Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps #1

I've always liked the concept of the Green Lantern Corps. The idea of "space cops" is a very intriguing one, especially when it shows that Earth isn't the center of the universe (even though most of the stories does focus on its greatest member, an Earthman named Hal Jordan). Only those who are born without fear, or in recent cases are able to overcome great fear, are chosen to become a Green Lantern. But the great power that resides within these power rings can also be the cause of great temptation. Sinestro, an ex-Green Lantern, knows this all too well.

Once revered as the best Green Lantern of all (until a rookie named Hal Jordan proved otherwise), Sinestro is now one of the most greatest enemies to the Corps. His yellow power ring has proven over decades that he is a match for his green counterparts. But why is there only one yellow power ring to the 7200 Green Lanterns in the universe. This all changes right now.

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps #1 is the beginning of a new order in the universe. Led by Sinestro, he has been actively recruiting members by offering a yellow power ring to the chosen. Their goal is to "instill great fear" in others. More importantly, Sinestro wishes to bring order in the universe, something he sees that his former masters, the Guardians of the Universe, has failed to do over the course of time.

Writer Geoff Johns has quickly turned to world of Green Lantern on its head and sparked a renewed, vigorous interest, as he has done with other comic books such as Flash, Hawkman and JSA. The beauty about Johns' storytelling is his ability to take past history and weave them into current tales, without degrading what has come before him.

The story really began when Hal Jordan became Parallax and destroyed the Green Lantern Corps back in the 1990s. He terrorized the DC Universe and then died. Fans were outraged of the treatment of this beloved character and it would take many years later before Hal Jordan would be resurrected in the 2005 limited-series Green Lantern: Rebirth, written by Johns with art by Ethan Van Sciver. Small things about the revelation of the power rings, the yellow impurity and even Parallax were revealed in such a manner that made complete sense. Even Sinestro got a new lease on life. This is where the concept of the Sinestro Corps bears fruit.

This is also a very deceiving story. In a recent surge of "big event" comic book stories, such as DC Comics' Infinite Crisis and 52 or Marvel Comics' Civil War, this one has flown under the radar, regardless of the early solicitations and previews. It's hard to be surprised anymore but DC has done a good job of keeping of doing it with this story.

The members of the Sinestro Corps are made up of the vilest beings in the universe; however, worse than that is the inclusion of heavyweight hitters such as Superboy-Prime and the Cyborg Superman. Parallax, the embodiment of fear, also returns as it tangles with its counterpart Ion, revealed to be the embodiment of willpower. Even more frightening is Parallax's new host who, along with Sinestro, Superboy-Prime and the Cyborg Superman, are heralds to an even greater evil, the "Guardian of Fear". The revelation of this character is astounding.

I have always likened the concept of the Green Lantern Corps to the Jedi Knights in the Star Wars universe. Both are protectors and defenders of the galaxy using special abilities to make sure peace and order are prevalent. There have been those who have fallen to the "dark side" and later redeemed. But there has never been a Sith army in the DC Universe, that is not until now. The Sinestro Corps fulfills that role quite admirably. The similarities are great but at the same time very different, though the idea of the Green Lantern Corps precedes the concept of the Jedi.

I like big comic book events. I like how everything interweaves with one another. But I appreciate this one even more because of its non-assuming nature. In a sea of comic books that mostly get overly-hyped and never living up to expectations, this one came from nowhere and exceeded every expectation. Here is the beauty of the story: it is self-contained. Fans will appreciate that they don't need to buy some many different titles in order to get the whole story. Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps #1 is a great start to some excellent story ideas and continues in the current Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps comic books. Light has always been a way to ward away the darkness, but when light is used for darkness then it's time to be afraid.