Boo-yeah!
Green Lantern: Blackest Night **SPOILERS**
Moderator: Tragic Angelus
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Tragic Angelus
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Mr Wallstreet
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Tragic Angelus
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Ok I'm back and ready for action. Lot of ground to cover so let's get into it:
Issue #49:
*Note, this issue takes place DURING the events of Blackest Night #5
We finally get caught up with GL John Stewart, who's been investigating the suddenly re-constructed planet Xanshi, where he found a beat up GL personal Power Battery, and learns it once belonged to a lantern who had died but somehow managed to be kept alive by a ring error and helped John and Katma Tui hunt for Sinestro until finally passing on later on. Suddenly, John is confronted by dozens of Black Lanterns, including the GL he was just learning about, as people of Xanthi rise up around him.
He goes Military, tossing the Battery into the heart of them and firing a construct bullet at it, causing it to explode, but seeing it do little damage. Suddenly, the risen Kat, John's former lover, tackles him down, bringing up the night they consumated their relationship, and shared their feers. She brings up John's fear of a time he was in the military and forced to kill dozens of civilians to protect a fallen friend, and that he was afraid of dying on a foreign land and being forgotten.
As the BLs gather in close and hold him back, and Kat moves in to take his heart, John admits he knows it's time to move on and accept he can't save everyone, and he explodes in a mass of green light, finally making up dozens upon dozens of construct Marines to help him out.
As they fight a short fight, Kat reminds him he can't win by himself, so he flies off of Xanshi to head for Earth.
Only then he finds out that Earth is just a few hundred Miles away from Xanshi, and it's getting closer. He makes a desperate plea and call to anyone on Earth to let them know they've "Got Incoming."
Back Up Story:
Mera and Atom were pulled by Black Lantern Jean Lorhing into a Black Ring, and we get what happens here. She's brought them there to show them why the BL's do what they do. Again we see the inside like a Darkness with Bones spurting and connecting around through it, and Jean makes mention of life acting like a fungus growing on the nothingness that they seek to remove.
We get a recap of the original 'War of Light' and that the Universe existed BEFORE light errupted. And that there's no beginning or end to the Universe, but rather to the Reign of Life that exists in it.
She tells us that the Darkness manifested Nekron as it's own Guardian since the others have disrupted it's peace, and that he is not Death but Peace to them.
She then shows them the image of the 'Batman' spewing Black Rings and the heroes who fell before in life and have returned joinging the BL Corps (See issue 5 of Blackest Night). As they drift further into Darkness, we see Deadman trailing after them, learning the secrets as well...
End issue.
Overall, not bad and we finally got to see what John was doing, but it just kind of .. felt out of place. This could have easily been a one-shot issue or happened earlier as to me it felt like it interrupted the flow we previously had with Hal and the New Guardians (who return next issue) doing additional things outside the pages of the main title.
Issue #49:
*Note, this issue takes place DURING the events of Blackest Night #5
We finally get caught up with GL John Stewart, who's been investigating the suddenly re-constructed planet Xanshi, where he found a beat up GL personal Power Battery, and learns it once belonged to a lantern who had died but somehow managed to be kept alive by a ring error and helped John and Katma Tui hunt for Sinestro until finally passing on later on. Suddenly, John is confronted by dozens of Black Lanterns, including the GL he was just learning about, as people of Xanthi rise up around him.
He goes Military, tossing the Battery into the heart of them and firing a construct bullet at it, causing it to explode, but seeing it do little damage. Suddenly, the risen Kat, John's former lover, tackles him down, bringing up the night they consumated their relationship, and shared their feers. She brings up John's fear of a time he was in the military and forced to kill dozens of civilians to protect a fallen friend, and that he was afraid of dying on a foreign land and being forgotten.
As the BLs gather in close and hold him back, and Kat moves in to take his heart, John admits he knows it's time to move on and accept he can't save everyone, and he explodes in a mass of green light, finally making up dozens upon dozens of construct Marines to help him out.
As they fight a short fight, Kat reminds him he can't win by himself, so he flies off of Xanshi to head for Earth.
