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Post by Admin on Dec 13, 2011 15:30:49 GMT -5
Please let us know what you think!
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Post by HoM on Dec 13, 2011 16:33:18 GMT -5
I'm really excited about the final chapter of this volume of Green Lantern[/i], started way back in 2006.
It's the culmination of threads laid from my first run on the title, back in 2007 to my second, which started in 2009 (blimey), but not only that, it builds on everything that came before. Every story by Scott, by Daniel, by Jay and by John. It's a story built from discussions with Don (thank god for those conversations), shaped in the final stages by the editorial prowess of Mark (how many drafts until you gave up asking for rewrites, sir?), and I'm really happy with how it ended up.
What I'm more happy about is how this isn't even near the end. We're launching Green Lantern Volume 2 in January with a new direction and new lead. We're just getting started. 2012 is going to be another year for Green Lantern-- with a whole host of cosmic villains waiting in the wings. And then, if I can keep the momentum going... 2013 is going to see the culmination of every Green Lantern story I've ever written... a story I like to call... The Heart of the Corps.
What does that even mean?! I know. Keep reading. Keep telling us what you think.
Thanks for reading! A bigger thank you to Mark for churning out feedback on all the drafts, to Joe for another epic cover, and to Trevor for sticking around the DC2 and the epilogue image that arrived from those discussions.
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Post by kylebridges on Dec 13, 2011 17:19:51 GMT -5
Man, I went back and read up on Green Lantern after finishing this, and it's all so great. Fantastic work all around.
I'm super excited to see what's in store for us in the new year from both you and this title.
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Post by insmouth on Dec 13, 2011 19:24:34 GMT -5
Curse you Charlie with your devilishly good writing which makes me so mad and excited at the same time. I can tell a lot of love went into the issue and your entire run as a whole. I'll be right here next month. Great job.
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Post by David on Dec 13, 2011 21:54:41 GMT -5
Oh, my... That was ker-razy...! Everything just kinda... exploded Poor Hal...! Poor Guy...! Poor EVERYONE. This issue was the real thing. Everything paid-off. Even Guy's characterization, which I wasn't exactly onboard with in recent issues. Seeing him facing off against the Predator for Jessica's life was a highpoint for his character. I read through this issue in a rush (I was really looking forward to it!), so I'm not real clear on exactly how Hal defeated the Predator, but that climactic scene--- and the even more climactic aftermath!--- has left me wanting more. So much foreshadowing! Volume 2 is going to be a wild ride, and I will absolutely be along for it! The art team outdid themselves, for sure! That cover put me in the mind of all the great GL artists, and the Epilogue piece complemented the foreboding and excitement this issue expertly evoked! The wait for next issue will be too long!
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Post by HoM on Dec 15, 2011 14:44:21 GMT -5
Curse you Charlie with your devilishly good writing which makes me so mad and excited at the same time. I can tell a lot of love went into the issue and your entire run as a whole. I'll be right here next month. Great job. I'm sorry for making you mad. Glad you enjoyed it though!
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Post by HoM on Dec 15, 2011 14:45:25 GMT -5
Man, I went back and read up on Green Lantern after finishing this, and it's all so great. Fantastic work all around. Any highlights from the back catalogue? Sorry to inflict 20+ back issues on you! I'm super excited to see what's in store for us in the new year from both you and this title. Me too. Gonna try and churn out the first three parter over Christmas, because #4... oh, I cannot wait for #4.
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Post by HoM on Dec 15, 2011 14:50:31 GMT -5
Oh, my... I know, right? I've waited nearly two years to tell this bloody story. That was ker-razy...! Everything just kinda... exploded Hell yeah it did. Poor Hal...! Poor Guy...! Poor EVERYONE. Unfortunately so This issue was the real thing. Everything paid-off. Even Guy's characterization, which I wasn't exactly onboard with in recent issues. Seeing him facing off against the Predator for Jessica's life was a highpoint for his character. THANK YOU. You've been the biggest detractor of Guy's character since I took the reins, and I could see why-- he was a massive departure to the "popular" version we see in the DCU (though more the late 80s DCU, amiright?)-- but I had to take the risk and tell the story as it made sense. My rational for Guy Gardner has always been crystal clear, and we'll see where that takes us considering the trauma he experienced this issue. I read through this issue in a rush (I was really looking forward to it!), so I'm not real clear on exactly how Hal defeated the Predator, but that climactic scene--- and the even more climactic aftermath!--- has left me wanting more. So much foreshadowing! Volume 2 is going to be a wild ride, and I will absolutely be along for it! Glad you think so. The art team outdid themselves, for sure! That cover put me in the mind of all the great GL artists, and the Epilogue piece complemented the foreboding and excitement this issue expertly evoked! Hell yeah. The wait for next issue will be too long! I hope not. I've got to get back on track!!
