Green Lantern (vol.3) #138 (2001)

Green Lantern (vol.3) #138 (July, 2001)
"Away From Home, Part One"
Writer - Judd Winick
Pencils - Dale Eaglesham
Inks - Rodney Ramos
Colors & Separations - Moose Baumann
Letters - Chris Eliopoulos
Associate Editor - Michael Wright
Editor - Bob Schreck
Cover Price: $2.25

Had such a good time checking out a Kyle story yesterday... I figured why not go ahead and read the next issue?  Also, I'm still getting over being sick, and don't feel up to slinging longboxes looking for something else to discuss quite yet!

Let's hear it for accessibility!

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We open with Kyle getting a call from Martian Manhunter about acting as an Ambassador for an off-planet peace treaty ceremony.  This is a pretty funny little scene.  Ya see, initially the Tendaxians called looking for Hal Jordan, who as we know, is... unavailable.  Then, they wanted Superman... or J'onn himself... and it goes on and on until Kyle asks for his feelings to be spared.  Kyle agrees to oversee the signing... so long as he can bring his girlfriend along for the trip.

J'onn gives him the thumbs up, and so Kyle goes about putting himself ahead of schedule so he can afford to spend a week off-planet.  It's here that we learn that Terry Berg has, come to accept his homosexuality, and is even taking part at a local youth center.

From here, we spend... probably more pages than we need to, watching Kyle and Jen fly to Tendax.  They share like the sitcommiest banter... it's almost like they know we're reading.  You ever around "those" kinda people?  The ones who won't stop "putting on a show" around perfect strangers?  It's like they're hoping we're all thinking "Wow, they must have a super-nutty home life!", when we're all really thinking "I wish these #@%@#$ would just shut up and go away!"  Yeah, it's like that.

Anyhoo, they eventually arrive on Tendax, and we're given the quick 'n dirty on them... and, I'm not the most knowledgeable on affairs of the Middle East, but it feels like a loose-ish analogy to the situation between Israel and Palestine.

Kyle and Jade are then introduced to Minister Illus, the elected leader of Tendax... who is extremely pleased to see, not one, but two Green Lanterns.  Jade quickly corrects... confuses... and probably annoys him (I know it annoyed me!).  C'mon Jade, just stop.

The treaty ceremony isn't for a little while, and so our visiting Lanterns decide to take in some of the sights.  First stop, the "water side", because Tendax doesn't have a word for beach.  Jade pops her top and tries to soak up as much Sun as possible.  Kyle ain't keen on her "hanging out", so he tries to cover up her baubles.

Later that night, they attend a celebratory dinner in anticipation of the treaty ceremony.  Everyone is in the best of spirits, they all eat some vegetable lasagna (blech)... and Kyle plays some Rock'em Sock'em robots with a kid.  You do see where all this is going, right?

While Kyle is busy being a big kid, Jade chats up Minister Illus.  We learn a bit more about his role in the "unfortunateness".  Ya see, he was a terrorist in his own right before realizing that there had to be a better way to protect his people.  He seems very regretful... though hopeful that everything will eventually work out in the end.  You... do see where this is headed, no?

The next day... the ceremony begins.  It's such a gala event, Kyle compares it to a Royal Wedding.  People are dancing in the streets... there's music... lotsa pomp 'n circumstance!

Then... boom.

Terrorists had blown up a school transport train killing 43 children.  An additional 116 people were killed in the blast, with over 400 more injured.  Kyle and Jade hop to, and try and do whatever they can to aid the Tendaxians... but for many of them, it's already too late.

We wrap up with Kyle and Jade approaching Minister Illus... and offering their services in this conflict.

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Well, this was pretty heavy, huh?

Not that we didn't see it ending this way, right?  I mean, it is a "Part One"... which, nothing to do with this story in particular, is something that kind of annoys me straightaway.  Let's tangent for a bit...

When you buy a book with called "STORY, Part One", we're kinda trained to expect a twist/cliffhanger ending... which, to me, kinda lessens the impact of that twist/cliffhanger.  Just yesterday we read a "one and done" issue... if this issue didn't have a "Part One" in the title... we might've been expecting another, with a focus on the Kyle/Jen relationship and a backdrop of an off-planet peace summit.  Then, the "boom" might've had more of an impact.  Instead, I was just waiting for it to happen.  Not that I haven't read this story before, but it has been nearing on (Oh Lord) twenty years.

On another note, not naming each individual chapter feels kinda lazy to me.  All these "Part 1"s or "2 of 6"s just feel like a cop-out when every issue used to come with a different title.  I guess I should be happy the arc got a name... so often anymore, they don't even name the arc until the trade is solicited!

Okay, nit-picky tangent over... probably.