Only then he finds out that Earth is just a few hundred Miles away from Xanshi, and it's getting closer. He makes a desperate plea and call to anyone on Earth to let them know they've "Got Incoming."
Back Up Story:
Mera and Atom were pulled by Black Lantern Jean Lorhing into a Black Ring, and we get what happens here. She's brought them there to show them why the BL's do what they do. Again we see the inside like a Darkness with Bones spurting and connecting around through it, and Jean makes mention of life acting like a fungus growing on the nothingness that they seek to remove.
We get a recap of the original 'War of Light' and that the Universe existed BEFORE light errupted. And that there's no beginning or end to the Universe, but rather to the Reign of Life that exists in it.
She tells us that the Darkness manifested Nekron as it's own Guardian since the others have disrupted it's peace, and that he is not Death but Peace to them.
She then shows them the image of the 'Batman' spewing Black Rings and the heroes who fell before in life and have returned joinging the BL Corps (See issue 5 of Blackest Night). As they drift further into Darkness, we see Deadman trailing after them, learning the secrets as well...
End issue.
Overall, not bad and we finally got to see what John was doing, but it just kind of .. felt out of place. This could have easily been a one-shot issue or happened earlier as to me it felt like it interrupted the flow we previously had with Hal and the New Guardians (who return next issue) doing additional things outside the pages of the main title.
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Tragic Angelus
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Issue #50
*Note, this takes place after Blackest Night #6. Also, minor continuation from the special BN: Phantom Stranger tie in issue.
This issue starts off with the New Guardians and their newly deputized members (See Blackest Night #6!) flying headlong into battle against the growing number of Black Lanterns.
Saint Walker helps Barry learn how to channel the Blue Light, as the two take on BL Firestorm, and Jason Rush begins to be freed from Ronnie.
Atrocitus and Mera are confronted by BL Aquaman and the dead child of the one time King and Queen. Red Lantern Mera, responds in great anger, yelling she never wanted children and burns away the child, seeking out Aquaman next.
Wonder Woman and Carol begin sealing off BLs in the Violet cocoons, while Ray and Indigo-1 communicate in the hidden language. While Hal argues over Scarecrow and Lex getting rings with Sinestro, Scarecrow flies thru, reveling in the fact that he can fear again. Larfleeze takes on Lex, as the two refuse to share the power of the Orange Light. And then it happens.
Black Lantern Spectre arrives, and demands Hal Jordan be Judged. This is something I've been waiting on since he was called up waaaaay back in issue 2 of Blackest Night. Bout Damn Time. As Hal tries getting away from the Spectre, it grabs him with black energy, welcoming him into the Black Lantern Corps. Ganthet steps in and severs the energy, and Sayd uses the Blue light to reverse the portion of the Black energy, saving Hal. But then the Spectre consumes the two, forcing Hal to destroy the Spectre's lower jaw to save them.
He pulls them out, and the two Yellow members begin attacking the Spectre, but he retaliates and tries to punish Scarecrow. But as he does, Other members of the Guardians and deputies move in, and Ganthet and Hal launch a huge spike through his chest. But as the connection is about to be severed, Spectre refuses, and pulls the spike out.
As they try figuring out why it won't work, Atrocitus claims that the Spirit of Vengence is absolute Rage fused with Death, and he must belong to the Red Lanterns.
Hal gets the idea that will save the day. He has Ganthet summon the Power Batteries of all 4 Earth Lanterns. Because he knows the one thing that the Spectre fears. The one thing it Cannot, and Will not, Destroy. Parallax. Who's been hidden in the four batteries since the Sinestro Corps War.
Sinestro of course, is furious at where he's been, and argues that Hal should not be the one to take him on with Parallax but that he will be, and frees him from the Batteries. The two fight it out, but Hal quickly wins over, and as he heads for Parallax, Carol calls out to him. saying she doesn't want to lose Hal to him again, but he says that she'll be the one to free him when it's done, and the two finally kiss for the first time not only in this story, but possibly since Hal has returned to life if I recall.
