[brydeemer]

What did you think?

Listen here

Bry

[DrBravo2]

The Red Lantern Ring that Guy received was from the Red Lantern Vice. He was a prisoner in the Sciencells and was released to go nuts and take out some Black Lanterns. Chaselon killed him.

[abuddah]

Well, I didn't have the questions Jamie did although I will admit this was a light issue. I'm sure the series will read better when collected.

My understanding is that there is an army of black lanterns already on Earth (The resurrected Coast City) with more on the way. There is a newly formed collective (the New Guardians?) that have agreed to set aside their differences and come together to stop this force and Nekron. They are powerful enough to take out Scar but not Nekron. Since no one has ever encountered a threat like this, the logical next step is to unify more of the wielders of light in order to have enough power to take out Black Hand and Nekron.

The problem is these different corps are

1. Spread across the galaxy, and quite busy

Brother Warth is on Odym and just survived and attack from Larfleez

the GL corp is on OA fighting Black Lanterns

The Star Sapphires have just survived an attack from the Sinestro Corp and their central battery has been compromised

The Sinestro Corp is protecting Korugar under Sinestro's orders

The remaining Red Lanterns are presumably on Ysmault

The Indogo tribe are nomads and their whereaouts is unknown

2. limited in numbers

Indigo = 5? 6?

Blue = 2

Orange = 1

3. Don't play well with others

See the last several years of Green Lantern comics

When we read the series in monthly installments, it seems more like a football game for the characters when in fact this is a war with little time for, as our former prez says, strategery. The New Guardians have just seen Superman, Wonder Woman, Superboy, Green Arrow, Kid Flash, Donna Troy, Ice and Animal Man corrupted by Nekron. In order to help combat these super powered recruits, Ganthet duplicates the guardians rings (a move with which there IS precedent for) and recruits their own super powers of Earth: Atom, Flash, Mera, Scarecrow, Lex Luthor and Wonder Woman. This move, as Shane said, is merely to hold their ground until they can come up with a better solution.

This post has been edited by Earth-2 Andy: 05 January 2010 - 03:48 PM

[Corwin]

The Show:
Deemer- Sinestro is hinted at being Abin Sur's brother-in-law as well as his mentor and best friend. He was probably the first person he told about the prophecy of Blackest Night after the Guardians. Sinestro has formed his own Corps and has been trying to change the Green Lantern Corps in preparation of the Blackest Night while the Guardians have just been trying to avoid it. Back in GL #48 Sinestro even deduces that Abin Sur probably meant for him to stop Hal from stirring up the War of Light. He blamed Hal for everything.

I don't think Barry had enough time (ironically) to react to the second wave of Black Rings. I think Batman threw everyone off.

As for the ring duplication, Ganthet said in the wake of Blackest Night the Power Rings are allowed to duplicate. Something that is not well known to the bearers but to the Oans who created template for the rings. And it has happened in the past…i.e. Guy Gardner got his ring from a duplication of Hal's in Rebirth. I think Ganthet did this because their initial attack on the Central Black Power Battery failed, remember they were holding their own against the Black Lanterns and even their Guardian Scar. At the very least the new recruits have their own powers to depend on with a supplement of their Power Rings so they can kill Black Lanterns. It also wouldn't make sense to recruit new members off planet since they probably won't make it to Earth alive.

Mogo was prophecized to die in the Blackest Night and almost did, by the Prophecy's standard, in the Sinestro Corps War.

The issue:
I will admit that this issue is all build up but it was fun nonetheless. They really know how to make us sweat it out for the next issue. I wish this series was stinking bi-weekly!

I was wondering why they chose to show us glimpses of Luthor and Scarecrow but now we know. I totally didn't see that coming.
Mera + Red Ring = A Red Lantern who can manipulate her spewing blood?
There is going to be something more with Wonder Woman…the Atom only came out of her ring because he noticed it was malfunctioning. I think he said something about the light from it flickering maybe it will be something touched upon in her series.