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Post by arcalian on Dec 16, 2011 19:36:33 GMT -5
Hal and Guy are alive, that's something.
John Stewart has a chance to shine, that's something, too.
Hopefully he'll fare better than his predecessors.
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Post by HoM on Dec 17, 2011 4:53:24 GMT -5
Hal and Guy are alive, that's something. John Stewart has a chance to shine, that's something, too. Hopefully he'll fare better than his predecessors. I hope you trust me enough to keep reading, Jay. In my head, and it's ever-present in this issue, I'm following a mantra from a series one episode of the RTD Doctor Who run. That will become more apparent in #4 of the new series, starting in January.
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Post by arcalian on Dec 17, 2011 13:08:35 GMT -5
Like I said, I like John Stewart getting some spotlight time, and hope he fares well. We'll see how it goes for him.
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Post by Romans Empire on Dec 27, 2011 17:15:08 GMT -5
When I saw the length of this issue I wanted to make sure I took the time that this epic finale deserved. Boy am I glad I did. Feedback and spoilers below..... The opening really pulled me in as I felt everything that Hal was going through as he frantically returned to earth. The dread I felt as he sifted through the wreckage in Smallville was a true credit to your ability to weave a colorful yarn. I thought for sure you were going to kill Chloe off. I am almost certain to the point that I was ready to send you hate mail. Instead, she turns out to be the least affected by the devastation of the Predators actions. Of course I am only referring to the physical effects, because you sure put her in the worst emotional place a parent can be in with facing the lose of a child. What happened to baby Jessica? You created a delicious plot device with that one didn't you? As for the rest of the cast, no one was left untouched paving the way for the new series that I am eagerly awaiting for next month. That are far to many moments I enjoyed in this issue to list them all (like Kilowogs use of the word frak), but rest assured there were many. As for constructive feedback goes, the only real issue I had was certain bits ran a bit too long. In a visual medium this would have flowed a bit more, but where certain moments were done well (Kilowogs final moments, Hal frantically searching for Chloe in Smallville), other moments, though written well, ran a bit long (some of the opening at the space station, some of the back and forth dialogue between Guy and Hank & Hal and Hank). But rest assured it was minor and took nothing away from my enjoyment of the issue. I am nothing if I am not a huge fan of what Johns has done with the entire Green Lantern Mythos. I dare say that you have done an equal, if not superior job with the DC2 version even if I admittedly haven't kept up with it over the years. But just like with Johns run, I will go back through each and every back issue to see how everything led to this finale. Joey's cover image screamed action and helped create an amazing image in my mind of the showdown between Hank and Hal. I would have looked to read this entire arc in graphic format if possible with Joey and yourself. And the things to come image by Trevor was top notch. I am glad he stuck around too. Thank you Charlie for your passion, dedication, and professionalism you displayed on this issue. 5 stars.
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Post by HoM on Dec 28, 2011 6:43:32 GMT -5
When I saw the length of this issue I wanted to make sure I took the time that this epic finale deserved. Boy am I glad I did. Thanks for the kind words from the off, John! The opening really pulled me in as I felt everything that Hal was going through as he frantically returned to earth. The dread I felt as he sifted through the wreckage in Smallville was a true credit to your ability to weave a colorful yarn. I thought for sure you were going to kill Chloe off. I am almost certain to the point that I was ready to send you hate mail. Instead, she turns out to be the least affected by the devastation of the Predators actions. Of course I am only referring to the physical effects, because you sure put her in the worst emotional place a parent can be in with facing the lose of a child. Yes, I really wanted to amp up the emotion there, the build up was a conscious (and overtly overbearing, perhaps) effort to put you straight into the mindset of Hal Jordan. I'm not a big fan of killing off characters unless it serves the plot, and in a way Chloe did die and Hal willed her back to life... and you know that's going to come back and be reflected on. I've been championing Chloe's place in the DC2 for years (I'm sure the readers are torn between two mindets: 1) why the hell is she here and what's going on? or 2) why isn't she showing up more? and I wanted to reward those people who stuck around from Day