On the edge of the multiverse, reality is at risk of collapsing. Green Lantern and Star Sapphire are the only ones strong enough to save the rest of the multiversal Lanterns and whatever is causing the collapse. Minor spoilers for The Green Lantern #11 follow.
The Green Lantern has continuously been a weird, crazy series that has truly found a niche within in the DC canon. So much of Green Lantern history has refused to really dive into the weird cosmic possibilities of the character, so this series has finally been doing that. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes it’s a bad thing. With the latest issue, it’s a bit of both. The oddities presented in this issue are very enjoyable to read but, at a point, they become overwhelming, negatively affecting the story.
Reading a Grant Morrison comic, one should really expect to encounter oddities and weirdness. It’s just whether those things contribute to the story or not. It’s often a toss-up whether they do or not. Somehow this issue manages to do both, be extremely weird in a way that works, but also too weird that it can become distracting and confusing. The multiple Green Lanterns are extremely fun to read, as is a Don Quixote-like powerful being. Until it’s not. As the issue goes on, it becomes much too weird for its own good. Even though it’s still enjoyable to read, it also becomes slightly frustrating.
Where the main plot of the issue slightly falls short, the B-plot picks up a bit of the slack. There’s not much time dedicated to it, but it sets up the next issue extremely well. Certain characters make their return and a new villain is revealed. It’s not the focus of the issue and that’s very noticeable by how quick it feels. However, these interludes do help bring into focus some of the overarching story that the past couple of issues have had.
Liam Sharp’s art is what has continuously elevated this series though and that’s still the case in this issue. Honestly, the series may not work without Sharp being the artist on the series. His style works perfectly with the zaniness that the story presents, yet it all still feels believable. He makes everything feel right within the context of this universe, no matter how disparate the ideas seem. Everything feels like there is continuity no matter what the idea is.
Then, there’s the simple fact that Sharp’s art is absolutely gorgeous. There’s plenty going on in this issue and all of it looks great. Sharp’s linework is fantastic and the coloring by Steve Oliff feels perfect throughout. It’s vibrant for much of the issue, but is suitably moody when it needs to be. There even feels to be an Alien reference at one point in this issue, which is perfect given the similarities between some of Sharp and H.R. Giger’s art. The techno-organic look of Sharp’s art really is gorgeous.