The GLs have been tasked with enlisting recruits for their imminent conflict with the Darkstars. Guy Gardner has reached out to Yellow Lantern Arkillo, while corps leader John Stewart has contacted General Zod. Why Zod? Because he’s a bad-ass, and John has a secret argument to convince Zod siding with the corps would be in his best interest.

Meanwhile, Hal has returned to Earth to learn what Hector Hammond has to offer. The problem in, Hector is in Strykers Island, in the care of former-villain-now-warden the Atomic Skull. And he’s not about to let ANYONE break one of his prisoners out of jail. It erodes the credibility of his reform.

As for the Darkstars themselves, well, they’ve got an agenda that goes beyond lethal justice. And it may have a direct impact on not just the Green Lantern Corps, but on its honor lanterns. As their plans ramp up, the stakes of the entire Darkstar saga are greater than ever before.

Ethan Van Sciver returns to the drawing board for this issue. I 3enjoy his work, and his contributions to the GL franchise. But I grow weary of his on again/off again status. Sure, the load may be more than any one artists can handle, but I’d rather DC assign him an entire story to be published when it’s finished.

But overall it’s a compelling issue, full of surprises. I’d rate it 8/10.