Green Lantern #89
Published and © by DC, April-May 1972
Title: “… and Through Him Save a World …”
Synopsis: When Green Lantern and Green Arrow encounter an eco-activist/terrorist named Isaac, both heroes learn a lesson about blind faith.
Writer: Denny O’Neil
Artist: Neal Adams
Review: Neal Adams art is truly amazing, and both he and writer Denny O’Neil deserve a lot of credit for dragging comics kicking and screaming into the Bronze Age. O’Neil’s “relevancy” themes made this entire run feel important, but this story has the subtlety of a cannon. Groundbreaking, yes, but dated.
•••
Title: “The Impossible Mr. Paradox!”
Synopsis: The Golden Age Green Lantern must stop a jewel thief who may be a former employee of radio station WXYZ.
Writer: John Broome
Artist: Irwin Hasen
Review: After the gritty O’Neil/Adams lead feature, it’s hard to reconcile this quaint Golden Age reprint from Green Lantern #38.
Grade (for the entire issue): A-
Second opinion: “It’s one of the finest of this unique run.” – Michal Jacot, Comic Effect #27, Summer 2001 … “My favorite comic book of all time … and of all O’Neil/Adams’ GL/GA tales, it’s aged the best.” – Jim Kingman, Comic Effect #46, Winter 2006 … Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Neal Adams art and the hard-hitting, relevancy theme.
Not-so-cool factor: Triple crucifixion ≠ subtle.
Notable: Last issue of Green Lantern for four years. Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams’ work on the character would continue in the back of Flash #217. … According to the annual statement of ownership on the “Green Lantern’s Mail Chute” letters page, Green Lantern had an average total paid circulation of 142,657 for the 12 months preceding Aug. 12, 1970.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a National Book Store variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “I suppose progress must always claim victims.” – Carol Ferris, about an eco-activist who died after being crucified by her security guards (They also crucified Carol’s boyfriend, Green Lantern. Now there’s a keeper!)
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on May 20, 2010.
