Red Lanterns #2

October 8, 2011

Title: Pure Rage

Writer: Peter Milligan
Pencils: Ed Benes
Inks: Rob Hunter
Colorist: Nathan Eyring
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Artist: Ed Benes
Editor: Brian Cunningham
Publisher: DC Comics

As Atrocitus ponders the future of his Corps, he relates the tale of Ghan IX, a planet “engulfed in rage.” In the midst of a war on this planet, a young girl sees her family butchered, and Atrocitus is forced to make a choice that may change the direction of the Red Lanterns.

Peter Milligan raises some interesting questions with this book about the nature of rage itself, as well as how it has changed the course of evolution for Atrocitus and the rest of the Red Lanterns. As you can imagine, it’s not the most peaceful existence they enjoy, and we see an interesting moment here where the rage-filled Lantern actually ponders whether to induct another child into his ranks. Her rage is pure, but will allowing her to succumb to it be a kindness, or a curse?

The only complaint I have about this book is that it does seem to be moving along rather slowly. Last issue introduced a subplot on Earth that isn’t touched upon at all this issue. The flashback to Ghan IX takes up most of issue two, but it probably could have been tightened up to allow at least a bit of a visit to the other storyline. The title is strong, but needs to pull together.

Ed Benes’s artwork still surprises me. He’s made his reputation more or less on cheesecake, so seeing him draw moments of war and monsters so effectively is actually a welcome surprise.

Good book, but it can get better.

Rating: 7/10

Red Lanterns #1

September 23, 2011

Title: With Blood and Rage

Writer: Peter Milligan
Pencils: Ed Benes
Inks: Rob Hunter
Colorist: Nathan Eyring
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Artist: Ed Benes
Editor: Brian Cunningham
Publisher: DC Comics

Want to know how to piss off the nastiest of the Red Lanterns? Pick on his cat. After helping Dex-Starr take care of a few foolish aliens, Atrocitus returns to Ysmault to meet with the rest of his Red Lanterns. But things aren’t as usual for the angry warrior – Atrocitus may actually be losing his rage. On Earth, meanwhile, we check in on a man whose rage – justifiably – is beginning to build. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this series. Would it be a villain title, would it be a sort of cosmic Punisher? As it turns out, it’s not really either. The Red Lanterns have played the antagonist role in the past, but even before the New 52 relaunch, it was difficult to classify them as villains. Sure, they’re driven by anger, but in many cases, we see that it’s anger that is deserved and focused on a target that isn’t exactly innocent. This book shows a different side too Atrocitus, hints at an expansion of the Red Lantern Corps, and actually has a surprising amount of humor in it. All of this combined makes for a very entertaining read.

Ed Benes is doing good art here for the most part. His aliens look cool, and he’s definitely got the chops for the violence and blood a title of this nature demands. He still, however, keeps up his anatomically impossible depictions of the more humanoid women, Bleez in particular, who somehow manages to bend in such a way that you can see both her full chest and posterior in the same panel. (I know she’s an alien, but there’s truly nothing about her skeletal structure that would indicate such a thing is even possible, let alone comfortable).

It’s a solid first issue, and I’m willing to go along for the ride.

Rating: 8/10