Green Lantern (Vol. 5) #3

Release Date: November 9, 2011
Cover Date: January 2012

Story: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Doug Mahnke
Inks: Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne, Mark Irwin, and Tom Nguyen
Cover: Doug Mahnke
Variant Cover: Ethan van Sciver

Sinestro convinces Hal Jordan to help him free Korugar from the Sinestro Corps, and if he does, he’ll let Hal keep his new ring free of restrictions. Hal agrees, and the pair set off for the enslaved world. Meanwhile, Ganthet and the Guardians decide that like the Manhunters before them, the Green Lantern Corps has ultimately failed in its mission, and decide to create a new peacekeeping force. Once Hal and Sinestro arrive on Korugar, they try to hide out until sunset, but an altercation between a Sinestro Corpsman and a Korugarian woman that Sinestro recognizes causes the latter to jump the gun. While Sinestro battles his Corps, Hal takes off to accomplish his own mission: Sinestro gave Hal a Green Lantern power battery to place in the Sinestro Corps Central Power Battery. Doing so will shut down the entire Sinestro Corps, but when Hal flies in, the Central Power Battery disintegrates him.

This issue is the best yet of the relaunched main series, with quite a bit of character development. Even Carol Ferris is given a good scene at the beginning; I half expected her to throw on her violet ring and intercept Hal and Sinestro. The admission of trust from Sinestro was also impressive, though his arrogant laughing at Hal after getting decked killed the momentum a bit. I wasn’t too keen on Sinestro being conflicted over a woman again. First it was Abin Sur’s sister Arin. Then it was his daughter Soranik Natu. Now it’s this Arsona. It just seems cliché at this point; you’d think Sinestro would have learned his lesson! Or, if Arsona turns out to be a family member, there’s no reason the character had to be female.

Hal seemed like a bit of an idiot for not knowing how to change the color of his uniform. It is a construct, after all, and Hal’s repaired damage and otherwise modified his costume in the past. This is no different.

Why did Sinestro plan to use a Green Lantern power battery as a failsafe? Hal called Sinestro out on it, wondering if he even planned to become a Green Lantern again, but we saw how angrily Sinestro reacted. I suppose it’s possible that Hal struck a nerve, but I’m hoping the answer’s a little deeper than that.

Hal’s disintegration in the Battery is nothing to worry about. Aside from the obvious reason (he’s Green Lantern, duh!), this scene was very reminiscent of Sinestro’s disintegrating escape in Green Lantern: Rebirth #5. In other words…I predict that Hal’s on his way to Qward. Speaking of which, when did the Sinestro Corps move their Central Power Battery from Qward to Korugar? That must’ve been one hell of an undertaking. (EDIT: Reader Marcus LePerry has helpfully pointed out that it was as least as far back as Green Lantern [Vol. 4] #46, when Sinestro imprisoned Mongul in the Battery. Still, my point about how the Corps managed to move it still stands.)

As for the Guardians’ “third army”….I smell an event coming. Whatever this new force is, it won’t supplant the Green Lantern Corps. My guess is this is the genesis of the “Corps War,” hinted to take place next year.