Red Lanterns Vol. 3: The Second Prophecy
Honestly, I don't think there's too many concepts that outdo "cosmic horror blood magic" as far as "Can you dig it?" Because I dig it
hard. If there's anything about this book to take anything away from, it's that the lore surrounding this book is fantastic. I love it. Necromancy, other dimensional demons, blood magic and blood prophecies...it's all great.
That being said, this particular volume deals with Atrocitus' back story a lot. Showing how he discovered blood magic and who the Five Inversions really were (a bunch of demons and then Atrocitus). Atrocitus then straight murders his fellow Inversions (one of whom was his demon lover) and successfully performs a prophecy that shows who he is. Thus beginning the saga of Atrocitus and Co. Honestly, he's become one of my favorite characters, and his realization that rage for the sake of rage is meaningless, but rage used for the sake of others is not. It also showed that Atrocitus has a much more tactical mind, being able to keep a cool head whilst still utilizing his rage to carry out his plans (such as planting a Manhunter army ahead of time). I like Milligan's attempt to add depth to a concept that Johns' portrayed as very one-note. The added depth to the Red Lanterns' powers (effectively it's just super-powered blood magic, since Atrocitus was a hoss before he created the Red Lanterns by just using blood magic) is incredibly welcome as well. Especially being that blood magic is already broke (can control Manhunters). Despite that The End (Johns' final arc within the GL franchise) is incorporated into this book, re-reading it with the added knowledge of the Red Lanterns' side of this added something to the story. Sinestro's gift to Atrocitus (the life of a Guardian) showed respect (real respects real) that added to Sinestro's character.
Now, on to the other main storylines: one of these is the Red Lantern Power Battery, still in a weakened state after the First Red Lanterns tried to destroy it from within. This leads Atrocitus to assign Ratchet to figure out the problem. Ratchet discovers that the Inversions are indeed back, and are awaiting a time to deal a reckoning to Atrocitus.. The cause of their return is not explicitly stated, though it is hinted at that, since the Battery was built upon their graves, that they've been feeding off its power (again, blood magic) in order to grow stronger, This in turn, of course, leads to the discovery that they are the ones draining the battery. However, due to the First Lantern's great fuckery, Atrocitus orders his corps to murder him, during which he is "reborn" as a new Atrocitus. The Inversions retreat, and the Corps goes to fight the First Lantern and return back to Ysmault, the Battery assumedly operating at full capacity (it's never fully explained).
Now, the third main storyline involves Rankorr, and...fuck Rankorr. He adds nothing. His only contribution to the whole damn thing is that he's the only human Red Lantern, the only Red Lantern who can make constructs (which is how Atrocitus learns how to use the Manhunters to fight the Third Army that the Guardians unleashed and the Red Lanterns encountered much earlier in the book), and that Bleez wants his power. I suppose his storyline is interesting in the sense that becoming a Red Lantern means you become a monster, but honestly you could do that with literally anyone. Rankorr's only role is to be this special flower that can make constructs and is apparently the "heart" of the Red Lantern Corps. Quite honestly, though, I'd give that role to Ratchet (he doesn't get enough love). Oh, and Bleez wants his blood so she can make constructs (because apparently only humans/Rankorr can do it). That's about it. It's especially stupid, considering that at the end of the book, he declares that "there are no humans here," meaning that he no longer holds the role of "heart of the Corps" anymore. He's completely pointless.
Beyond that, the art is great and the writing is solid. Though, the dialogue does use the words "rage," "blood," and "magic" far too often. I really enjoy this book, and I believe this is the end of Milligan's run, which means Soule's run is up next. Since Soule's run is the one that gets praised, and I like Soule, and I like this book...well, quite honestly it's a match made in heaven for me.
I got Batgirl today too.
As far as I'm concerned, 1995 - 2004 was one of DC's greatest creative periods, until Identity Crisis ruined everything.
Not everything. It gave us Simone's Secret Six run, which was godlike.
people are weird, there is no Deadpool movie, everyone's thinking of Blade Trinity, go give that another watch.
At least that has Triple H
