Customer Reviews

Green Lantern: Tales of the Sinestro Corps

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you bought the two graphic novels of the Sinestro Corps War storyline this is a good buy as well. It contains all of the side stories and origin stories told/retold during the aforementioned storyline. And it includes an encyclopedia of sorts of the Green Lantern universe. The Lanterns, their villains, the Guardians, pretty much all of it.
But there is one problem. The side stories collected in this book are sort of chronological. They fit in with events of the larger storyline as it transpires, so it would have been best to have these stories put in the order they were released inside the two parts of the Sinestro Corps War graphic novels. I would gladly pay a few dollars more for each part of that storyline and have a more complete reading experience in two books than have one extraneous(though worthwhile) book that exists sort of out-of-whack with its companions.
Bottom line: If you want the whole experience of the Sinestro Corps War, buy this. If you want to delve into Green Lantern with this storyline or have recently delved into Green Lantern comics and simply need an information resource, buy this. If you just want the main storyline with no side stories and no extra info, don't buy this.

My feelings differ from other reviewers of this title in that I don't think it is important to the telling of the Sinestro Corps War nor is it of the same caliber. Some of the art, especially Dave Gibbons', is exceptional. The rest, not so much.
I personally dislike the framing device of having a narrarator introduce the stories (ala the Crypt Keeper) but realize that that is a personal preference and not a flaw.
What makes the book earn a 4 star review (instead of 3) is the Secret Files and Origins chapter that rounds out the book. It is here that I heartily agree with the other reviews. Like DVD extras, it is bonus material that gives the story of the Corps some depth and richness.
All in all a worthy volume if you can't get enough of the GL Corps or are a completist, but not nearly the quality of volumes 1 and 2 of the Sinestro Corps War and not necessary to understanding the story.

A hardcover collection that compiles various side-stories and one-shots, Tales of the Sinestro Corps fleshes out the events of the epic interstellar saga The Sinestro Corps War, and many of the major players and the impacts they make as well. Featured here are backstories pertaining to various members of the Sinestro Corps, most notably being Sinestro himself, the sentient virus known as Despotellis, the insane and murderous Superman-Prime, and Hank Henshaw, AKA the Cyborg-Superman. Also featured here are tales dealing with the aftermath of the war, including Kyle Rayner's struggle against Parallax, as well as his new role as a Green Lantern, and his training of the newly christened torchbearer of the Lanterns, Sodom-Yat. What really makes this hardcover collection worth picking up however is the Secret Files & Origins one-shot featured here, which collects a horde of information detailing the mythos of the Green Lantern corps and the Sinestro corps, as well as a hint of the Black Lanterns and what is to come with Blackest Night. A more than worthwhile companion for The Sinestro Corps War, Tales of the Sinestro Corps is a must-own collection for anyone the least bit interested the epic crossover event.

For those of us who bounce back and forth from buying actual comic books to these reprint collections, It is always helpful to know which books are reprinted inside:

Collecting GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL #1, TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: ION #1, TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: PARALLAX #1, TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: CYBORG SUPERMAN #1, TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: SUPERMAN-PRIME #1, GREEN LANTERN/SINESTRO CORPS SECRET FILES #1 and backup stories from GREEN LANTERN #18-20!

Written by Geoff Johns, Ron Marz and others; Art by Dave Gibbons, Pete Woods, Jerry Ordway and others; Cover by Ivan Reis

This TPB contains the back up stories of issues 18-20 (I think!) of the latest Green Lantern series, plus all the one shots DC released during the Sinestro Wars crossover, which expanded info and details related to Superboy-Prime, Cyborg Superman, Ion, etc.

The Sinestro Wars story, per se, is better in my opinion, but again, this is a nice compilation of information which enriches the overall Sinestro Wars experience.

Enjoy!

I kept reading on various forums that this is to be read between book 1 and book 2, and even the reviews on here mention that it is a followup to book 1 of the Sinestro Corps Wars. Unfortunately not only are the stories really not necessary to appreciate the series, but it also spoiled various plots that occured in book 2 for me. This is has original stories that aren't needed to be in continuity and are enjoyable, but there are others that you would read a part of book 1, then read this story, then read book 2 then read this story...etc. Would have been better if these stories were included in the appropriate order in the other two books and charged a little more.

This book must have at one side "Sinestro Corps War COMPANION". It tells a few storys of some Sinestro Corps members and how they got their fame and ergo the sinestro yellow ring. Besides it gives some (little) background to a few GL Corps members, fallen Lanterns and places in OA.

