Greetings comic lovers and welcome back to casually comics the channel where we chat
all things comics from reviews of comics new and old to history to anecdotes to really
wherever our whims take us.
Today I am marching to the beat of my own drum (drum sound effect) for at the time of
this recording there are events dropping mini series conclusion worlds colliding and I’m
like but what if I just told you about one of my favourite green lantern issues from
1984 that’s what the people want.
That’s what’s hot with the kids.
If you get to things when you get to them hit that like button.
Yes we’re seriously going to take a look at a bronze age green lantern story which
means Hal is still the green Hal and it’s 1984 so he’s recently been lightly rebooted
into a more flawed character so he’s a bit of a hot mess.
He also still maintains one of my favourite Hal traits from the silver age that I will
never not go on about he was a klutz.
You couldn’t take the man anywhere he was knocking himself out on tree branches, on
signs tripping over his own feet, slipping on soap it was glorious I was into it.
That sounds weird, but it was an odd trait for a hero to have and it made him stand out
to me which I liked it endeared him to me cause Hal was not the green lantern when I
started reading comics he wasn't even a hero.
We’ll deal with that another time.
This comic wormed it’s way into my heart purely because it has one of my favourite
melodramatic narration box motifs of all time.
Also this cover Hal just looks confused , also guest starring the Flash Barry Allen a mere
year before his death hooray.
Also this comic makes an oddly good jumping on point but first let’s get to this narration.
The entirety of this comic is transitioned through with a newspaper headline about the
green lantern with what the paper means to different individuals being the connective
thread strap in.
To most it is merely a newspaper a casual conduit to the affairs of the world the current
standings of a favourite team and adventures of charlie brown and garfield...but to some
it is a daily reminder of continual frustration
To most it is merely a coffee cup a vessel to house that sweet addictive beverage enjoyed
by workers and students alike but to some it is empty cause they haven’t filled it
yet.
Lol aahh I love it.
Also this issue is called Shark Bait!
You have to yell it cause there’s an exclamation mark written by Len Wein with art by Dave
Gibbons who draws great floppy hair on Hal.
Anyway this is congressman Jason Bloch who hates green lantern and is kind enough to
not only say his own name but give his entire backstory about why he hates the green lantern
and wants to destroy ferris air.
But it’s actually spread out and worked into the narration he’s explaining it to
another character and it ends on the reveal that he knows Hal is
the green lantern for maximum suspense.
But he doesn’t matter this issue back to what does the newspaper
To most it is merely a newspaper but to some it is a source of unexpected publicity.
Now we hop to Hal enjoying breakfast with Carol Ferris his on again off again love interest
but the one that is most often treated like endgame she’s his waifu for laifu.
They’re currently good but they’re not going to stay that way for long.
They’re flirting when Hal notices that Barry Allen aka the Flash is going on trial for
murder.
Yes at this time Barry Allen had killed the reverse flash via the only dc way that matters...a
neck snap but it was revealed that the reverse flash had broken his own neck it was all part
of his campaign to destroy Barry's life he had goaded this “killing” by attacking
the flash’s fiance Fiona Webb after he had already killed Iris.
The reverse flash don’t play.
Hal and Barry are friends actual ones that make sense unlike the confusing antagonistic
friendship between Hal and Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow aka I spend years on an island
and I can’t stop talking about it.
Hal decides to go see him which means two things one Carol oogles him during his transformation
into the green lantern cause she hates to see him leave but loves to watch him go.
There are blogs dedicated to Hal’s butt just the more you know.
And he’s leaving which means it’s time for
To most it’s merely a newspaper but to some it is comfort from the cold here we meet our
issues villain the shark yeah keepin’ it simple.
Look he was created in 1963 cut him some slack.
He’s been seen for a couple of issues but is a real problem now he feeds off of people’s
energy absorbing their essence into him like some kind of marine vampire.
Quick someone call the vampire of steel little vampire Superman episode joke if you missed
that I will put a card there for you.
But we’re moving on To most it is merely a newspaper but to some it is an all too fragile
shield against adversity.
It’s flash time he’s fighting the rainbow raider who is more credible than his name
would have you believe for example he can use colours to influence the moods of people
so he turns the spectators watching the fight into an angry mob who attack the flash.
Not too hard as they think he’s a murderer and they’re mad about him killing the reverse
flash cause…..I got nothin’
What’s not menacing at all is the fact that Barry keeps calling him Rainbow just all villain
cred gone.
You better drop that loot Rainbow saying the whole name doesn’t make it better though
Hal stops him and him and flash reunite it’s been awhile so they go up to the roof to catch
up Hal blunders through feelings thoroughly bumming Barry out by asking him if he meant
to kill him which he can’t answer cause he’s not sure.
He also reveals his ring can prob people’s subconscious's to tell when they’re lying
that’s horrifying how often do people do this Hal doesn’t but now I’m concerned
trust no one.
Meanwhile To most it is merely a newspaper but to one it is more like a menu.
So Shark has been wandering around town draining people then he sees this newspaper with green
lantern this amazing plot driving, emotional catalyst lighting newspaper and no nothing
like that he just walks past it sees star labs who created him and decides to go feed
up there.
So it’s green lantern to the rescue but not before he very helpfully gives Shark’s
whole backstory for the uninitiated Shark was transformed via atomic radiation that
caused him to undergo millions of years of evolution in one moment that’s right the
ultimate for of the shark is a humanoidesque creature with a full shark head even though
it evolved out of it briefly that needs energy to live...I’ll take it.
Hal treats Shark like a credible threat he has taken on the whole justice league before,
so they fight and Hal is not landing any blows then he remembers oh right the shark is surrounded
by an invisible yellow force field.
This is there cause otherwise there’s no reason Hal couldn’t beat him two seconds
flat.
Initially for the silver age lanterns and beyond their rings wouldn’t work against
the colour yellow.
They would retcon this really convolutedly years later for for this time if it’s yellow
Hal Jordan isn’t your fellow...I’m so sorry.
Hal figures out he can just use his ring to lift objects and then hit the shark with them
it’s an extra step but meh but then this issue goes from fun and decent to amazing.
It is merely a newspaper blown by a random gust of wind but to a startled green lantern
it may as well be the end of the world.
That’s right Hal Jordan is defeated by the shark because a gust of wind blew a newspaper
in his face.
I’m placing this in a combo slot in between klutzy Hal and unlucky Hal.
The point is only Hal can you imagine this happening to Batman.
The shark drains him and leaves him in a coma To most it is merely a newspaper but to one
it is more like a shroud
To most it is merely a random issue of green lantern but to some it is a source of great
fun and amusement that sparks joy.
This comic is a solid jumping on point it explains all the backstory you need but not
in a klunky manner that stops the plot or at least not as much as it could.
You learn about the shark who is silly yes but a credible threat at least they treat
him that way which helps and for me I don’t hate the design but of course mileage will
vary this will be too silly for some people’s blood.
You learn about Hal and Carol about the flash about congressman Jason bloch and actually
others who I didn’t mention so much happens in just 25 pages.
And it’s full of suspense you end with your hero in a coma cut down in his prime by a
newspaper.
Now of course we all have different taste that may have been the worst thing to ever
happen to you but for me this comic is fun a good balance of angst, action and humour
even if the latter wasn’t intentional.
Hal has a bit of a rep for being boring and well I dunno is he this issue is so interesting
I couldn’t tell.
What’s your favourite instance of melodramatic narration please share down below.
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I’m Sasha and I’ll see you again soon.
Buh Bye.