Hal grabs Parallax then, and feels his fear, imagining the day his father died, and Parallax lunges inside him. Sinestro cries out against it, and Yellow Light explodes in the city.
And then, saying that Hal isn't here anymore, and calling for the Spectre, Parallax stands tall. ready to take him on.
End Issue.
Honestly, I loved it, and it was great to get back to Mahnke's art after Benes filled in last issue, because his Spectre and Parallax are PHENOMINAL. He's really been a huge force for this story, and this issue is one of the best he's done so far.
*Note, this takes place after Blackest Night #6. Also, minor continuation from the special BN: Phantom Stranger tie in issue.
This issue starts off with the New Guardians and their newly deputized members (See Blackest Night #6!) flying headlong into battle against the growing number of Black Lanterns.
Saint Walker helps Barry learn how to channel the Blue Light, as the two take on BL Firestorm, and Jason Rush begins to be freed from Ronnie.
Atrocitus and Mera are confronted by BL Aquaman and the dead child of the one time King and Queen. Red Lantern Mera, responds in great anger, yelling she never wanted children and burns away the child, seeking out Aquaman next.
Wonder Woman and Carol begin sealing off BLs in the Violet cocoons, while Ray and Indigo-1 communicate in the hidden language. While Hal argues over Scarecrow and Lex getting rings with Sinestro, Scarecrow flies thru, reveling in the fact that he can fear again. Larfleeze takes on Lex, as the two refuse to share the power of the Orange Light. And then it happens.
Black Lantern Spectre arrives, and demands Hal Jordan be Judged. This is something I've been waiting on since he was called up waaaaay back in issue 2 of Blackest Night. Bout Damn Time. As Hal tries getting away from the Spectre, it grabs him with black energy, welcoming him into the Black Lantern Corps. Ganthet steps in and severs the energy, and Sayd uses the Blue light to reverse the portion of the Black energy, saving Hal. But then the Spectre consumes the two, forcing Hal to destroy the Spectre's lower jaw to save them.
He pulls them out, and the two Yellow members begin attacking the Spectre, but he retaliates and tries to punish Scarecrow. But as he does, Other members of the Guardians and deputies move in, and Ganthet and Hal launch a huge spike through his chest. But as the connection is about to be severed, Spectre refuses, and pulls the spike out.
As they try figuring out why it won't work, Atrocitus claims that the Spirit of Vengence is absolute Rage fused with Death, and he must belong to the Red Lanterns.
Hal gets the idea that will save the day. He has Ganthet summon the Power Batteries of all 4 Earth Lanterns. Because he knows the one thing that the Spectre fears. The one thing it Cannot, and Will not, Destroy. Parallax. Who's been hidden in the four batteries since the Sinestro Corps War.
Sinestro of course, is furious at where he's been, and argues that Hal should not be the one to take him on with Parallax but that he will be, and frees him from the Batteries. The two fight it out, but Hal quickly wins over, and as he heads for Parallax, Carol calls out to him. saying she doesn't want to lose Hal to him again, but he says that she'll be the one to free him when it's done, and the two finally kiss for the first time not only in this story, but possibly since Hal has returned to life if I recall.
Hal grabs Parallax then, and feels his fear, imagining the day his father died, and Parallax lunges inside him. Sinestro cries out against it, and Yellow Light explodes in the city.
And then, saying that Hal isn't here anymore, and calling for the Spectre, Parallax stands tall. ready to take him on.
End Issue.
Honestly, I loved it, and it was great to get back to Mahnke's art after Benes filled in last issue, because his Spectre and Parallax are PHENOMINAL. He's really been a huge force for this story, and this issue is one of the best he's done so far.
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Tragic Angelus
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Issue #51:
*Note, this takes place Immediately after the previous issue, and before Blackest Night #7.
