Digging the new GL

Despite the existence of a blog intended to stubbornly hold on to fond elements of the pre-New 52 DC Universe, I won't say the New 52 is without redeeming qualities.  Fer instance, I've already stolen (and then changed) the premise behind the new Creature Commandos, and the few issues of Legion Lost I read were quite good (even if the concept didn't fit into the My52 Legion series.)

I finally had a chance to read a sort-of recent Green Lantern crossover called "Rise of the Third Army," and while the story and premise themselves weren't great, it did introduce a character that I really sort of dig: Simon Baz.

That's the Third Army lurking in the background.  Shame it took
such a weak concept to introduce such a strong character.

Although he's, like, the fifth human member of the Green Lantern Corps and joins a group I already found bloated enough to pare off 75% of in my My52 Blackest Night rewrite, I really found myself liking the character a lot.  Far more than I expected to based on the ads I remember seeing for him when he actually first appeared.

Somehow, while introducing a Lebanese-American rookie superhero to the DCU, ace writer Geoff Johns managed to avoid all the pitfalls of making it all about race or focusing too much on the "I'm new, what do I do?" aspect.  Instead, they did what all new characters should receive: a distinct goal, a unique voice, and a strong supporting cast. Right out the gate, Baz showcases how he's affected by post-9/11 bigotry and also how he's moved past it, we meet members of his extended family (and the important jobs they hold that can inspire future plots), and meet a surprising ally in FBI Agent Fed, the only man who believes he's innocent and a potential Jim Gordon-type character for him in the future.  He even starts with a great heroic dynamic as his civilian identity is feared for possibly terrorist acts while his heroic identity can be respected and adored.  Character gold!

Johns even managed to create a fifth Green Lantern character without giving us "just" another Green Lantern.  This GL uses his powers in ways other Lanterns find surprising, and even the fact that he carries a gun (absurd when I first saw the picture), adds to his character as he likes to have a fallback in case the ring doesn't work (as happened to him twice during this storyline).

Out of context, the gun's still pretty ridiculous.

Also, his costume is pretty sweet.  Better than anything Guy, John or Kyle ever wore.  Well done ace artist Doug Mahnke.

So I guess the big challenge now is to decide how Simon Baz will be added to My52.  I'm pretty sure I'd never okay the "Rise of the Third Army" story under my fantasy editorialship (especially since there aren't any Guardians in My52 to start the whole mess), but I can see a time when Hal Jordan is disabled and the ring needs to find a replacement.  Why doesn't it go to known entities like Guy or Kyle?  I dunno.  We'll just say Simon was closest at the time.

Of course Hal will get the ring back and, per my Green Lantern write up, there isn't enough power in the central battery to allow a second GL on Earth.  But because I'm so fond of the character, I'll allow him to keep a depowered ring which will flare to life when Hal is down or calls for backup.