REVIEW: Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special
"Why you should pay $4.99 for this book!"

BY JAMES STEPHEN PRITCHETT

     With all the recent meanderings about the Marvel Universe and the many reviews of their current blockbuster story-lines, I was surprised that no one had taken a moment to review the Sinestro Corps Special.  Was it because of the $4.99 price tag?  I felt it was my responsibility as a true comic fan to give you the reasons to flop down the hefty $5 to BUY THIS BOOK!
     With gas prices sucking me dry, I am forced to consider every dollar that I spend and weigh all my comic book purchases against their price tags.  At $4.99, what led me to purchase this issue was quite simply, SINESTRO.  There are villains, then there are VILLAINS.  When certain villains appear in a book, I know that I'm getting a good story for my money.  Like Doom, the Red Skull, and the Joker, Sinestro is one of those compelling characters.  I won't elaborate on Sinestro's origin, but let me simply state, you'll love to hate him.

(Ok, this is the point in my little rave where you'll need to stop reading.  BEWARE!  SPOILERS AHEAD!)

     Recently, I've been out of the loop with regards to the DC Universe and only reading key books, such as Countdown and the League.  I'm even further removed from Green Lantern dating back to when Judd “Wynusuck” (that reality show guy) ruined the book.  Oh, I did read the less than stellar, easily forgotten "Ion" series.  Hmmmm, maybe I shouldn't admit that... Much to my delight, I saw the advertisement for "Sinestro Corps" and didn't hesitate to grab this book.
     The book opens with scarred, distraught Sinestro pondering his life facing a yellow power-ring.  As he recounts his failed attempt as a Green Lantern, he realizes his driving power and the driving power of the universe itself:  FEAR.  He leaves us with a dark new twist to the Lantern's Oath:  In Blackest Day, In Brightest Night, Beware Your Fears Made Into Light, Let Those Who Try To Stop What's Right, Burn Like My Power, SINESTRO'S MIGHT!  And with that, the Sinestro Corps was born.
How fitting that the next scene has Zoom.  (on a side note, another great villain, even in cameo)  As the story unfolds, you discover that the Sinestro Corps is seeking only the most evil of evil.  As Yellow Power rings scan sector after sector, they are searching for those individuals that "have the ability to instill great fear."  Consider the possibilities!

From the Silver Age comes the very first appearance of Guy Gardner (Green Lantern #59 1st Series)

     From this point, the story just gets better and better.  Whether it's the appearance of Guy Gardner, a sniping Sinestro Corps cockroach, or the assault on Oa by the Sinestro Corps, you get some great art and fantastic story.  Geoff Johns (writer) and Ethan Van Sciver (artist) do wonders in this book.  Their work is brilliant!  Did I mention the multiple brain splatter shots?
     The attack of the Sinestro Corp and the bloodshed does have a point. Their goals are dual-pronged. First on their list of things to do is to kidnap the Torchbearer of the Green Lantern Corps (Kyle Rayner) . Second, would be to free Superboy Prime! In one scene of particular note, Hal Jordan and some fellow Green Lanterns are confronted by a myraid of power rings initiating the search for new bearers as their previous owners were just killed in the attack of the Sinestro Corps. The action in the book is almost non-stop and will leave you breathless. DC Comics announced shortly after the release of this book that first printings were sold-out and they have rushed it back to press for another printing to meet demands. The story itself leads into events happening in the pages of 'Green Lantern' and 'Green Lantern Corps'.
     If you want the whole story, you need to BUY THIS BOOK!  You won't be disappointed as it has more bang for the buck than most comics at half the price.  If for no other reason, the last two pages of the story will leave you saying "WOW!" 

Oh yeah, and there's Parallax too!

EDITORS NOTE AND SHAMELESS PITCH TO SELL COMICS: As noted in the article above the story continues in 'Green Lantern' and 'Green Lantern Corps'. Both of which come out monthly. DC Comics has also announced a spin-off book entitled Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents Parallax #1 which comes out in September. The 2nd Printings should be in-stock soon!