With the slow build up I was bitching about last week, Charles Soule certainly told me to suck with this issue.  Goddamn was this a punch you in the face, help you up and dust you off and then give you some speed issue.  Yeah that's a thing.  With all the ups and downs that Soule presents you with in this issue, by the end you'll be dizzy about what the hell just happened and wondering did I really just read that.  So damn good that I'm still reeling from the amount of call backs that were presented here, that wraps Soule's entire run up in a nice little bow.  If you read one title this week, this has to be it.  DO IT! Read Full Review

Red Lanterns Annual #1 was a fun read. Atrocitus really shows that he has what it takes as great a villain as Doctor Doom, Joker and Magento. Although I do wish that the search for the new Red Lanterns was a bit longer. This is a must read for readers of Red Lanterns for the continuation of the story. Read Full Review

So yes, a two-front war was waged with a series of action sequences. But it was the small moments in this book, adding depth to the characters and their relationships, that made this book a winner. Solid work by Charles Soule. But with characters changing affiliation and dying as well as a crowd of new Reds, who knows what the Red Lanterns book will look like after this arc? Read Full Review

Charles Soule has been building to a battle between the Red Lanterns of old and new since his takeover of the title and while this issue may be as explosive as an epic finale tends to be, this is only the penultimate chapter of "Atrocities." This issue is full of bloody excitement and heart-wrenching action and while it's a great deal of fun, it merely sets the stage for the ultimate confrontation between Guy and Atrocitus. Read Full Review

Adopting Guy Gardner as its new lead and teaming up with Supergirl has made Red Lanterns one of the sleeper successes of DC's publishing lineup these days, and Red Lantern Annual #1 is an extra-sized battle royale between Guy Gardner and his evil predecessor Atrocitus. Read Full Review

Power ring emblems aside, Red Lanterns Annual #1 is a powerful book, serving as the penultimate chapter for a story that we will have to wait another month to see resolved.  Red Lanterns has become a fan favorite book under the direction of Charles Soule and I'm glad he was given the opportunity to use the extra page count to deliver a great story that a lot of readers are going to talk about for a while.  Four out of five lanterns. Read Full Review

This issue is one big, insane series of fights, but Soule has done such a great job getting us invested in these characters, that I actually care about how all of this is going to go down. Sepulveda does an OK job trying to keep up, but he was clearly rushed in every aspect of this story. The art is great in places and hideous in other places. This is a big, wonderful mess of a comic, with just enough character attachment to keep me on board. Read Full Review

I liked this issue overall but I was also disappointed that the potential Red stories were cast aside in favor of a quick pay-off. I think the longform style of the issue actually benefits it and allows the pace and drama to develop organically, but theres so much that feels like it was skimmed over. My feelings on this series are well-known, but the problem with setting a high bar is the continuous need to clear it and in this way the issue falters. Im still looking forward to seeing where the finale goes and Id still recommend any fans pick this issue up as it does a good job of continuing the storyline. Read Full Review

Buy this comic if you like ultimate destruction, guest stars, and sweet spaceships. Read Full Review

Poor Zox, I'll miss him.

Everything comes to a head here. This is a grand installment to the Red Lanterns story. It's exciting, bombastic and the art is glorious. One question, have the Reds always been able to just grab the ring off of a defeated enemy and slip it on to prevent it finding a new host?

Charles Soule has quietly crafted a narrative that makes a very unexpected character the focus of a great ongoing gag and the most emotional moment of this issue. Soule's run has given people that wanted to like a Red Lanterns book many reasons to like it.

The finale to this story should be great, and there are several moments in this issue that increase the anticipation to read what comes next. Sepulveda's art is good to see again as well. I'd definitely recommend this book!

(It would have been an 8, but it got the extra .5 for having Batman yet refraining from making The Dark Knight any part of marketing this book)

The battle begins between Guy Gardner & Atrocitus and there are causulties. This is a good issue with excellent artwork. It's not an issue for new readers to jump in.

Too many things that don't make sense. Why didn't Supergirl fly to other side of earth to stop Atrocitus since we knew he was doing that? Where are the other heroes besides Batman? So many ancient things shown being destroyed? How did Zox instantly know Rankorr was faking?