One, five, six years ago. Chloe is DC2. She got a reprieve. Unlike others... But you're right. She's in the worst possible place right now, same as Hal. We're going to leave them for a time and focus on John Stewart for the opening arc of the new series, but #4... we're going to be touching on every member of the cast, everyone who was broken by the Predator, and everyone who is still trying to heal. I'm really excited for that one. What happened to baby Jessica? You created a delicious plot device with that one didn't you? Did I? ... She's dead, isn't she? As for the rest of the cast, no one was left untouched paving the way for the new series that I am eagerly awaiting for next month. Oh, yes. Very exciting times for the DC2 Green Lantern. The plan is to go big or go home! So how on Earth do I top the last few issues...? As for constructive feedback goes, the only real issue I had was certain bits ran a bit too long. In a visual medium this would have flowed a bit more, but where certain moments were done well (Kilowogs final moments, Hal frantically searching for Chloe in Smallville), other moments, though written well, ran a bit long (some of the opening at the space station, some of the back and forth dialogue between Guy and Hank & Hal and Hank). But rest assured it was minor and took nothing away from my enjoyment of the issue. THANK YOU. I'm always look for feedback in this vein and it does help. I'm aware that some paragraphs go on and on and you just start skimming, so I need to really work on that. I'm going to take a leaf out of David's book moving forward with the new series (for the first three issues, I think) and try to have really succinct chapters so it's a speedy but rewarding read. That said, my concept of "succinct" will inevitably be massive anyway. Thanks for the compliments though. I was really nervous about the death of Kilowog (Mark suggested a few rewrites there) but I hope it came across as effective as it should have. The opening space station scene was a relic of the first draft, but I wanted to bring "Ace" Morgan into it because he was always a staple of the earlier DC2 Green Lantern issues and it made sense to touch upon him. Re-reading it, I realised I also put another parent in jeopardy... flip/reversing Hal being unable to save his family to being a family unable to save himself... and then having a reprieve. Foreshadowing? Probably. I am nothing if I am not a huge fan of what Johns has done with the entire Green Lantern Mythos. I dare say that you have done an equal, if not superior job with the DC2 version even if I admittedly haven't kept up with it over the years. But just like with Johns run, I will go back through each and every back issue to see how everything led to this finale. Thank you again, John. The DC2 GL mythos means a lot to me... and it's like an itch I can't scratch again (good news if you're a fan of the title) so you're going to see so much in the next year. I've tightly plotted the next 10 issues (#10 is a special anniversary issue, and we're going to undergo a major change again what that comes around) and I've been thinking about the Emotional Avatars that have littered the DCU... Adara, the Butcher, Ophidian, Proselyte... we've already seen our version of Parallax, who is COMPLETELY unlike what the regular DCU have done. Ion too was unlike what we've seen before. But I had a realisation last night, tying into what we did with the Predator... and you're going to be seeing some scary-ish shit in the next year. We're going to see another "avatar" rise. Joey's cover image screamed action and helped create an amazing image in my mind of the showdown between Hank and Hal. I would have looked to read this entire arc in graphic format if possible with Joey and yourself. And the things to come image by Trevor was top notch. I am glad he stuck around too. That would be awesome, but I don't think we have the time! That said... no! No! Don't get me thinking about stuff like that, John! Oo-er. And I'm very pleased Trevor agreed to stick around. We got to talking about stuff and the teaser image (which underwent a significant, spoilerific, change in the final stages) came from that. I look forward to collaborating with him again in the future! Thank you Charlie for your passion, dedication, and professionalism you displayed on this issue. 5 stars. Thank you for reading, John, and thank you for your feedback. I really value it when people get in-depth with their comments, as it helps focus on where I need to improve or throttle back. I'm glad that this arc is finally over! I can get to the good stuff now ;D
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Post by HoM on Dec 30, 2011 20:15:26 GMT -5
Blimey, just finished writing Green Lantern #2 and it is a corker! The back-up feature is insane and it's come together like nothing else! Can't wait to share.
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impulseallen
Staff
Much More Than The Guy Runs Fast and the Guy Who Talks to Fish!