For the issue itself... it was fine.  The Kyle and Jen relationship, which I do remember fondly... kind of grated on me a bit here.  They feel like that "circus couple" that gets invited to game night.  It's like, as soon as they arrive the "show" begins, and you question why you even bothered to invite them.  It's like the "You're Schmoopy" episode of Seinfeld.  What I'm trying to say is... they're a bit much.

The Terry Berg story gets a requisite mention... we find out that he's going to be okay, which is fair enough.

I think my favorite bit here was the opening pages, where J'onn is running down all the names the Tendaxians actually wanted, before Kyle basically came out and asked him to stop busting his chops.  That was cute.

Overall, not a bad issue by any stretch, but one with a somewhat telegraphed ending... and one that laid it on a bit too heavy with the cutesy couple banter.  This issue is available digitally.

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Green Lantern (vol.3) #137 (2001)

Green Lantern (vol.3) #137 (June, 2001)
"The Bonds of Friends and Lovers"
Writer - Judd Winick
Pencils - Darryl Banks
Inks - Rick Faber
Colors - Moose Baumann
Letters - Chris Eliopoulos
Associate Editor - Michael Wright
Editor - Bob Schreck
Cover Price: $2.25

Uh-oh, it looks like somebody wants to end the romantic entanglement between Kyle and Jade.  I wonder what sort of monster that could be tearing up that photo?!

Ready to find out...

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We pick up where we left off last issue... which we haven't covered here, but stands to reason it would've been the cliffhanger... where Kyle has just proposed marriage to Jade!  She is taken aback, then hugs him... kisses him... and turns him down!  She calls him a stupid, stupid man, and tells him he's probably jumping the gun a little bit.  Ya see, they finally got this whole relationship "thing" right, and she figures the worst thing they can possibly do is "push" it.  Annnnd, she's probably right.

She clarifies that this isn't an outright rejection of marrying Kyle... it's more of a "not yet", which I suppose softens the blow... at least a little bit.  She still wants the (Power) Ring though!  Ya see, he was proposing with a Green Lantern Ring that had been in Batman's possession for a little while now.

He sheepishly hands it over, and the first thing she does is whip up a construct wedding dress.  Real jerk move there, Jen.

We jump ahead to later that day, Kyle's at work when his assistant Terry Berg pops in with some coffees.  T-Berg sees that Kyle's a bit out of sorts and asks him what's up... Kyle tells him about his proposal attempt to the green gal, and Terry doesn't really react all that well to the idea.  He actually throws a little tantrum.

He even goes so far as to refer to Jennie as a "green-skinned freak".  I'm not sure if that racist or speciest (is "speciest" a thing?).  I mean, she's human, right?  Just that her skin is full'a chlorophyll... which, I guess wouldn't make her a different race, necessarily.  Uh, I'm not sure I'm supposed to be talking about this.  Anyhoo, we'll just let T-Berg say it.

Terry apologizes, and clarifies that he's not mad at her... he just doesn't want Kyle to be with her... because, well... you know.

Shortly after Terry storms out, Kyle is joined by his Art Director, Andre Whatshisface.  Kyle (who is depicted as wearing his Green Lantern ring like all the time) tells Andre what just happened between he and Terry.  He believes that the kid might've just "come out" to him.  Now, here's where it gets a bit funny.  Kyle asks Andre how he handled "coming out".

To which, Andre comes out to him... as a straight man!  It's actually funnier than I'm making it sound... one of the rare times Winick managed to get a chuckle out of me.  Andre then flips the script, asking Kyle what he thinks people picture when they imagine an unmarried artist living in Greenwich Village.

Back at the homestead, Jennie razzes Kyle about being an offensive dipwad.  Another cute scene, that gets a smile.  I tell ya what, when Winick's on, he's really on.  Banks' facials here are spot-on as well.

But then, out comes the soap-box.  Kyle wonders aloud how he should handle the Terry situation.  His mind immediately goes to "the kid should speak to a therapist".  C'mon, Kyle... you don't make a good strawman.

Jennie lights into Kyle, and tells him that what Terry needs isn't a therapist, but a friend.  She insists Kyle talk this out with him... and so, next thing we know, Kyle is at the Berg residence in Maplewood, New Jersey.  Upon entering Terry's room... it's, uh... stereotypical.  There's a "Hunks" poster, as well as a Bette Midler one.  There's an rock poster behind him obscured by a word balloon which, we'll eventually... thankfully learn reads "Ferrets".

Kyle sits down and asks Terry if earlier that day he was trying to tell him that he's gay.  Terry says he isn't sure what he is.  All we know so far is he's just an ordinary teen-age Bette Midler fan.

Kyle then starts talking as though he were the "mentor" figure in a Public Service Announcement.  He ensures Terry that there's nothing wrong with him, and empathizes with how confusing this all must be.  He also tells him that he'll always be around to talk if he needs him.  Oh yeah, and that he's flattered...

