It’s Double the Sinestro in Green Lantern #6 and Annual 2021

With the near total destruction of the Green Lantern Corps, it’s Yellow’s time to shine! Over in Green Lantern #6, while John Stewart is dealing with golden, mind-controlling centurions taking over the Dark Sector, Jo Mullein has her first confrontation with Sinestro himself to find out just what his intentions are for the universe at large now that his longtime opponents are off the board. Written by Geoffrey Thorne, drawn by Marco Santucci and Tom Raney, colored by Michael Atiyeh and lettered by Simon Bowland.

Not enough Sinestro for you? The Green Lantern 2021 Annual has got you covered, as we go back to the moment Jessica Cruz decided to join the Sinestro Corps full time. More than any other Lantern, Jessica has perhaps spent the most time overcoming her fears to fight for a better universe – but what happens when she decides to use the fear that has been with her so long? Written by Ryan Cady, drawn by Sam Basri and Tom Derenick, colored by Hi-Fi, and lettered by Rob Leigh. 

Armaan Babu: So this is a good week for you if you’re a big Sinestro fan – and an even bigger week if you’re just a fan of fear itself, but we’ll let Bat Chat tell you more about that. While Green Lantern still felt a bit rough to me, it feels like the pace of things may just start to be evening out enough for me to enjoy it more – and the Annual was a breath of fresh air. What did you think of this week’s Green Lantern stories, Jude?

Jude Jones: I really, really, *really* liked the annual. Like, really. Much of that comes as a surprise, since I haven’t really been a fan of the series thus far. But, man, the issue does some things I like; it raises some points I’ve pondered about the nature of will and fear. And while it isn’t perfect (at all!), it’s really, uniquely good. As for the main line? It was fine. But considering the previous episodes ranged from “meh” to “oh come the heck on,” fine is a good thing!

John Was…There

Armaan: This may be out of order, but considering how intertwined the other two stories are, I thought it would be good to get this one out of the way first. I have to say, Raney’s art has not been as distractingly bad as it has been in previous issues. The art here has slightly toned down the large, watery eyes and the lumpy, misshapen proportions that tend to make this part of the book hard to read. We may have the new setting and new aliens to thank for that, but that did leave me with a little more breathing room to be able to enjoy the story – I just kind of wish I did, more.

We’re introduced to a new threat: the Golden Centurions, who have the ability to psychically infect entire populations with the belief that the Centurions are holy beings to submit to. Every population has a handful of those immune to the Centurions’ effect, though…and those enthralled turn on them with disturbingly savage violence.

In and of itself, it’s not a strong hook. And without working rings, without the Guardians, without cosmic beings channeling weird energies and, let’s be honest, without John having been given much of an identity outside of his role as a Green Lantern – this half of things just isn’t a Green Lantern book. It’s just this shy of being a spinoff series, and I’m beginning to see why nobody’s chosen to just make it that – because this side of the story just doesn’t hold up on its own. If John’s side of the story was collected into its own trade, I’d be skipping through pages rapidly at this point to find out when they get to the good stuff, because it does feel like it’s building up to something. It’s just that the meanderings in the meantime have nothing that hooks me.

Jude: I don’t care about John. Not at all, not in the least bit. He’s not interesting or unique: he’s as bland as bland could be. You could insert almost any Lantern – maybe even any hero – into his situation and you’d have the same book. When I think about characters and stories I like, I think about personalities and agency; I think about how that character, given who they are, would react in whatever situation they got put in. How they would feel and hurt and progress (or regress.) I’ve learned nothing new about John; I haven’t seen how his history affects his choices or his mindset. He is a generic action hero, and because he’s the focus, the whole story feels just as generic. Not fun, not interesting, not worth investing in. 

That said, the story itself was at least interesting. We get teases of New Genesis and Boom Tubes, connecting this Dark Sector to our more familiar universe (that whole mindless following of angels seems pretty similar to the idea of anti-life, no?) In a sense this is a missed opportunity to create something entirely new (a la Far Sector), but for what it is, it’s fine. 

The art isn’t fine. It’s still bad. It’s still a distracting mess; it’s just that I’m now used to the distracting mess, so it’s less distracting. But never forget: it’s still bad. 

