Reading down the list of issues that DC and ComiXology are selling for 99 cents as part of this weekend’s two-day Green Lantern 101 sale, something struck me: None of Gerard Jones’ 1990s GL run is available these days, is it?
For those who weren’t around at the time, Jones’ revival of the Green Lantern franchise in the early ’90s made him, in a weird way, the Geoff Johns of his day. At one point, such was his success that he was writing not only Green Lantern, but also Green Lantern: Mosaic (starring John Stewart, and still my favorite GL title), Guy Gardner and Justice League Europe/International – Like Johns’ earlier GL stories, Jones’ run dealt with the reconstruction of the Green Lantern Corps, the inscrutiability of the Guardians and what to do with multiple Green Lanterns from Earth. With the movie coming out in a few weeks and all manner of Lantern-esque promotions and reprints happening, it’s odd to see a complete lack of what had been a particularly bright point in the franchise’s history. Maybe they’re saving it up for Green Lantern 2.
May 26th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
It doesn’t surprise me that DC has skipped the Jones era of GL for now, simply put there is too much controversy and bad stories told during that era.
Which in Jones defense was mostly thanks to editorial which sabotaged his run halfway through it and it showed in the book after GL #25 the stories weren’t as good. Unlike Johns who has mostly had editorial backing behind him Jones was stopped in his tracks to reshape the GL mythology and books like he wanted to.
But I would like to at least see his earlier stories collected in some form, they were very high quality but I could do without the later part of it.
May 26th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
I still think his entire GL run was much better than Johns’ GL current Care Bears run. Too much flash, almost none character development.
And, yes, Green Lantern: Mosaic is still the best GL title ever produced. I also enjoyed immensely the GL Quarterly books.
May 26th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
I loved Mosaic, but that seems to be a book that was relegated to the back bins way back when someone at DC ordered the book canceled because he didn’t like it, despite its sales. It’s a shame, since it was such an innovative series.
Jones’ other work, however, was so-so. Lots of exposition and retrofitting, not much growth. And his take on Guy was fun for a while but got rather cartoonish.
May 28th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
His writing drove ALL FOUR BOOKS INTO THE GROUND. Jones was truly awful.
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:00 pm
The Gerard Jones-era was a new golden age for the green lantern books. It wasn’t about flash, it was about fun story-telling. Taking this expansive character history and making it accessible and relevant and yet maintaining its timelessness. There was both character development, thoughtful storytelling and satisfying action and space operatics. There was a respect and reverence for the character’s past, but also a lot of new characters and ideas. But not to the point of breaking the camel’s back–as I feel the current change-fest does. Also, there was some real humor giving it all a human touch. Jones has since proven himself to be more than just a flash in the pan comics writer, going on to success and critical acclaim in independent comics, important non-fiction works on the medium, novels and even academics as a teacher.