Day of Judgement: Hal Jordan Becomes the Spectre!

I stumbled  onto all five issues of the DC Day of Judgement series from '99 the other weekend while rifling through the dollar comics bins with my nephew, in which Hal Jordan take the mantle of the Spectre, spirit of Vengeance. Upon reading author Geoff John's run a few years ago, I became a big fan of the Green Lantern mythos. In Day of Judgement, Jordan becomes host for the Spectre in attempt to atone for his earlier transgressions as Parallax, when he threatened the order of the Universe by slaughtering the Green Lantern Corps. Etrigan the Demon has bonded the Spectre to the fallen angel Asmodel in an attempt to usurp rival demon Neron, and unleash chaos upon the Earth. The series features a great cast of supernatural heroes, including Phantom Stranger, Blue Devil, Deadman, Captain Marvel, Ragman, Dr. Occult, Madame Xanadu, and Dr. Fate! In 2001, DC Direct released a glow-in-the-dark Hal Jordan/Spectre figure (right)- further proof that we truly live in the Golden-Age of action figures.

Below: Hal Jordan becomes Spectre, and unleashes the spirit of vengeance upon Neron ...!

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DC Collectibles New 52 Flash & Green Lantern

I knew I'd probably get some more of last years DC Collectibles New 52 Justice League figures, confident I'd pick up a Flash & Green Lantern below retail if I held out long enough. We often think of Green Lantern associated with Green Arrow because of Neal Adams & Denny O'Neil's  legendary pairing of the '70's, but Flash was a fellow Justice Leaguer and best pal first, from Golden Age to Modern comics. Polar opposites in personality, Hal & Barry bring out the best in one another, the latter's humble compassion tempering the former's reactive nature. One of my favorite moments between the two heroes since getting back into comics was from Geoff Johns'  Blackest Night, Barry & Hal discussing all those heroes fallen in Final Crisis in contrast to their mutual resurrection. Barry foreshadows his forthcoming Blue Lantern deputation and starts the adventure off:  "They were my friends too Hal. And I won't stop hoping that they'll find their way back like you & I did." 

I picked up this Flash loose on eBay, the metallic paint redeco included in the Superheroes Vs. Super-Villains 7-pack, opposite Captain Cold. DC Collectibles released a flat red version both single packed and packed with Vibe prior to this far more dynamic Flash. The character just works well with this treatment.

As articulation is limited with DC Collectibles, the line's focus is on sculpt and paint, and articulation is secondary. Flash has pretty much one pose he can stand in, but does have bicep swivels and a very expressive ball-jointed neck. I love the etched lines in his sculpt, and carved insignia on his chest.

Green Lantern was going for nineteen bucks, but I had seven bucks credit, so I got him for twelve and free shipping with something else I got on sale at Amazon. The boxes seem excessive, but do display well- I've kept my Green Arrow packaged like this. It seems like a lantern should be included with a deluxe figure like this, but he couldn't hold it due to his two-fisted sculpt.

Green Lantern's articulation is the same as Flash's, and his sculpt is styled much the same as well, his chest insignia raised on the chest. The metallic green isn't as glossy as Flash's, but he makes a great partner visually just the same. The buck on these two have a lot of similarities, though differ in girth, Green lantern beefier than Flash.

There is some rough area on the buttocks where the seam at his hip swivel meets and a little bit of paint scuffing from the package, but nothing terrible. DC Collectibles still won't sculpt the ring insignia on it's Lanterns it seems, though admittedly it's pretty small, and a base would have been nice.  I have a Blackest Night Green Lantern still in package that may rival this New 52, but he really does look great.

DC Direct New Frontier, Mattel DCUC, and DC Collectibles Flash with DC Collectibles, Mattel DCUC, and DC Direct New Frontier Green Lantern...

DC Collectibles New 52 Flash & Green Lantern with 5" Justice League Flash & Green Lantern...

DC Collectibles New 52 Superman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter...

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Hey, Mr. Postman!

I don't get a lot of toys in the mail lately, but this box came a couple days ago from Lange's Sports in Michigan. I've scored a lot of older DC Direct figures from their eBay store over the years for good prices with decent combined shipping.