Sinestro Steals the Limelight

Jude: Everything here, however, is less bad. It still suffers from some of the maladies of its Stewart-led compatriot: anonymous heroes and an uninspiring plot and pacing. But at least here, someone has a personality. 

And that someone is Sinestro. 

Jo Mullein, one of the few Lanterns with a working ring, has tracked Keli, the young, hot headed and soft hearted Teen Lantern with an apparently massively powerful weapon on her wrist to New Korugar, home of the Yellow Lantens. She (Keli) blames Sinestro for all of the problems the Core has gone through because, of course: he’s Sinestro, and sinister stuff is what he does. Jo and a depowered (but bionically enhanced) Simon Baz convince the United Planets representatives to bring them within shouting distance of Korugar so they can retrieve the Lantern and confront Sinestro directly. 

Upon landing, Simon gets to work, the results of which we saw last issue, with a surprise cameo from Jessica Cruz. This issue, however, is laser focused on the interaction between Sinestro and Jo. The two trade light barbs: Jo telling Sinestro pretty directly what she thinks of him (evil murderer) and what she wants (Keli and safe passage), and Sinestro just as directly (and diplomatically) responds (I am what I am; go in peace). I liked this interaction. Again, it felt generic: while I do get the sense Thorne knows the story he wants to tell, I don’t get the sense that Thorne really knows the characters. Jo’s personality felt subdued, and Sinestro talked like your run of the mill Bond villain. Again, nothing wrong here: I like Sinestro’s relaxed subversion and candor. But there was nothing riveting or groundbreaking. Really, all of this could have happened in the last issue. But I’ve already said wayyyy too much. Armaan, what are your thoughts?

Armaan: I think you put a finger right on what’s been bothering me about this series. Despite his deep cuts into continuity, it does feel like Thorne doesn’t really get these characters – or at least, doesn’t know how to make them fit for the story he wants to tell. I wasn’t all that sold on this newer take on Sinestro last issue, but I’ve definitely come around to it, because the one bit that this book does get right is Sinestro’s smug sense of superiority. It radiates off of him more than that yellow light ever did.

I’m more used to a Sinestro who is frustrated that the world won’t listen to him more, when he believes he’s clearly right. Here, however, he’s right on top of the world. Not only is his authority as New Korugar’s ruler universally recognized, the almost total destruction of the Green Lantern Corps has left a power vacuum open that he’s always wanted to fill. As far as he’s concerned, the universe being policed by his Yellow Lanterns is just the next natural step, and he might not be wrong.

Everything that happens before Jo’s meeting with Sinestro felt like an unnecessary use of pages. We get nothing that we didn’t last issue. If it was trying to build Sinestro up, it was nowhere near as effective as his actual appearance. If it was trying to show us Jo and Simon getting to know each other better, the sentiment is lost, because they waste far more time than is necessary on exposition for things last issue established just fine.

I am really enjoying the art here, though – and the backgrounds in this issue especially. The interior of the ship, the glowy blues of space, New Korugar and Sinestro’s opulent yellow palace – it’s gorgeous stuff for me.

And Jessica Cruz Thrills Us All

Jude: We absolutely saved the best for last. This story was a revelation, and I do not use that term lightly. We get a fully realized character here. A woman with desires and insecurities, a woman with a past and motivations and a hope for the future. We see her make deals with the devil again and again, and we wait with baited breath for those deals to bite her back. And when they don’t – when her suspicions, her fear, make her not just effective but aware, we leave the issue with a reframed idea of what Yellow Lanterns generally and fear specifically mean. 

This is something I’ve always wondered to be honest. The power of the Green Lanterns is will, but in the context of what they actually do, I’ve always been skeptical that the power was a good thing. Imposing your will on others because you know best (or because some Guardian knows best) is almost tantamount to slavery. Yes, I know the Lanterns are supposed to be the good guys, but so are cops. And we see, day after day, what those good guys, with will power and weapons and guardians telling them what to do are capable of. 

