John Stewart Get’s the Green Light
A Review of Green Lantern #49
By: Andrew Sanford
Slight Spoiler Alert
Most superheroes are haunted by some sort of personal tragedy or failing. For Green Lantern John Stewart, that may be speaking a little lightly. During the DC miniseries event Cosmic Odyssey back in 1989, Stewart failed to save the planet of Xanshi from being destroyed. This tragedy left Stewart a shell of his former, more arrogant persona. Now a more serious character, Stewart has spent years trying to amend for the death of millions but with Blackest Night in full swing, those millions may not give him the chance.
Since the beginning of the Geoff John’s, DC Continuity Guru, run on the Green Lantern series, John Stewart has had a habit of returning to the area in space where Xanshi once stood. His character becoming one of loathing and self pity. When Blackest Night begins we find Stewart in the same space, only to find a reformed, zombified Xanshi. This leads Stewart to be presented with all those whom he failed to save and for the first time in quite a while, John Stewart shows some pretty strong will power.
Having not been featured in any of the Blackest Night books for more than a page or so at a time, GL #49 focuses almost entirely on the character of John Stewart coming to terms with his failed rescues tempt which left some what of a black spot on his career, and of course the best way to follow up a self realization in a comic book, is to kick a little ass. We see a flashback of Stewart in what looks like a Gulf War ea type conflict in all his Military prowess, followed up by a full two page spread with all John’s Marine buddies shining as green as can be from John’s power ring.
All in all this is one of the better issues of the Blackest Night Series, tie-ins included, as John’s really show’s Stewart’s medal as a character as well as a his lynch pin status in the Green Lantern universe. The art by Ivan Reis is crisp and clear and full of emotion, making Stewart’s fight back to the top of self-esteem hill a little bit brighter.
Following Blackest Night has been both frustrating and rewarding, like most series. There have been delays. Books that had ultimately little to do with the main goings on in the other books, I’m lookin’ at you Bizarro/Man-Bat. Creative choices that make so much sense you’re surprised it wasn’t done sooner, Red Lantern Guy Gardner. With the good and the bad, what stands above them all is the supreme writing of Geoff John’s and his using the main Green Lantern books to high light characters and give us a closer look at what goes on inside the heads of people like Saint Walker, Sinestro and now John Stewart. Personal stories that make the series as a whole stay grounded. The mere scope of Blackest Night could be trouble for any writer, but with Geoff Johns still strong as GL #49 hits shelves, we’re looking at a pretty Bright Day ahead.
