A Green Lantern’s problems never end.
Green Lantern Corps: Edge of Oblivion is about as sure a thing as you can find in the superhero genre these days. Pair a compelling Green Lantern status quo with two creators who have already left a huge mark on the franchise and you’re almost guaranteed to get a great comic. Two issues in, Edge of Oblivion is making good on that formula.
It certainly helps that there’s a sense of “anything can happen” with this book. Our heroes may be on the rebound after the events of The Lost Army, but they’re still trapped in a dying universe and battling an unseen and very unpredictable enemy. That creates a sense of dread in the story that’s reflected in the increasingly tense character dynamic. Between Kilowog’s stony silence and Guy Gardner’s frayed nerves, it quickly becomes apparent that the worst enemy these wayward Lanterns face is each other. Tom Taylor gives each main character a distinctive voice and compels the reader to fear for their safety.
This strong characterization doesn’t entirely carry over to the mysterious new villain, Marniel. It’s hard to get a sense of what drives this character or what she truly wants right now. Even so, Taylor lends just enough humanity to Marniel that it’s clear they won’t simply be a throwaway villain. And luckily, the brother/sister duo that have emerged to guide the Lanterns are able to pick up some of the slack. It’s clear these two characters are hiding a great deal, lending a extra touch of unpredictability and danger to the conflict.
It’s a real treat seeing Ethan Van Sciver back on a Green Lantern comic after all this time. Van Sciver’s intricately rendered figures and bold use of perspective only add to the emotional weight and impact of the story. Van Sciver brings a massive sense of scope to the book as well. More often than not our heroes and even Mogo himself are dwarfed by the sheer magnitude of the dying universe around them.
Green Lantern: Edge of Oblivion has quickly established itself as the must-read title in the Green Lantern franchise. Between Taylor’s top-notch characterization, Van Sciver’s epic artwork and the general sense that anything can and will happen to our heroes, there’s a lot to love with this mini-series.
