Review by Corwin C. Crowl

"Agent Orange Part 4"

Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciler: Philip Tan, Eddy Barrows
Inker: Jonathan Glapion & Ruy Jose
Colors: Nei Ruffino & Rod Reis
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover: Tan, Glapion & Ruffino
Alternate Cover: Barrows and Ruffino
Assistant Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Published by DC Comics

Agent Orange: That doesn’t belong to you! Don’t you dare dent it! It’s in mint condition!

Goeff Johns you are a dirty dirty man who plays dirty dirty tricks on your readers. Last issue's ending had Agent Orange finally acquiring the Blue Power Ring but it turned out to be an illusion caused by the Blue Ring. This does however give Hal a chance to pull a play from Agent Orange's play book. He creates a Corps of Green Lantern constructs to battle the orange constructs.

On the surface of Okaara the Green Lantern Corps are barely holding the Orange Lanterns at bay. Sealed in a crystal barrier John Stewart is confronted by his savior, the new Star Sapphire Fatality. She once vowed to kill John because his arrogance and pride caused the destruction of her home world. Since being converted to a Sapphire she now has forgiven him and asks that he should forgive himself. She leaves him with a parting gift that takes him completely by surprise.

While Hal cannot match Agent Orange’s power his constructs are enough to cause a distraction giving him enough time to steal the Orange Lantern. Immediately he is overwhelmed by its power as he becomes an Orange Lantern. His mind is immediately flooded by the voice of the Lantern which does nothing but tell him what he deserves. There is one thing in particular that caught my attention. The Lantern tells him he needs his own Guardian. I wonder why it would say something like that? Hal’s distraction not only afforded him time to steal the Lantern but it also stalled the Orange Lanterns giving the Guardians and the Corps time to find him. As the Guardians arrive one of them states that this mission is fruitless, as long as avarice exists in the universe. Two other Guardians comment on their patience wearing thin with that Guardian's insubordination. Is this a hint that he will be banished like Ganthet and Sayd? Hal's time as an Orange Lantern is cut drastically short as Agent Orange knocks him down and takes back his Lantern frustrated. Since Geoff has been cycling Hal through all the colored Corps I was a bit worried that the idea would start to wear thin and grow old. Thankfully he handles Hal's transformation with grace. Now ticked off beyond measure Agent Orange decides to create a huge construct of himself to swiftly deal with Hal, the Corps and the Guardians.

Once again the Blue Power Ring asks Hal what he hopes for and he honestly responds "...I hope you stop asking me that question." Ironically his hope registers as sincere and the Blue Power Ring activates allowing him to dissipate the orange construct. Its energy spent the Blue Ring realizes that Hal is not a valid Blue Lantern and flies off to search its sector for a valid replacement. Still angry Agent Orange readies for another attack when the Guardians resort to diplomacy instead or brute force. The magic wielding Lantern, Torquemada, protests to diplomacy since his friend Gretti was killed by Agent Orange. Instead of hearing him out the Guardians teleport the whole Corps away and then begin bargaining with Agent Orange. As the Corps await the Guardians' return Hal reflects on a vision he had while wielding the full power of the Blue Ring. He says he saw tomorrow and then we see Sinestro telling Hal, "I can't do this without you." The Guardians then arrive dismissing the Lanterns their respected sectors. On Odymn, Ganthet, Sayd and four Blue Lanterns welcome their newest recruit as an orange light fills the sky. In Sector 666 Ash and Saarek think they have found the corpse of the Anti-Monitor but instead stumble upon his tomb, a huge Black Lantern. Touching the Lantern Saarek exclaims something is wrong, that they should not have come, the dead hunger and their presence has awakened him.

On the eve of the Blackest Night event Geoff Johns brings things to a boil as it seems the Anti-Monitor or something else has awoken. The Guardians have lead the Lanterns on a what almost turned out to be a useless mission. Bargaining with Agent Orange looks like it will weaken what little moral is left of the Corps. None of them are even aware of what is going on in Oa or on Daxam. They did however leave the planet Okaara with further orders for the Lanterns to finish arresting criminals in the Vega System. It does not seem like Agent Orange to let the Guardians have his star system but he really wanted a Blue Power Ring. One big thing to note is that St. Walker stated each Blue Lantern picks the next, so why did Hal’s Blue Ring go searching for an owner? It is kind of underhanded for the Guardians to give the location of the Blue Lantern’s home world to Agent Orange. They have no remorse for their actions and once they reach Oa they are probably going to regret every hasty and dastardly decision they have made. Another big thing to note is that last time we saw the Red Lanterns they too were trying to find Odym.

Philip Tan continues to improve his artwork with issue. It is obvious that he is becoming more comfortable with the characters and it would have been interesting to see how his art would of progressed if he stayed on the book. Together with Barrows and Geoff they have crafted a story that will influence the Green Lantern legacy for decades to come.

7 out of 10 (Above Average)

Important Notes

*Hal steals Agent Orange’s tactics and creates his own Green Lantern Corps constructs.
*Fatality tells John Stewart she forgives him and he should forgive himself.
*She also mentions Xanshii is not innocent in the War of Light.
*The battle between Agent Orange and Hal is really a distraction so Hal can steal the Orange Battery.
*He briefly becomes the Orange Lantern and the ring tells him he needs a Guardian.
*As the Corps and the Guardians are overwhelmed by Agent Orange, Hal makes a sincere hope. He hopes the ring will stop asking him what he hopes for.
*Since his hope was sincere he is able to unleash the full power of the blue ring but afterwards it leaves him to recruit another.
*The Guardians strike another bargain with Agent Orange.
*Hal also says he thinks he saw the future. In it Sinestro says he needs Hal's help.
*Odym the planet of the Blue Lanterns is attacked by the Orange Lanterns. Aren't the Red Lanterns on their way there too?
*Saarek and Ash find the Black Central Power Battery but their presence awakens something!