GLC #43- I feel you on the disappointment on the quick resurrection of Kyle but I felt bad for Guy. He fought so hard to keep Kyle's ring from flying off but utterly failed. Let's not forget that the Blue Ring Hal had is off in space looking for a new host! Now it looks like Guy and Kyle and the rest of the Corps will be coming into the Blackest Night title!

GL #49- I wasn't a big fan of this issue but at the very least John has finally let go of the guilt he felt over Xanshi's destruction. They will finally begin to advance his character.

[Logan MacLeod]

There is going to be something more with Wonder Woman…the Atom only came out of her ring because he noticed it was malfunctioning. I think he said something about the light from it flickering maybe it will be something touched upon in her series.

I took the malfuncitoning part as that the strong Love inside her (as demnstrated in BN Wonder Woman #1) was already fighting the black ring. When she got the Violet Ring, that reinforced what was already fighting back.

I can't wait to read BN WW#2 tomorrow. I expect it will be the full on BL WW/Mera fight we saw one precious panel of in BN #6, and the more of the internal conflict when the rings are fighting for her. I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly what BNWW#3 will be, ending with her wearing the Violet Ring.

[The Electric Mayhem]

I took the malfuncitoning part as that the strong Love inside her (as demnstrated in BN Wonder Woman #1) was already fighting the black ring. When she got the Violet Ring, that reinforced what was already fighting back.

I can't wait to read BN WW#2 tomorrow. I expect it will be the full on BL WW/Mera fight we saw one precious panel of in BN #6, and the more of the internal conflict when the rings are fighting for her. I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly what BNWW#3 will be, ending with her wearing the Violet Ring.

Ruckka sorta gave mention to this issue in another interview with a different podcast that I shall not name. (*cough "ord *cough alloon" *cough) He said that BN #6 would show what had yet to happen in BN WW series, kinda out of out of the side of his mouth, so to speak...

[Jamie D]

The Red Lantern Ring that Guy received was from the Red Lantern Vice. He was a prisoner in the Sciencells and was released to go nuts and take out some Black Lanterns. Chaselon killed him.

Thanks now that you say that I do recall it

[Jax-Ur]

In terms of plotting, I think one of the main questions for Johns as a writer is why he chose to give Mera such a high profile role. She is a supporting character of a secondary hero. I would argue that this may hint at the story's final outcome. Will the "dead" heroes be restored? Why bother with Mera if you don't plan on using Arthur Curry in the near future?

[Corwin]

In terms of plotting, I think one of the main questions for Johns as a writer is why he chose to give Mera such a high profile role. She is a supporting character of a secondary hero.

You just crushed someone's pride in both of those characters...LOL.

This post has been edited by Corwin: 05 January 2010 - 06:43 PM

[Peter]

I love that Mera is being used. Seeing her makes me remember that Aquaman is dead and puts a "face" on the side of the story that is about those left behind. It's one thing for the friends/other superheroes to be there. But to have loved ones that don't get much face time elsewhere grounds the story even more.

[Bizarro-Me #1]

In terms of plotting, I think one of the main questions for Johns as a writer is why he chose to give Mera such a high profile role. She is a supporting character of a secondary hero. I would argue that this may hint at the story's final outcome. Will the "dead" heroes be restored? Why bother with Mera if you don't plan on using Arthur Curry in the near future?

I wouldn't be surprised if the story ends with every DC character who's died within the past 20 years or so (or at least everyone who was killed in action, as opposed to dying of old age or other natural causes) returning to life, creating a post-Crisis-like tabula rasa that would spare writers the difficulty of constantly having to figure out whether or not certain characters are currently "dead" and therefore unavailable for use.

At the very least, it seems likely that heavy hitters like Arthur and J'onn will come back. I can imagine Didio personally requesting that outcome.

[Jamie D]

I wouldn't be surprised if the story ends with every DC character who's died within the past 20 years or so (or at least everyone who was killed in action, as opposed to dying of old age or other natural causes) returning to life, creating a post-Crisis-like tabula rasa that would spare writers the difficulty of constantly having to figure out whether or not certain characters are currently "dead" and therefore unavailable for use.

