Green Lantern Corps #18 Review

 

Green Lantern Corps #18 Review

Writer: Morgan Hampton

Artist: Fernando Pasarín, Juan José Ryp, Will Conrad, Ig Guara, Oclair Albert & Jason Paz

Colorist: Matt Herms & Lee Loughridge

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: July 8, 2026

 

Everyone had their expectations of Guy Gardner. And it didn't help that they worshiped him as the Allsight. So, when the Manhunters devastated his team, abducted Aya's body, and used her improved design to stage a takeover of the emotional spectrum, Guy felt like it was all his fault. Reeling emotionally and struggling to respond to the crisis, his life went sideways as he fell into a black hole. But instead of finding all the matter that gravity should suck inside, Guy Gardner confronted himself.

 

Now he's back on Oa. Time has rewound. Can the Green Lantern Corps prevent Oa's sun from going supernova? And will Guy Gardner demonstrate the qualities that drew the emotional entities to him in the first place? Let’s put on our power rings, leap into Green Lantern Corps #18, and see!

 

Story

With the Manhunters approaching Oa, Jessica Cruz wants her Lanterns to host the emotional entities. She orders Guy to hand them over for her disposal. But Guy Gardner, who has interacted with them, insists that Ion, Butcher, and the others are not his to give. As the Allsight, Guy touches her face to help Jessica see things from a different perspective.

 

In Green Lantern Corps #18, Guy Gardner has got his confidence back. But with it comes humility. He recognizes the Corps’ tremendous responsibility to these sentient beings. And he also equates Jessica's attitude with the Manhunters'. But while Guy and Jessica seem locked in a trance, someone must take charge and lead them into battle against the Manhunters.

 

As Morgan Hampton portrays the Corps Leader and the Allsight’s journey into another realm and the Lanterns' defense of Oa, another battle takes place on the planet's surface. Aya exemplifies how the Manhunters would safeguard the emotional spectrum. Yet even though the Manhunters have stolen her body, Aya seeks ways to protect the Corps and her new life on Oa. Once, she was an emotionless entity like the Manhunters. Now, she has friends, a lover, and people she will sacrifice to protect in Green Lantern Corps #18.

 

Art

While the emotional entities hover overhead and the other Corps leaders look on, Jessica Cruz and Guy Gardner argue. As their argument grows more heated, Jessica and Guy move toward each other. Ophidian surrounds them, Butcher and Proselyte hover, while Predator observes the two leaders knock their heads together. Then, Guy touches Jessica's face. As energy suffuses them, their glowing bodies resemble Aya, who also watches in hologram form.

 

As Fernando Pasarín, Juan José Ryp, Will Conrad, Ig Guara, Oclair Albert, and Jason Paz unite to portray a cast of thousands, Matt Herms and Lee Loughridge team up to fill Green Lantern Corps #18 with a palette of bright, luminescent color. As a sea of red and blue Manhunters swims through space, led by their green-and-white leader, they look ahead with glowing orange eyes. When the Lanterns of Oa rise to greet them, a green hologram of Jo’s face appears above the buildings, evoking how the emotional entities hovered above the squabbling leaders. Despite all the colors of the spectrum, the orange, red, and yellow streaks of departing Lanterns dominate the sky. Yet as Guy and Jessica explore the emotional expanse, blue dominates this realm filled with vibrant colors.

 

Dave Sharpe fills round and rectangular dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters. Jessica Cruz, Guy Gardner, and Jo Mullein shout green words, while Aya speaks green letters into white balloons. Jessica and Aya share their thoughts in green narrative boxes. Words grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. While the leader of the Manhunters uses white dialogue balloons, black energy radiates from the borders. Amid the battle, sound effects show how effectively the Manhunters fight, while Jo relies on her willpower and imagination for defense. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

The Manhunters believe they can safeguard the emotional spectrum better than the Green Lantern Corps. Jessica Cruz believes that, if the entire spectrum of the Corps worked together, they could defend the Universe better than ever before. Yet as rival groups compete for the right to safeguard existence, Guy Gardner and Jessica Cruz must achieve a meeting of the minds in Green Lantern Corps #18.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Green Lantern Corps #18. 

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Green Lantern Corps #17. 

