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Green Lantern #16 - Trial by Fire Review

5

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Simon Baz delves further into the world of being a Green Lantern and does something other Green Lanterns haven't been able to.

The Good

Simon Baz is becoming more and more likable with each appearance. This isn't to say he wasn't likable from his first appearance but the more we see, the more we see how capable a Green Lantern he will be. The biggest problem he had before was not knowing how to fully operate his power ring (it ran out of power last issue in the middle of a fight). This gave him a Greatest American Hero feel (hopefully I'm not the only one that remembers that show). Having finally met a fellow Green Lantern, Baz is figuring things out. We're seeing what he is made of and getting closer to finding out what happened to Hal Jordan and Sinestro.

Geoff Johns gives a great mix of action, humor and plot development in this single issue. We may not know what the future holds for Hal and Sinestro but knowing that Baz will eventually end up on Steve Trevor and Amanda Waller's Justice League of America team is fun to think about.

As the story unfolds, you can't help but wonder why Baz specifically was chosen. That's part of what makes him a fascinating character. You'll find yourself hanging onto every little tidbit of information in wondering if he was chosen by the ring, Hal, Sinestro or just a mistake. You will see what Baz is made of and the level of determination he possesses. If there were any doubt as to his worthiness of being a Green Lantern, it should be clear now.

As much as I enjoy Johns' story, each issue I am so thankful to see Doug Mahnke's art. When I see the way he draws Baz or Sinestro or even B'dg, this is how I want to see them drawn. Seeing Baz holding a power battery just looks so right. Also I can't get enough of Baz in costume. The way the colors jump off the page really gives him a distinctive look. Seeing the way he looks in this issue compared to the ad for JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA shows what Alex Sinclair can do.

The Bad

We need more Hal and Sinestro. While they sorta make an appearance in the issue, it's really only on the last page we get to see them. That last page is pretty mind-blowing but I can't help but want to see more Hal, even though Baz is shaping up to be a pretty dang cool Lantern.

I'm ready to stop seeing "Rise of the Third Army" on the cover.

The Verdict

This arc should be called "Rise of Simon Baz, the cool new Green Lantern." Creating new likable characters isn't an easy task. Geoff Johns made Simon Baz likable from his first appearance. Seeing him here, we really get to see what makes him tick. There may be some questions still as to why he was chosen to be the bearer of the ring but he's showing he truly is worthy of it. Johns and Doug Mahnke make an incredible team in delivering high octane Green Lantern action. This issue is a great mix of action, story development, humor and shocks. Hal Jordan is one of my favorite characters and it'd be nice to see more of him but Baz is making his way to being great in his own way. Whenever we get a new issue of GREEN LANTERN, it's a great week. You'll dig the entire issue but wait until you see the last page...

24 Comments
Posted by StMichalofWilson

The cover looks cool

Posted by Phaedrusgr

G-man, you're absolutely right. He'll become a great GL, but we need more Hal! Definitely...

Posted by Superguy1591

Baz is the greatest GL of all time!!! He's the man!!!

Posted by NewComicGuy

I haven't read this new one yet but am absolutely digging Baz. I hope he doesn't end up getting lost in the shuffle with the new JL book and Hal inevitably returning.

Posted by frandj

owww..."thats" why the ring choose simon baz (bcoz the rings actually working on 2 purposed, hal's and sinestro's... " in other word, is simon baz kind of amalgamation of sinestro and hal?!

Posted by ssj2DeadPool

Baz is awesome.

Posted by Superguy1591

@NewComicGuy: I'm merely speculating, but I think Baz is a member of the Justice League of America that is supposed to be formed by the United States government out of distrust of the League. It's obvious that Agent Fed (-_-...Geoff Johns) will make a deal with him to clear his name.

Edited by cacarl

This is what comics should be about! Damn it, I was like "please, don't cry, don't do it." You can feel how Baz feels about this. About his situation. Everything went down the hill, but he finally got a break. I was never a fan of GL, but this arc got me. Baz is my favorite GL.

Posted by cacarl

@frandj: I think he is 50/50 and I love that. I was cool with "the ring isn't working" excuse, but Baz needed a full power ring if he was going to help Hal and Sinister, so I'm more happy with this explanation.

Posted by JamDamage

Simon Baz is becoming a GREAT Lantern. Like a lot of us we all thought why? Why do we need another Lantern? Is he an Arab for diversity sake just for diversity sake? Doesn't matter. He's cool so far. He's doing things other Lanterns haven't. He's going to be on the other JL. I just hope they keep him grounded on Earth. I like Green Lantern but I'm sick of the cosmic thing. I want to read about a Lantern that stays on Earth. Maybe this is it.

