Review by Win Wiacek

By 1963 Green Lantern under editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane had settled into a formula, yet one broad enough to ensure enough variety to the two stories presented in most issues. The only real difference in three years of publication was the relatively recent addition of Gardner Fox as writer of some stories shortly before this selection picks up. It takes Green Lantern through what in expensive hardcover editions was Green Lantern Archives Volume 3 to the opening story of Volume 6, or if you prefer your reprints in black and white, Showcase Presents Green Lantern Vol. 2 and Vol. 3. And that’s not the half of it. These stories have been previously available in four other collections, but crucially not as cheaply in colour.

In 1963 the concept of the superhero was firmly re-established among the buying public and there was no shortage of gaudily clad competition. The better series survived by having something a little “extra”. With Green Lantern that was primarily the superb scripts of Broome and Fox couple with Kane’s astounding drawing, but the concept itself was also a provider of boundless opportunity.

Other heroes had extraterrestrial, other-dimensional and even trans-temporal adventures, but the valiant champion of this series is also a cop: a lawman working for the biggest police force in the entire universe. It’s reinforced over a succession of interplanetary thrillers, and it’s also notable that at first costumed villains are third choice in a writer’s armoury. Back then clever bad-guys and aliens always seemed more believable to the creators, and it’s the crimes spotlighted more than the criminals.

However in 1963 that began to change. Sonar, Hector Hammond, Star Sapphire and, of course, Sinestro return, and there’s the introduction of Black Hand, Doctor Polaris, Goldface, future Suicide Squad star the Shark, and the Tattooed Man. Two Flash team-ups also feature, but there’s still room for the offbeat, such as Broome engineering a startling duel when hobo Bill Baggett takes control of the Green Ring, necessitating a literal battle of wills for its power.

Meanwhile, Kane’s incredibly animated art transformed how action comics were drawn. His dynamic anatomy and deft page design matures with every page here, as he reaches his artistic peak. Full-body anatomical triumphs burst with energy and crash out of every page, and when Kane’s not inking his own pencils, the inks are provided by the sympathetic Sid Greene.

A superb selection at a bargain price, and you can pick up the continuation as Earth’s Other Green Lantern.