The Dead Shall Rise

It has begun.  The War of Light is raging and the dead shall rise.  This issue is nothing but a thrill ride of horror from beginning to end.  An action packed  A-List of heroes and villains are all lined up to make this truly a summer blockbuster event.  I think that Geoff does a great job in this issue of not making this a “Green Lantern” story arc.  Obviously the main theme is Green Lantern related, the henchman of death is a Guardian, a bunch of zombie like creatures are now wearing power rings… but beyond that you see very quickly that this is going to go far beyond anything strictly Oan.  If for some reason you weren’t planning on picking up this series… change your mind now.  This is going to be a gory roller coaster ride from beginning to end.

We kick off the issue with Black Hand in the grave yard digging up an unmarked grave next to Martha and Thomas Wayne.  Then we jump to an explosion of black power rings that erupts within Space Sector 666.  Like a swarm of flies they are coming and they are seeking flesh!  We then jump to Coast City on the anniversary of the day that everyone thought Superman died.  This day has been declared a National Day of Mourning… since Superman returned it’s become a day to remember Super-Beings who gave their lives protecting the world; and the innocents they failed to save.  The Green Lantern crew consisting of Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner ignite a “No Fear” memorial in the center of Coast City as Hal comments on the loved ones he has lost in his days a Green Lantern.

As the emerald flames shine on the faces of the people of Coast City we see flashes of people across the world mourning those they have lost.  In Smallville Conner, Clark and their Ma Kent are at the grave of Jonathan Kent.  Pittsburgh shows us the grave of Ronnie Raymond the first Firestorm.  San Francisco the Teen Titans view the memorials of their comrades.  Even the Flash’s own Central City hosts the Hidden Graveyard of Rogues.   And we hear the debate over Arthur Curry and his being buried on land when he has a magnificent tomb waiting for him under the sea.  Then in Gotham City Alfred discovers the grave of the man he raised has been dug up, defiled and remains stolen.

We are then treated to a view of the underground morgue three stories beneath the headquarters of the Justice League of America.  Hal is explaining why they hold these remains locked up underground.  There is a great panel of the Flash looking at the coffin of Roger Hayden the Psycho-Pirate.  Does anyone remember why they had bad blood?  Barry can’t believe how many they have lost since he’s been gone and he asks Hal to educate him on exactly who they have lost in the span of his “death.”  Hal uses his ring to create constructs of all the fallen heroes.  Barry is utterly shocked to see that Firestorm, Ralph and Sue are all deceased.
Next is a full page shot of the Guardians overlooking a huge vortex of light.  They announce that they have failed.  The war of light has erupted.  They view the varying battles currently raging.  The violet light of love trying to conquer the yellow.  Green Lanterns battling Red Lanterns of rage.  The Orange Avarice battling the Blue Light of Hope.  They say that in nearly every sector, the lanterns clash.  Emotion runs rampant.  And coming from Sector 666 is a shadow.   A shadow that is spreading and heading directly towards them.  They attempt to call a Code Black and have all Lanterns return to protect Oa.  Scar speaks up and tells them that they will never receive the distress call.  When asked why the reply is simply, “Because it will never be made.”  With this Scar lunges and rips open the neck of the nearest Guardian with his teeth and proceeds to reach directly into his chest Temple of Doom style and rips out his green heart!

At this point the swarm of black rings have reached their destinations.  They break into the crypt of Green Lanterns.  They arrive on Mars, Korugar, Earth…. Etc.  And the dead now RISE.  Fantastic two page panel of all the dead Green Lanterns standing in a gory huddle mass (see if you can identify and name them all!)  Standing over the defiled grave of Bruce Wayne, Green Lantern and the Flash are greeted by a very bad ass looking Martian Manhunter.
The final pages show us Hawkman and Hawkgirl in a heated argument.  From behind them we see them through the perspective of a third party.  They are both glowing red and we see a black ring report “Rage.”  Then as their discussion cools down we see them glow violet and the black ring reports “Love.”  Then Kendra is pieced through and through from behind with a spike and an explosion of blood.  Carter is then cracked in the mouth with his own mace as the twisted bodies of Ralph and Sue stand over them as Black Lanterns.  Ralph reaches into Carter’s chest and pulls out his red gushing heart.  As he holds it over his head Ralph’s ring reports, “Power levels 0.02%”  The same happens as Sue removes Kendra’s heart.  The Black Hand steps in and says, “You won’t escape death this time. Death will take us all and the universe will be at peace.  Then from the skull of Bruce Wayne that Black Hand is clutching two more black rings appear and command Carter Hall and Kendra Saunders of Earth to rise!

• Issue: 1
• Story Arch: The Blackest Night
• Writer: Geoff Johns
• Pencils: Ivan Reis
• Color: Alex Sinclair
• Letters: Nick J. Napolitano