Posted by spinningbirdcake

@JamDamage said:

I just hope they keep him grounded on Earth. I like Green Lantern but I'm sick of the cosmic thing. I want to read about a Lantern that stays on Earth. Maybe this is it.

And I think that's the perfect thing to do with him as well. John and Guy have been in space most of their title, and I haven't been reading New Guardians but I think they've been in space. It might not seem so crowded if Hal and Sinestro leave earth after they come back and so Baz is the only Earth Lantern.

Posted by SmashBrawler

People want Jordan back? Lolwut, Baz has been a far more enjoyable character to read through these 5 issues than Jordan has ever been in all his appearances.

Posted by MadeinBangladesh

Simon Baz my Favorite Lantern

Posted by Lamenoire

the more I read about Baz, the more I like him. He seems to understand what he can do really fast... maybe too fast.

And the way he was drawn in this issue was awesome

Once again the third army make a cameo... when is their event starting ?

oh wait....

Posted by longbowhunter

Simon's family really humanizes him and makes him relatable. So I was glad to get a lot of them in this issue. Plus B'dg makes a perfect partner for Baz. I love the dynamic. It's so funny to see everyone rally around a character the Internet hated on before he even showed up in an issue. But I'm glad to see him building a following.

Posted by Juandicimo_Magnifico45

I think I am fairly alone in my opinion, but I really do not like Simon. All I care about while reading these past issues, is what is going with Hal and Sinestro?!? There is so much more that could be explored and done, but instead all sense of urgency is washed away and we go on a stroll with Simon's character. We already have 4 Earth GL's, I hope Hal returns soon and Simon is bumped to a mere back story with JLA.

Posted by entropy_aegis

How was this filler garbage a 5/5 is beyond me? it did nothing to move forward the central plot,you know the one Johns has been hyping up for more than a year.

And if I understand correctly this was actually the last issue of the Third Army? wow just wow.

As far as Baz is concerned meh dont care,his part bored me to tears.

Posted by redbird3rdboywonder

While Simon seems to be a cool character and I'm happy Hal is gone I need more and better stories with John

Posted by ILLO_29

Baz has been interesting and I look forward to watching him grow as a GL. I'm so glad that the third army arc is finished in the GL corps annual, cause it's been dragging on a bit to long. I just don't think that is was enough story to stretch across three books. If it would have just been in the core Green Lantern book it would have been good. I'm way more interested in the first lantern.

Posted by frankcmu

as a whole the Green Lantern books this week where great :D I am finally excited for this 3rd Army event... it only took a few months

Edited by Raw_Material

Really enjoyed this issue as it comes to a conclusion to the 'Rise of the Third Army' crossover. Geoff Johns definitely expands on the character of Simon Baz, sending B'dg to give further information about the corps and mentor Baz towards his way into becoming a Green Lantern. He also touches up on the incident that caused his life to turn upside down by relieving him from being guilty in the eyes of Agent Fed. Now that Simon Baz is somewhat stable, we can see what he's truly capable of and the reason why he was chosen by the ring over million others with as much free will as his predecessor, Sinestro possesses (which he demanded his ring to find someone like him). The ending is a complete cliffhanger and leads you to a wall of a lot of questions to be answered in the next issue. As you said I also wish they elaborate more on Hal and Sinestro and the deathly hollows they've been brought to called, 'The Dead Zone' after being sucked into Black Hand's Ring. Hopefully we'll see more pages than just two in the next issues. Great review G, keep up the good work!

Look at the New 52 'Justice League' epilogues for example; Geoff should create epilogues of Green Lantern like they do in those issues. anyone else agree?

Posted by Shieldbearer

Enjoying the mentorship of B'dg. Really excited when non-earth Green Lanterns is used. Shame Green Lantern Corps isn't more of a Transformers: Spotlight or Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (Blu-ray/DVD).

Posted by Lamenoire

@entropy_aegis: no there is GLC 16 and New Guardians16. Then there is GLC annual next week.

The whole point of this arc was introducing a new GL while the Guardians went mad and sent aliens to kill every living thing.

I agree it was kind of a let down since I expected big things ( a slaughter of the GLC like Vader with the jedi). But it isn't a filler.

Posted by MrArrogant

@Lamenoire said:

the more I read about Baz, the more I like him. He seems to understand what he can do really fast... maybe too fast.

And the way he was drawn in this issue was awesome

Once again the third army make a cameo... when is their event starting ?

oh wait....

I wondered this too, but after picking up some of the Corps back issues they've had a big presence there. Used to read all the Lantern titles but can't afford to anymore. I loved this whole arc but I think it was really badly marketed, hopefully wrath of the first lantern is more satisfying.

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