Green Lantern Annual: 2021

While this issue fits into the larger story being told in Green Lantern, it also stands on its own as it introduces and examines some really intriguing themes that set up something further down the line. It's a great character focused issue that just doesn't stop. Just when you think you've figured it out, it goes a bit further and gives a whole new way of looking at Jessica and Hal Jordan. The ideas here go far beyond the current Green Lantern comic or the concept as such in the DC Universe. Fear is something we all understand and something that the world has been dealing with rather prominently in various ways in recent years. Read Full Review

Green Lantern Annual 2021 is a stunning piece of character work that might be one of the best unexpected surprises of the year! From #DCComics @rycady SamiBasriArt on IG @tderenick @hificolor #robleigh Read Full Review

I would read this as an ongoing series without a second thought, but as an annual, this is a must for any fan of the Corps without a doubt. Read Full Review

As a fan of Jessica Cruz, I was hesitant to accept her turn as a Yellow Lantern in Green Lantern 2021 Annual #1. Cady and his collaborators proved a character can make a jump like this one and make it work. This issue also does a great job of showing how fear and the way of the Yellow Lantern can be used for good, even if it draws its power from a negative feeling. Read Full Review

Jessica Cruz's journey continues and while people might be pissed right off the bat because they have preconceived notions about what yellow means..... Ryan Cady continues his story from Future State that takes us on a must-see look at how Jessica Cruz went from being a victim of fear to controlling it to becoming a master of it. A great progression and my only real problems in this issue come from Hal Jordan, but it's not his story. Read Full Review

Aside from trying to figure out who to root against, the six-dollar price tag is perhaps the biggest villain here. Without that, this is indeed an enjoyable work that maybe gives us something new to consider. Read Full Review

Cady does a nice job of justifying this latest shift for Jessica Cruz. The key will be how this new development is followed up in future Green Lantern issues. Read Full Review

Green Lantern Annual: 2021 does its best to present a case for Jessica Cruz joining the Sinestro Corps. The reasoning of why Jessica stays is debatable, but it pulls on the right connections based on her history with fear. The change is likely temporarily, and the real question is what DC will actually do with her as a Yellow Lantern. Ryan Cady delivers solid characterization for the major characters, notably Jessica and Sinestro with the exception of Hal Jordan. The art team did a good job with the visuals and colors, especially the action scenes. Read Full Review

While not without its hiccups, this issue was a fun read and there are some great actions scenes that are designed really well. If Jessica Cruz has become one of your favorite Lanterns, you should definitely give it a read as it pairs nicely with the Green Lantern #6 issue out this week as well. Read Full Review

Ryan Cady does an okay job on the script. It is serviceable with a few nice scenes. The art by Sami Basri is actually very good. Basri should be on a regular series as the art is very accomplished. Read Full Review

Seven out of ten lanterns. Read Full Review

As to the second question, it appears one of the few Lanterns with a working ring, Hal Jordan, has remained on Earth to keep it safe (while the rest of the universe goes to hell). While perhaps not the best use of the character, I guess this makes sense in his role as the Green Lantern of Earth. Read Full Review

Quinn

Sep 08, 2021

I LOVED this issue. It did something a comic book hasn’t done in a long time. It surprised me in a positive way. I was very skeptical about turning Jessica Yellow. (See what I did there). It seem d like a twist for the sake of a twist. Sort of “look at what we are doing, aren’t we daring.” Well, Ryan Cady got it right. He presented a strong case for Yellow Jess. Think about it. It must be addicting to be a Lantern, no matter the color of the ring. Jessica had the choice of going home and being powerless, or taking a Yellow ring and still fighting. What I really liked was that we could totally see that she is being seduced to the Yellow side, she was also not lied to, talked down to or criticized by Sinestro. He actually wants her to do well, to learn how to use the Yellow ring. She is actually getting instruction on how to use it, and how it is different from a Green ring. Plus , I think she likes the power. It speaks to her and makes her feel comfortable. She used to be crippled by fear. Now it is her closest friend. Notice how we never see her without the ring. When she wakes up in bad, she is clutching it. When’s he attempts to give it to Sinestro, she holds it in her hand. She doesn’t put the ring down on the table. When Sinestro accepts her demands, including not swearing the oath, he again shows trust. I look forward to her actually saying the oath one day. That will be when she will cross the Rubicon. I hope DC has the guts to do that. Keep her Yellow. As Sinesto says, she is a natural. After all, the truths we cling to greatly depend on our point of view. She is being exposed to a new one and it suits her. Or I could be wrong. more

