There was some whining on the Message Boards (shocking!) that this was a "dull" issue. Those people are entitled to their opinions I suppose...but I certainly wouldn't want one of them marrying my daughter. Because this is...GREAT!
So things are really beginning to come to a head. The entire dead population of Coast City has arisen, and are out making mischief. We have the seven members of the various Corps, and their newly designated deputies. Help is possibly on the way, since Indigo sent out an SOS, but for the moment it is just a handful of people, plus whatever Earth heroes are still out there fighting. Those are SOME odds!
Doug Mahnke rises as usual the occasion with his beautiful artwork. We have some very nice scenes showing the various Lanterns discovering and quickly mastering their new abilities. Wonder Woman and Carol Ferris are zipping around encasing people in pinky-purple cocoons, Mera is letting loose with considerable zest...frying Aquababy in the process. At least she impresses the heck out of Atrocitus,who is probably wondering where she has been all of his life.
Barry and St. Walker are hoping with all of their might. Scarecrow is scared to death...and LOVING it! Larfleeze is NOT happy about having to share with Lex.
And then the Spectre shows up.
And this day just got a whole lot worse,if that's possible.
The Spectre wants Hal Jordan...really really bad. He tries turning Hal into a Black Lantern in a particularly disgusting and magnificent pair of panels, but Ganthet and Sayd jump in and save his frying bacon. They are then promptly swallowed by the Spectre, so Hal jumps in and returns the favor.
Then ALL the various Lanterns start pouring it on, trying to take down the Spectre, but rather to their surprise, nothing much is happening, which has to be disconcerting. In fact, the Spectre is mopping the floor with all of them. Even the Guardians are nonplussed, and Atrocitus starts getting snarky. He points out that the Spirit of Vengeance is ABSOLUTE Rage, fused with Death...and boy he wants it.
Meanwhile, Hal has an idea. Yes, it does happen. He has Ganthet summon his battery, along with John's, Kyle's and Guy's. Uh oh. It has dawned on Hal, that perhaps the only thing that the Spectre was afraid of, was Parallax. Sinestro is quite surprised...and possibly a little impressed...to learn that Parallax was imprisoned in the four batteries. He also realizes what Hal is up to,and thinks that HE should be the one who is possessed by Parallax, since he feels he can control it. In all fairness to Sinestro, it is possible that he has a point. Hal however doesn't want Sinestro anywhere NEAR Parallax, so they start squabbling.
Carol shows up and asks Hal not to do this, that she doesn't want to lose him again. Hal tells her that she can free him when the job is done and they grab a quick smooch. Oh Hal. Then Hal jumps in, grabs Parallax, thinks of his Dad, and before you can say "ARRGGHH", he's possessed.
Boy is he EVER! I don't remember Hal having quite that many teeth.
This is gonna be good.
