alien spaceship has been detected by nearby atomic tests conducted by scientists. At first, with our experience of the previous run, you’d think O’Neil would write more about that side of the story and explore some of the morals of nuclear energy once again. Instead, the ship opens up and an alien named Jinn escapes from it, chased by further aliens all dressed in uniforms. At first, Green Lantern and Green Arrow are on the side of the fearful fleeing alien, but O’Neil rather quickly turns the table, without much drama or surprise. Jinn is revealed to be the villain, while the Halla, are after him because they are predecessors to the modern day Green Lantern Corps. While it provides a pleasant surprise that the Halla are not just a completely different race, it does feel predictable and somewhat cliched to make them a former version of the Green Lantern Corps. But what’s probably worse about this issue is its tried-and-tested-and-exhausted plot. Stories where the role of hero and villain are confused are pretty standard and no longer provide any shocks. While O’Neil doesn’t write a bad story here, he writes a typical one. It feels more Silver Age than Bronze Age. And what’s worse is that Green Arrow is present, but he serves little purpose in the tale. By placing Green Lantern in stories with domestic or un-superpowered threats, Green Arrow was there to provide a different angle. Since he lacks superpowers, what good does Green Arrow have here?
The Revenge of the Renegade --- Written by Dennis O’Neil with art by Mike Grell
Green Lantern (vol 2) 91 throws us straight into the action – Green Lantern fights Sinestro in space. It’s good to see a villain with some true weight behind them. Sinestro takes out another member of the Green Lantern Corps, meaning that Sinestro has a free shot at Earth. And how does he go about this? Does he – with his extraordinary powers and colossal strength – hurtle asteroids onto the planet’s surface? No, of course not. Instead, he organises an archery contest to lure Green Arrow into a trap. Because that makes sense. Sinestro sees Green Arrow as his second archnemesis, obviously behind Green Lantern. Perhaps the Emerald Archer has caused problems for Sinestro before, but again, I come back to that original point. Green Arrow has no superpowers. He won’t be able to stop that asteroid. Arranging such a farcical contest makes little sense. Sure, it may give Green Arrow a role in the story, and he does terrifically escape from Sinestro’s trap, but once Green Lantern arrives, the tale is over. Overall, it may be humorous, but it feels like DC has taken two steps backwards after that confident step forward as displayed in the Green Lantern/Green Arrow tales of the early-1970s.
The Legend of Green Arrow --- Written by Dennis O’Neil with art by Mike Grell and Robert Smith
Green Lantern (vol 2) 92 begins by looking at some of the interesting parts of the previous issue which O’Neil put to one side. The country where that archery contest took place is endemic with homelessness and deprivation. This return to form focusing on more interesting issues is very brief, since Sinestro escapes once again as he smuggled a second ring with him (not a great bit of plotting there). Green Lantern (with Green Arrow effectively tied to him since he can’t fly in space) chases Sinestro, but suddenly they all get trapped in some strange astral field which transports them to a strange alien world which is almost fairytale in its features. There are medieval knights, women held hostage, and a civil war. A fake prince named Yuan is the enemy and what’s interesting is that Green Lantern and Green Arrow must work with Sinestro to both defeat Yuan and escape from the realm. In that sense, the story makes for interesting reading as Sinestro resists his dastardly ways. Meanwhile, the plot is just okay. It’s a pretty standard storybook kind of tale. Sinestro does turn back to the dark side at the end, but he fails to return back to Earth’s universe and gets trapped elsewhere. Overall, it’s hard to fiercely dislike this story, or like it for that matter. Its existence is pretty forgettable, but it does have some shining moments.
War Against the World-Builders --- Written by Dennis O’Neil with art by Mike Grell and Terry Austin
Green Lantern (vol 2) 93 spawns two trends which last throughout the entirety of the run. The first and most important one is Itty. This small starfish-like creature speaks no words, nor has any means of communication. Think of it as Green Lantern’s pet – O’Neil should provide more of an explanation for its presence and how it came to be, but for now, it’s mostly harmless. The other trend is one which had been present through earlier Green Lantern tales – the use of the colour yellow. Alien spaceships above Coast City transport civilians to an alien planet faraway, and they defeat Green Lantern by using yellow rays. This is extremely common throughout the run, and it becomes hugely tiresome. Despite this, O’Neil writes a brilliant story here. The aliens who transported these humans from Coast City are not murderous villains or even totally evil. They want humanity to survive and make a colony on this planet. Again, O’Neil makes this story relevant with its fantastic plot. The spotlight is on the people, who are split. Some want to remain on Earth, while others believe they have no future on Earth, and they have a better chance in this new colony. The plot provides a moral dilemma for Green Lantern. Although he tries his best to defeat the aliens, he must begrudgingly accept that some humans decide to stay behind.
