After being stripped of his Green Lantern power ring, Hal Jordan has been forced to team up once again with Sinestro. At his mercy (because he's using a power ring Sinestro made), Hal's latest adventure may be coming to an end.
The Good
I've brought up the isolated feeling in the "New 52" universe and it's a good thing here. There are other Lantern books on the stands but it's great that this story is just focusing on Hal and Sinestro. These two have some similarities but they cannot stand each other. Throughout this team up, we're discovering more and more about what makes Sinestro a superior Lantern. It's a wonder that Hal was ever able to defeat him in the past given all the secret knowledge Sinestro possesses about the ring, the Corps and the Guardians.
This arc is also leaving Sinestro standing over the abyss. With his entire Sinestro Corps against him, can he ever go back? Most likely he could but another question is, would he want to? We also have the question of is Sinestro a villain or was he just misunderstood. He wanted order in the universe but didn't go about it in the most efficient manner. With the way the story ends and the other tidbits Sinestro reveals, lots of seeds are being planted for this series.
Mahnke's art is complimented by Alex Sinclair and Tony Avina's colors. There is quite a variety from the darkness of the prison cells to the Yellow Lanterns to scenes on Earth, the lighting and colors really shine (no pun intended).
The Bad
Is this the battle we've been waiting for? The way it's carried out makes perfect sense but you're left wanting a little more. There was a couple cheesy moments and it's hard to say what it means for Sinestro's chararacter. Is he evolving? Has he been misunderstood? Or is there something else going on?
I mentioned how great it was having this book feel isolated from the other Lantern books but hopefully we will see some fallout drift over to those titles.
The Verdict
Sinestro and Hal Jordan's first team up has reach its conclusion. There were some ups and downs as the battle and story arc end. Geoff Johns continues to sprinkle bits of information leading us to believe that there is far more to the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps than we thought we knew. You are left with wanting a little more at the end, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The arc is over but Sinestro and Hal's story is not. Manke's art with colors by Sinclair and Avina make the book shine. There are plenty of cliffhangers and surprises to keep you on your toes as you read. Johns has plenty of tricks up his sleeves and each month we get to see a little more. That's what makes the book fun and exciting. There is a feeling of purpose present. Big secrets have been kept from us and we may be on the verge of discovering them.