I just finished reading Avengers: X-Sanction limited series (2012), and really like McGuinness' unique art- these really capture his style. They're chunky and fun! Also known for his work on Superman/Batman title, Marvel's The Hulk, and of course JLA: Classified, the latter of which I've not yet read. His figures are robust, body-builder types that some might describe as steroid-enhanced. They certainly aren't everyone's cup of tea, and I'll admit I'm not crazy about all the figures from this line and the Superman/Batman: Public enemies line from DC Direct that pay tribute to this artist's style. I am fond of this pair however, and wouldn't mind having the Superman, Hawkman, or John Stewart Green Lantern from this series. I have a Martian Manhunter from this series that I love!

* Visit the DC Direct Action Figure Archive!

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New 52: Green Lantern #9, Secret of the Indigo Tribe!

Continuing with my last post on Green Lantern #8, which saw Sinestro captured and converted by the Indigo Tribe, issue #9 backtracks to show the process. Sinestro's mind flashes back to meeting his love, sister of his former mentor, Ari Sur, her disapproval of his tyranny over Korugar, and the dire consequences that befell all involved.

Taking Hal down, Sinestro expresses remorse for all he has done to him in the past. "Now I know you've been brainwashed. Which surprisingly bothers me,"  Hal answers before breaking free, escaping from the mob of Indigo Lanterns who want to teleport him back home. "I'm not leaving without Sinestro."

In search of the Indigo Tribe's central power battery, Hal encounters Natromo, original keeper of the Indigo light from the planet Nok. It's here that the strange aboriginal man reveals the secret of the Indigo Tribe to Hal Jordan, revealing that Abin Sur helped create the power rings, converting the universe's worst sadists and murderers, including Indigo-1, who had killed Abin's own daughter! "So Abin Sur thought this was a way to redeem people?" Hal asked. "Oh no. No, the tribe would be an army at the ready for Abin Sur, " Natromo went on, "But the true reason behind the forging of these rings had nothing to do with the redemption of his enemies..." Natromo went on to say that Abin Sur had seen the coming of the Blackest Night, and following this would come the end of the Green Lantern Corps, destroyed by an evil within... "Abin Sur called them THE GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE." Whoa!!

The Indigo Tribe were merely a test- Abin Sur had planned to change the invincible Guardians with the rings before their madness overtook them. When Hal reveals to Natromo that Abin Sur is dead, he shuts down the main power battery in despair. By this time the Indigo Tribe has caught up with Hal Jordan, Sinestro wrestling him to the ground, just as the central power goes down...

... though Sinestro regains his former state of mind, Hal realizes that without the the central power battery, so have the former psychopaths that make up the Indigo Tribe, such as the likes of Black Hand...!

This has been a great book- far better than the New 52 Justice League in my opinion, which I liked for Jim Lee's art, but didn't go too far plotwise in the first six issues. DC has received a ton of criticism for the New 52 titles, and Geoff Johns catches flak for overexposure, but Green Lantern has been interesting artistically and narratively. And again: I love Doug Mahnke's obsessively tight artwork, particularly when he draws Sinestro!

In the back of this issue DC touts their second wave of the New 52, including an Earth 2 parallel universe book which I may have to try on. They go on to tease about Alan Scott taking the Green Lantern mantle in this alternate reality, which makes me think "So what? Was he not Green Lantern in another reality before Final Crisis?" ...or just the predocessor to Hal Jordan's Green Lantern? Hard to tell nowadays with DC's ever evolving continuity  :D  But hey, I don't really care. As long as the story is interesting and the art is good, continuity is of no concern to me. Seriously. I'm a fan of character reimaginings AND action figure variants!  :D  

Below are a couple of the Earth 2 character designs- I'm particularly fond of the Superman, but I liked Jim Lee's Justice League costume designs, so...

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New 52: Green Lantern #8

Continued from my post on Green Lantern issue #7, the mysterious Indigo tribe has captured Sinestro, with Hal Jordan in hot pursuit, their intent to make right the Guardians mistake of reinstating him into the Green Lantern Corps. As Indigo-1 initiates the conversion of Sinestro, the willful Lantern lashes out in defiance, crushing an Indigo tribesman's head into the prison bars, "YOU DARE VIOLATE ME?! I am not like the rest of your prisoners. I AM SINESTRO!"

But  Indigo-1 strikes Sinestro down with a flash of her ring, promising "Not for much longer." This book gets better all the time, Doug Mahnke's masterful art adding the graphic, emotional punch as Geoff John's ever intriguing story dramatically unfurls...

