You got to love when a story's plot threads all converge together. As Geoff Johns starts to wind down his big story of "Secret Origins" with, a wrap-up of the Hector Hammond stuff, the tale of the Empire of Tears, and the set-up of the final battle between Atrocitus and the Lanterns Hal and Sinestro to be seen next issue.
The story picks up as the last issue left off, with Hal and Carol at the mercy of a psychotic and recently telepathic Hector Hammond. Hammond gives the reader some insight behind Hal's motivations before Sinestro dispatches him rather quickly, perhaps too quickly, but nonetheless that plot thread is over pretty fast as the two reach the grave of Abin Sur. Here we see some oddly warm sentiments from Sinestro, a guy not known for his warm sentiments as he mulls over the great lessons Abin taught him. Soon, Obi Wan style, Hal's ring projects the ghost of Abin Sur who speaks of the origins of the Five Inversions, the center of the Empire of Tears, the survivors of a universe destroyed by the Manhunters once they went AWOL. As such, Sinestro reasons that Atrocitus, whom Abin had been holding as a prisoner, escaped. Meanwhile, Atrocitus himself finds the source of the dark energy he wants: William Hand. As the Lanterns track him down in time, Atrocitus rigs a "cosmic divining rod" to sap both rings' energies, leaving for an intersting fight to wrap this story next time.
Like the other parts of this story, Geoff Johns has managed to interlock Hals origin story with the Blackest Night tightly by connecting the current figureheads of the various Corps-- Hal, Sinestro, Atrocitus, William Hand-- that you have to just be amazed by deep Geoff is digging into the mythos for this story. As always Ivan Reis' pencils are crisp and fresh and give both youthfulness to Hal as well as terror to Atrocitus. Over half a year removed from the epic Sinestro Corps War and this book still manages to shine with engaging, well-done stories and clean, well-drawn art. Hal's origin might have been done over and over by now, but by goodness, Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis sure are doing a terrific take on it.
Story: 5 - Excellent
Art: 5 - Excellent
