Like any big blockbuster film (or in this case, comic book event) there are going to be a few missteps because plot changes require shifts that don’t allow a lot of time. That means sloppy writing in some sense, but you can’t blame the game when the number of pages limits the writer right? Could that happen to this series? Is it good?
Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #5 (IDW Publishing and DC Comics)
Green Lantern has been transported to the Star Trek universe and with him rings of all colors, Sinestro and the most dangerous threat in the Green Lantern mythos: Nekron. He’s basically a necromancer of a galactic persuasion and he is coming. This is the penultimate issue and the war is in full force this issue.
Why does this comic book matter?
A six issue event that’s on time in 2015? That’s a rare thing, plus the art and writing have been above par. This is because the characters all get moments to shine and the art is detailed and action packed. This issue gives Green Lantern the opportunity to even sit in the chair of the enterprise! At one point Green Lantern even says he “always wanted to do that,” which makes you wonder if Star Trek is a TV show in the DC universe, although he’s never mentioned it.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
The writing by Mike Johnson continues to be spot-on, be it character, dialogue or the plotting. We get a scene where the bad guys use their rings against each other, another with a full-on scale war (which makes the title live up to the name) and one epic shot of a mysterious planet. It’s everything you’d want out of a Star Trek movie really, as we get mysteries, fun science fiction and great action.
Scottie gets a nice moment in this issue which brings in a new element for our crew. I won’t spoil it, but it’s fun to see Johnson adding new elements to keep things fresh. Discovery and invention are on hand and it’s cool to watch.
There is a double page spread in this issue by Angel Hernandez that flat out tops anything I’ve seen in Secret Wars this year. I’m talking spaceships with glowing Lantern shields, laser blasts and many Lanterns blasting away at each other all at once. It’s the perfect balance of chaos and controlled framing that makes you want to just sit and ogle the image for a long while.
It can’t be perfect can it?
As my intro subtly foreshadowed, there’s a bit of plot shifting going on here to get characters from point A to B so that they’re ready and waiting for the big climax. That includes some deus ex machina and a whole bunch of villains sort of being forgotten so the characters can rush off to another threat. On top of this Johnson sticks our heroes in a dicey situation at the end that’s flat-out dumb. These issues are rather minor however because damn, was this good reading.
Teamwork!
Is It Good?
Star Trek movie fans will love this series, but action aficionados need this series.
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