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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6425 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-07
• Released on: 2009-07-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

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.

Customer Reviews

Green Lanterns, Red Lanterns, Blue Lanterns , Yellow Lanterns...oh my
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?

The mythos continues to expand
Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns collects Green Lantern issues #26-28, 36-38 and the Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns one-shot. For anyone wondering, issues #29-35 comprise Green Lantern: Secret Origin, as writer Geoff Johns essentially took a half-year break from the main story line to retool GL's origin (and throw in elements foreshadowing Rage of the Red Lanterns, so it's well worth the read).

The way these issues are collected actually works out better for first-time readers, as without the half-year gap the story flows more convincingly from the fallout of Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 1 into the current time frame. The first three issues deal with the formation of Lantern/Manhunter hybrids known as the Alpha Lanterns and the trial of a supporting cast member for war crimes related to murdering a Sinestro Corps soldier in cold blood. There's a certain creepiness to the Alpha Lanterns in their creation and their totalitarian status within the Corps, one which will play out over issues to come. There's also a fun bit as one Batman villain *almost* becomes a Sinestro Corps solider. Ah, the possibilities.

The universe hits the fan once the Red Lanterns start to appear, and this is essentially the starting point that puts the mythos on final steamroll mode into Blackest Night. Atrocitus and his Red Lanterns want vengeance on Sinestro, the Blue Lanterns appear to aide Hal's side, and the result is a violently colorful display of comic goodness. Johns logically introduces more of the colour spectrum to us, and each new Corps is well thought-out in its overall role and abilities. The Blue Lanterns are powerful but small in number and have one huge weakness, while the Red Lanterns are aggressive but practically mindless from their rage. Kudos to artists Shane Davis, Ivan Reis and all who had a hand in designing the characters - there's a diverse assortment of Lanterns here, from a cute kitty that spews burning blood napalm to the more serene majesty of a Blue Lantern recruit. If there's one downside to this volume, it's that the story ends somewhat abruptly - readers should also pick up Green Lantern: Agent Orange which sees resolution to certain story threads started here (and leads directly into the coming darkness).

This is another great piece of the current Green Lantern mythos, and if you loved The Sinestro Corps War this is another great addition to your comic library.

Great book, prepare to read it twice...
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.