Comics Review: Green Lantern: Blackstars #1

[bedsitter23]

The Green Lantern: Blackstars (2019-) #1 by Grant Morrison

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


So if I have this right (which I may not) it is sort of an alt-history of sorts to Morrison's current GL run; which means it's pretty far down the rabbit hole. At what point is this not really a GL book anymore?

I have no complaints though, and I am not really in a position to say if hardcore GL would think Morrison is extra fantastic or somewhat blasphemous. It doesn't really resemble much of a GL story to me. That said, I have no complaints, and it feels like a Morrison story.

I might compare it to his run on New X-Men where it is very much a Morrison story, but the framework keeps things in check.

From there, Blackshirts is probably not essential, but it is still good. It feels very much like the best parts of Morrison. The witty banter is up there with Ellis for some of the best in alt-comics. You also tend to draw out where Millar and Morrison have diverged. Millar could have wrote this, but he never would have put in this much detail.

Personally, I liked it. Some great one-liners. The story is pretty solid, though Morrison has taken so many left turns, I occasionally feel a step or two behind. Xermanico's art is well suited- tying in what DC is currently doing, but also able to catch Morrison's Vertigo-ish feel.

As an aside DC has been running two-page ads that are illustrated in that old 70s Rick Barry/Dr J and Hostess Fruit Pies way, and they are for Snickers and Svengoolie. Just seems a bit of whiplash to see those in there.

In the grand scheme of things, you should check out Morrison's Green Lantern run, if you like Morrison. I suspect this will somehow get collected in there and it will be a fine chapter.



View all my reviews