Review:
Relic is a fifty-foot-tall sole survivor of the universe before ours. More super-scientist than super-villain, he tried to warn the light-wields of his own universe that the energy they channeled was a limited, finite resource. Those light-wielders were far more advanced in their constructs and other uses of the light than the coloured Corps originating with Oa and the Guardians, building whole cities and more in their societies and universe.
But when none heeded the scientist's unprovable theories, they eventually exhausted the finite supply of emotion-based light and everything collapsed.
With this as his back-story, Relic is both a villain, in his attempts to halt the Lanters of all colours and to steal their lights, emptying their central batteries, and also a hero, attempting in his own way to ultimately save their universe.
It is a narrative setup with imperfect parallels to our 21st century environmental concerns, with its obvious echoes of our own fuel-driven destruction. Yet unlike our world, with its melting ice caps and more, Relic lacks tangible evidence that using the Lantern power rings is contributing to the destruction of the universe.
Into this grey area step all the colours, of course with different intentions. Hal Jordan and his Corps of Green Lanterns are bent on stopping Relic. The Red Lanterns, behind their new leader Guy Gardner, are bent on destroying anything they can. Kyle Rayner as the White Lantern, wants to help Relic while many of the Guardians themselves want to join Relic in his quest for deeper knowledge.
The complete story of this crossover tale, bridging all the Green Lantern-based titles of the New 52 era (around 2013 in this case), is collected here in this hardcover volume. Robert Venditti's Green Lantern books form the backbone of the story, from the backgrounder in the oddly numbered #23.1 to a couple other issues and the Annual. All the other contemporary Green Lantern spin-offs join the action with crossovers and tie-ins. Green Lantern Corps, Green Lanterns: New Guardians, and Red Lanterns all contribute to the unfolding tale, using their own creative teams and spins. One key element missing from this collection, however, is any indication of which series is which as the tale unfolds. Not that the attentive reader is terribly stumped, it's not too hard to figure it out, but frustrating that I have to do that work.
It all culminates in an ultimately unsatisfying final confrontation at the Source Wall at the edge of the known universe.
More than a dozen pencillers take turns telling the story with their visual touches. Most stunning among these pages are the series of full-page, poster-style images from Rags Morales illustrating the Relic backstory as told by Robert Venditti. Brad Walker's dynamic use of non-rectangular and overlapping panels also stand out in his work. And Alessandro Vitti's appropriately rage-filled visuals in the Red Lanterns chapter match the theme of that series very well.
This hardcover book gives the reader the entire story of Relic, in order, but lacks any extra features worth mentioning. We are left with a tale of intriguing possibilities behind the non-renewable nature of the light powers, without too heavy a political or environmental statement. The reader can judge if that is for good or ill.
3 capes for an interesting tale and above-average crossover with some visual highlights, even if the packaging leaves some things to be desired.
Description:
The epic event that will forever change the universe and the different color Lantern Corps forever!
Relic has arrived and the universe with shiver in his wake. The lights of the Lanterns are fading as the emotional spectrum is being drained. It is up to Hal and the Green Lanterns to rally the other Corps together if they are going to survive. Many won't and others will change allegiances, but one thing is certain--nothing will ever be the same.
Collects: Green Lantern New Guardians #23-24, Green Lantern #23.1: Relic #24, Red Lanterns #24, Green Lantern Corps #24, Green Lantern Annual #2
Authors: Robert Venditti, Justin Jordan
Artists: Billy Tan, more
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: June 24, 2014
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401248161
Pages: 192 pages
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