It's time to see what really defines Hal Jordan. Can he manage without a power ring? Also, Sinestro goes out on his own.
The Good
What can Hal Jordan do without a power ring? We saw a little of this in the first issue but that was quickly set aside as Sinestro came bursting onto the scene with a ring he made for Hal. Before the "New 52" was even announced, Hal seemed pretty much obsessed with being a Green Lantern. He had given up any sort of civilian life and spent all his time as a 'hero.'
This issue finds Hal on Earth out with Carol. No rings are involved. No tights or costumes in sight. What could this mean for the issue? No need to worry, there is some action. Sinestro also goes out on his own. We haven't really seen him in Green Lantern action since he was given a green power ring. The individual he is after offers quite a bit of revelations that will deliver serious ramifications in future issues.
This issue also has a guest artist. Mike Choi is given the chance to give his interpretation to the characters. It's always interesting to see what other artists will bring to the book and how they see the characters. It's also pretty impressive to see how Alex Sinclair's colors appear so differently with Choi's art here than they did with Mahnke's art.
The Bad
I love Mike Choi and It was great to see him on this book but there were some scenes that didn't feel like the Choi art I'm used to. I don't know if it was because Hal was in civilian clothes but he looked off, almost a little too young.
Sinestro's 'mission' felt like it came out of nowhere. He does partner with someone and he was meant to be unimpressive but that made it hard to care about him or the battle.
The cover felt a little misleading as well.
The Verdict
With Doug Mahnke taking a break, this issue feels a little like a filler. Geoff Johns is still on board and there are some big develops that shouldn't be missed. Mike Choi steps in as guest artist and offers an interesting take on Hal and Sinestro. While his art worked in many parts, Hal looked like a little too young. Sinestro teams up with a character from his past but it was difficult to care about him. There's some big things coming and this issue is setting it up and giving us a chance to breathe before it all explodes in our faces.