Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special #1
Don’t worry; considering this reviewer spent the holidays away from family and hometown friends for newer faces and families on the other side of the country, I’m still in the Christmas spirit. Hollywood midnight mass? As splendidly entertaining and joyous as it sounds. Chocolate-covered caramel pretzel sticks? As luscious as one could ever imagine. Three-thousand miles away, I was still able to strike a smiling chord to those through FedEx, and free Saturday cell phone service to the fam didn’t hurt, either.
No, my problem with DC’s perennial Christmas Special is with the very lack of giving. Announced just a few weeks ago was the new pricing on their line of books. Yet, Larfleeze fumbles few laughs and receives a mundane moral lesson which halts the issue’s pacing as fast as gifts do for a teenager. $4 for a glorified orange cookie recipe (but if they’re any good I may retract this statement), a simplified child maze, and a surprisingly funny cartoon bit starring Glomusus. Those last two “bonus” pages were the issue’s best--but not worth the extra buck.
Luckily for many of you who waited to “hear” about the issue first before buying, I waited myself to review it after Christmas. So even if it was good, I’m sure you’re over it. While morality was never Geoff Johns strongpoint, fans may be impressed with the crispy detail leveled by little known artist Brett Booth throughout Larfleeze’s sleigh ride of extreme avarice. At one point Hal criticizes Fleeze’s wishlist for yearning a hovercraft. Um, wasn’t it Hal’s desire for airplanes that helped him become Green Lantern in the first place?
“I demand restitution!”
I should too, but I won't. War of the Green Lanterns will make up for any cheesy Christmas Special I could've just caught on TNT. With the level of consistent writing Johns continues to pour month in and month out, he’s done more than his fair share of giving. Expect nothing less from the best. Happy holidays.
2.5/5