New Guardians

I've mentioned before that I've started reading comics again. I've always been a big fan of of Green Lantern and the related books. In the New 52 from DC, I picked up all the Green Lantern Titles in hope of renewing my fondness for this suite of characters. When I saw that they were doing a New Guardians book, I squee'd a little. I can remember the first time that the idea of New Guardians cropped up in comics during my reading them. It was a Guardian and a Zammoran had decided to come to earth to create the next generation of immortals to shepherd the universe into a new age. In the end, the series was a disappointment. It broke ground by having a character that had aids, but it never lived up to the hype of creating a new set of guardians. The characters were relegated to a few appearances then discarded.

I am intrigued with the idea of trying to start up another set of guardians in this modern era. I've mentioned before that I'm tired of the Guardians as a plot device. Their over-weening arrogance coupled with their near omnipotence is tiresome. From the Blackest Night to the current Green Lantern story line, the guardians are more of a crutch than a useful set of characters. I wince when they are alone in a panel, knowing that some pedantic pronouncement will soon follow. So, I picked up this book with great expectations.

The book opens with the story of Kyle Rayner receiving his ring from Ganthet, the only interesting Guardian. I had stopped reading Green Lantern before Kyle had received his ring, so getting a glimpse of how he got his start in the corp was entertaining. I especially appreciated being shown that he was a natural with the ring. Tony Bedard spends some time showing us how active and involved Kyle is as a Lantern, and then cuts to scenes of other colored rings abandoning their wielders and heading out. What ensues is the arrival of all the lone rings at Kyle's location and a battle royal between he and the other Corp members hunting their errant rings. In an attempt to make some sense of what is going on, Kyle and the other Lanterns head to Oa to find some answers. Here, Kyle discovers Ganthet has been lobotomized by his fellow guardians and comes under attack by his own superiors. The individual rings place themselves on Kyle as the cliffhanger ending of issue three. I am enjoying the story line as the idea of one person wielding all the rings is something I would like to see. It just highlights my reasons for hating the guardians which is another plus in my book. The art is crisp, clean, and very well done. It is an all around good book.

So far, I'm on board. I have never read a Kyle Rayner story and he is a very interesting character. The mystery of the rings leaving their wielders and choosing Kyle is an interesting plot that I would like too see completed. I am waiting for some hint as to why the title is New Guardians, and hope that it involves the loss of several more guardians if not their total elimination.

I have my fingers crossed.