Meanwhile, the incarcerated Hal Jordan listens to Black Hand's brainwashed tale of how the Indigo tribe allowed him to feel empathy for the first time in his life, their ability to cycle throught the emotional spectrum in complete acquiescence to compassion for all other beings. As Black Hand channels through the Green Lantern's power of will, Jordan seizes the moment, powering his ring through the rehabilitated villain's head and smashing free of his prison cell.

Limited in his power due to the ring's charge from a simulated energy, Hal is injured in the melee, but manages to conjure a motorcycle construct and speed away in search of Sinestro and answers to the fallen Lantern's machinations.

The plot thickens when Hal discovers a giant statue of his predesessor Abin Sur in the middle of the Indigo Tribe's hundred million square mile facility! "How is Abin Sur connected to the indigo Tribe", a puzzled Hal asks before Indigo-1 appears with the Tribe, "Abin Sur is our savior, our creator. He saved us all. Beginning with Abin Sur's greatest enemy."

The last page shows a converted Sinestro chained at the neck, wielding a tribal staff, surrounded by his new family...!  Man, is this book getting interesting!

Also of interest: I've spotted this advertisement for the forthcoming New 52 Graphic Novels release schedule. This is great news to me, the graphic novel format being my preferred method of reading a story arc- the whole story in one book as opposed to several issues of a comic spread out over several months. I'll be able to catch some of the inaugural New 52 stories I hated to miss...

In conclusion, I'd like to share this beautiful two page advertisement of the new DC Direct Justice League action figures- Cool! I'm annoyed that we are being made to wait until January of 2013 to get Superman, the one I want most, but he does look great! As you've probably heard by now, DC Direct is relaunching the company as DC Collectibles, and will expand its online store to offer its entire product line for sale on the web, in addition to the line’s primary availability in comic book retail locations. For those fans who prefer to purchase a product in-store, the website will also provide information on the closest retail location that carries a particular DC Collectibles product. (source: ComicBookResources.Com)

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New 52: Green Lantern #7

The shift to guest artist in Mike Choi in issue #6 of Green Lantern left me cold I must admit, but we are thankfully back to the great Doug Mahnke in issue #7! Forcing his broken nemesis Starstorm to track down Lyssa Drak in issue #6, Sinestro & Starstorm were caught off guard by the the keeper of the book of the Black, who used energy constructs to capture them both. She revealed that Sinestro had lost Korugar and Starstorm's miserable defeat by the Lantern, intending to gorge upon their past failures to feed herself on their fears. While Starstorm begged for his life, Sinestro dispatched Drak, abandoning him to find Hal Jordan again, alone with Carol Ferris. That brings us to the opening of issue #7, where Sinestro interrupts the lovers, violently insisting Jordan come along as it is the Korugarian's will...

Hal puts up a fight to protect his lady, but Sinestro insists, " Forget your small life on this small world...  ...This has noting to do with me." He goes on, " I have recovered the Book of the Black. I've seen glimpses of it's prophecies. It's the Guardians. They're going to replace us. They're going to replace the Green Lantern Corps!"

At that moment, the Indigo Tribe shows up, telling Jordan to step aside, "The Guardians made a mistake letting Sinestro keep this ring. We will rectify that. Sinestro belongs to the Indigo Tribe now, Green Lantern."

Carol scrambles for her Star Sapphire ring as Hal give chase, but it's too late...

...as she powers up, Hal disappears pursuing to Indigo Tribe with Sinestro in their capture!

Meanwhile, Lantern Voz has brought Lyssa Drak in to the Guardians, concerned about the dubious nature of Sinestro's reenlistment to the Corps. The Guardians brush him off, dismissing him to interrogate the story witch alone. Suspecting she may know too much, they contemplate killing her and the suspicious Voz if necessary. "We cannot strike down our Lanterns instill we are fully prepared." In need of the book, they realize they must find Sinestro!

 Hal Jordan awakes stripped, locked in a cell where Black Hand approaches, speaking the tribal tongue. "We are all saved, Green Lantern. And Sinestro will be saved too. Sinestro Lora Nok."

Black hand explains, "... Sinestro will be reborn as I have been. Compassion be with you."

*My post on New 52: Green Lantern #1

*My post on New 52: Green Lantern #2 & #3

*My post on New 52: Green Lantern #4 & #5

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