Written by: Sam Humphries
Art by: Ed Benes, Robson Rocha, Tom Derenick & Blond
Publisher: DC Comics
Before I sat down to write this review, I read through Green Lanterns #4 twice. The first time, I did my due diligence, and burned through the whole issue. The second time through, I took it a little bit slower, but skipped the last few pages. And, well… I liked it a whole lot more the second time through. I mean, you kind of have to read the ending, because it sets up the next issue, but holy shit is it terrible.
Anyways, the rest of the issue is pretty much what I’ve come to expect from this book. It’s not a masterpiece of literature or anything, and it’s not the best written book from DC’s Rebirth line up. But I said it when I reviewed the third issue and I’ll say it again here: I’m having way too much fun with it for either of those things to really be major issues for me.
The first half of this issue encapsulates what makes this series so great, at least to me. The inner monologue is super quirky, and Humphries is clearly just having tons of fun writing Simon Baz. It’s kind of goofy, but that’s good, because superhero comics shouldn’t take themselves super seriously. In fact, this issue falters in the panels and pages where it tries to go for a more serious tone – which is most of the book’s second half.
The problem with this is that it lends itself to feeling overwritten. It stops being quite as entertaining, and the monologues aren’t actually that interesting. Pages of exposition – especially in the fifth issue of this series – are a waste of space. Just telling the audience that these characters are conflicted isn’t enough, because Humphries and the art team don’t really bother to show that conflict in a meaningful way. We’ve gotten it a little bit in this book, but not quite to the extent that’s necessary.
As with the last issue, there are quite a few people credited with the pencils on this book, and even more credited with inks. And, as with the last issue, all of the art looks fine, but there are inconsistencies in the style here and there. A lot of them are fairly subtle, but they are noticeable. It’s a bummer, because had any one of the credited artists done the book on their own, I would be praising their work rather than having to critique it.
Before I wrap up, I do want to touch on the sub plot. It’s neat that Baz’s family is being given a role to play, but having them run around with a Guardian makes it seem like there’s a bit too much going on in this issue. Also, the plot seems to be moving at an absolute snail’s pace. Very little about the status quo has changed since the beginning.
Like I said at the start of the review, I do quite enjoy my time with Green Lanterns every time it comes out. The characters are fun, and, for the most part, it doesn’t take itself super seriously. It’s so close to being a great comic, but lapses in both the writing and art have held it back since the very beginning of Rebirth.
