Absolute Green Lantern #13 Review

 

Absolute Green Lantern #13 Review

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Eleonora Carlini

Colorist: Ivan Plascencia

Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

Cover Artists: Jahnoy Lindsay; Ejikure; Karl Kerschl; Rickie Yagawa & Alex Sinclair

Editors: Ash Padilla, Andrew Marino, Katie Kubert & Chris Conroy

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: April 8, 2026

 

Jo Mullein lost the wedding ring that reminds her of all her failures amid Hector Hammond's assault on Ding-Dong Daddy’s Auto Repair. But before she died, DEO agent Kari Limbo sensed something when she held the ring. The Level Two Psychic uttered the words, "Sin es tro," which she equated with "Sentence of Death."

 

Then, the Green Lantern appeared overhead along with Tomar-Re. Will the alien retrieve Jo's ring and enlist her to avenge his world? And what happened when Tomar-Re met with Guy Gardner and John Stewart? Let's slip on our gold rings, leap into Absolute Green Lantern #13, and see!

 

Story

As the Blackstar Empire expands, it brings its brand of peace and safety to other worlds. Still, it’s a demanding job. On Planet Rann, Overseer Shade struggles to help the inhabitants embrace the Blackstar way. The locals resist the occupation, and all Shade has to work with are raw recruits and recent converts to their cause. So, he’s displeased when the Controller orders him to divide his forces and intercept a Lantern traveling through his solar system. Shade needs all his resources to suppress rebellion until the locals accept their new rulers.

 

In Absolute Green Lantern #13, one example of the struggles Overseer Rann deals with is Sardath. The Scientician was once a revered figure. Recently, he has been conducting unauthorized experiments. When the guards drag him in, Sardath claims he was working on something to help the Blackstar Empire. But Rann knows how Sardath regards the Blackstar occupation and wants to know the purpose of the Scientician’s experiments.

 

After showing how the Blackstar Empire dealt with Planet J586 when the Lanterns installed a base there, Al Ewing provides another glimpse of what the Lanterns are fighting. While his story explores their philosophy of life, it also reveals the reason behind the Blackstars’ success. On Earth, Hector Hammond seeks to expand his power for his own sake and enjoys treating people like disposable commodities. The Blackstars want their subjects to understand how the universe works so they can live in peace and prosperity.

 

Still, rebellion is a disease. The Blackstars can cure individuals if they catch the infection in time. But rebellion must be excised before the invasive disease threatens the Blackstars’ perfect society in Absolute Green Lantern #13.

 

Art

Overseer Shade may regard his subjects' subservience as a sham. Yet while the Controller gazes at the hologram of Shade, the Overseer bows instead of watching his monitor. Images of the dangers they face reveal Jo Mullein attacking Abin Sur, and the Lantern traveling through red space. While a black star adorns his shiny breastplate, the red circles surrounding the orange ones on Shade's black uniform evoke how Tomar-Re wields the red level of light.

 

As Ivan Plascencia lavishes bright colors on Eleonora Carlini’s art in Absolute Green Lantern #13, red and green dominate panels like the powers that Tomar-Re and Jo Mullein wield. Sardath views the world through green lenses, while red distortions reveal how the planet's inhabitants view their occupiers. Green colors the bridge interior and the vehicle that transports Shade into the field. Red signals danger and shows how the Blackstars transform willful individuals into responsible members of society.

 

Lucas Gattoni shares conversations with uppercase black letters in white balloons. The Controller speaks green words into greenish-yellow balloons amid a green haze, while Overseer Shade reveals his power via white letters in black clouds with white and red borders. Off-panel conversations appear in white boxes with silver and black outlines, and in black boxes with white and red borders. As the dialogue shrinks for lowered voices, grows bold for intonation, and swells for raised voices, sound effects amplify punishment, rebellion, alarms, and an attack that challenges the Overseer’s worldview. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Tomar-Re has finally reached Jo Mullein. But the Blackstar Empire has already sent Mogo to destroy the Earth. Before the two planets converge, the Lantern from Earth races to intercept Mogo, while the Controller of Mu mobilizes all his resources to stop it in Absolute Green Lantern #13.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Absolute Green Lantern #13. 

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Absolute Green Lantern #12. 

 

For the Blackstar attack on Planet J586, see my preview of Absolute Green Lantern #7.

Vicarious TP Review

 

Writer: Ryan Parrott

Artist: Eleonora Carlini

Colorists: Mattia Iacono & Luca Mattioni

Letterer: Becca Carey

Cover Artist: Dan Panosian

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $19.99

Release Date: August 26, 2025

 

Justin Bright is trying to make it in high-priced San Francisco. While he’s behind on his rent, he keeps looking for a job. He has a taste for the high life, so Justin spends nights in clubs, looking for abandoned drinks to nurse. When he sees two ruffians roughing up a man as he returns home one night, Justin identifies with the victim. Will leaping to the man’s assistance change his life? Or will Justinn become another victim of the growing Proxy Hater movement? Let’s link into Vicarious TP and see!

 

Story

Everything is new to Justin, now that he’s living on his own. To his surprise, Justin proves a capable fighter and deters the aggressors. Their victim, Christian Gold, refuses to go to the hospital. Instead, he asks Justin to drive him home. After zooming down the highway in Christian’s sports car and exploring his luxury home, Justin wants to know how the man made it big. Because Justin did him a solid, Christian gives him a name. Justin can follow in his footsteps, but the journey will demand everything he has and isn’t without risk.

 

In Vicarious TP, Justin undergoes an operation to become a proxy. By linking with his implant, people all over the world can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste everything Justin does. Linking offers many benefits, such as enjoying food you love but shouldn’t. You can attend exclusive parties or enjoy a long-distance relationship through your proxy. If you hunger for the high life, the best proxies have agents. And like Christian Gold, they don’t come cheap.

 

Ryan Parrott’s story follows Justin through the thrills and dangers of becoming a proxy. As with many emerging professions, opponents have strong reasons why linking with a proxy is harmful to the individual and society. Vicarious TP explores the gray areas of the law, where technology or substances may be legal for one purpose but illegal for another. And then there are the dangers accompanying any technological device implanted in the Human body, particularly when they control brain functions.

 

Art

Eleonora Carlini draws this world of pleasure and pain with straight lines and sharp angles. Justin cuts through the competition with a star on his cheek, golden rod earrings, and a wide smile. Like the man who gave him his start, Justin’s long hair forms rough waves as it frames his face and bounces along his neck. Biometric tattoos give Justin a singular appearance when he disrobes.

 

Mattia Iacono and Luca Mattioni contribute a vibrant palette that heightens the energy pulsing through near-future San Francisco. Justin’s tattoos shine and glow like the neon lights that brighten the skyline in Vicarious TP. Sylvia Synn’s gold tiger stripes link her with her star proxy, while Christian’s blond hair connects him with the movement’s chief opponent. And then there are the red clothes that Sylvia and Christian wear to Justin’s first proxy party. They evoke the blood that covered Christian when the “Sunday School Frat Boys” laid into him.

 

Becca Carey fills white balloons and colored narrative boxes with black uppercase letters. The letters grow bold for intonation and occasionally enlarge or shrink. Sound effects enhance small but significant events, whether Justin is meeting a client or disposing of his unwanted past. But most often, spikes protrude from proliferating balloons as clients dig what Justin is doing and urge him to take it to the next level. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

In Vicarious TP, Justin Bright’s desire to be his own man means becoming other people. As he swims in a sea of predators, Justin proves he can dish out what he takes. Ironically, in this story about identity, Justin may be bright. But who is Justin?

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.