Green Lantern Emerald Warriors Issue #1

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Pencils: Fernando Pasarin

Inking: Cam Smith

Guy Gardner is the central focus in the Brightest Day spinoff, Emerald Warriors. There have been some parallels to Hal Jordan’s current plight on Earth and Guy Gardner’s journeys through space. Guy Gardner is seemingly on some kind of secret mission. Emerald Warriors will follow Guy Gardner as he follows through with a pact he made with former Guardian of the Universe, Ganthet, and Red Lantern bearer Atrocitus.

You don’t really get a sense of what’s going on in Guy Gardner’s life.  While in the middle of recording some form of last message, he is interrupted and has to take care of a few criminals "Green Lantern" style.

Guy Gardner is an over-the-top personality. And the first action set piece in Emerald Warriors #1 shows exactly what the character of Guy Gardner is all about.

I love the first 12 pages of this comic. You really get to see what the Green Lantern Power Ring can do. Pasarin draws the most elaborate constructs, which fit right in with Guy Gardner’s personality. Seeing how creative an artist can be with the Power Ring is why I love reading Green Lantern comics-- it’s pure imagination.  

Many of the panels have little details that are easy to miss. You really have to scan over each page to take in the total effect of Pasarin’s art. There are so many intricacies to the art in Emerald Warriors #1 that sometimes I actual forget to read the dialogue. 

That is not to say Tomasi’s writing is uninteresting. In fact, Tomasi portrays the character of Guy Gardner just the way he should be: brash, cocky, and short-tempered. Guy Gardner is the popular "meat-head" high school jock…and he certainly is the person you would want backing you up in a fight, and Tomasi has Guy Gardner’s mannerisms down pat.

If someone asked me, “What exactly can the Power Ring do?” This issue—Emerald Warriors #1—is what I would point to as a great representation of the power of a Green Lantern and how artists should manifest the abilities of the Green Lantern Power Ring.

Emerald Warriors #1 is setting things in motion…what that may be, I can’t say. By the end of Emerald Warriors #1, Guy Gardner is given permission to explore the unknown sectors of the galaxy. This may lead to some intriguing developments. If I can say one thing about Emerald Warriors, it’s that the premise—whatever the outcome may be—has certainly captured my interest. So far, Emerald Warriors looks to be a great addition to the Green Lantern continuity.