Another intriguing notion is explored in the Guardians' attempt to harness the power of the “First Lantern.” Who this is or what this means is a mystery, but it appears they're dead serious, even going so far as expressing the desire to harness the power of Black Hand to accomplish their means. Nasty little buggers, to be sure. Even Ganthet, who was always an advocate for Hal. To find this First Lantern, they visit some old friends that should take a lot of old school GL fans back. The Guardians journey to an ancient prison, where the remaining population of the Oan race are being kept. These Oans are not tied to the green energy in any way, it seems, as their eyes glow white and not green. Something tells me it is these Oans who will ultimately take the place of the old. However, that's just speculation on my part. At any rate, the identity of the First Lantern is something I'm eagerly waiting to find out! A giant glowing green 10/10 from me! Read Full Review

Next month's Green Lantern #0 focuses on new GL, Baz. Up until now, I'd been confused as to how DC was going to shoehorn a new Green Lantern into the mythos, but after reader Green Lantern Annual #1, things are starting to make a lot more sense. Already, some have criticized this issue - and Johns' direction with the GLU in general - for being a rehash of previously tread ground. To that, I say what isn't? This year's amazing "Court of Owls" is based on any secret society trope, but that doesn't mean it can't be interesting and fresh. "Rise of the Third Army" promises to be a huge (if not long) event that will change the landscape of the Green Lantern books and the DCU at-large for a long time to come. Read Full Review

This annual delivered in spades and will satisfy any Green Lantern fanboy out there. Make sure you get this one, as its required reading that kicks off the Third Army event in a big way. Read Full Review

Overall, its a good book. It might be a bit pricey but its all worth it especially in preparation for “The Rise of the Third Army”. Read Full Review

Did you notice the cover? Yes, someone dies in the book. While we all know what to expect from comic book deaths, this one makes the story more intriguing on multiple levels. Read Full Review

This book is a fun read. I found the setup for the coming crossover to be intriguing while the action and plot within the issue to be entertaining. I have to admit I wasn't a fan of the fact that I wasn't pointed towards what to read next. Instead, DC simply showed the four books (and four issues for each) that this event launches into. That's not exactly a straightforward direction as to what comes next. Despite that oddity, this is a great comic and I have high hopes for the comic storyline. I definitely recommend checking this out. Read Full Review

It's the "Rise of the Third Army" this month as Geoff Johns continues to demonstrate how to do an event within the DCU, New 52 or any other U for that matter. Essential reading for readers of any Lantern book, this issue will have ramifications across the entire Lantern line, and perhaps even the second year of the Newish 52. Read Full Review

We'll have to wait to see if this is another "Sinestro War" - or something far less. Read Full Review

A reminder that the Green Lantern universe remains a bedrock for DC, that its biggest stories have yet to be told. An impressive use of the annual format to launch what is bound to be the splashiest Event of the year from the new DC. Read Full Review

Although I feel this should have been a stand-alone issue (as an annual) and not a tie-in to everything else in the GLU, which you really need to read to understand everything else going on in this book, I was incredibly satisfied with this issue. So much happens here and I loved every second of it. There's some great moments with the Guardians of the Universe and the Guardians of the Chamber of Shadows, and also with Black Hand facing off against Hal and Sinestro. We get some cool new concepts in this issue and a great set-up for the next story line. The only other part I didn't like was that at times, members of the Third Army looked a bit dopey. Read Full Review

The Guardians have been ranting about their scheme for a while now, so for everything to come to a head without a final piece of convincing motivation, this event has me cautiously optimistic. Although, given Johns' track record, he definitely gets the benefit of the doubt. Read Full Review

The art for this issue was, as always, amazing. I love the different colors they use for Green Lantern. They always use the different colors of the different corps perfectly. It makes each page bright and exciting.If you have been reading Green Lantern you will really enjoy this issue. But if you haven't been reading this series than this is not a good jumping on point. This story has been developing since War of Green Lantern. So, if you haven't been reading the series since than you may be a little confused especially with the Guardians. This was a great issue for Green Lantern fans, and a must read. Read Full Review

As summer winds down, Johns and Van Sciver come through with a summer reading comic. This is a story filled with crazy ideas, comic book violence and fan favorite characters and concepts. This is the type of story best read from a hammock or on the lawn and enjoyed for what it is: loud, fun summertime reading. Read Full Review

If you're a fan of the Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, or Sinestro, you will want to read this issue. Read Full Review