Posts: 561
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Post by impulseallen on Dec 31, 2011 2:32:00 GMT -5
Read this a few days ago but didn't have time to comment and then forgot that I hadn't and well...here I am! Re-read the first few issues of this arc to refresh myself and woah, Henshaw taking a turn for the worse as the Predator was great! He was a great mix of scary, malicious, yet there was the sense of tragedy still laced within that knowing that this man had once been a Lantern himself...and that all of this had just broken the once strong man...and Hal's contempt towards him for his actions as Predator, very sad. But really who can blame him after what he did under the Predator's influence? And man, everyone took quite a beating. Guy's in rough shape to say the very least...but the fact he still has at least a teeny tiny bit of a fight in him gives me hope...or perhaps worries me. Haven't decided haha What I loved about it was I felt myself really feeling for the characters and what they were going through which is always where gold is in stories. If I can connect and empathize, sympathize, understand their own pain as I'm reading it...that's a win. And I definitely felt things during this issue. Great issue, sir! But gray temples...in DCU that wasn't a good sign of things to come for the Green Lanterns...and I'm guessing that may hold true in the coming future...guess I better buckle up for a hell of a ride. Oh and John Stewart as the now lone 2814 Lantern...looking forward to that as well! Again, fantastic read
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Post by HoM on Dec 31, 2011 11:16:58 GMT -5
Read this a few days ago but didn't have time to comment and then forgot that I hadn't and well...here I am! Re-read the first few issues of this arc to refresh myself and woah, Henshaw taking a turn for the worse as the Predator was great! He was a great mix of scary, malicious, yet there was the sense of tragedy still laced within that knowing that this man had once been a Lantern himself...and that all of this had just broken the once strong man... Thanks for taking the time, Pat. Henshaw was a character I really enjoyed when Dan was writing him-- he was a complete departure from Hank "Cyborg-Superman" Henshaw of the DCU, a stoic, quiet, former test-astronaut. A test astronaut. How awesome is that? And when he's retired from flying rockets into space he... test pilots planes. Brilliant. I really enjoyed writing him, having him be this great hero... and then get broken. And not only broken, but murdered, ravaged, then dragged back not-entirely-right, corrupted by this energy that was forming on the fringe of the Star Sapphire's power source. But when the dust settled, the Predator was stripped from him... he's still there. He's the man he was before his death, no memory... how horrible is that? How can you live with that? Read Green Lantern #4[/b], out in April. ...and Hal's contempt towards him for his actions as Predator, very sad. But really who can blame him after what he did under the Predator's influence? Hank Henshaw-- a man claiming to be Hank Henshaw, a man with Hank Henshaw's face, a man with Hank Henshaw's voice, his memories-- tries to kill Chloe (and he did succeed, in a way!), snatches your daughter from you in the night and then send her to die too? Hank's lucky he's not dead (in more ways than one). And man, everyone took quite a beating. Guy's in rough shape to say the very least...but the fact he still has at least a teeny tiny bit of a fight in him gives me hope...or perhaps worries me. Haven't decided haha Guy's got some fight left in him. But he's also taken quite a beating. Things are going to change for him, and it might not be for the best. What I loved about it was I felt myself really feeling for the characters and what they were going through which is always where gold is in stories. If I can connect and empathize, sympathize, understand their own pain as I'm reading it...that's a win. And I definitely felt things during this issue. Thank you! That's great praise indeed. These characters mean a lot to me, I've got their lives mapped out for the next year or so. I hope I can maintain the kind of momentum you've noticed with the emotion. You need to care for them, else why would you read the book? Great issue, sir! But gray temples...in DCU that wasn't a good sign of things to come for the Green Lanterns...and I'm guessing that may hold true in the coming future...guess I better buckle up for a hell of a ride. We're going to be delving into the implications of Hal's temples going grey around #8 and 9 if I stick to my plan. He put a lot of himself into bringing Chloe back from the brink of death, and what that means, what he's learnt... well. He's going to have to face himself in more ways than one by #10. Oh and John Stewart as the now lone 2814 Lantern...looking forward to that as well! John is really interesting to write. I want him to be completely different to what we've seen before. Hal and Guy didn't play by the book. They did what needed doing by any means necessary. That's not bad, but John's a thinker, he's coming from an entirely different place. Plus, he's older, wise, he's lived a life and he wants to be able to keep his life going while wearing the ring... but at the same time, he lives a certain way, he believes in a very specific way to protect and serve. Basically, his stories are going to be back to basics, at least... until #4. Ho ho ho. Again, fantastic read Thanks, Pat! Get The Flash going again! Get Aquaman in his shirt! Get in touch with me so we can collaborate on something!
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Post by hourman80 on Feb 17, 2012 18:50:09 GMT -5
After a long hiatus I got to read the last two parts of this run and was not disappointed at all. Can't wait to read the further adventures you guys have planned for 2012!
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Post by HoM on Feb 18, 2012 6:18:25 GMT -5
Thanks man, really looking forward to seeing you get up to speed on the new series and telling us what you think.
Green Lantern has been a book that long gestated in my head, so I have to get all my ideas out before they eat me alive! Ha... ha?
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Post by oblique on Jun 25, 2017 9:26:10 GMT -5
Congratulations on an epic finale to an amazing run on Green Lantern! I've had the privilege to read Green Lantern in the order you put it together in the library (and I didn't have to wait three years or so to get to this point). The plot was so tight, the references were timely, and the character development built on everything that had come before it.
