I want to Look at Green Lantern Corp first this week for a couple reasons. Blackest Night is half over at this point and there have been some seemingly significant changes occurring or about to occur. For those of you who haven’t read Green Lantern Corp #42 go to the next paragraph. With the death of Kyle Rayner ending the last issue, there was a sense of shock that one of the 4 big Green Lantern’s was dead and gone and not coming back. This issue, which the cover of GL Corp #43 gives away, is Guy Gardner becoming a Red Lantern and the fall out that would presumably come from this. We open up with Guy and Natu Racing off to the Body of Kyle, who’s ring is now off to the Green Lantern Mogo (a giant planet), and where all the rings of deceased Green Lanterns go to wait further instructions. Guy doesn’t want Kyle’s ring to leave, which would mean he is really gone, and i’ll come back to this point in a sec. Also in this issue, Sinestro Corp member Kryb and Star Sapphire Miri are also on Oa in search of Kryb’s “babies.”

After reading this issue the first thing that came into my mind was cop out. Spoiler warning here, so jump ahead. Kyle doesn’t stay dead. I like Kyle, he’s a great and relatable character, very much Nightwing to Hal’s Batman, but I thought this was a great move for Blackest Night, the death of one of the core Lantern’s, and maybe we’ll see it later, but not right now. Kyle’s rebirth, so to speak looks to act like a plot device, as well as a way to bring together a lot of the story threads that are going on, on Oa. this issue then, for me, is a progression issue, helps get to the next stage of the story. By killing Kyle, Tomasi seems to be keeping in with the Blackest Night theme of resurrection, but a different kind then we have been seeing. I’m not sure if anyone else has been brought back to life since this event began, haven’t been following some of the other BN series, but it may be the only case. That being said, there is a lot going on in this issue and it doesn’t seem like it.

First thing we should look at is Guy Gardner, Red Lantern, plot device. What I forgot to remember from last issue was Guy and Kyle’s plan to unleash Red Lantern Vice and have him reek havoc all over the Black Lanterns. With so many on Oa after the power battery of will, there is going to have to be something that can get rid of them, and Vice might help. Nope, not happening because Lantern Chaselon, that law abiding Alpha Lantern decides that Vice should be dead, and he does so. So now Vice’s red ring of rage is looking for a new bearer; enter Guy Gardner. With Kyle’s death, Guy is sent over the edge, trying to do what he can to keep Kyle’s ring from flying off, his rage increases until Vice’s ring finds Guy, who then becomes the blood spurting member of the Green/Red Lantern corp. I say Green/Red because Guy still has his ring of will, and as we know, green and any other colour light can destroy a Black Lantern. So Guy goes off and starts his destruction of the Black Lantern Army; a creative and emotional way of clearing these pests.

the second thing to look at here is the resurrection of Kyle Rayner. With Sinestro Corp Kryb and Star Sapphire Miri off to look for Kryb’s babies, only to find them dead and Black Lanternized, Natu’s love for the now deceased Kyle cries out to Miri who sets out to help, leaving Kryb alone. While Natu tries to save Kyle with the will of her own ring, a black ring tries to find its way onto Kyle’s finger, only to be shattered by Indigo 2, who begins to ward off other black rings after Kyle. He is soon joined by Kilowog and other Green Lanterns. With Miri then coming onto the scene, she, through the joining of Kyle and Natu’s hearts, allows Kyle to be reborn and for him and Natu to be the love of each others life. So what do we have here? One of the core Green Lanterns is back, he’s in love, and we now have a group of lanterns to save Oa, and Guy. Go team!

Lastly, the issue ends with the biggest, and by biggest, I mean size, Green Lantern; Mogo is circling over Oa, and looks to bringing the heat. Oa looks to be on the up and up now with all its new fire power, but some issues are still present. What will happen with Guy? Will they save him? Will he be the core casualty? My money right now is on him staying red and losing the green, even if its just the rest of the series. People with rage don’t stop being angry when what causes them rage is no longer apparent. Guy will see Kyle, but he’ll still be angry at something else, maybe even Kyle for just dying. And what about Kyle dying? he has now joined the ranks of heroes who have died and come back to life. Are we going to see Kyle become like Superman and gang, influenced by the ring, or is he too far out of Nekron’s reach? Or does the lack of that tether that Kyle would have with “Bruce Wayne” mean that this wouldn’t occur, especially since “Bruce Wayne” was sent away. We’ll have to wait and see. 

I did end up liking this issue. Have read it a couple times and have been impressed by the way Tomasi has started tying the story together to John’s main event. Gleason’s art is better this issue than lasts, at least the beginning of last issue. With so many Black Lanterns present, I can imagine it would be tedious to constantly draw a lot of gross looking characters. After this issue though, the Black Lanterns will be thinning out, so I hope Gleason’s panels won’t be as crowded. What did you think about this issue? have any theories or takes of your own you’d wish to share?