... but that he's with someone.  Terry cuts through the B.S. and reminds Kyle that, not only is he attached... he's also, ya know, not gay.  Kyle volleys back with the fact that Terry's only 16... and the last thing Kyle needs is to be invited to "take a seat".  Note that he's not leading with the whole "not gay" thing.  More on my thoughts on that down below.

Kyle then rubs salt in the wound by asking if he can have a hug.  Seems like one of those "least I can do" motions that a rejector offers to a rejectee... not that *cough* I'd know anything about that... ahem.

We wrap up with Kyle and Terry sitting down and wrapping up their conversation.  Kyle tells Terry how brave he is by coming out.

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This was a lot of fun.  I feel like I'm saying that a lot.  "This was a lot of fun"... say it so much, it almost feels meaningless.  Well, I hope it doesn't sound meaningless, because I'm bein' sinceeyuh ova heeyuh.

Let's jump right to the crux of this issue, Terry Berg coming out to Kyle.  I give Winick a lot of guff for some of his less-than-subtle writing... but, I really feel like this was handled about as well as I'd have liked.  Let's go to the initial argument.  Terry's a sixteen year old boy, who is dealing with his sexuality, and who happens to sorta-kinda but definitely be crushing on his boss.  A boss who can't seem to shut up about his knockout girlfriend.

Stands to reason that Terry might lose his cool and lash out.  It also stands to reason that Terry might not be as forthcoming with his emotions... disguising jealousy with anger, and disappointment with rage.  We can see that in his lashing out, he appears to regret the things he says just as soon as they leave his lips.  The "green-skinned freak" comment especially.  The kid's confused and angry... and isn't sure how to properly express it.  He isn't sure if he's even allowed to express it.  I really feel like this might have been the perfect scene for depict this situation.

From there... Winick pulls back the tension, and gives us a legit "laugh/chuckle out loud" moment between Kyle and Andre.  I hate using such a trite statement as "roller coaster of emotions", but the juxtaposition here is just so well done.  Kyle's basically an emotionally punch-drunk rope-a-dope here... and he's unwittingly insulting everyone around him.  I think many of us have been in that situation a time or two before... recreational beverages optional.

The soap-box does come out... but in a far more subtle way than it would had this issue come out during "current year".  Kyle doesn't make the best strawman here.  He really doesn't.  Since Winick himself alluded to the stereotype of the "unmarried artist living in the village", I feel like it's okay for us to use it too.  Now, being as though Kyle is an "unmarried artist living in the village", it stands to reason that he's (using Winick's own stereotype via Andre) been around plenty of gay men and women of varying ages.  You'd assume he'd be comfortable with that, and not call for a visit to the therapist straight out the gate... right?  This bit seemed to have been written just to facilitate Jade's speech... and doesn't do Kyle any favors.

I get that Kyle's being written as the good-looking guy who's oblivious to the fact that he's good-looking... but, that's a trait that can only be "charming" for so long.  I mean, within months of making his debut, he had Donna Troy and Jade fighting over him.  Dude should know by now that he's "in demand".  His obliviousness only comes off as his being aloof at this point.  Aloof... or extremely stupid.

Kyle's chat with Terry to close out the issue was well done, though perhaps a bit too "after school special-y".  I did take note of Kyle's glossing over the fact that he's not gay... which, back in 2001 sounds like he's just doing his best to let Terry down gently.  Discussing the other reasons why they can't be together, to make the orientation of the situation the least of those factors.  To my mind, he's doing what he can for Terry not to feel different.  I feel like in 2019, this scene would be all over social media as Kyle officially "coming out" as bisexual... because, we just don't do subtlety anymore.

Overall... this was a really fun issue, that tackled a serious issue about as well as I've ever seen it handled.  It wasn't done for shock, it wasn't done to bait USA Today into slumming it in the comics ghetto for a hot-minute... then again, last I looked, this isn't a Marvel book.  I feel this was done with an earnestness... this is clearly a very important subject to the writer, and I gotta say, he handled it with grace, class and most importantly, the respect it deserves.  I highly recommend checking it out... it is available digitally.

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Green Lantern (vol.3) #67 (1995)

Green Lantern (vol.3) #67 (October, 1995)
"Fast Friends? Part Two"
Writer - Ron Marz
Pencils - Paul Pelletier
Inks - Romeo Tanghal
Colors - Patricia Mulvihill
Letters - Albert DeGuzman
Associate Editor - Eddie Berganza
Editor - Kevin Dooley
Cover Price: $1.75

Going to wrap up the two-part "Fast Friends?" story from the early years of Kyle Rayner's turn as the main (and only) ring-slinger in the DCU.

I'll throw this one up over on the Collected Editions page for easy (chronological) reading!

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We pick up right where we left off last issue.  Wally has arrived in New York City... and asks the inexperienced Kyle to step aside while "someone who knows what they're doing" takes over.  As you may imagine, Kyle ain't quite feeling that.  All the while, poor Sonar is being completely ignored... and so, he lashes out!