We open with Black Hand, connecte dto all the growing death, finally smiling, only to be interrupted by Larfleeze yelling and battling with Luthor over the Orange Power Battery. Luthor has learned that the Orange Light works best with one person's mind mainlined into one individual ring, and it shares the methodology of Corps building as the Black Corps. The lives and Orange Lantern takes becomes his soldiers, his Lanterns, and Luthor Demands that Superman become one of them. As he moves in, Larfleeze pulls his Corps in and pulls him off the attack, but the foot of the Spectre slams down between the two, leaving the Lantern in Larfleeze's hands.
Then, it's Parallax (in Hal) full on against the Black Lantern Spectre. All around, other New Guardians and Deputies are destroying Lantners, where Ray worns Mera to stay away from BLs she's connected to so she can stay in control of the Red Light, but Atrocitus reveals that as she gets stronger, so does he. And that an even greater Rage is in their presence.
As Parallax and Spectre go at it, Parallax rips open the chest of the Spectre, diving in deep, saying he knows the Lantern's secret. It turns out, the real Spectre is trapped inside, trapped by the fact that the corpse he's in is what is actually possessed, not the spirit of vengence. And under that, he finds the real ring holding the Spirit chained, and with the power of the Green and Yellow Light, destroys it, freeing the Spectre, now that Crispus Allen is freed.
As the others notice the Spectre is released, the realize they need to save Hal immediately. But Parallax immediately attacks the true Spectre, who says that Parallax has more blood on his hands than any other being in the universe, save the Anti-Monitor, and that he will die today, regardless of whether or not Hal must die as well. As he goes on the attack, Atrocitus declares to make his move to use the Spirit of Rage he sees before him.
Parallax goes back on the offensive, ripping the face off of the Spectre in an incredibly surprising, detailed, and somewhat gruesome panel, but just then Sinestro decides to intervine, pulling Parallax back and attempting to hold him off.
Atrocitus moves in, and demands that the Spectre feel the connection and remember what he is and join the Red Lantern Corps. We then see the Spirit of Vengence consumed by Rage, and joining the Red Lanterns, attacking Sinestro and Parallax as they battle.
But suddenly, he turns to Atrocitus and declares he is not the entity of Rage he is seeking, but rather God's Rage, shaking off the power of the Red Light. But Spectre knows the creature of the Red light, and says if Atrocitus seeks him out, he will be destroyed by it.
Spectre then grabs Parallax, and tho he's afraid of him, claims that fear will connect him to Parallax, while Hal is anchored to Carol. As she pulls on one end, and the Spectre the other, the two are seperated, and Sinestro rushes in to save Parallax before he's destroyed, but suddenly he's pulled away by something and the Rings cannot determine what.
Cut to Belle Reve Prison. A certain telepath by the name of Hector Hammond pannics because "It has Parallax."
Back to Coast City, where the New Guardians and Deputies appeal to the Spectre for help with the situation. He says he is aware and moves to confront Nekron.
He claims Nekron has violated the laws of life and death and must be punished. He reaches out.
And nothing happens. Surprised, the Spectre learns he cannot strike Nekron. And Nekron retorts that it is because he has no soul to be judged. That he is not alive, but Darkness. Nekron orders him to begone, and moves THROUGH the Spectre, causing him great pain and to disappear.
And with Black Lantern JLA members behind him, (Superman, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, Hawkman, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, and Green Arrow), he declares that the Universe will Die Now.
End Issue.
Another fantastic art delivery from Mahnke, who I cannot get enough of. I'm really interested in the Red avatar now, and the inclusion of Hammond knowing about Parallax. As things wind down I'm trying to figure out how all of this is going to wrap in only about 1 issue of GL and the final issue of BN left to go.
*Note, this takes place Immediately after the previous issue, and before Blackest Night #7.
We open with Black Hand, connecte dto all the growing death, finally smiling, only to be interrupted by Larfleeze yelling and battling with Luthor over the Orange Power Battery. Luthor has learned that the Orange Light works best with one person's mind mainlined into one individual ring, and it shares the methodology of Corps building as the Black Corps. The lives and Orange Lantern takes becomes his soldiers, his Lanterns, and Luthor Demands that Superman become one of them. As he moves in, Larfleeze pulls his Corps in and pulls him off the attack, but the foot of the Spectre slams down between the two, leaving the Lantern in Larfleeze's hands.
