Review by Ian Keogh

Geoff Johns’ reboot of Green Lantern provided one of the most popular runs in the feature’s history, constantly expanding boundaries. As part of his revival, and in combination with Dave Gibbons and Patrick Gleason the Green Lantern Corps were also picked up and dusted off for a relaunch, although Recharge was competent rather than thrilling.

It’s Gibbons and Gleason who continue with To Be A Lantern, and it’s an improvement. Gibbons throws a net over a considerable cast who solve problems over a variety of locations. The contrasting personalities are designed to clash, from the administrative priorities of Salaak, the sole contact with the Guardians of the Universe, through the uncertainties of the new Green Lanterns, to the aggression of Guy Gardner. Gibbons mixes those personalities well as the primary concern becomes who’s killing the princes of assorted royal families.

There were viable concerns about Gleason’s art in Recharge, but this is a big leap forward. He gives assorted worlds a unique look, composes his panels and pages to delight, and really goes the extra mile to supply detail. Importantly, this is never at the cost of distracting the eye where it should go. Read To Be A Lantern the first time for the story, and the second to admire all the little touches Gleason throws in. Gibbons himself draws the knockabout comedy of the ridiculous Bolphunga gunning for Gardner. There would usually be no complaints about two chapters of Gibbons art, but Michael Bair’s not the most sympathetic inker. His art looks better as inked by Rodney Ramos on the final chapter (sample right).

Readers are going to have their suspicions about the probable guilty party over the first story, and they’ll be right, but by the time the revelation arrives that’s superseded by a different emphasis. Gibbons introduces several good ideas, one being the use of Mogo as the confessional sounding board for Green Lanterns experiencing problems, and blends the action and mysteries well for an enjoyable collection. It’s a rare series that improves with Johns’ departure, but this is one.

To Be a Lantern and following collection The Dark Side of Green are now also available in the slightly larger format hardcover Green Lantern Corps by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus Vol. 1.