Speaking of art, Johns' collaborator on the event that restarted all of this, Green Lantern: Rebirth, Ethan Van Sciver, returns to draw this annual and it is glorious to behold. His art is crisp, clear, inventive, and in some cases downright creepy. There are a few moments as I mentioned earlier where it's a little difficult to work out exactly what's going on, but this is more due to the panel choices than the art itself.The extra pages in this Green Lantern Annual mean that this book is about twice as good as usual. Despite a few pacing and panelling problems, the issue is well worth picking up, even if you've not been a fan of the Green Lantern universe so far " this is a springboard for everything that's going on in all of the Lantern titles over the next few months, and you owe it to yourself to check it out. Read Full Review

This story isnt without its faults. We finally get to meet the first lantern that has been teased for months, but we dont get to actually SEE him. I was also disappointed with the way the Guardians create their foot soldiers for the Third Army. I wont spoil it except to say it feels like something we have already seen before. Johns has been building to this point for a year now and there seems to be great potential for an epic story to unfold in the coming months. The Third Army is primed to give the Green Lantern universe a hell of a lot of trouble, and with the Guardians working against their own Corps. it will be interesting to see how Hal and the gang get out of this one. I just hope Geoff Johns and take the momentum this issue brings and carry it through to the end. If he can, the next few months are going to be very exciting for Green Lantern fans. Read Full Review

A mixed bag. I loved everything but the Guardians' portion of the book. They're the crux of theentire issue. My fingers are crossed that the story improves. Read Full Review

This issue is a preview to what we can expect for the Lantern family for the next 4 months, so if you dont want to be lost you either need to read this article many more times or pick up the issue itself. Or both why choose? Read Full Review

This comic served its purpose well; as the nominal prologue to the Rise of the Third Army, it got me very excited to see where the crossover goes. I like how DC is handling their crossovers so far in The New 52 with family titles crossing, as it largely seems organic given the content of the books. The writing in Green Lantern Annual #1 was good, although there were some clunky moments necessary for exposition to new readers.The art in the first story was great, but I wish van Sciver could have done the second part of the story as well. Overall Green Lantern Annual #1 earns 4 out of 5 stars, and hopefully the rest of the event will be executed as well as this issue! Read Full Review

Back on earth, Hal is beating Black Hand, which Eric Van Sciver depicts nicely. The whole battle sequence was pretty good. Eric has done a very good job with the explosions in this issue. For beings who are supposed to be purged of all emotion, they sure are pretty angry. They want to create a third army after destroying all the other lanterns. The guardians have some good reason for creating a third army. This issue had made me more excited for October. Read Full Review

Storytelling problems aside, this is an essential issue for fans of what Johns has been doing with “Green Lantern” and the perfect place for curious beginners to start. Best of all, it's another New 52 Annual that commits itself to giving the reader the extra bang for that $4.99, twice the size of a regular $2.99 DC comic book and absolutely no skimping on the talent or content. It may not fully succeed in its storytelling, but it's hard to argue against the value. Read Full Review

That's the problem with Justice League in a nutshell, and it's further illustrated by Superman and Wonder Woman's kiss. Much has been said about this relationship over the past couple of weeks in the comics sphere. Really, I have no problem with it as an idea, or the idea that this iteration of Superman can date around a bit (there are stories there, after all) before setting his sights on Lois Lane, or any of that. The problem that I have with it is context. It comes out of nowhere, just like pretty much every single moment in Justice League. It puts the lie to the idea of a "grand plan," that's in place. We're swimming in a sea of half baked ideas predicated on a certain vision of what DC Comics "should" be, and narrative comes second to fulfilling the dictates of that "should." It stinks. Read Full Review

That said, with the book looking this good, you're more inclined to dig the character moments " in particular, the cliffhanger that seems to lead to the next Green Lantern, an Arab-American character named Baz " that you'll tolerate the more self-indulgent overarching story with the First Lantern and the Third Army. More pages means something for everyone, and that breathing room makes Green Lantern Annual #1 a solid read. Read Full Review

Unfortunately, the Sinestro/Hal plot isn't allowed to resolve on its own, and in order to follow this comic book, one is really required to be well versed in the past few years of GL continuity (notably, Blackest Night and the ethical deterioration of the Guardian of the Universe in its wake). Read Full Review

The title "Rise Of The T,hird Army" would be better suited paying homage to the Beastie Boys album and calling itself Some Old Bullshit. Read Full Review

The Third Army itself, a zombie-like Borg race that assimilates and converts others into its ranks, doesn't really interest me. And removing my favorite GL (and Sinestro, whose arc back in the Corps has been pretty good) before the real battle even starts sure doesn't instill me with much confidence. Hit-and-Miss. Read Full Review