In this final issue, this three-part mini adds depth to the many ring corps as they prepare for battle in Blackest Night. Divided into three parts, two original stories and a neat commentary on Blackest Night issue #0, this issue works, but it’s not outstanding.
Guru of all that is Green and involving Lanterns, Geoff Johns scripts the two stories. First, he tackles Kilowog’s rookie Lantern tale. Smartly written, but predictable, Johns gives Lantern fans a cute story about a fan favorite. I found the plot lacking creativity, but amusing. The second short stars the Green Lantern Arisia. Once gain, it’s a cute story. Johns effectively depicts her love of the Corps and the legacy of the Lanterns within her lineage. Lastly, we are treated to the sketch version of a few of the pages from Blackest Night #0. Johns and the editors weigh in on their thoughts from panel to panel. This was interesting, being able to see how these minds worked their way through the issue.
The art was average. I felt lesser pencils were assigned to these pages, saving the big guns for the two main Lantern titles and Blackest Night.
3 out of 5
With a huge improvement over the inaugural issue, the Tale of the Corps mini-series takes two steps in the right direction.
The first tale “Fly Away”, written by Geoff Johns, is the star of this book. Recounting the origin of Bleez of the Red Lanterns, Johns writes a short, sweet tale. Bleez, known throughout the galaxy for her beauty, is without a man. Her mother introduces her to a newly arrived suitor, a member of the Sinestro Corps, who won’t take no for an answer. What causes this hottie to be filled with enough rage to become a Red Lantern? You’ll have to read to see.
The second story “Lost Love” fills in the gaps of the Carol Ferris saga. Carol chats with the Star Sapphire ring that wants her to accept her place as the leader of the Star Sapphires. It’s more engaging than it sounds, making sense of her decision. Good art accompanies Johns’ gifted writing. The violet hues soaking these pages are very annoying.
“Blume Godhead”, the final short story, sucks.
In the words of rock legend Meatloaf, “Don’t cry baby, ‘cause two out of three ain’t bad.”
3 out of 5
Conceptually, this three-part mini-series is promising; delve deeper into the back-stories of some of the major players in the various ring corps of the Green Lantern Universe. However, put simply, it sucked.
Three stories share this issue, the Blue Lantern Corps’ Saint Walker origin tale, an annoying yarn about an adolescent Mongol, and a tease about the Indigo Tribe. Geoff Johns’ Saint Walker is a belabored attempt to show what it takes to really hope; it was preachy and boring. The Mongol tale was a waste of paper.
I was most exciting to learn about the Indigo Tribe (one of the reasons I bought this issue). At best, it’s a cheap tease that last for a few pages. While it boasts the strongest art of the three stories, we only learn that the Indigo Tribe speak a language unknown even to the Green Lanterns.
This is an oversized issue of nothing special.
1 out of 5
Dr. Lou’s Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 review
“Stories of the Rainbow Corps Revealed”
Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 is the first issue of a three issue weekly series that is a supplement to the current Blackest Night mega-event. The current issue has three stories pertaining to the Blue Lantern Corps, Yellow Lantern Corps and the Indigo Tribe.
The first story is by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway and deals with the past of Saint Walker of the Blue Lantern Corps. The tale is meant to show why Walker has great hope and why he is ultimately chosen for the Blue Corps.
The second story is by Peter J. Tomasi and Chris Samnee and it deals with the childhood of Mongul and why he is on the path of life that he is.
The third and last story gives the first reveal of the Indigo tribe and their leader which the tribe is named in a regular tale. It shows their interaction with a member of the Green Lantern Corps and Sinestro Corps that were fighting one another.
None of the tales are particularly memorable and this book does little to enhance the main Blackest Night mini-series. Its ok to read but its certainly not a necessity by any means.
2 out of 5
Ray’s Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 review
