‘Green Lantern Blackstars #2’ (review)

Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Xermanico
Published by DC Comics

“The sun’s turning orange. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you, Parallax? My powers are weakening.”

“The sun’s been on life support since it survived a sun-eater attack, right? I don’t know – maybe you need to get in there and wind it up again Superman.”

Grant Morrison’s story of a Universe remade by the absolute Will of Controller Mu reaches its apex this month.

And it’s a joy to behold.

It’s been a year of stories introducing us to Controller Mu, the Blackstar Order, and their commander the vampiric Belzebeth. All of it largely outside of the current cosmic crisis engulfing the rest of the DCU.

But now that the wondrous Wising Machine has succeeded in giving Mu his fondest desire – universal peace under the rule of his implacable control – Mr. Morrison finally brings it all back home to earth. And with it, the Justice League.

It’s a world become a bit too uncomfortably like our own, but while Hal Jordan and his former Green Lantern comrades may now be good little soldiers in Mu’s army, one thing you can always count on in this universe or any other, is the Justice League… being the Justice League.

Enduring values being what they are. That’s the thing about entrusting your fate (and your volition) to the all-consuming vision of one tremendous and singular being. What happens when that person is no longer there to guide you? And what appetites will be unleashed in his absence?

This month events are set in motion that will give us an answer to these very questions, but even before we get there with the resolution of our story next month, Morrison is giving us plenty of answers already. That’s because the whole design of this storyline and its fulfillment is a perfect set up for Morrison to be unreservedly sharp and subversive – and he takes full advantage. With commentary on the world, the country, the state of DC comics itself, even his own work, all of it delightfully wrapped up in a fictional confection that is a perfect platform for all of it. It’s remarkable really.

Throughout it, Morrison’s storytelling skills are on full display with little treasures like a sub-orbital conversation between Superman and Hal Jordan (a relationship we see far too little of really), and a bit more of the courtly (and horrific) origins of the Countess Belzebeth. Xermanico backs up with art and layouts that are consistently clean and cinematic.

Which makes this one damn fine comic. With a final issue to go, in which we’ll get to see Grant Morrison back in the saddle again with Earth’s greatest champions – who are doing exactly what Hal Jordan wants them to do.

For the win.

Next Issue: All-Out War