Customer Reviews

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The most wonderful (as well as most over-exploited) thing about DC Comics is the long history of the characters. For example, we have the Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott (who first debuted in 1940) and the Silver Age Green Lantern, Hal Jordan (1959) and finally the current Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner (1994). That's not to mention the other GLs like the 1970s John Stewart and the obnoxious (but cuddly!!) Guy Gardner. Same thing with the Flashes (Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West).

The usual view of comic creators and readers are somewhat like this: The Golden Age gave us the original concept, the Silver Age gave us the penultimate version of the character and the Modern Age version is either a farce or a personification of the fan-boy's hero-worship for the Silver Age version. Case in point, Wally West, the current Flash - who is often portrayed as the substitute for the comic-fan who learn his "values" and "life-lessons" by emulating the oh-so-great Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen. We finally got to see Barry and Wally together in Mark Waid's now-classic "Return of Barry Allen" tale. In a way, Wally's Flash is "legitimized" by Barry's approval of him at the end of the tale.

Kyle Rayner, the current GL, however suffered the abuse of comic-readers who constantly call him a farce and pretender. Looking at the character objectively, I have to say that Kyle suffered because of the fate of his predecessor than through any fault of his own. You see, his predecessor, the beloved Hal Jordan went crazy and became this villain called Parallax (long story - in short, the readers were none too pleased!). Long-time readers took out their frustration on Hal's replacement, Kyle - even to the fanatical level of forming a Jihad-like group called H.E.A.T. to insist that D.C. Comics reinstate Hal as the "one and only REAL Green Lantern". This volume here is another "Return of Barry Allen"-like response by D.C. to "legitimize" Kyle Rayner. Did they succeed? Well, the results are pretty predictable. Hal shows up in Kyle's present-time. They go through several adventures together and meet up with a few "old" friends like the JLA, the current Green Arrow and the other "ring-bearers". Kyle feeling like the fifth wheel now that Hal is welcomed back (you'll never guess who comes to "comfort" him!). And finally an encounter with the Parallax from Zero Hour (don't ask!!). Ends with Hal saying how "happy and proud" he is of Kyle (there... the "legitimizing" moment) and Kyle "knowing" that Hal will always be that measure of a hero that he aspire to. Nothing overtly deep or anything here.

"Emerald Knights" is really a simple, fond farewell to the Hal Jordan that we knew and loved. It doesn't really change anything. Except Kyle maybe. The past few years, we have seen Kyle getting "recognition" from the JLA, the other Green Lanterns, etc. We finally get to see him meeting the "real" Hal Jordan and see how he measures up. I don't think this story did much to appease the H.E.A.T. (I just HAD to say that!). But for a reader like me, I'm pretty happy that they did a story like that. It shows how much these characters are loved and the affection that both the creators and readers still have for them. I am neither a H.E.A.T. supporter nor a Kyle supporter. I just like the way things have progressed so far. Kyle IS the Green Lantern. Alan Scott is Sentinel of JSA (recently started calling himself G.L. again!) and Hal is performing his "penance" as the Spectre (see "Day of Judgment" miniseries).

I'm a pretty new fan to the Green Lantern series, though I did know about Hal Jordan and the various exploits the character had been through throughout the years. The story is about Kyle Rayner, though the real star is Hal Jordan and to a lesser extent, Parallax. The book collects GL issues 100-105 and the two Green Arrow stories. I would recommend this book to anyone, even if they hate comics because it is a lot of fun to read. I only wish the publisher of this novel had decided to make the paper of a higher-quality like with the various Elseworld books. The artwork is great, though it changes throughout the book. Overall, I think Emerald Knights is a good read.

I was never a big Hal Jordan Green Lantern fan, but I couldn't pass up the chance to read the pairing of Kyle Rayner with a young and arrogant Hal. The basic story is that Kyle is sent time traveling only to end up meeting Hal early on in his GL career. Kyle is able to return to his present time, but quickly discovers that Hal was accidentally sent back with him. What follows is a series of great moments as Hal adjusts to discovering the fate of Coast City, the realization of the power-hungry supervillain he eventually becomes, and the shock of having his old friends suspicious of his motives. This story accomplishes many things in my eyes, the greatest of which is making Hal Jordan an interesting character again. He was shown as a likable average guy coming to grips with a future he is powerless to change. A far cry from the hardened old gruff depicted in comics for years before the Emerald Twilight storyline finally gave him some purpose. I highly recommend this well written tale to anyone, especially the casual Green Lantern reader wanting to see the best of the old and new.

i just finished this book,while i found the art work lacking the story was very intresting as long as you didn't think about all that time line stuff.it was great to see hal and kyle working together and getting to know eachother.and as a bonus hal teams up with green arrow.this was a book i had a hard time putting down.it was deffently woth a look.i'm a fan of all the lanterns and to see them team up was a treat.the best part was when hal and kyle travel to oa of the past.kyle gets to see what the green lantern tradtion was all about.allthough it is a good book i had a real problem with the art work.it looked at times like a school kid did it. if you are a lantern fan check it out!

