Green Lanterns #8 Review

The Halloween season is still upon us, and even the DC Universe wants in on the fun. We’ll get to the Halloween fun shortly, but first, a recap of what came before. The Green Lantern duo of Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz stopped the Red Lanterns and ensured that the Red Dawn did not come to pass, and managed to do so without aid from any wolverines. Now however, Simon and Jessica have a whole new set of problems. Rami, one of the Guardians of the Universe, the ancient beings that created the Green Lantern Corps, has reached out to the Earth based Lanterns and asked for assistance in safeguarding his creation, the Phantom Ring, a power ring that rivals the that of a Green Lantern Ring, but also can be used by anyone as opposed to the ring needing to select a worthy candidate. However, since Rami isn’t exactly willing to trust two rookies to safeguard such a dangerous weapon, Rami runs off.

We open in the woods where two aliens known as Dominators (frequent enemies of the Green Lanterns) are plotting to track down Rami and steal the Phantom Ring for themselves.

Meanwhile, it’s All Hallows’ Eve here in Simon’s hometown of Dearborn Michigan and Simon and Jessica are helping to take Simon’s nephew, Farid, trick or treating. By the way, Farid has chosen to dress as The Flash for Halloween this year. Now ain’t that just a kick in the crotch for poor Simon. Here he is, an honest to goodness superhero who has saved the Universe multiple times by now, and even his nephew, his own flesh and blood would rather dress up as that other guy. Mr. Baz may need to put some ice on his bruised ego after that one. Anywho, with Farid safely trick or treating with his mother, Simon and Jessica go off in search of the wayward guardian, unaware that the Dominators are hot on their trail.

Simon and Jessica manage to locate Rami in a clocktower and the guardian is none to pleased to see them. He goes on a long winded and frankly irritating rant about how he doesn’t trust Simon and Jessica and doesn’t think they’re worthy of protecting the ring or even being Lanterns. Simon and Jessica are about ready deck this mouthy little smurf in the teeth, but it’s here where the Dominators show up. Fortunately, Simon and Jessica make short work of the Dominators, Jessica even finishing them off with a very impressive construct (something she’s struggled to accomplish in earlier issues.)

Seeing that he’d been a massive jerk, Rami apologizes and shares some of the backstory of the creation of the Phantom Ring with Simon and Jessica. It turns out the creation of the Phantom Ring was undertaken without the approval of Rami’s fellow guardians and as such, Rami was sent into exile and given two choices, safeguard the ring for all eternity, or find a way to destroy it. Rami tried to destroy it, but nothing he tried worked. Rami tried kryptonite, nth metal, zeta beams, black holes and even the DC Universe equivalent of the fires of Mt. Doom and still couldn’t put a dent in it. Simon and Jessica promise Rami that they’ll do everything in their power to help protect the ring, and Rami agrees to allow them to help.

Our comic ends with someone driving to Michigan in pursuit of the Phantom Ring, seemingly unafraid of the Green Lanterns. What Works:

Simon and Jessica are both great characters, and the Halloween set up lends itself to some nice imagery and amusing dialogue.

What Doesn’t: Rami is an asshole. I get that he doesn’t have a great deal of confidence in a pair of rookies, but he doesn’t exactly have an alternative right now, so maybe don’t alienate the only people who are trying to help you you self-righteous twerp! What’s worse, he keeps saying how Hal Jordan would be better than Simon and Jessica, which pisses me off for personal reasons.

Overall: 4/5

A fun, if not especially remarkable outing for the Green Lanterns.