Red Lanterns #3

Realizing that I'm in the minority in opinion on this series, I'm trying to take a fresh look at this series. I'm taking a step back, trying to separate myself from my enjoyment of the first few issues. I want to figure out why so many despise this series.

After reading issue three, my opinion hasn't changed that much. Honestly, I still think Peter Milligan is doing a great job. One of the hardest things to do in comics is to prove readers wrong, and work uphill against their assumptions. This is why I worried about how long this book would survive. When they announced this series, it was met with much skepticism, and I believe that closed-mindedness is jading some against the coolest color in the spectrum: red!

Red Lanterns #2

This was another issue I was iffy on whether I would continue reading after issue #1. But in the attitude of trying new things and being open, I decided to keep with it. After all, I had the same attitude about Swamp Thing #2, and that turned out to be excellent. While the payoff wasn't as big as with Swamp Thing #2, Red Lanterns #2 also proved well worth sticking around for.

While this issue lacked the killer early illustration that the first issue possessed to draw me in, the story came on strong after a slow start.  Again, much of this story draws on Atrocitus' inner-thoughts on "rage." While some may find a second-straight issue on this type of inner-monologue redundant, I think it's a great choice. The biggest concern about the Red Lanterns and Atrocitus is that they're a one-note character lineup.

Red Lanterns #1

Most reactions I read about this book were fairly negative, mostly complaining about the pointlessness of the Red Lanterns getting their own book. Complaints about them being one-dimensional, boring and superficial filled reviews. I counter that all characters are like that until one dives in head-first and starts creating those new dimensions.

I don't have a ton of experience with the Red Lanterns. I've read Blackest Night, and they showed up in there, but otherwise my exposure to them has been limited. But I think the addition of different kind of Lanterns is one of the best things Geoff Johns has done in his Green Lantern epic, so I'm all for exploring some unknown territory.