by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
In Brightest Day, in Blackest Night, no Green Lantern: The Animated Series on Blu-ray shall escape my sight!
All will be well, because Green Lantern: The Animated Series has come to Blu-ray in a new complete series collection thanks to our friends at Warner Archive! Now fans can relive the complete 26 episode run of the first ever Bruce Timm CGI show in stunning 1080p resolution. The series focuses on Hal Jordan (Josh Keaton, The Spectacular Spider-Man), Green Lantern of Sector 2814, who must embark on a mission to save the universe from the impending threat of the Red Lanterns and the Manhunters! Joined by his close friend Kilowog (Kevin Michael Richardson, Transformers: Prime), the computer A.I. known as Aya (Grey DeLisle, Batman: The Brave and the Bold), and a disgruntled Red Lantern known as Razer (Jason Spisak, Young Justice), Hal must stop the evil of Atrocitus once and for all! Heavily inspired by the recent comics run by writer Geoff Johns, Green Lantern: The Animated Series is a must for comics and animation fans!
Episode Highlights:
“Beware My Power” – (Parts 1-2) – Viewers are introduced to Test Fighter Pilot Hal Jordan, who also happens to be the intergalactic hero known as Green Lantern. When fellow Lanterns go missing in the furthest reaches of space, Hal takes it upon himself to investigate. Using the newest Guardian creation known as “The Interceptor”, the two heroes set out to unlock the secrets of the Red Lantern menace.
“Lost Planet” – While searching for additional help against the Red Lanterns, Hal and the gang meet Saint Walker, a peaceful being who would eventually go on to become the first Blue Lantern. Our heroes would soon learn that the planet is actually a Lantern itself, known as Mogo!
“Heir Apparent” – While searching for help from a fellow Lantern, Hal and Kilowog meet Iolande, the ruler of the planet Betrassus. Fans will definitely recognize Iolande as a major supporting character from the comics, and it was fantastic to see this episode faithfully adapt her introduction.
“…In Love and War” – This episode featured the introduction of the Star Sapphires, who have the ability to channel love as a power source. This episode also features Carol Ferris (Hal’s girlfriend) getting her abilities from the Star Sapphires.
“Homecoming” – Epic space battles galore! The main event is finally here: Green Lantern Corps against the Red Lantern Corps, with Hal and his team trapped in the middle. Can Jordan and his new allies stop this battle before all is lost?
“The New Guy” – Following the battle with the Red Lanterns, Hal returns home to find that he has been replaced by Guy Gardner. The two reluctantly team-up when the robotic Manhunters appear. Can Hal and Guy work together to stop this menace, or will they continue to bicker? This episode featured Diedrich Bader (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) as Guy Gardner, and was also the beginning of the second main story arc for the season, which focused on the growing threat of the Manhunters and the Anti-Monitor!
“Steam Lantern” – During a battle with the Anti-Monitor, Hal is thrown into an alternate dimension. All you steampunk fans out there will definitely love this episode, as Hal must find a way to return to his home dimension using the…interesting…technology on this world. Comic fans will also note the interesting comments about the Green Lantern that had visited their reality before…as being none other than Alan Scott, the Green Lantern of the Golden Age of the DC Universe! While we never get to see Scott himself, it was heavily implied this he had impacted this world.
“Larfleeze” – The Orange Lantern is here! While attempting to find a way to stop the Anti-Monitor (who has now been fused with Aya) our heroes travel to the world of Okaara, where they meet Larfleeze, the Orange Lantern. While the power of the Orange Lantern is great, Larfleeze isn’t planning on sharing it with anyone! Can Hal gain access to this new power, or will it be lost to a single wielder forever?
“Ranx” – In what ultimately became the Series Finale of Green Lantern, Hal and the gang have their final showdown with the Aya Monitor, who is ready to destroy the entire universe and start over. Over the series’ run, Razer and Aya had developed a strong relationship, and this episode does a fantastic job at pulling at the heartstrings of the fans. Can he destroy the woman he loves in order to save reality? While this wasn’t quite the show ending the creators had in mind, it still serves as a suitable conclusion to the tales from the entire season.
Special Features:
Unfortunately, there are no special features on this release.
Overall:
Fighting to overcome the negative stigma associated with the Green Lantern live-action movie, GL: TAS had an uphill battle from day one. Constantly getting pulled from the schedule by Cartoon Network, and the lack of support for a toy line seemed to have really killed any chance of success for this series. That being said, the creative team and cast did a phenomenal job with the entire run, treating Hal Jordan and his universe with more respect than the aforementioned movie did. The fact that we at least have this complete series Blu-ray set is pretty damn awesome, and we will be able to enjoy the show in the highest level of detail possible.
ComicsOnline gives Green Lantern: The Animated Series – The Complete Series on Blu-ray – 5 out of 5 Geoff Johns inspired shows.
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