Green Lantern Corps #16 Review
Writer: Morgan Hampton
Artist: Juan José Ryp & Will Conrad
Colorist: Matt Herms
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artists: Fernando Pasarín, Oclair Albert & Arif Prianto
Variant Cover Artists: Jorge Fornés & Rian Gonzales
Editors: Jillian Grant, Kathleen Wisneski & Paul Kaminski
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock
Release Date: May 13, 2026
A visit to her homeworld should have helped Katma heal. Instead, she and Soranik fought Parallax on Korugar while John faced his fears. Likewise, Aya thought she could assist the rescue efforts on Biot. Instead, she opened her systems to a hostile takeover. Can Aya reclaim her body? And will Guy Gardner insist on working solo after this? Let’s put on our power rings, leap into Green Lantern Corps #16, and see!
Story
When the Emotional Entities were reborn, they established a psychic link with Guy Gardner. He’s used to hiding his painful past and deficiencies with swagger. But when people start worshipping him as the Allsight, and the Emotional Entities constantly talk to him, Guy can't ignore his difficult childhood, or that he was initially a reserve Lantern. So, when the Manhunters take over Aya’s body and embark on a crusade to find the other Emotional Entities, Guy feels responsible.
As the camera switches between the action on Biot, Oa, and in space, Guy Gardner shares his thoughts with us in Green Lantern Corps #16. Like John Stewart's battle with Parallax on Korugar, Guy sees perfection as unattainable. Although she never takes the spotlight, Jo Mullein rises to the challenge facing the Lanterns. While Jessica Cruz plans and has the final say, Jo spurs the Lanterns to overcome their inadequacies. The stakes demand that everyone give their best.
After barely surviving attacks from the Starbreaker Corps and Enquar, Corps leader Jessica Cruz wants to make Oa a stronghold for the Lanterns and the Emotional Entities. She hopes to increase the Lanterns' effectiveness. Yet, the Manhunters also want to safeguard the universe in Morgan Hampton's story.
The emotionless androids preceded the Green Lantern Corps. Still, the Guardians of the Universe decided to replace them with emotional beings. After its destruction, the Manhunters rebuilt their world. Then they watched as, for all their supposed superiority, the Lanterns failed to prevent Enquar and the Sun-Eaters’ devastation. With the Lanterns in rebuilding mode and the Emotional Entities up for grabs, the Manhunters want to prove the Guardians wrong in Green Lantern Corps #16.
Art
Barred from returning to her body, her energy twin reveals dismay as Aya sees her comrades floating outside the shattered Interceptor. While Guy grasps hold of Jo Mullein, he conjures a giant fist. Yet Aya’s body flies through his hard light construct and descends into a vast cavern. Within Biot, energy crackles between Aya's body and the Manhunters, transforming their features to resemble Aya's. Around them, the towers and buildings glow indigo, a reminder of how they sapped the infant Proselyte to rebuild their world, before setting off to rule the cosmos with compassion.
As Matt Herms lavishes a palette of bright, energizing colors on Juan José Ryp and Will Conrad’s art, Razer sits amid Guy Gardner’s team in the Citadel on Malaqyte. The Red Lantern who mourns the loss of Aya’s body sits next to Yrra, whose anger over the loss of her world prompted her to aid Enquar. When Guy Gardner hides within his green robe, Jo Mullein digs her white-gloved hands into the white symbol on his chest. Then the woman with green visors lifts him above her, so that her angled hair points at Guy's overwhelmed features.
Dave Sharpe adorns dialogue balloons with black and colored words. Guy Gardner shares his thoughts using white letters in green narrative boxes. Words grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. Letters shrink amid Human uncertainty and android resolve. A man with a tortured past speaks into yellow balloons that evoke flames. Amid the confrontations and space battles, a close-up of crackling energy reveals a stream of 1s and 0s in Green Lantern Corps #16. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.
Final Thoughts
Despite all their accomplishments, heroes like Guy Gardner, John Stewart, and Aya can’t help but feel like failures. As Corps Leader Jessica Cruz and others weigh who is worthy of wielding greater power, heroes and villains fight for control of their minds, bodies, and worlds in Green Lantern Corps #16.
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see my preview of Green Lantern Corps #16.
For what happened last time, see my preview of Green Lantern Corps #15.
No comments:
Post a Comment