At the very least, it seems likely that heavy hitters like Arthur and J'onn will come back. I can imagine Didio personally requesting that outcome.

Tabula rasa ?......idiots version please

[luckymustard]

Tabula rasa ?......idiots version please

believe me when i say this... without googling i believe it literally means "cleared table".

[rebis]

Julien just blew my mind!

I had many of the same thoughts about #6 that were expressed by the group. The issue was much like eating a meringue cookie. Very pretty and sweet, but not much substance.

I was glad that Superman didn't break the control of the Black Ring. The character has a tendancy to dominate events. This needs to remain a GL/GLC story.

I just knew that Kyle would be back the next issue. His girlfriend is a brilliant surgeon and GL. However, I didn't think that a Star Saphire would be involved. I was hoping that it would be Natu's love and will and effort that would bring Kyle back. When the SS shown up, I thought Kyle was dead for sure and Natu would become a SS. Scared me for a minute.
And, I loved Guy as a Red Lantern. He instantly goes from comedic relief to awesome hander of asses. Glad to see he's still wearing his GL ring. We can get the old Guy back.

I wasn't one that thought the Indigo Corp had ulterior motives. If I'm remembering correctly, wasn't it Indigo-1 that suggested that if the group increased the number of Lanterns they could destroy the Black Lantern? This makes no sence to me. If the first 7 Lanterns strengthen Nekron, then how much stronger will he get if you pump the energy from who knows how many rings into the
Black Lantern? I'm starting to think that the Indigo Tribe is compassionate the same way Dr. Kevorkian is compassionate.

Julian's Hall theory just gave me an idea. What if the "white" lantern is Hector Hall? He's a part of Hall lineage. A child of "love". His parents being the reincarnated lovers at the core of what was the seat of the Star Saphire's power. He cheated death by going into the Dreaming. Neckron didn't have a chance to taint him. If Necron wins and everything dies, then the Dreaming dies. They can't have that. However, The Dreaming doens't want death to loose. If life wins and nothing dies, then stagnation sets in and the Dreaming dies.

Hector Hall, one time champion of Order, undying child of immortal lovers, coming out of and empowered by the Dreaming to put things back in order so that the Dreaming continues.
just a thought.

This post has been edited by rebis: 05 January 2010 - 09:36 PM

[benjamin74]

tabula rasa = blank slate

[David D.]

Enjoying the episode so far.

I have to admit and agree that, as much as I am enjoying the ride on Blackest Night, a lot of the logic has felt pretty tenuous. I still feel like it hasn't been explained why the Black Lanterns are so hell-bent on screwing with and taking the hearts of superheroes. I mean, it is certainly an expedient way to make for stories and tie-ins, but that quantitative race to 100% seems like it would be much more easily achieved if you'd just went and got the hearts of regular beings. It seems that every heart was worth .01%, so why not go make some non-superpowered people mad or sad and get them?

And I agree with Bryan that the goal of the Blackest Lanterns seems unclear. I mean, charge at the heroes of Earth is goal enough for getting a big, cinematic story like this going, but I wouldn't mind a little more nuance here at the 6 of 8 point.

So, yes, I am still digging Blackest Night, and thanks to my buddy who usually doesn't read comics, but is buying EVERYTHING Blackest Night and lending them to me (and he's loving it all, so this event is certainly offering a lot to a lapsed 80s DC reader like him), I have had the chance to read it all so far. And it is definitely enjoyable, but I agree with Jamie and the others who are citing a lot of convenient and expedient bits of storytelling.

[jaydee74]

One of the best parts of the issue was Ganthet inducting himself into the Green Lantern Corps. I thought that was awesome. Oh, put me down as being interested in guest hosting the next issue.

[Jax-Ur]

"taula rasa" is Latin for "blank slate." Check wiki for the complete info.

I hope Adam's correct as that's been my view all along. I do hope Arthur Jr is on the comeback list. I always thought that was a big mistake in terms of story.