It’s a shame that O’Neil doesn’t really write Green Arrow into this tale – he’s often reliable when it comes to arguing with Green Lantern and I think that would have made for interesting reading, especially with this plot. Regardless, these are all nitpicks. This issue is a classic, and one which stands almost as tall as the earlier tales O’Neil collaborated on with Neal Adams. What’s more, O’Neil ends the issue terrifically with a cliff-hanger – Green Arrow is arrested “permanently” by secret government agents!
Lure for an Assassin/Terminal for a Tragedy --- Written by Dennis O’Neil with art by Mike Grell, Terry Austin, Dick Giordano, and Vince Colletta
Green Arrow (vol 2) 94 is teased with such an outstanding ending to the previous issue, but sadly its short-term resolution is disappointing. As Green Arrow is dragged by the secret agents into a blacked-out car, Green Lantern arrives and rescues his buddy. Although the agents escape, this is where O’Neil floods the story with intriguing plot details. Green Lantern is suddenly taken ill, and Jon Stewart arrives to try and restore Hal Jordan back to full health. While he succeeds there, it does feel like Jon Stewart’s presence is a waste here. O’Neil gave him a good introduction in Green Lantern (vol 2) 87, but here he plays the simple role of a nurse. It’s a shame, but at least O’Neil finally gives us a story where Green Arrow can shine. He follows those government agents with the help of Black Canary. However, both heroes are captured by Colonel Thaddeus Lucius Krisp – with Black Canary as his hostage, he gives Green Arrow a mission – assassinate the President (this dramatic moment is ruined when Green Arrow doesn’t know what president Krisp is referring to, leading the villain to specify such an obvious target).
Green Arrow (vol 2) 95 displays O’Neil’s brilliance as a plotter. Krisp wants the US President dead because he believes that he – along with his recent predecessors – has betrayed the United States and let its reputation slip. O’Neil was a man whose politics
where far more to the left than Krisp’s obviously are, and while they both may have disapproved of the Presidencies of Johnson, Nixon, and Ford for a penumbra of reasons, it’s Krisp’s use of assassination and a military coup of kinds where they differ. Krisp also wants the President dead because he is offering aid to poorer nations. At first, Green Arrow refuses, but then gives in when he remembers what
could happen to Black Canary if he fails. Green Arrow begrudgingly accepts the task – one which fits the tone of character more than Green Lantern. O’Neil’s plot does feel like it’s ahead of its time, like something you’d expect to read in Mike Grell’s run in the 1990s. When it comes to the assassination, all of the building up and drama sadly falls very flat and doesn’t seem to exist. It feels slightly stilted and dry as Green Arrow fires one of his non-lethal fake arrows. Krisp’s defeat feels empty and it’s a shame because O’Neil wrote a very good story up until the end, where a moment which should contain such tension is actually shockingly dull. As for the revival of Green Lantern, that doesn’t really help matters as Jon Stewart goes on something of a wild-goose chase to restore Hal Jordan back to health. It’s revealed that the hero contracted an illness from a previous story, and in the end he’s back to full health and annoyingly Jon Stewart has to vanish again. Despite its flaws, Green Lantern (vol 2) 94-95 finally gives Green Arrow a purpose once again and it’s impossible to deny that O’Neil writes an interesting story with political ramifications, mystery, and more. But perhaps it could have been told far more dramatically.
How Can an Immortal Die/The Mystery of the Mocker/Listen to the Mocking Bird/We Are On The Edge of the Ultimate Ending
Green Lantern (vol 2) 96-99 is a four-parter that features both the return of an old hero, and the creation of a new villain. Katma Tui, considered one of the most powerful Green Lanterns, falls to Earth unconscious. Green Arrow and Green Lantern find her and learn that there is terrible dangerous surrounding Oa. Green Lantern flies out towards Oa, finding a colossal spacecraft nearby. And then, all of a sudden, members of the Green Lantern Corps appear and attack Hal Jordan! It’s not just the Green Lanterns that have turned. Next, the Guardians of Oa go after Green Lantern, but shockingly, one of the immortal guardians dies and everybody exits their trance. As Green Lantern questions how one of the immortal Guardians of Oa can be killed, an evil loud laugh echoes across the planet. With its brief plot, Green Lantern (vol 2) 96 feels like a prelude for what’s to come. I’m glad O’Neil doesn’t go down the well-trodden path whereby a hero is accused of murdering one of their own. Hal Jordan being put on trial for killing a Guardian of Oa, while beneficial for other villains, would be boring.
