Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns (Hardcover)

by Geoff Johns (Author), Shane Davis (Illustrator), Mike McKone (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Superstar writer Geoff Johns (GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR, THE FLASH, ACTION COMICS, JSA)unleashes a spectrum of adventure in this tale, which sees an all-new, all-evil Red Lantern Corps let loose on the galaxy!

As a prelude to the highly anticipated 2009 GREEN LANTERN storyline "The Blackest Night," this collection sets up the events that Geoff Johns has been leading to since he relaunched the Green Lantern franchise in 2006!

Plagued by an age-old prophecy from a prison planet on the far side of the galaxy, Green Lantern Hal Jordan searches for answers about the fate of his Green Lantern Corps. But when a primal being named Atrocitus emerges from that hell planet, he leads a Red Lantern Corps against Jordan and his brethren in a campaign to spread rage across the cosmos.

About the Author
Geoff Johns has written scores of comics including Infinite Crisis, 52, Green Lantern, All Star Batgirl, Teen Titans, X-Men, The Avengers, The Flash, JSA and Superman. Ivan Reis has illustrated The Avengers, Crux, Lady Death, Iron Man, The Invisibles, and Xena: Warrior Princess. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140122301X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401223014
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,436 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Corps is Forming a Rainbow, July 13, 2009

By	E. David Swan (South Euclid, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been a little critical of Geoff Johns in the past often finding his writing to be lacking in depth which he tries to make up for with explosive action. Like his prolific partner at DC, Grant Morrison, Mr. Johns seems to dip into the well of cosmic threat a bit too often. I felt that Johns work for the JSA was weak and the Superman/Brainiac storyline was way over-rated, on the other hand I loved Infinite Crisis. The Sinestro Corps Wars was receiving some major league industry praise and I'll be the first to admit it's very good but I think I set my expectations too high and was left ultimately disappointed. I can't say that the Rage of the Red Lantern was actually better than the Sinestro Wars but my expectations were lower and in the end I found it much more satisfying.

Things happen fast in this book. At the beginning we have the Green Lantern Corp and Sinestro's Yellow Corp but before you can blink an eye the chromatic spectrum explodes to include Red, Blue and Indigo lanterns. Let me just say that this is one of the most visually stunning comics I have ever read. The art is wonderful and the colors just pop off the pages. I have never seen such vibrant blues, reds and purples in a comic. If Geoff Johns writing was junk this collection would still be a wonder to behold but luckily this is one of Johns best. So the Red Lanterns are fueled by blind rage and the Blue Lanterns are fueled by hope but the hope requires will and yes, it does get a little complicated and the world of the lanterns is expanding very rapidly. Even the Green Lantern Corps itself has grown with the addition of its own internal affairs officers known as the Alpha Lanterns. The Guardians have written the second of the ten new laws allowing corps members to use lethal force even in situations not involving the Sinestro Corps.

In the Rage of the Red Lanterns, Johns managed to demonstrate some depth in his writing. The various factions aren't nearly as cut and dry as they look. The blind rage of the Red Lanterns is unexpectedly aimed more at the Sinestro Corps that the Lantern Corps. The Blue Lanterns initially seem ridiculously overpowered dwarfing the Corp members but they have one huge weakness which I wont mention. Hal Jordan is the central character of the story and the Red and Blue Corps intend to have him join their ranks whether he likes it or not. Rage of the Red Lanterns also delves into the relationship between Jordan and Sinestro. This time Hal Jordan has finally had enough and when the Guardians sentence Sinestro to death Jordan is fine with it and seems prepared to deliver the punishment himself. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that these new laws being imposed by the Guardians is leading them down a road to disaster and the Alpha Corps can't possibly turn out well. If this were Frank Miller writing the new gloves off approach would probably make the universe a safer place but I have a feeling this is going to have some major league blowback that might just end the Guardians once and for all.

I've been a DC fan since the 70's but Green Lantern has never been one of my favorites with his poorly defined power limits and Deus Ex Machina sitting on his finger. I'm even less of the fan of the Corps. The only reason I've been picking up these books is because of the high ratings and I have to admit the Geoff Johns has managed to suck me in and I'm really looking forward to the Blackest Night story arc. The expectations are sky high and it will be quite a challenge for Johns to pull it off but if he manages to do it this story promises to be one for the ages.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, prepare to read it twice..., July 13, 2009

By	Brendhan Naude - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book starts up where the Sinestro Corps War leaves off: Sinestro is in custody, and the Green lanterns have been granted the ability to kill others with their rings. The Red Lantern Corps is formed, and force Hal Jordan to become a red lantern. However, he is saved by the Blue Lanterns before it is too late.
Agent Orange is hinted at, and so is Star Saphire and her corps, which each have their own books. I haven't read them yet, so i don't know how they tie in. However, they are all going to come together in "Darkest Night" when the Black Lantern emerges. Can't wait for that book.
Overall, this story is fantastic, but sometimes hard to follow. Read it twice to pick up on everything you missed, and I assure you it will be one of your favorite graphic novels of the Green Lantern.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Green Lanterns, Red Lanterns, Blue Lanterns , Yellow Lanterns...oh my, July 9, 2009

By	Christopher Gwyn (far away) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wow. This book has a little bit of everything. Great writing from Geoff Johns, as usual, and great artwork. The story picks up where 'The Sinestro Corps War' left off and introduces the Alpha Lanterns. A kind of Internal Affairs division of the Green Lantern Corps. With GLs now having the ability to use deadly force through their rings, the Alpha Lanterns were created to investigate cases where deadly force has been used.
Spoilers-

The villain Atrocitus who was last seen in 'Green Lantern:Secret Origin' has freed himself from his exile and has somehow managed to channel the rage that victims of Sinestro are feeling by manifesting it into the Red Lanterns, who feed on flesh and blood and live for their hate and rage. Sinestro has been tried and convicted of mass murder and awaits his execution on a death row. When it is time to be transferred to his execution site a battle breaks ouit between rogue Sinestro Corps members and the GLs charged with the task of transporting Sinestro. During this fight the Red Lanterns make their appearance and everything goes to hell. They capture Sinestro and take him to his home world and crucify him. Hal Jordan is helpless to stop the Red Lanterns as he has been swooped away by the Blue Lanterns( I'm not kidding), a new force started by Ganthet, one of The Guardians Of The Universe. These Blue Lanterns are supposed to be the embodiment of 'hope' and the story gets kind of convoluted from this point on.
end spoilers.

This book is part of a larger story which will continue into the mega-event 'Blackest Night'. I don't know exactly where I come down on all these different color coded Lantern groups. It's kind of cool but also a bit much. All in all, if you've been following Green Lantern for some time, you'll be able to follow this story and get into it. If not, you'll be scratching your head saying wtf?