A complete listing of Blackest Night titles can be found on our Blackest Night Event page.

Review by Corwin C. Crowl
 
"Red Badge of Rage Part 2”

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Penciler:  Patrick Gleason
Inker: Rebecca Buchman, Tom Nguyen, Keith Champagne & Gleason
Colors:  Randy Mayor & Gabe Eltaeb
Letterer:  Steve Wands
Editor: Adam Schlagman
Cover: Gleason, Buchman & Mayor
Variant Cover: Greg Horn
Published by DC Comics

Guy: They want black?!? Give 'em black!  The black of freakin' oblivion!

The Green Central Power Battery is still over run with Black Lanterns who are trying to corrupt and devour its power.  They slowly encompass the giant battery and are able to topple it over.  Beaten and bruised the Green Lantern Corps try to defend their battery in vain when an unexpected ally arrives. While Monk from the Indigo Tribe and Miri from the Star Sapphire's have leant a hand, the Green Lantern planet named Mogo may have the solution to rid Oa of the Black Lanterns once and for all.

While the Black Lanterns may be the bigger plot I am thoroughly enjoying the Red Lantern Guy Gardner subplot.  His rage truly runs rampant as he dual wields a Red and Green Power Ring.  He succeeds in viciously dispatching the Black Lanterns by almost any means imaginable.  I mean he creates constructs of blades, swords, axes, maces, and chainsaws and at one point he even uses his teeth to bit through someone's neck!  His rage is so blind he even lashes out at Kyle who is trying to subdue him. This subplot has slowly begun gaining ground and will probably become the main plot of the next issue.  

For an issue with four inkers and two colorists I have to say they have maintained an excellent consistency.  It is hard to tell which pages were inked by different artists.  Even more impressive is that this issue may still be consistent with the last.  (It has been a month since I have read it so please forgive me if I am mistaken.)  I know the deadlines may be piling up on Gleason but he has not shied away from giving us expansive two page spreads with great detail.  I think right after Blackest Night he may have to take a break but with only two issues left I hope he can make it.  I really do not have anything new to say about Tomasi's writing that I have not said in previous reviews.  He has created a great story pulling in pieces from the last few years of the title.  I think the shift from the Black Lanterns to the new Red Lantern is a welcome and unexpected change of pace that really works to keep interest in this book high.

Overall Rating 8 out of 10 (On Its Way to Greatness!)