Book review: The story behind the Green Lantern

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Green Lantern is part of the Justice League since its inception but he hasn’t been discussed as much as the rest of the JL members. He has all the powers to classify him as a complete superhero, yet people see him in a supporting role for no specific reason.

Green Lantern — An Origin Story tells you all there is to know about this JL founding member who has always lent a helping hand when his friends are in trouble.

Hal Jordan is the most popular of all Green Lanterns, but not many know how he was selected for the job. He is neither an alien, like Superman, nor a royalty like Wonder Woman. According to this book, he was selected because of his human qualities that were the exact requirements to enlist as a member of the Green Lantern Corps. He was at the right place at the right time when Abin Sur tracked him and gave him the all-powerful ring and the green lantern so that he can save the world after he (Abin Sur) is gone.

What makes Green Lantern special? The ring that his predecessor Abin Sur handed to him gives him the power to use his willpower to create anything, shields him from harm and enables him to fly. Readers will also get to know how Green Lantern fared in his first adventure that included him saving the lives of many on his very first day as a superhero. Luciano Vecchio’s brilliant illustrations and Matthew K Manning’s text explain it in the easiest possible manner.

This book is ideal for youngsters who detest reading long text in small fonts; the large font and to-the-point narrative will not bore anyone, be it an eight-year-old or an eighty-eight-year-old. The glossary section will tell you the meanings of many words that you might come across in the book, whereas the ‘Everything to Know About Green Lantern’ will help you understand the superhero better. In the end, there is the ‘Discussion Questions’ section which will test your grey cells to come up with solutions that would have helped Green Lantern in completing his task in a better manner.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 4th, 2017

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