For what happened before that, see my review of Green Lantern Corps #16. 

 

 

Batgirl #20 Review

 

Batgirl #20 Review

Writer: Tate Brombal

Penciller: Stephen Segovia

Inker: Jason Paz

Colorist: Rain Beredo

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artist: David Talaski

Variant Cover Artist: Tirso

Editors: Jessica Berbey & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 3, 2026

 

As she stormed the tower of the Midnight Eye, Batgirl struggled with the imbalance in her life. Cassandra Cain was so used to fighting the two halves of her heritage that it blinded her to the blessings both could provide her. But after getting her spirit back and returning to Gotham, Cassandra realizes that Tenji Turner, Jaya Jayesh, Wu Lin, and her Bat-family are one.

 

Freed from the curse of her Blood powers, she feels freer and more whole than ever before. How will Cassandra Cain navigate the ever-changing world of Gotham? And how will Batgirl ensure that her results always exceed her intentions? Let's leap into Batgirl #20 and see!

 

Story

Cassandra traveled across the world, seeking justice for her mother. Along the way, she found a new family in Tenji Turner and Jaya Jayesh. Sadly, Cassandra's return to Gotham proved short-lived when her family's latent Blood powers activated, prompting her to venture into the Spirit World. But now, Cassandra has not only returned, but has been welcomed back into the Bat-family. But her Bat heritage comes with privileges and responsibilities. So when Batman awakens her from a dream and hands her a card with her name on it, Cassandra realizes it's her responsibility to solve it.

 

After forging their bonds of family on their travels and cementing them in the Spirit World, Jaya and Tenji accompany Cassandra to the crime scene in Batgirl #20. Batman may have taught Cassandra how to solve crimes. But with Vandal Savage ruling Gotham, James Gordon risks his future by withholding evidence of Batgirl's card. With CSI and Savage's TUCO squad on the way, the trio has minutes to investigate the crime scene. Yet the girl's appearance evokes the dream that Batman awakened her from.

 

After delving into Cassandra's relationship with her birth mother, Tate Brombal peers into her formative years with the man who raised her. Cassandra may refuse to call him a father. Yet, as much as Bruce Wayne, David Cain helped Cassandra become the person she is today. As Cassandra recalls her childhood, remembering how David Cain trained her to be an assassin, forgotten memories return. But discovering who staged this crime scene for her benefit could cost Cassandra, Jaya, and Tenji their lives in Batgirl #20.

 

Art

A flower swings on a golden chain while a girl watches with wide eyes. But when she runs away, blood sprays, darkening as it leaves her body. When Cassandra Cain awakens, an upshot emphasizes how she sees her adoptive father. But the note Batman hands her transports Cassandra to an industrial building, where she regards a child’s body in a bed. The black streak and droplets staining her pink dress evoke Cassandra’s dreams. Yet they also remind her of the Blood powers she recently wielded.

 

As Batgirl haunts the crime scene like a wraith or grim reaper, Jaya Jayesh’s red mask contrasts with her recent desire to bring Cassandra healing. While James Gordon’s stony face bespeaks how recent events have deadened him to such nightmarish visions, only Tenji reacts to the girl whose face evokes the Scarecrow. As Stephen Segovia and Jason Paz deliver a haunting look into Cassandra’s past, Rain Beredo casts blue light into the gray industrial building, illuminating the people intent on justice for the girl’s death.

 

White letters in the darkness represent an unseen speaker, while white words in black boxes reveal Cassandra’s thoughts. Her narration guides us through Batgirl #20, as Cassandra discovers a hidden aspect of her past. Tom Napolitano casts her conversation with James Gordon, Jaya Jayesh, and Batman as black uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons. Yet, as Tenji Turner observes the dead girl and Cassandra, this other hidden aspect of her past grows increasingly frightened as a siren splits the air. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

For a trained investigator, every piece of evidence provides clues to the murderer’s identity. A staged crime scene may make that more difficult. Yet in this very personal investigation, a card left at the crime scene forces Cassandra Cain to once again face her complicated past in Batgirl #20.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Batgirl #20.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Batgirl #19.

For how Cassandra Cain learned to wield her Blood powers, see my review of Batgirl #18. 

For how Cassandra Cain received her Blood powers, see my preview of Batgirl #17.