This book is not absolutely necessary to get the Sinestro Corps War saga, but it asnwer a few couple of minor questions.

Get it only if you MUST know everything about GL (even if is not relevant). Be warned.


UPDATE 11/08/2010
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I'm on my way to the Blackest Night now, so I gave all my GL books a re-read. I just add one star to my original review because this book is good... very good. Is going to have a different effect according how you read it though.

First time around I read SCW 1 and 2, and I was full of adrenaline!!. That was hard action and story developing like only Geoff Jones can. The problem was that I began this book RIGHT after i finished volume two, so it was a little anti-climactic for me.

Now that I gave another read, I wait for a day or two after Sinestro Corps War and began reading Tales of the Sinestro Corps. This book is good!!. It have very good stories about some important Sinestro Corps members, descrition of places and sectors on the GL mythos, brief description of (virtually) ALL the GL corps members and another story involving Kyle and the new Ion.

If you read this book at the right moment (that is definably after SCW) then you'll enjoy it, but if your in a hype, maybe you should take a day or two off and then read this. The book is not action pack but is gooooood information for the future.

I've read both volumes of the Sinestro Corps war and this third volume feels like the perfect companion for it.

It develops the conflict between Kyle and Parallax, explains Kyle's new role on the corps and the involvement of Superman Prime in the war and shows a little bit more about Sodam Yat and the most interesting memebers fo the Sinestro Corps. It answers a lot of question and geaves new perspectives on the events.

It includes also a very long list and bios of many of the corp's memebers, places and creatures of the Green Lantern mythology.

If you liked Sinestro Corps war, this is the book that will complete your collection.

"Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War" was the breakout hit of 2007. The Green Lantern fans knew the crossover had great potential, but no one anticipated the overwhelming critical and commercial success it would achieve. As the story progressed, DC Comics chose to expand the crossover by publishing several issues spotlighting Sinestro's crew. They are collected here in "Green Lantern: Tales of the Sinestro Corps".

The opening stories are backup features originally published during the "Secrets of the Star Sapphires" arc (collected in "Green Lantern: Wanted - Hal Jordan"). The storyline of Amon Sur is continued as we learn what happened to him after he was transported to Qward. Through him, we are introduced to Lyssa Drak, keeper of the Book of Parallax. As part of his training, Amon learns about some of the more notorious members of the new Corps: the sniper Bedovian, the savage Karu-Sil, and the deadly Despotellis. All three characters have small roles in the main crossover, so it's enjoyable to see them fleshed out. Sinestro himself is spotlighted as Drak retells his origin. The story is interesting, because it retells Sinestro's first encounter with Hal Jordan (as seen in "Green Lantern: Rebirth") from Sinestro's perspective. It also sets up many of the interactions we later see in "Green Lantern: Secret Origin".

From here, we plunge into the main "Tales of the Sinestro Corps" one-shots. Ron Marz opens with "Parallax", which shows Kyle Rayner's imprisonment and perspective on the opening stages of the War. The book is also a continuation of the short-lived "Ion" series. Marz also pens the later "Ion", which bookends the Tales and highlights the final fate of both Kyle and Ion. As always, it's great to have Kyle's creator penning more stories of his most famous character.

"Cyborg Superman" sees Alan Burnett tackle Hank Henshaw as he leads the Manhunters into the final battle of the War. As readers know, the main crossover supplies new revelations regarding his motivation and Burnett runs wild with it. He also chronicles Henshaw's post-Infinite Crisis origin, adding minor tweaks to one of the DCU's most dangerous villains.

"Superman-Prime" sees Geoff Johns continue the story arc of the bratty Earth-Prime survivor and his rematch with Earth's greatest heroes. It also answers -- or rather foreshadows -- why Prime would bother allying himself with Sinestro's coalition. Sterling Gates' backup story, "Fear Is A Baby's Cry!", also introduces Sinestro Corpsmen Kryb, who will become important to Peter Tomasi's GLC stories.

The book closes out with "Green Lantern Secret Files 2007" which gives readers an overview of the ring-wielders of both the Green Lantern Corps and the Sinestro Corps. It's a good read and a reaffirmation that there is more to the GL mythology than just the Earth Lanterns.

The Sinestro Corps War trades sucked really bad so I expected to hate this book. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself not being able to get enough of the short stories in this trade. It just shows if you give a talented writer a narrow and focused subject you get some really good stories. The War storyline was basically people punching each other and shouting one-liners. It was drivel. Here we get actual characters, characters who seem real and aren't just idiots in spandex punching themselves off the page. Skip the war but check out this much more interesting sidebar.