Truth of the New Guardians Revealed!!
By: Andrew Hines
Before I get into the writing and artwork, which is good, I feel like I have to give you full year's synopsis. Okay, so a ring from each Corps was stolen and its wearer basically left to die. They all got sent to Kyle Rayner who then looked like a "ring thief" despite having no idea what was going on. An uneasy alliance was formed by Rayner along with Munk, Saint Walker, Fatality (Star Sapphire), Bleez, Glomulus (Orange Lantern construct), Arkillo and eventually the weaponer of Qward. So they get duped by Larfleeze to do his dirty work and whack this Invictus dude who's the sole protector of a giant solar system/space ship. Then Kyle gets recruited by Invictus to kill Larfleeze. That obviously ain't gonna work so Invictus follows them and decides to take on Agent Orange and that brings us to the here and now. Any questions?
Tony Bedard has done a passable job on this one. There's too much expository dialogue and not enough real interaction. It was a very slow beginning and the biggest action sequences took way to long to round out. I'm all for some good old fashioned ring slinging, but come on. It was a decent ending, but at the same time, it was way too clean. The title in general has been far too slow paced.
Tyler Kirkham's art is good and all but at the same time, he often makes the characters' necks far too veiny. With one exception (page 18) I never really got the feeling that Kyle was an artist, which typically shows through his constructs. It looked a lot like Hal's stuff, just beams of light and very run-of-the-mill. Batt's inks on the other hand have been good. Nei Ruffino and Wes Hartman's colors were pretty good and fit what the effects were trying to portray.
I have to give this one a "B-". I want to love it because Kyle is one of my favorite characters, but the writing didn't work out as well as I wanted it to. It was wrapped up a little too neatly. I'm just hoping that better things happen after the 0 issues.
I agree with your review, Andy. I started with all the lantern books when the relaunch started and dropped Red Lanterns at issue #5. I have been waiting with this title to see if anything happens and would probably make a decision after the #0 issues. I think, by far, Green Lantern Corps is the best of the lantern books with writing and art, then Green Lantern. This title, Guardians, seems like filler material that doesn’t seem to be making any impact. Hopefully the third army storyline gives it a kick in the pants.
Until the relaunch, I was not a Guy Gardner fan. I started on Green Lantern in the early 90’s when Kyle was the only one and I love that they touch on the fact that he’s the only Lantern the ring didn’t choose. They’ve been neglecting that fact for years, which explains Kyle’s relationship with Ganthet as a sort of surrogate father.
Since WHEN did you see all lantern colors on ONE person?
They all got sent to him. I never said he wore any extras. They all just floated in front of him and said that he was chosen to be in the respective Corps’. Hal has worn several different colored rings, though only once did he wear two at a time. At one point during Blackest Night he wore a Green and a Blue. Never seen anyone wear multiple colors other than that.
No New Guardians without Snowflame!