With mystery created, Green Lantern (vol 2) 97 kicks off with even more of it! The strange villain uses clouds to attack the Green Lanterns, while a spaceship takes off into the stars. Hal Jordan breaks into the spaceship, but is captured by an alien race, one of whom disguised themselves perfectly as a Guardian of Oa to act as spy. How any of the Green Lanterns – let alone the real Guardians of Oa – never worked that out is truly stunning. Anyway, this fake Guardian is the one who pretended to die on Oa, but before that side of the story can go any further, we’re introduced to the true villain of the story – the Mocker. This alien-looking version of Ra’s Al Ghul can create mental images and bring them to life to haunt and scupper superheroes. He transports Green Lantern back to Earth after a hallucination of Green Arrow attacks his emerald ally. Although slightly too-Shakespearean in dramatics, and with a howling laugh that would make even the campest villains cringe, the Mocker is a threatening foe. He always looms over heroes like a haunting figure. His superpower is used creatively by O’Neil, and much suspense is built up in preparation for the big confrontation between the heroes and this creepy villain.
Green Lantern (vol 2) 98 focuses on an unusual and frankly pointless aspect of the story – Katma Tui. Although O’Neil introduced her in the story as a messenger of future troubles, during the tale she is kidnapped by terrorists. Although Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Black Canary rescue her, it does seem that Katma Tui is just present as a distraction and to add an extra threat into the story. Although O’Neil might deliver a decent villain, much of the story is uneventful and dull. Little interesting or of value really happens, and the third part is the staunchest example of that, even if the Mocker pulls some brilliant tricks out of the bag, like using a ghost of Larry Lance to haunt Black Canary.
As for the finale, Green Lantern (vol 2) 99 spends too much of its opening pages recapping a pretty arid story. While there’s nothing wrong with such an approach, about half of this issue is lost to recapping, and then a pointless fight between Green Lantern and Green Arrow. When that’s all out of the way, the heroes enter the Mocker’s spacecraft (which Green Lantern saw in the first part, and never bothered to return to) with Katma Tui. And this is where a grand revelation finally entertains us. The Mocker has spent thousands of years causing mischief for the people of the universe, but recently he has been spying on Green Lantern. How? Through Itty, his ‘pet’ starfish which has always been with him.
While I wouldn’t quite call Itty a character with a personality, this revelation is both surprising and welcome. Itty has barely been mentioned – we’ve just learned to accept it, and it’s great because Itty has got a purpose! But from this revelation, the four-parter ends flatly. It’s revealed that Green Lantern has been tricking the Mocker by creating an illusion of himself. Surely, with Itty present, the Mocker would have seen this diversion. Either way, the real Green Lantern arrives to put the Mocker in chains. His defeat is underwhelming, especially for a villain who had some real menace. But overall, the Mocker was certainly the best part of the story. It really didn’t’ need to be four parts long – perhaps two or three at the very most. O’Neil adds too much filler and much of the story is uneventful and pretty boring. Despite a good start, a grand villain, and a fantastic surprise, Green Lantern (vol 2) 96-99 isn’t a memorable tale.
Mike Grell certainly had huge boots to fill. Neal Adams left such a remarkable and seismic impression on Green Lantern (vol 2) and indeed the comic book medium as a whole that it was frankly impossible for anybody to compare. It certainly would have been harder for someone like Grell, who was still a rising artist. His work in the 1980s and 1990s can be truly fantastic, almost as good as Adams on his best day. But in the mid-1970s, it’s something of a mixed bag. Grell captures some of the drama which Adams inserted so smoothly into his art, but it does look more generic in terms of storytelling. It can look exciting, and some brilliant moments are aided by Grell’s visuals, but personally, its greatest flaw has to be with the quality of the pencilling. Anatomically, Grell is still finding his feet, and there are several occasions where people appear quite freaky and almost non-human in figure. He is helped hugely by inkers like Austin and Giordano who can add a layer of much-needed flair and realism to an artist, but Grell is not helped by Colletta, a prolifically messy and lazy inker who makes Grell’s pencil look flat and unassuming when inked. With a good inker – Grell himself isn’t bad – Grell produces some decent art, but never anything perfect or amazing. It can look downright poor at times, almost reaching the level of fan-art at its worst moments, but I think we should cut Grell some slack. He was a new artist, one who was still honing his skills and improving with each scratch of the page and stroke of the brush. He was to become a very good artist, and he had to commence somewhere, and fear not, it never droops to the lofty standards of Ted McKeever or Rob Liefeld.
VERDICT
Overall, Green Lantern (vol 2) 90-99 does not compare well with the era of O’Neil and Adams. That’s partly because the title returns to science fiction, but it’s mainly because O’Neil chooses more conventional story plots rather than focusing on issues which could be powerful or relevant to readers. But that is not to say that – thus far – the run is terrible or even bad. The one-offs at the start range in quality, but the two-parter with Green Arrow at the helm enlisted to kill the President feels ahead of its time. And despite its flaws, the four-parter has an impressive villain. O’Neil does manage to capture the personalities of Green Arrow and Green Lantern well, but we’ll have to see where the title moves from here…
Next Week: Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Rider of the Air-Waves (Green Lantern (vol 2) 100-106). Written by Dennis O’Neil, Elliot S. Maggin, and Frank McGinty, with art by Alex Saviuk, Vince Colletta, Mike Grell, Dave Hunt, and Bruce Patterson.
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