What is the one common enemy we as a people share? Something that no matter what your gender, race, or religious belief is, we can all understand on a primal level. Of course I’m referring to our inner demons, the voices in our heads that leads us on the road to doubt and in some cases depression. It’s easy to punch something or lash out at a external problem but fighting the voices can be a person’s toughest fight. So now imagine if those voices become tangible and their goal is eradicating you from the universe. The countdown is almost done.
This issue is over flowing with the theme of “Man Vs Man” as Justin Jordan continues the struggle between Kyle and Oblivion. As I stated in the opening paragraph this issue is compromised of an inner demon taking form and not only verbally doubting you but also physically wants to take you out. From a story standpoint it’s makes this particular narrative more engaging to see the hero have the fight against two fronts.
Reading this issue almost felt like I was watching a very competitive tennis match between two opponents who were all to familiar with each other. Oblivion would get a nice serve only for Kyle to answer with a witty line a dialog and a construct to the face.
I felt that this issue did a better job of fleshing out Oblivion as a character. I did make the jokes that he comes off a Venom ripoff visually but not much of his “character” had been shown. Keep in mind this is only his second appearance in the New 52 and Jordan could have easily made Oblivion to be a “empty” villain who’s only purpose is to move the plot forward to Kyle’s fate whatever that maybe. Oblivion comes off a cult like in the words he uses and his nihilistic attitude to Kyle gives him more points on the creepy side.
On a deeper level, could this be Kyle’s way of wanting to kill himself? We’ve seen how Kyle has struggled with his current role in the universe and Jordan has alluded to Kyle’s solitary life. None of this is ever stated out loud but rather this is the context I couldn’t but pick up on. I could be reading more into what’s actually there and to Jordan’s credit, the final sequence doesn’t feel like a suicidal plea but instead a normal clash between hero and villain. I only bring up the suicide message is due the struggle that a person faces when they put the idea of suicide into their minds. Ponder this as you reread the last two years worth of Kyle stories and his struggles, maybe I’m right maybe I’m reaching.
Neves art this time around comes as more efficient but as looked closer, his art mostly consisted of bombastic action page after after action page using speed lines to cover up any back rounds. My personal favorite was the opening sequence for Kyle’s mind of horrors. Just seeing the attention to detail as Alex Dewitt falls apart while simultaneously Kyle is enveloped in this goo. A disturbing way to begin a comic.
Green Lantern New Guardians earns a 4/5
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