Absolute Green Lantern #9 – Al Ewing, Writer; Sid Kotian, Artist; Pressy, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: Of all the Absolute books, this is the one that seems determined to upend its battlefield each and every month. After last issue delved deep into the troubled history of Jo Mullein and Cameron Chase, this one hits us with a cavalcade of new characters as the world opens up in a big way. First, we meet Steve Dayton, on the verge of perfecting his Mento helmet, which he shows to his friend Terry Long – except Terry isn’t really here. It’s a new master of disguise, working for a shadowy agency, and he’s on a long-game plan to track down some of the most important artifacts in the universe. His next target? Whatever the strange ring on Jo Mullein’s finger is. Before he can get there, Cameron and Jo try to sort out their old hurt feelings and get some answers about Jo’s ring themselves. We get some answers – but not enough, and Chase has some affiliations that might be able to shed more light.
But as we all know, the DEO is never a group that can be fully trusted. The leader, Jonathan Double, is an obscure DC private eye who has gotten a major level-up here. Then there’s the partnership of Kari Limbo (a nearly-forgotten psychic love interest of Guy Gardner) and Simon Baz – who has his trademark mask here for a very different reason. When our mystery face-changer makes his appearance, he’s wearing a disguise designed to make Jo drop her guard – and that’s exactly what happens. One of the most impressive things about this issue is that it has to follow up from the cosmic threats we’ve seen in recent issues – and it actually pulls it off. This version of the DEO is terrifying, and views human life as fully expendable in the search for answers and power. With the threats of deep space far from Earth right now, the power struggle is still only beginning – and this is just as good as any of the other Absolute books.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
