In this episode, I’m joined by Art and Jesse from The Fourth Wall Comics Podcast to talk about Blackest Night (DC) and Siege (Marvel). What worked for both events, favorite tie-ins, and the future events for both publishers.

Green Lantern: Secret Origin

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Ivan Reis

DC Comics

It’s no secret that Green Lantern is my all-time favorite superhero. As soon as I got past the usual big two (Batman and Superman) and discovered a whole universe of different superheroes, Green Lantern caught my eye out of the entire bunch. The thought of having a ring, the most powerful weapon in the entire galaxy, that made whatever constructs you could think of appear from thin-air tickled me pink! However, operating such a device requires lots of willpower, and well, I’ll still scream like a little girl whenever I walk through a spider web.

It’s also no secret that Geoff Johns is the biggest fan of Green Lantern too (specifically, Hal Jordan). This fanboy-turned-writer has been responsible for resurrecting Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern title for the past few years, making him shine the brightest throughout the whole DC Universe. Starting with Green Lantern: Rebirth, it’s been gaining more and more momentum after every issue. Before diving head-first into the next event after the Sinestro Corps War, you’d best know your Green Lantern history!

And that’s what makes Green Lantern: Secret Origin so great. People will constantly ask me where’s a good place to start with Green Lantern, and there’s always the chance of losing new readers when you tell them “at the beginning; issue one.” With Green Lantern: Secret Origin, you can be a new reader or a seasoned veteran and still have an awesome time reading it. Geoff Johns slightly retcons the character and gives you the definitive origin for the time being, putting every fan on the same page.

We see the beginnings of the cocky & brash Hal Jordan, as he always looked-up to his dad (a test pilot for Ferris Air), and witnessed his unfortunate demise during a fatal test flight. He always wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps, and it scared his mother because of it. As soon as he was eighteen, he signed-up for the Air Force and left his family behind, sacrificing the ties to his mother and brothers to get one step closer to flying.

From then on the story takes-off just like a Ferris Fighter Jet, as we see Hal get too full of himself and gets discharged from the Air Force, and won’t get to fly for any airfield again. We’re introduced to Abin Sur, Green Lantern of 2814, before he crash-lands on Earth and leaves Hal as his successor before dying out in the hot California desert. Jump forward to training on Oa, and Hal is slowly starting to get the hang of it.

Sinestro, Atrocitus, the Guardians, William Hand, and even Hector Hammond all make an appearance, and Geoff Johns does a wonderful job intertwining all their origins together. And how could I forget Carol Ferris? She’s in the series too, as we’re witness to the early flirting between Hal and her.

Ivan Reis does a magnificent job with the art, making the images we see the icing on the cake of awesomeness. Everything from the landscapes of the desert to the bustling city-life on Oa, it’s all is absolute eye-candy to the reader. Atrocitus looks evil and menacing, Sinestro looks smug and superior, and Kilowog looks like a drill sergeant you don’t want to mess with.

Seeds for the Blackest Night are also planted in this series, so just as the surviving five of Sector 666 are talking prophecies, so is Geoff Johns.

It truly is a fantastic series, and a must-have for every Green Lantern fan. Screw Kyle Rayner, screw John Stewart, let Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis convince you that Hal Jordan is the one true Green Lantern, and believe me when I tell you that you won’t need much convincing.

In brightest day, in blackest night, no gorgeous Green Lantern hardcover shall escape my sight…

Book Of The Month – June – LOCAL

Book Of The Month – July – Sub-Mariner: The Depths

Book Of The Month – August – Superman: Secret Identity

Book Of The Month – October – Welcome To Hoxford

Book Of The Month – November – The Nightly News

Book Of The Month – December – CLA$$WAR

Book Of The Month – January – The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite

Book Of The Month – February – Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft

Book Of The Month – March – Mini Marvels Ultimate Collection

Book Of The Month – April – Asterios Polyp

Comics? In MY Corner? It’s more likely than you think. Pick Of The Week goes to Kevin Smith & Jonathan Lau for Green Hornet #3 (Dynamite). Fast Five picks include Scalped #37 (Vertigo), Ultimate Avengers 2 #1 (Marvel), Stumptown #3 (Oni Press), Green Lantern Corps #47 (DC), and Invincible Iron Man #25 (Marvel).

What rhymes with “Hairs of Blondefest?” Why, “There’s a contest!”, of course!

Fun week for comics! Pick Of The Week goes to Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, and Amanda Conner for Power Girl #11 (DC). Fast Five picks include Ultimate Comics: Avengers #6 (Marvel), Brave And The Bold #33 (DC), NOVA #36 (Marvel), Green Lantern #53 (DC), and Guardians Of The Galaxy #25 (Marvel).

Need more Cammy? Check-out the KICK-ASS Episode and Geeky Talky – Episode 4!

No Pick Of The Week this week, but fear not! There’s still an awesome Fast Five to talk about. Fast Five picks include Nemesis #1 (Icon), Scalped #36 (Vertigo), The Guild #1 (Dark Horse), Thunderbolts #142 (Marvel), and Green Lantern #52 (DC).

Special announcement about the next step forward for the podcast at the end!

Reminder: WonderCon this April!

Quite the diverse week for comics! Pick Of The Week goes to Joe Kelly & Max Fiumara for The Amazing Spider-Man #625 (Marvel). Fast Five picks include Batman #697 (DC), Doctor Who #9 (IDW), Siege #3 (Marvel), 28 Days Later #8 (BOOM! Studios), and Green Lantern Corps #46 (DC).

Rhinos, the Infected, and the Black Mask revealed are a few of what make this week awesome!

Holy guacamole what a big week for comics! Pick Of The Week goes to Warren Ellis and Raulo Caceres for Captain Swing And The Electrical Pirates Of Cindery Island #1 (Avatar). Fast Five picks include The Walking Dead #70 (Image), Blackest Night #7 (DC), Irredeemable #11 (BOOM! Studios), Black Lantern Green Arrow #30 (DC), and Northlanders #25 (Vertigo).

It’s 11:11 am. Do you know where your children are?

Reminder: WonderCon this April!

Another week, another episode! Pick Of The Week goes to Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez for Locke & Key: Crown Of Shadows #3 (IDW). Fast Five picks include Green Lantern #51 (DC), Hellblazer #264 (Vertigo), Blackest Night: The Flash #3 (DC), Incorruptible #3 (BOOM! Studios), and Green Lantern Corps #45 (DC).

Reminder: WonderCon this April!

So many fantastic picks out this week, but I can only talk about six! Speaking of six, Pick Of The Week from Gail Simone, John Ostrander, and J. Calafiore comes Secret Six #18 (DC). Fast Five picks include Ultimate Armor Wars #4 (Marvel), R.E.B.E.L.S. #13 (DC), Haunt #5 (Image), Daytripper #3 (Vertigo), and Amazing Spider-Man #620 (Marvel).

Tune in at the end of the episode for a very special announcement!

Holy guacamole was it a great week for comics! Pick of the week goes to Jason Aaron & R.M. Guera for Scalped #34 (Vertigo). Fast Five picks include G.I. Joe: Origins #12 (IDW), DEMO 2 #1 (Vertigo), Blackest Night: The Question #37 (DC), House of Mystery #22 (Vertigo), and Ghost Riders: Heaven’s On Fire #6 (Marvel).

Lotta Jason Aaron titles out, lotta Vertigo titles out.