Green Lanterns: Rebirth #1 Review

Well, after the disappointing Batman issue, I don’t exactly have high hopes for DC’s latest reboot. Fortunately, we have Green Lanterns, something that gives me hope that things will turn out alright, or at least more so than Batman did. One thing that gives me confidence is the writer for this issue, Geoff Johns. Geoff Johns is by no means a perfect writer and I certainly don’t agree with every decision he’s made during his tenure at DC Comics, but if there is one thing that I can say in his favor without hesitation, it’s that he truly understands Green Lantern and is probably one of the best writers the book has ever had.

One of Geoff Johns creations while working on the book, and my personal favorite character introduced as part of the New 52 was Simon Baz. Simon Baz grew up in Dearborn Michigan with his parents and sister and was raised Muslim. He and his sister may have had a happy childhood if it weren’t for one horrible event. That event, was the destruction of the world trade center on September 11th, 2001. From that day on, Simon and his family became the victims of prejudice and labeled terrorists everywhere they went, simply because they shared a race and faith with the perpetrators of those horrible attacks. As such, Simon grew up with a chip on his shoulder and, as an adult, resorted to stealing cars when his sister (for whom prejudice made it difficult to hold down a job) needed some extra money. However, when Simon stole a car that happened to have explosives in it, the FBI naturally assumed the worst, which only made things worse for his family. Simon could very easily have spent the rest of his life in prison if it weren’t for his unexpected induction into the Green Lantern Corps. As he learned to control the powers of the ring, Simon found that he had abilities that other lanterns did not, such as the ability to bring his brother-in-law out of a coma. Ever the pragmatist, Baz’s Lantern Costume includes a full-cowl mask to hide his identity, as he was a fugitive at the time of his induction, and even carries a gun in order to protect himself in case he’s ever finds himself in a situation where his ring loses its charge.

We join Simon Baz at his family’s home as he’s washing the garage door after someone graffitied the word “Terrorist” on it. Simon is soon joined by Agent Fed (yes that is his actual name), the FBI agent who initially arrested him back when he first became a lantern. Since then, Simon has apparently cut a deal with the bureau to supply them on information on the Green Lantern Corps. Simon’s not happy with the arrangement, but he agreed to it nonetheless. Fed, being a kind and sympathetic guy, offers to help Simon finish washing the garage and assures him that his family will get through this. However, it looks like Fed may have to finish the garage on his own as Simon’s ring gives him a priority alert.

Next we join Jessica Cruz, another Earth Green Lantern created by Johns whom I did not include in the intro because well… this is the first I’ve ever heard of her. From what I’ve been able to gather, Jessica once helped the Flash, fought alongside the Justice League, is apparently afraid of leaving her apartment and is incredibly unsure of herself. She tries to tell her friend Sara about her being a Green Lantern and all, but before she can, the ring does it for her when it sends her the same priority alert that Simon received.

Simon and Jessica arrive at relatively the same time and immediately start bickering with one another, both of them seeming to agree that Earth has more than enough Green Lanterns as it is. However, they’re argument is soon interrupted by a Manhunter robot that quickly wipes the floor with both of them. However, this isn’t actually a Manhunter as we soon learn, but a training droid controlled by none other than Hal Jordan, the original Earth Green Lantern. Hal set all this up as a test to see if these two Lanterns were up to snuff and they failed, miserably. Well it’s nice to see that even after two reboots, Hal Jordan is still the biggest jackass in the DC Universe as he derides the two lanterns for their failure and calls them rookies. Okay, I don’t know about Jessica, but Simon has been a Green Lantern for four years now, he has long since passed the point of being a “rookie.” Also, it would’ve been nice if you gave these two more than thirty seconds to take down the killer robot you sent after them before you decided they were unworthy to join your club. In short, screw you Jordan. To show what a jerk he really is, he takes both of their power batteries and merges them into one, meaning, in order to use it, they need to be together. So, essentially, Hal Jordan is the surly captain in an 80’s cop movie that punishes the straight-laced boy-scout and the loose-cannon rebel by forcing them to be partners. Jordan then turns the two over two the Justice League, who will be assisting in their training.

Our comic ends with Atrocitus, the leader of the Red Lantern Corps narrating that he has plans for Earth, and that Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz won’t be a problem for him.

What Works: I really like Simon Baz. I’ve liked Simon since he first appeared back in 2012 and I’m glad to see him being the focus of his own book, at least partially. I didn’t really learn enough about Jessica Cruz in this issue to get a good read of her, but I like her all the same and thought she and Simon had some great banter with one another. I particularly enjoyed Simon hoping that Jessica being a Green Lantern meant that Guy Gardener is dead. The reveal of Atrocitus and the Red Lanterns at the end was also nice and sets up a great villain for the first arc.

What Doesn’t: Hal Jordan sucks and Geoff Johns seems to be the only one left on Earth who hasn’t realized it yet.

Overall: 4.5/5

This was overall a much better introductory title for this reboot than Batman: Rebirth. We have a set up to the new premise, two very likeable characters and the promise of a familiar villain as their first opponent. As someone who hasn’t really been interested in the Green Lantern books since Johns left, this issue has once again captured my attention. Well done DC.