IDW Publishing/DC Comics 2015
Written by Mike Johnson
Illustrated by Angel Hernandez
Coloured by Alejandro Sanchez
While exploring a rogue planet in uncharted space, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise discovered the skeleton of an unknown alien being in possession of six strange rings. Convinced the rings were energy conduits of some kind, Scotty exposed them to a tachyon field that activated their power and sent them scattering throughout the ship and beyond. Four rings - yellow, blue, violet and indigo - have chosen new bearers. Two - red and orange - have disappeared. Now, just as the Enterprise faces off with a Klingon Bird-of Prey, a new ring-wielder arrives... bathed in GREEN LIGHT.
What a great way to start the second issue hot on the heels of the first with Green Lantern keeping the Enterprise moving while the yellow ring’s new bearer finds out just what he is capable of doing. Of course on board the Enterprise Uhura and Chekov are on the bridge with their new rings as well only it’s Uhura whose kind of freaking out about the experience while Chekov manages to get his own feelings and newfound power under control rather quickly.
Okay the characterization and dialogue here is phenomenal and not surprising since Mike’s been writing the Enterprises adventures and knows them extremely well. Still with the mix of the rings involved it’s even crazier to see them react like they are become something a tad more than they dreamed they ever could be.
I have to say it’s interesting to see which races get which rings and the red choosing one i’m not familiar with was a different touch while the yellow going to a Klingon makes sense and the orange well that one going to whom it did was also an interesting choice. The Federation doesn’t have a wide array of villains or races who at this time wish them destroyed but choosing who got what colour ring well I’d like to shake his hand. While we really only get to see the damage General Chang brings to the Klingon homeworld and the surprise guest that brings with it I certainly now more than ever look forward to seeing how the other two use their new power where they are at.
I’m kind of surprised though from the dialogue I would’ve guessed the red and orange should have been switched but I have faith we’ll see it all play like it’s supposed to. Gosh this is how to bring the Green Lantern world crashing into the Starfleet Universe!
The interior artwork is rather phenomenal too as we see the difference in body types the two universes have expertly shown on page twenty. The creativity of fusing the rings and the Starfleet uniforms was clever. Alejandro has done some exceptional work showing the rings use of power through it’s vibrant colour. The blending of the two universes in this incredible high end almost animated style is perfect for this series.
I thought Legion crossover was great then came the Planet of the Apes which raised the bar even more but now with only two issues out it seems like each crossover is doing it’s best to be better than one the before and the level of talent to pull that off is astonishing.