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Merlyn - Sep 13, 2021

I would argue that she was kinda lied by Sinestro because his sell was full of shit. He says he doesn't instill fear but he kind of does, because he nudges their already existing fears. Sure, technically he's not wrong but it seems like a lie of omission. Same can be said about "not imposing their will". When you scare people the way Jessica scares them, at Sinestro's advice, again, it kind of seems to me like you don't give them a lot of free will.

Quinn - Sep 13, 2021

I would say that she was given Sinestro’s point of view. That is how Sinestro sees himself. So he is not lying. But remember, just because I believe the world is flat does not change the fact that is round. I actually predict that DC is setting up Jessica to take down Sinestro by taking over the Yellow Lantern Corps. Now that would be an interesting and daring story that we have never seen before. I would pay money to read that.

Quinn - Sep 13, 2021

I would actually like Jessica to stay Yellow. But not to make her a villain, but rather someone who now sees things differently. I mean they put up with Guy Gardener and he beats info out of people. That is torture, people. Taking down enemies through using their fears against them seems better than torture. Or I could be wrong. A longer review is on the GL message board.

Merlyn - Sep 13, 2021

To me it seemed more like Sinestro was trying to trick her into crossing the line towards "the dark side". In a very Palpatine to Anakin kind of way. You don't have to straight lie, say some half-truths here and there and if the person is vulnerable (and Jessica was) it would get the job done. I like Guy Gardner. I especially liked him as a Red Lantern, it fit and he tried to reform the Corps. Unfortunately, the end results were awful, most of the members died, albeit they died being heroic.

Merlyn - Sep 13, 2021

Though Sinestro could be self-deluded enough to actually believe all he was saying there, it is in character.

J. Rabbit

Sep 30, 2021

Pencil/Ink: Better than Good Writing: Better than Good Story: Great Layout: Good Color: Good Lettering: Good This book has some subtle but very well-done symbolism that gives the Yellow Lanterns a deeper, more meaningful, and nuanced angle to work with. I hope to see more of Cruz wearing the Yellow.

Fracadactyl

Sep 07, 2021

I like how some people are taking risks with some characters. Jessica Cruz has always been defined by her anxieties for a while. So with a chance to take control of her fear, it's always welcome. Especially since she's not magically better at it than with other emotions. She still messes up sometimes but takes the way to fix it. Even Hal's impressed with how this develops, even if he is a little cautious about it. Probably because Sinestro plays a charming sociopath around this time. I just wish the cover didn't false advertise so much.

Raging Rainbow

Sep 14, 2021

Talking about the new Green Lantern annual and the big change in store for one Jessica Cruz. I wasn't sure how to feel about this particular turn for this character, although it has grown on me and I'm becoming more used to the idea. https://youtu.be/Eg2pGwPt2NM

daspidaboy

Sep 07, 2021

I didn't really hate this book to be honest. It made sense that Jessica Cruz being the Yellow Lantern because she has panic attacks and can learn how to control her fear. Maybe because I am not a Sinestro fan but I wasn't offended by this issue or anything

Psycamorean

Oct 04, 2021

This is alright. It kind of feels out of place.

Merlyn

Sep 07, 2021

Jessica Cruz is one of the few characters from recent years at DC I've grown to love. So seeing her as a Yellow Lantern definitely felt cheap. Now the story isn't bad but once you read the whole story Sinestro's sell sounds pretty weak and stupid.

Maud Benjamin

Sep 07, 2021

Just stop this bullshit. Sinestro dispises Kyle Ranyer because he considers Kyle an unworthy Green Lantern. Why would he have an eye for Jessica, the most unworthy earth lantern of all? And Hal's always been an empathetic person. He mentored Jessica when she joined the league. They have a close relationship like brother and sister. The writer is just dwarfing Hal to push Jessica, shamefully . It's sad to come to know, in these days, Hal Jordan, or his archenemy, is just a plot tool to push those secondary lanterns. And it's really a weird and stupid business strategy since Hal is still DC's most popular Green Lantern.