Fear, or course, was supposed to be framed as the polar opposite to will. But is fear bad? Is having a healthy fear – a healthy respect for consequences – a bad thing? Jessica’s exploration of her power does not directly, clearly answer this, but it does provide enough clues to make the answer lovingly ambiguous. She can sense fear, which means she can go whenever she’s most needed; this is a good thing. She can manipulate emotions, to keep people in check and focused; this could easily be a bad thing in the wrong hands. The ring, then, isn’t bad. It’s just a tool. It’s the soul of the bearer that determines action. 

If I compare the Green Lanterns to cops, then maybe the Yellow Lanterns are politicians. They barter, think and manipulate. Sometimes for the greater goods; other times simply for their own benefit. Fear is a powerful motivator, as politicians in my home country know all too well. But not every politician who wields that power is doing so to cause harm. That’s the ambiguous nature of the power, and I’m glad, oh so glad, it was examined here. Sinestro likened it to Empathy which, at first blush seems like a joke: a mass murdering tyrant invoking a feeling associated with care and giving. But empathy is literally feeling what others feel. Will power is individualistic; fear is communal. Fear is community. So while yes, he’s BSing, he’s also not at all wrong here. Fear is like a knife: it can stab someone in the heart, or it can cut chains. How will Jessica use it?

Armaan: Where you see politicians, Jude, I see cult leaders, though there’s a fine line between the two. I think the main difference for me is that you can get away with a boring politician – frankly, we’d be better off – but a cult leader needs to be a driving force. Needs that charismatic leader in charge, always spreading the kind of fear that makes even the consideration of another path a terrifying sin. Maybe you get cult leaders who actually do want to put some good out into the world, but they’re very much in the minority, much like Jessica Cruz herself.

Jude: Speaking of our protagonist, I love Jessica Cruz here. I love how she takes control while continually balancing her emotions. I love how Sinestro clearly manipulated her: not because I like manipulation, but because he’s not hiding his intentions. When you know what you have is good, you don’t need to sell it. 

So yes, I liked this issue a lot. The art here was pretty darn good! Not super colorful (which I think was a missed opportunity), but Sinestro’s widow’s peak and thin mustache felt less, well, sinister here and more natural…for a reddish skinned humanoid. It served the purpose of the story without overtaking it. The art let the words lead, and for that I appreciate it. Armaan, what did you think?

Armaan: The reveal that Sinestro’s ring, and his eventual army of Yellow Lanterns, were powered by fear, came out in 2004 with Green Lantern: Rebirth, if I’m not mistaken. It’s maddening that it’s taken this long for us to get a story that seems to handle fear with any kind of nuance, but hey, I’m glad it’s happened.

This was a really good issue, and my only regret is that it’s not a backdoor pilot for a Yellow Lanterns spinoff series. Who knows, maybe if this Annual grabs enough interest? Because it absolutely should.

Of all the Lanterns, I think it’s Jessica who has had the most fear to overcome. Let’s not forget that when she was first chosen by a ring, it was a twisted, Earth-3 version that sought her out for her fearfulness. She got her Green Lantern ring by overcoming her fear, but she’s continued to grow. Seeing her not just overcome her fears, but start to learn their power – that’s an exciting new chapter for her.

One thing that interests me is how easy it is to see how someone could be corrupted by the power this ring gives. Even wielded by someone desperate to do good, Jessica’s use of this ring doesn’t leave much room for kindness. It’s all stick, no carrot. It’s ripping a hull right open to get to the heart of the matter, it doesn’t care about being cruel to get the job done.

They speak of empathy here – in theory, every ring should be able to help it’s wearer empathize with people more; they all are powered by powerful emotions. It feels like what Jessica’s really looking for here is an Indigo Ring. Unfortunately, they’re not around anymore, but based on what I see here, Jessica’d be a great candidate to bring them back.

The art here was a delight for me – aside from a slightly jarring few filler pages. There’s a cutesiness to Basri’s art that could feel out of place, but the variety of constructs we get to see here is exciting. More than that, I love how fear wraps around Jessica. It’s alien, it’s demonic – but it’s clearly her friend. This fear is hers to command, and it’s a thrill to see.

Armaan Babu

Jude Jones

A proud New Orleanian living in the District of Columbia, Jude Jones is a professional thinker, amateur photographer, burgeoning runner and lover of Black culture, love and life. Magneto and Cyclops (and Killmonger) were right.
Find more of Jude’s writing here.