I'll admit I was never the biggest fan of Green Lantern; I've never collected the comics and Hal Jordan was always my least favorite member of the League! So it means something (I think) when I say that you've won me over to the ol' flyboy. This was a dramatic, desperate battle for the universe's greatest ringslinger, and a tragic victory. I enjoyed the culmination of his story with Chloe Sullivan (and I just liked having her in the DC2). That said, I wasn't the biggest fan of Carol Ferris' interactions with the Predator. It felt like she was too easily manipulated--not that the Predator, of course, wasn't a powerful and disturbing psychic, but that I wish Carol hadn't been the target. At the same time, it was part of the Predator's cruel assault on Jordan's life.
It's hard to describe how awesome the final battles with the Predator were. You dealt with one of the (oftentimes) biggest holes in stories were the hero is pitted against someone they know who is being controlled by an outside force...how hard to it would be to forgive the monster they became under the influence of some evil, how they could talk like your old friend, pry at your mind. Jordan's responses were pitch perfect. The dialogue and the combat were exceptional. And it all ended in such tragedy.
I'm sure that Hal Jordan will be back, and I hope to see Jessica and Chloe Sullivan again in the future. For now, I look forward to John Stewart's time with the ring. I'll be back for more soon!
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Post by HoM on Jun 29, 2017 14:44:34 GMT -5
Congratulations on an epic finale to an amazing run on Green Lantern! I've had the privilege to read Green Lantern in the order you put it together in the library (and I didn't have to wait three years or so to get to this point). The plot was so tight, the references were timely, and the character development built on everything that had come before it. Thanks for the kind words, Oblique. This arc is one I'm proudest of, and I feel like it established how I was going to approach every major event in the title since. This story arc sent out ripples that were felt until the next big storyline-- ' Scarlet Reign', some two years later-- and even now, I'm still referencing what happened since, and I'm really happy it worked out the way it did. Basically, I made a decision to move Hal off the board, and after everything he's ever done or been through, what kind of tragedy would lead him to give up the ring? I can't think of anything worse than what happened in this four-parter. It'll take a lot for him to get over this, if he ever does... I'll admit I was never the biggest fan of Green Lantern; I've never collected the comics and Hal Jordan was always my least favorite member of the League! So it means something (I think) when I say that you've won me over to the ol' flyboy. This was a dramatic, desperate battle for the universe's greatest ringslinger, and a tragic victory. I enjoyed the culmination of his story with Chloe Sullivan (and I just liked having her in the DC2). Chloe was one of the most interesting additions to the DC2 mythos, but it made perfect sense considering the year we launched. Smallville was a couple of years into it's run, and Scott-- DC2's Green Lantern originator-- had utilised her in an early site we'd all met on. He carried her over here, and she's been an integral character since. From Tales of the Green Lantern Corps to Action Comics to Justice League all the way back to Green Lantern, she's vital, and that's really powerful to me. That's why I lean on the continuity here, because it means something to those who might have stuck around since the launch, and it means a lot to me. That said, I wasn't the biggest fan of Carol Ferris' interactions with the Predator. It felt like she was too easily manipulated--not that the Predator, of course, wasn't a powerful and disturbing psychic, but that I wish Carol hadn't been the target. At the same time, it was part of the Predator's cruel assault on Jordan's life. The Predator's machinations, his mind control and manipulation-- especially the gaslighting he subjected her to-- are heinous, and she doesn't get over it easy. At all. In fact, six years later-- an arc ago-- we revisit the character after sporadic appearances in a big way, and things might have only gotten worse for the poor woman. It's hard to describe how awesome the final battles with the Predator were. You dealt with one of the (oftentimes) biggest holes in stories were the hero is pitted against someone they know who is being controlled by an outside force...how hard to it would be to forgive the monster they became under the influence of some evil, how they could talk like your old friend, pry at your mind. Jordan's responses were pitch perfect. The dialogue and the combat were exceptional. And it all ended in such tragedy. I remember writing a lot of this, and it was a blast doing so. The reaction of Hal at the end, and the repercussions from that point, for Hank and for everyone else, was something that had to be unbearably sad. And I think this is probably the saddest ending I've ever written... until the recent arc that featured the return of Carol Ferris. I'm sure that Hal Jordan will be back, and I hope to see Jessica and Chloe Sullivan again in the future. For now, I look forward to John Stewart's time with the ring. I'll be back for more soon! Well, that's the thing, isn't it? Hal is a Green Lantern, but he's not the only one. Let's see how it goes for John moving forward! Thanks for reading.
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