Emerald Legacy: Geoff Johns And The Green Lantern Corps Part Ways
If you’ve read DC comics in the last few years or so, there’s no reason not to know the name Geoff Johns. If anyone has a had a significant role in shaping the Green Lantern Corps, it’s him. By bringing back Hal Jordan in Green Lantern: Rebirth, Johns began his career of changing the Green Lantern Corps’ corner of the DC Universe. No longer were the Green Lanterns the only corps in existence, there became a multitude of Lantern Corps’ with various colors and emotional connections. Fans even got a look at how Hal and his post-Parallax successor Kyle Rayner would interact, and their feelings regarding the other’s legacy.
From here, he introduced us to much more than just Will. We saw that Willpower and and the blue energy of Hope made man and alien alike the best they could be and accomplish many heroic deeds. Unfortunately, we were also shown the wondrous horrible things that Rage and Fear were capable of. The most unlikely and often underrated characters became champions of Compassion and Love. Then we got to know Larfleeze and the orange Avarice energies. After that, things went to hell in the pages of the Blackest Night saga as an army of the dead rose up from their graves, being lead by Nekron and Black Hand, who we hadn’t seen since Rebirth. It was during this time, 2010, that Johns was promoted to Chief Creative Officer of DC. After this, we got Brightest Day and then, for some reason, Flashpoint. I really have no words for Flashpoint. None at all.
He has brought some interesting things into the Green Lantern mythos, such as Sinestro somehow getting hold of a Green Lantern ring. Over a year and a half later, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around that. Then there was the fact that Sinestro gave Hal a duplicate ring, which is also hard to believe. Then there’s Baz, the new GL of Earth, bringing the total number of Corps affiliated GLs to five in the New 52. The thing is, after issue 12 or so, the quality of the GL stories has been in a gradual decline. While it hurts to say that, it did have to be mentioned. I’m looking forward to Johns wrapping up Wrath of the First Lantern and to see good things in the GL book again.
After issue 20, Johns will be leaving Green Lantern in order to keep up with his CCO duties and writing such titles as Justice League, Aquaman (which he single-handedly made awesome again) and Justice League of America. The first two have been consistently good and many are hoping for good things from JLA. Due to his early and well-earned status as one of the best writers of the New 52, I wish him luck in his current and future projects. May the New Gods watch over your career, Mr. Johns.