Then, it's Parallax (in Hal) full on against the Black Lantern Spectre. All around, other New Guardians and Deputies are destroying Lantners, where Ray worns Mera to stay away from BLs she's connected to so she can stay in control of the Red Light, but Atrocitus reveals that as she gets stronger, so does he. And that an even greater Rage is in their presence.
As Parallax and Spectre go at it, Parallax rips open the chest of the Spectre, diving in deep, saying he knows the Lantern's secret. It turns out, the real Spectre is trapped inside, trapped by the fact that the corpse he's in is what is actually possessed, not the spirit of vengence. And under that, he finds the real ring holding the Spirit chained, and with the power of the Green and Yellow Light, destroys it, freeing the Spectre, now that Crispus Allen is freed.
As the others notice the Spectre is released, the realize they need to save Hal immediately. But Parallax immediately attacks the true Spectre, who says that Parallax has more blood on his hands than any other being in the universe, save the Anti-Monitor, and that he will die today, regardless of whether or not Hal must die as well. As he goes on the attack, Atrocitus declares to make his move to use the Spirit of Rage he sees before him.
Parallax goes back on the offensive, ripping the face off of the Spectre in an incredibly surprising, detailed, and somewhat gruesome panel, but just then Sinestro decides to intervine, pulling Parallax back and attempting to hold him off.
Atrocitus moves in, and demands that the Spectre feel the connection and remember what he is and join the Red Lantern Corps. We then see the Spirit of Vengence consumed by Rage, and joining the Red Lanterns, attacking Sinestro and Parallax as they battle.
But suddenly, he turns to Atrocitus and declares he is not the entity of Rage he is seeking, but rather God's Rage, shaking off the power of the Red Light. But Spectre knows the creature of the Red light, and says if Atrocitus seeks him out, he will be destroyed by it.
Spectre then grabs Parallax, and tho he's afraid of him, claims that fear will connect him to Parallax, while Hal is anchored to Carol. As she pulls on one end, and the Spectre the other, the two are seperated, and Sinestro rushes in to save Parallax before he's destroyed, but suddenly he's pulled away by something and the Rings cannot determine what.
Cut to Belle Reve Prison. A certain telepath by the name of Hector Hammond pannics because "It has Parallax."
Back to Coast City, where the New Guardians and Deputies appeal to the Spectre for help with the situation. He says he is aware and moves to confront Nekron.
He claims Nekron has violated the laws of life and death and must be punished. He reaches out.
And nothing happens. Surprised, the Spectre learns he cannot strike Nekron. And Nekron retorts that it is because he has no soul to be judged. That he is not alive, but Darkness. Nekron orders him to begone, and moves THROUGH the Spectre, causing him great pain and to disappear.
And with Black Lantern JLA members behind him, (Superman, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, Hawkman, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, and Green Arrow), he declares that the Universe will Die Now.
End Issue.
Another fantastic art delivery from Mahnke, who I cannot get enough of. I'm really interested in the Red avatar now, and the inclusion of Hammond knowing about Parallax. As things wind down I'm trying to figure out how all of this is going to wrap in only about 1 issue of GL and the final issue of BN left to go.
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Tragic Angelus
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Issue #52
*Note, this issue takes place after Blackest Night #7
We open 10,000 feet above Coast City, with John Stewart, Kilowag, Star Sapphire Fatality, and other Lanterns from all of the other Corps blasting through hunreds upon thousands of Black Lanterns, when suddenly, the White Lantern/Brightest Day symbol flashes over the Black Lantern symbol on all of their chests, and they all retreat, heading straight for Earth.
John contacts Hal to let him know that whatever is happening down there has drawn the attention of every Black Lantern as they're headed that way, in the first of numerous 2 page spreds by saying "The Sky is Falling," as we see every BL swarm down towards Earth, heading straight to Coast City, with Xanshi almost right on top of Earth now as well.
Meanwhile, down on Earth, in another double page spread, we have Hal getting the call, and we see White Lantern Sinestro unloeashing blinding white light as he adjusts to his new abilities.
