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Overanalyzing Anime
Blog Owner & Lead Writer
So, this issue took a turn that I definitley wasn’t expecting.
We pick up the story with Soranik, Sinestro, and Hal, who have found themselves surrounded by Atrocitus and his Red Lantern Corps. While they have made it clear that their goal is to capture Sinestro, they have also come to the decision that they will kill any Green Lantern that crosses their path because, well.. “evil.”
Outmatched and outnumbered, Soranik’s defenses quickly crumble under the might of the Red Lantern Corps. onslaught. As her light constructs crumble, Sinestro comes to her aid - throwing himself on top of her to protect her from falling debris. Piquing Atrocitus's interest, he asks what Sinestro’s relationship is to the Lantern; Soranik quickly claims they have no relationship, while Sinestro tells him that she is his daughter.
Meanwhile, from atop a mountain ledge, a group of Green Lanterns watch as the Red Lanterns attack the trio. They request permission from the Guardians to use lethal force against the Red Lanterns, and, once granted, they begin their counteroffensive, managing to kill one Red Lantern immediately. The unnamed Red Lanterns' ring then slipped from his finger and fell to the ground.
Seeing an opportunity to escape, Sinestro dashes toward the abandonded ring, but Hal is quick to try and stop him. The ensuing scuffle ends with Hal in possession of the Red Lantern (or, perhaps, one could say the opposite is true.) Hal struggles to maintain control of himself as blood gushes from his mouth and his body is enveloped in the Red Lanterns uniform. He tells Soranik and the other Green Lanterns to escape while he uses his new power to hold off the remaining Red Lanterns.
The Green Lanterns manage to get away, leaving Hal at the mercy of Atrocitus and his Corps. Before a fatal blow is landed, Atrocitous stops them, claiming that someone who is so in tune with his rage may be an asset. He asks Hal what it is that he hates so much, to which he replies "myself."
This issue managed to keep the momentum going as we got to see two groups of Lanterns clash yet again. Interestingly enough, the first time we saw Lanterns clash with one another was in the 54th issue of the original Injustice: Gods Among Us series (Injustice: Gods Among Us Year 2, Issue #17.) However, while this clash was entertaining, it was not nearly as powerful or dramatic as the war of the Lanterns from the second year of Injustice, nor do I imagine it will reach that level, as the GL Corps. were dealt a substantial blow by that particular conflict.
It was interesting to see Sinestro act so selflessly when he saw that his daughter was in danger, especially given the fact that he had tried to steal her ring in the previous issue. It's clear - given his denial over the death of his wife, and the way that he tried to save Soranik - that he does care about his family; however, it doesn't change the fact that he's an evil man who will do anything to get what he wants. I like the complexity of his character, and I hope to see more of him as this arc continues.
I also found the fact that this is their first encounter with the Red Lantern Corps. to be rather interesting. For long time readers of the Green Lantern comics, Atrocitus and his Red Lantern Corps. are all very familiar - however, new readers may not be familiar with them, or any of the other emotional spectrum Corps. that exist. Injustice 2, is designed to be accessible to newer readers, as many may only have a basic understanding of the Green Lantern mythos, or the DC mythos as a whole. So, I can understand why they took that approach, and I, for one, am curious to see how they will interact with one another for the first time.
But, let's get to the standout moment of the chapter, which is when Hal got a hold on the Red Lantern ring. I was honestly surprised because, in the game, it was never mentioned that he had worn the ring before. This isn't a detractor, by any means; I've come to understand that this isn't going to be without it's loopholes - in fact, I welcome them because they help to make surprises such as this all the more entertaining.
I do wonder how exactly Hal is going to get himself out of this particular predicament, though. The Red Lantern ring poses a number of risks, the most obvious of which is the fact that it causes the user to expel their own heart - it, literally, causes the heart to be pushed out of the body, with the ring acting as its replacement. We saw hints of this as Hal fought with the ring, with the blood gushing from his mouth. Essentially, if he does remove the ring, it should result in his death, but I'm sure they'll be able to find a workaround for this particular issue. Aside from that, we have to contend with the fact that Hal doesn't exactly have the best track record when it comes to warding off the side effects that come from using other Lantern rings - and the rage that exudes all Red Lanterns is, perhaps, one of the most difficult to overcome.
In closing, I do like the fact that this opens the door for Atrocitious to seek him out again by the time the events of the Injustice 2 game happen. We now know that he is seeking Hal Jordan out because he knows that he is able to handle the power of the Red Lantern ring with great skill. I had always felt that the inclusion of Atrocitus was random, but this provides some much needed context, ultimately making his appearance in the game feel much more genuine.
But what were your thoughts on this issue? Where do you think the story will go from here? Let me know in the comments section below, and take a look at the rest of my website while you're here!
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