As predicted, Hal Jordan has been chosen by the Guardians to infiltrate the Blackstars, and amped up version of the Controllers’ Darkstars. He has a gauntlet to pass, followed by one final test of loyalty. Anyone who has ever watched any kind of modern gangster movie can probably guess what such a test might be. So is there much here in the way of originality? Well, yes, but not where you think.

The gauntlet features some novel solutions, as well as the final test itself. However, as that part of the story proceeds, you can pretty much guess what it’s leading up to. All in all, it’s not a particularly bad story, just kind of ho-hum.

The artwork from Liam Sharp elevates it. Even though he’s been the artist on deck since the series began, it was until reviewing Brave and the Bold #1-6 that I genuinely took notice of his work to any significant degree. I believe his rendering style just lends itself better to a fantasy realm, rather than a cosmic setting. But I enjoy his layouts; they’re kinda trippy.

DC Comics keeps rebranding its franchises, from Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, to Green Lanterns (note the plural), and now THE Green Lantern, as if there is only one. But unless the Corps is completely defunct, it’s not really applicable, is it? But seemingly DC Comics would have you believe there is something new and different about this series, when in fact, there is not. It’s just business as usual.

Rating: 5/10