As he pushes out the white light, every BL it touches is destroyed, and he claims he is now one with every living being in the Universe, and he is ready to take on Nekron when suddenly, the Entity inside him speaks to him. And then, we get the history of the Universe.
Sinestro narrates the history, saying he sees the White Entity's birth in blinding light, saying it's far beyond all knowledge that not even Krona knows whether it was sent or accidental, and that it fought back darkness by creating stars and planets, finally making it's shelter Earth in the spot that it first appeared.
It hid deep under molten rocks and waters, before touching the oceans to transform them into spontaneous seas of life, creating complex evolutions as it does.
He sees the first sentient creature in the Universe to ever WILL itself to move, creating the origion of Willpower itself, and those the birth of Ion (The Green Lantern Entity), as that organism is engulfed in Green Light and becomes the Ion Entity.
And from here, we get the origins of each of the remaining 6 Entities.
He sees thousands of years go by, where creatures have left the oceans and some taken to the air, fleeing for survival from other creatures, and as it does it becomes the embodiment of Fear, being the first creature to exude that emotion, and we see the birth of Parallax, the Yellow Entity.
Then, in what looks like a virtual Paradise, "Love ignites into existance, so does the Predator," the Violet Entity.
With a snake in an Apple Tree "a creature eats what it does not need. Avarice Consomes all it touches," the Orange Entity.
A rock, covered in blood ina field "Rage grows from Murder," the Red Entity.
A thunder storm where "Hope from Prayer," the Blue Entity.
And a brilliant Indigo explosion, "where at last, Compassion is offered to us all," the Violet Entity.
Then, in an incredible double page spread, we see White Lantern Sinestro dead center, stating "We Live." as images of the 7 Entities form around him.
Rage is a violent, Bull like creature, who's two sets of horns on it's head are shaped like the Red Symbol.
Avarice is the Serpant from the previous image, with the Orange Symbol burned on it's head.
Parallax, as we've seen him before.
Ion, again a being we've seen before.
Hope, a large bird like Alien who's overall shape mimics the Blue Symbol
Indigo, a large 4 tentacled Octopus like creature, with Indigo symbols throughout it's body.
Violet (Predator) in much more detail than normal, as a Dinosaur esque being.
Suddenly, Sinestro is sliced vertically, from the head through most of his torso, by Nekron, where every living being again feels the agon and is covered in white light. Nekron claims the being cannot hide from him, in a planet or living being, and he will dig him out and end it and all life.
Hal blasts Nekron back, calling for Indigo and Saint Walker to heal Sinestro, as Coast City begins breaking apart due to the gravity of another planet so close to Earth. He calls to John, who says Xanshi is lighting up, when it suddenly fires a huge black blast down into the ocean beside the city, causing a massive tidal wave to head for Coast City.
As the water piles in, Hal places up a huge Green blockade saying he's got it controled but needs John to lead the charge in taking out Xanshi and the Lanterns coming from it.
As John leads the charge of a handful of different Lanterns towards Xanshi, Fatality and he discuss how he still feels responsible for the planet. While the two finally destroy Katma Tui, he says tha the has to accept what happened and move on, and not let the planet and actions of the past destroy him anymore than they already have. Suddenly, Driq, the Black (And still Green) Lantern who's Power Battery he found in issue 49 tells him he's found the planet's weakness.
Indigo tells everyone that there is no wounds or trauma to Sinestro, and she can't help him, even though he's been severed.
John leads the charge, blasting deep into the core of the planet, and as they do they realize that Xanshi is moments away from blasting away at Earth again. They find the center of hte planet, a huge mold of hundreds of Black Rings, and the various lanterns begin blasting away, finally severing the Connection of Xanshi, as we see them fly out of the planet with it exploding in multiple lights behind them.
Nekron screams out in pain, as Black Lanterns are destroyed all around Coast City, and Sinestro expands his white light, destroying even more of them.