Considering that a) this is a "Return of Barry Allen" DC, if you catch my drift and b) instead of Flash, it's Green Lantern, "Emerald Knights" is a pretty darn good book.

"Emerald Knights" stars Hal Jordan, Silver Age Green Lantern, and Kyle Rayner, the current, somewhat-despised Green Lantern. Apparently, DC wanted to kill off this "despicible", "illegitimate" feature of Kyle Rayner, so what they did was pull off a "Return of Barry Allen"-style comic, in which Hal Jordan is somewhat pulled into the present. After some adventures which involve Kyle Rayner's grim nature, Hal Jordan's (very) confused state, and even Zero Hour Parallax, Hal Jordan legitimizes, so to speak, Kyle Rayner, so that organizations such as H.E.A.T. can shut their traps.

In other words, this book is all about the coming-of-age of Kyle Rayner.

But don't pass it off just as a ripoff of "Return of Barry Allen". "Emerald Knights" is QUITE good, and has a decent, understandable story as well. It doesn't measure up to some of the better Green Lantern titles, but what it DOES do is show off the various natures of both Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner. Don't pass this one off just because of the art, or the ripoffing nature. "Emerald Knights" is good - a farewell to Hal Jordan, and the summoning of Kyle Rayner. Read it.

Kyle Rayner and Hal Jorden made one of the best teams I have aver read. The younger Hal Jordens ability to deal with the loss of Coast City gave you a glimmer of what would have happened if the older Hal Jorden could have dealt with his grief, instead of betraying all his ideals. With the exception of some of Kyle's dialogue most of the book was well written. Apparantly Kyle has a habit of repeating himself, because he uses the same phrase when talking to Batman that he does with every other hero. Hal's acceptance by the Justice League, and Kyle's subsaquentjealousy make for an interesting read. The Hal Jorden Green Lantern & Green Arrow sub-plot is an interesting combination. Overall this book is definately worth your time.

I think this series in GL was excellent because it showed how Hal delt with his becoming Paralax, and betraying his ideals he had stood for. It also showed how glad Hal was someone like Kyle was still carring on the GL tradition, and I think it gave Kyle some credibility with Hal's acceptence of him.

Prepare for the old to meet the new, when a young Hal Jordan is catipuleted into the Future and learns of what the New GL Kyle Rayner deals with. It has alot of good artwork & the story gives a good link to build upon with how it would have been, had Hal Jordan not become Parralex

Kyle Rayner is the only Green Lantern I've ever really known, though back issues, TPBs, JLA, Zero Hour & Final Night, etc. have let me get to know Hal Jordan - a tragic, poignant character (can characters be poignant?). Seeing the two together is great, but the story's not about Kyle; it's about Hal, dealing with his past and future. We see the quintessential GL realize all that he will lose and the decisions he makes to deal with it, and also gives some modern-day characters a chance to get to know Hal, or see him (the real him; not Parallax) one last time. An excellent opportunity for both superheroes and readers.

well it is at times closer to 3 stars but some of the stories in it make it a 4 star comic and worth buying. Well you start off with Kyle time jumping and landing in the past, he fights side by side with the greatest GL ever Hal Jordan. well with some work they end up in the future and it has some really goo stories like Hal learning what he will become later , a killer who will wipe out the corps and almost destory the universe, but then you have stories like green arrows that could have been better if only a couple of thing was changed, like Hal some how runs into the guy who got him kicked out of the Air force and he happens to work with the guys who are after Green arrow...come on even in a comic a time jumping Hal running into this guy? what are the chances? had they left that out it would have been much better. but all in all it's worth it and you get Hal back for a little while with lots of cameos from the JLA and others.

Now one thing that bugs me all the way through it.....is the time jumping! they never explain how he can be there and everything still be the same and all they ever do is have Hal or Kyle say "i don't know how this is possible, but that's for a smarter man to figure out" they say this or close it a LOT and it bugs me ot think they just mean "well there is no good way ot explain it we just wanted to team these guys up so don't think abou it" and it gets worse at the end with Parralax showing up due ot time traveling... buy only if you like GL because it's far from the greatest.