Kyle manages to construct an emerald mattress of sorts for Wally to land safely on... but doesn't even get a "thank you" for the gesture!  Sonar turns his attention to the gathered New York City Police Officers, however, before he can do any permanent damage, Wally swoops in for the save.

No matter though, Sonar zaps the Flash with a sonic ray (which looks pretty adorable emanating from his index finger) which causes him to lose all equilibrium!

With Wally down and out, Kyle pops in and traps the baddie within a construct ball... which holds him just long enough for he and Wally to exchange a few more barbs.

Now freed, Sonar figures "screw it" and blasts both the ground below the heroes and a high-rise building causing all the windows to shatter (I guess dude's ambidextrous!).  Kyle is forced to construct a giant turtle beast to shield Wally from the razor-sharp shards.  This finally merits a begrudging "thanks" from the Speedster.

While Sonar crafts himself a throne of twisted metal, we shift scenes to the Statue of Liberty, and rejoin the legless fella from last issue.  With his new emerald-construct legs, he plans on climbing to the top of Lady Liberty for the first time.  As he makes the trudge, he catches his hand on a piece of rusted metal, which draws blood.  This causes him to lose his train of thought... and with it, his legs!  Luckily another visitor was right behind him, and caught him before he took a major tumble.  By now, dude looks positively twisted... and I still, for the life of me, can't remember how this ends up!

Back on the streets, Green Lantern and the Flash take turns trying to take down Sonar... neither are very successful.  It isn't until Kyle dismissively tells Wally to "go break the sound barrier" (in the vein of "go take a flyin' leap" that it clicks.  These two are going to have to work together to take Sonar out.

And so, they do just that!  Wally rushes Sonar, grabs him by the collar... and breaks the sound barrier, rendering his sound-based powers rather moot!  While he's outta commission (powers-wise), Kyle wallops him with a construct mitt.

By the time the dust settles, the heroes are well into Upstate New York... and Sonar has been captured in a construct tomb.  Wally tells Kyle to get Sonar over to the Slab, and they'll take care of the rest.

From here, the two have sort of a heart-to-heart.  Wally reveals to Kyle that there's sort of a tradition between their respective "flag bearers".  Flashes and Green Lanterns have a habit of teaming up... going all the way back to the Golden Age (though Wally only mentions Barry and Hal here)!

He continues, and even suggests that maybe somewhere down the line the get together just to hang out.  Kyle's pretty receptive to the idea, and it seems like these two might be on their way to becoming (maybe-not-so) Fast Friends...

... however, they do part company certain that they were the "stronger half" of this team-up!

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Okay, we have a little bit to unpack here.  Pretty standard superhero "can you top this" sort of story, which ends as they all do... with the heroes realizing they're going to have to work together.  Fair enough... nothing we haven't seen before.

Though, with these two, there's a bit more of a novelty to it.  This is really the first outing I can think of featuring two legacy heroes.  I'm wracking my brain trying to think of another, but I'm coming up empty.  I know Kyle hasn't met the new Green Arrow yet... maybe Wally's teamed up with him though.  Dunno.  Either way, that wouldn't have quite the "cache" of the next generation of Flash and Lantern teaming up.

Wally acts like kind of a jerk here... but, I can excuse it.  It wasn't so long ago people weren't quite sure whether or not he should be Barry's successor.  Hell, that's not even limited to inside the comic!  Marv Wolfman had actually created a character he wanted to replace Barry with!  Meet Mackenzie Ryan!

From The Flash Companion (2008, TwoMorrows Publishing)

... and, from Marv's mouth (he doesn't remember all that much)...

From The Flash Companion (2008, TwoMorrows Publishing)

So, yeah... no wonder Wally has a little bit of a complex, eh?  Okay, all joking aside... Wally wasn't immediately accepted by the superhero community.  Sure, he got the "intellectual rights" (the costume and name), but it took him awhile to grow into it... and get the respect and approval of his peers.  I'm thinking with Kyle, maybe it's a situation where he can "smell his own".

Or, maybe it's just that it's the first time where he gets to pull the "veteran card" on a rookie?  Either way, it worked for me.

There's that one cutaway to the man with the construct legs at the Statue of Liberty... and man, it's driving me nuts that I can't remember anything about this!  I feel kinda foolish for suggesting it could've been a long brewing deal with Kyle handing off his powers bit by bit, when it was actually dealt with in the very next issue!  Whatever the case, I'm pretty intrigued!

Overall, an important little two-parter wherein a pair of legacy characters sorta-kinda come together to continue the tradition of Flash and Lantern team-ups.  They're off to a rocky start, for sure, however that's just another reminder that these ain't your daddy's superheroes (give it a decade though).  This issue is available digitally.

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