John's Lantern team heads to just above Coast City, where they make a multi colored structure in the sky (Tho mostly Green, of course) that blocks out the falling pieces of Xanshi from destroying Coast City. As they do, Sinestro heals himself, with the White Ring telling him to Live, as he tells the others to stand aside, for he's been reborn.
The last page has Sinestro, with huge white wings forming behind him, and making a huge oversized white construct sword as he lunges at the reader, claiming to be the True Guardian of the Universe, while Hal states the White Light means he's alive.
End of Issue.
An amazing issue, though once it was over it felt like an absolute quick read, due mostly to about 4 double page spreads, and quick hits on a lot of info. Xanshi's dealt with, John's on Earth with most of the other Corps now ready to see Sinestro and Nekron throw down. What really got me was the Entities being revealed.
Johns seems to have mixed Science and Religion to form them all. Ion and Parallax being made up of evolutionary ideals, where Avarice seems to be the Serpent from the Garden of Eden (where it seems that Predator may have originated as well). If Rage comes from Murder, what better Murder than the first one recorded, between Cain and Able, as that's generally considered the first instance of rage, and the rock helps make it seem likely. Which makes me wonder if Vandal Savage, who is bearing the Mark of Cain right now after Final Crisis: Revelations, will play in (And the Spectre did battle him and nearly lose in that book..hmmm?)
Hope coming from Prayer also emphasizes this, and Compassion being offered to all? The Indigo Tribe is by far the one we know the least about, so I really dont' know how this all could come about either.
Blackest Night wraps in issue #8 of the main book next week, but there's still a LOT to go down, so it will definitely bleed over into Brightest Day, without a doubt. Johns has a lot to tell us, with ver little time. Unless it's a double sized issue?
*Note, this issue takes place after Blackest Night #7
We open 10,000 feet above Coast City, with John Stewart, Kilowag, Star Sapphire Fatality, and other Lanterns from all of the other Corps blasting through hunreds upon thousands of Black Lanterns, when suddenly, the White Lantern/Brightest Day symbol flashes over the Black Lantern symbol on all of their chests, and they all retreat, heading straight for Earth.
John contacts Hal to let him know that whatever is happening down there has drawn the attention of every Black Lantern as they're headed that way, in the first of numerous 2 page spreds by saying "The Sky is Falling," as we see every BL swarm down towards Earth, heading straight to Coast City, with Xanshi almost right on top of Earth now as well.
Meanwhile, down on Earth, in another double page spread, we have Hal getting the call, and we see White Lantern Sinestro unloeashing blinding white light as he adjusts to his new abilities.
As he pushes out the white light, every BL it touches is destroyed, and he claims he is now one with every living being in the Universe, and he is ready to take on Nekron when suddenly, the Entity inside him speaks to him. And then, we get the history of the Universe.
Sinestro narrates the history, saying he sees the White Entity's birth in blinding light, saying it's far beyond all knowledge that not even Krona knows whether it was sent or accidental, and that it fought back darkness by creating stars and planets, finally making it's shelter Earth in the spot that it first appeared.
It hid deep under molten rocks and waters, before touching the oceans to transform them into spontaneous seas of life, creating complex evolutions as it does.
He sees the first sentient creature in the Universe to ever WILL itself to move, creating the origion of Willpower itself, and those the birth of Ion (The Green Lantern Entity), as that organism is engulfed in Green Light and becomes the Ion Entity.
And from here, we get the origins of each of the remaining 6 Entities.
He sees thousands of years go by, where creatures have left the oceans and some taken to the air, fleeing for survival from other creatures, and as it does it becomes the embodiment of Fear, being the first creature to exude that emotion, and we see the birth of Parallax, the Yellow Entity.
Then, in what looks like a virtual Paradise, "Love ignites into existance, so does the Predator," the Violet Entity.
With a snake in an Apple Tree "a creature eats what it does not need. Avarice Consomes all it touches," the Orange Entity.
A rock, covered in blood ina field "Rage grows from Murder," the Red Entity.
A thunder storm where "Hope from Prayer," the Blue Entity.
And a brilliant Indigo explosion, "where at last, Compassion is offered to us all," the Violet Entity.
