The Green Lantern #8 // Review
In what is both an ode to Jack Kirby and Neal Adams, Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp deliver a masterful love letter to the Silver Age and these beloved creators in one fail swoop. With deep cuts aplenty, this issue shows modern day creators how to produce a fully fleshed out and entertaining story, with one single chapter. Screaming with sheer fun and love for the medium, Morrison and Sharp continue to do God's work with the title and produce a wholly unique and faithful take on the mythos, as they continue to stand head and shoulders above their predecessors.
Heading back home for this chapter, Hal Jordan makes his way to Earth running into none other than Oliver Queen, Green Arrow. As a new drug makes its way onto the market, Hal and Ollie go on an investigation to take down the source behind this poison. Learning the truth behind this new psychoactive, Lantern and Arrow come across a Jack Kirby creation from the '50s not seen since a flashback issue in the '80s. As they are subject to the full force of these psychedelic drugs first hand, the two Green heroes must think outside the box and defeat intergalactic peddlers. With the next few issues set to deal with the Multiversal Green Lantern Corps, the two previous chapters add a nice bit of levity before the high concept arc takes precedence.
Returning once again, comic legend Steve Oliff (Akira) brings his signature colors to this chapter and delivers the retro aesthetic needed for that authentic Silver Age feel. Continuing to evolve with each new installment, Liam Sharp, evoking a style more akin to Neil Adams this time around truly brings home the overarching motif of this issue. Every new script allows Sharp the use of a new and refreshing technique making every chapter an absolute sight to behold as Sharp fully displays what this medium is capable of.
In a sea of decompressed six month to year long story arcs, Morrison produces a fully realized and satisfying tale with one issue alone. The last two chapters have been perfect avenues for any new readers looking to jump into the run or even just see what they could expect from the rest of the series. The sheer amount of fun Morrison is having with this chapter and title as a whole is entirely apparent. Every callback and deep cut to the Lantern mythos and DC Universe at large elevates this material into a run that will stand the test of time.
In what some fans have already affectionately coined the series as "All-Star Green Lantern," this title continues to astound and amaze from one page into the next. As solicited previously, the Multiversal GLC make their presence known to Hal Jordan in what has become the most anticipated arc of this run. As readership on the title grows, the duo will continue to expand this series into such great heights while fans clamor for more.