Then, in an incredible double page spread, we see White Lantern Sinestro dead center, stating "We Live." as images of the 7 Entities form around him.
Rage is a violent, Bull like creature, who's two sets of horns on it's head are shaped like the Red Symbol.
Avarice is the Serpant from the previous image, with the Orange Symbol burned on it's head.
Parallax, as we've seen him before.
Ion, again a being we've seen before.
Hope, a large bird like Alien who's overall shape mimics the Blue Symbol
Indigo, a large 4 tentacled Octopus like creature, with Indigo symbols throughout it's body.
Violet (Predator) in much more detail than normal, as a Dinosaur esque being.
Suddenly, Sinestro is sliced vertically, from the head through most of his torso, by Nekron, where every living being again feels the agon and is covered in white light. Nekron claims the being cannot hide from him, in a planet or living being, and he will dig him out and end it and all life.
Hal blasts Nekron back, calling for Indigo and Saint Walker to heal Sinestro, as Coast City begins breaking apart due to the gravity of another planet so close to Earth. He calls to John, who says Xanshi is lighting up, when it suddenly fires a huge black blast down into the ocean beside the city, causing a massive tidal wave to head for Coast City.
As the water piles in, Hal places up a huge Green blockade saying he's got it controled but needs John to lead the charge in taking out Xanshi and the Lanterns coming from it.
As John leads the charge of a handful of different Lanterns towards Xanshi, Fatality and he discuss how he still feels responsible for the planet. While the two finally destroy Katma Tui, he says tha the has to accept what happened and move on, and not let the planet and actions of the past destroy him anymore than they already have. Suddenly, Driq, the Black (And still Green) Lantern who's Power Battery he found in issue 49 tells him he's found the planet's weakness.
Indigo tells everyone that there is no wounds or trauma to Sinestro, and she can't help him, even though he's been severed.
John leads the charge, blasting deep into the core of the planet, and as they do they realize that Xanshi is moments away from blasting away at Earth again. They find the center of hte planet, a huge mold of hundreds of Black Rings, and the various lanterns begin blasting away, finally severing the Connection of Xanshi, as we see them fly out of the planet with it exploding in multiple lights behind them.
Nekron screams out in pain, as Black Lanterns are destroyed all around Coast City, and Sinestro expands his white light, destroying even more of them.
John's Lantern team heads to just above Coast City, where they make a multi colored structure in the sky (Tho mostly Green, of course) that blocks out the falling pieces of Xanshi from destroying Coast City. As they do, Sinestro heals himself, with the White Ring telling him to Live, as he tells the others to stand aside, for he's been reborn.
The last page has Sinestro, with huge white wings forming behind him, and making a huge oversized white construct sword as he lunges at the reader, claiming to be the True Guardian of the Universe, while Hal states the White Light means he's alive.
End of Issue.
An amazing issue, though once it was over it felt like an absolute quick read, due mostly to about 4 double page spreads, and quick hits on a lot of info. Xanshi's dealt with, John's on Earth with most of the other Corps now ready to see Sinestro and Nekron throw down. What really got me was the Entities being revealed.
Johns seems to have mixed Science and Religion to form them all. Ion and Parallax being made up of evolutionary ideals, where Avarice seems to be the Serpent from the Garden of Eden (where it seems that Predator may have originated as well). If Rage comes from Murder, what better Murder than the first one recorded, between Cain and Able, as that's generally considered the first instance of rage, and the rock helps make it seem likely. Which makes me wonder if Vandal Savage, who is bearing the Mark of Cain right now after Final Crisis: Revelations, will play in (And the Spectre did battle him and nearly lose in that book..hmmm?)
Hope coming from Prayer also emphasizes this, and Compassion being offered to all? The Indigo Tribe is by far the one we know the least about, so I really dont' know how this all could come about either.
Blackest Night wraps in issue #8 of the main book next week, but there's still a LOT to go down, so it will definitely bleed over into Brightest Day, without a doubt. Johns has a lot to tell us, with ver little time. Unless it's a double sized issue?