Green Lantern – Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Gil Kane & Wallace Wood — In Brightest Day…

February 18, 2025 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Green Lantern #69, June 1969

Another checked box on the art bucket list: Green Lantern, pencils by Gil Kane and Inks by Wallace Wood, from the only GL issue (#69) they worked on together.

This dynamic page, created during the latter part of Kane’s run on the series, nicely showcases the artistic chops of both Kane and Wood. Although Woody was often known for completely overshadowing his pencilers, this issue’s collaboration is excellent — Wood adding his sleek polish to Kane’s imaginative storytelling and skillful figure work.

Green Lantern was all over the map during this period — story and art teams were always in flux, and it’s clear the book couldn’t find its footing. Ultimately, that editorial challenge proved to be a boon to comics and DC specifically, when a half year later, Denny O’neil and Neal Adams took over, added Green Arrow and revamped it all. At that point, what did they have to lose?

The rest, as they say, is history…

Neal Adams & Bernie Wrightson — Twice As Great

January 9, 2024 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Green Lantern #84, July 1971

Neal Adams & Berni Wrightson, Green Lantern #84 Original Art, from the collection of Greg Goldstein

Opinions on Bernie Wrightson’s rare inks on Neal Adams pencils range from “dream team” to “dueling styles.”

Personally, I enjoy the combo, But Neal himself is said to have told Bernie he was better off going his own way. And that, I think, we can all agree upon.

As for this great Green Lantern page from Adams legendary run? The top panel feels more Adams dominant to me, and in the cool final panel I see more of Bernie’s efforts.

Your mileage may vary.

(Pictured below the published Green Lantern comic are a few more examples of the Adams/ Wrightson combo: A terrific Batman cover and the splash page to an El Diablo story from Weird Western #12.)

For more:

https://13thdimension.com/bernie-wrightson-a-birthday-salute-from-frankenstein-to-swamp-thing-and-more/

Norm Breyfogle — Split Personality

October 17, 2023 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

The Spectre 23, January 2003

The late Norm Breyfogle spent about a year applying his exceptional talents to the Spectre. Here’s one of the best pages of the run: The Hal Jordan-merged Spectre vanquishes Sinestro, and — I kid you not — basically sends the dark member of the GL Corp to hell. (Well, Sinestro helps choose his own fate. It’s complicated.)

I wish DC had comics like this when I was a kid. (Well, with Jim Aparo’s version of the Spectre, and Neal Adams’ Deadman, maybe they did. Sort of.)

Neal Adams & Bernie Wrightson — All New, All Now!

December 23, 2022 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Green Lantern #84, July 1971

Neal Adams pencilling and Bernie Wrightson inking? Seems like an impossible combination. First thought, one would overpower the other, or, even worse, combine into some sort of Frankenstein’s monster (pun intended) of comic book art.

Well, not only is it possible, its terrific — at least in this one specific issue of Green Lantern. (Bernie himself said he was extra careful not to dominate Neal’s pencils here.)

And on this great page, you can clearly see the result — both styles complement each other. (The coloring in the printed issue unfortunately diminishes the impact of that last great panel. But heck, it is dark out.)

I’m delighted to own a page from this classic issue — and classic series.

Welcome to Day 10 of the 12 DC Days of DeCember.

Howard Chaykin — Not Your Typical Superhero

December 17, 2022 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage #1, January 2007

Here’s the loveliest page from Howard Chaykin’s very entertaining Guy Gardner Green Lantern series from DC’s “prestige” format. (Less issues, but longer stories, nicely presented in a deluxe package.)

Lovely is somewhat ironic in context here — Guy just killed a bunch of bad guys, but he does seem to be enjoying it, and the storytelling and illustration are indeed… lovely.

So let’s stick with it.

Welcome to Day Seven of the 12 DC Days of DeCember.

Francis Manapul — Red & Green Forever

June 14, 2022 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Flash Annual #2, September 2013

Here’s an unusual comic milestone: 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the first Flash and Green Lantern team-up. The classic silver age characters first joined forces in Green Lantern #13, and then again a few months in Flash #131.

Of course the two characters were already partnered up every month in Justice League, but they didn’t specifically work side by side in JLA.

I always enjoyed their team ups. I didn’t care what the storylines were; I just thought that the red and green looked snazzy together. Christmas in July.

Pretty much all iterations of the characters have remained friends and occasional partners throughout the years, and here, artist Francis Manapul brings us his own dynamic interpretation of the duo as a cover for a “New 52” annual.

And apparently, based on this cover concept, Flash is as worthy of Green Lantern’s ring as Captain America is of Thor’s hammer.

Who knew?

Our next few posts are dedicated to other Flash team-ups throughout the Silver Age. Stay tuned.

Gil Kane — Not Shrinking Away

August 26, 2021 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Legends of the DC Universe #29, June 2000

Gil Kane’s final completed work (published posthumously) is this fun two-parter featuring his two classic silver age characters, The Atom and Green Lantern officially teamed together for the first time.

Written with affection by Steven Grant, and inked by Klaus Janson, this story confirms that Gil was able to deliver quality storytelling right until he headed to the big studio in the sky.

Gil was one of a kind as a creator (and a person) and as I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I was happy to know him professionally — albeit very, very briefly.

Liam Sharp — Green Reunion

November 29, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Green Lantern #8, August 2019

“Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp’s The Green Lantern is imaginative, surprising and just plain weird. And one of the most fearlessly unique comics currently on the stands.” –Rosie Marx

Liam Sharp reunites Green Lantern and his old teammate Green Arrow for a trippy alien drug ring story written by Grant Morrison.

Sharp has been a stellar artist since he broke into the industry in the 80s with work at 2000 AD, but in my opinion, his storytelling and draftsmanship get (ahem) sharper all the time.

I loved his contemporary work on Wonder Woman as well, but many of those originals were drawn at 18×24, and I hate to say it, but space is finite.

The GL pages — at least from this issue — are drawn at standard art size, and therefore a bit more manageable.

And of course, terrific.

I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the Green Lantern series on HBO Max. Managed well (and budgeted accordingly) it has astonishing potential.

Joe Staton — Green Energy

November 28, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Green Lantern #143, August 1981

Continuing a celebration of Green Lantern’s anniversary this week.

Joe Staton somehow manages to channel a bit of Gil Kane and a bit of Neal Adams on this dynamic Green Lantern action sequence from 1981.

I first started following Joe’s work (with writer Nicola Cuti) on the quirky E-Man from Charlton back in 1973 1975. (Funny enough, it lasted 10 issues, and I kept all 10, which is unusual for me. Guess I really liked it.)

Shortly thereafter, he took over art duties on the Justice Society in All-Star Squadron, a book I also enjoyed.

This page is from Joe’s first run on Green lantern with writer Marv Wolfman, and this story introduces the extraterrestrial superheroes, Omega Men. Joe later returned on the Green Lantern Corps with writer Steve Englehart.

When conventions finally return (mid-late 2021 is my guess) make sure you visit Joe wherever —and whenever — you find him. He is truly one of the humblest and nicest creators in the business. And obviously, very talented.

Gil Kane — Green Anniversary

November 24, 2020 Greg Goldstein Original Art and The Artists

Green Lantern #14, July 1962

Green Lantern celebrates two anniversaries in 2020.

The original Green Lantern (Alan Scott) first appeared in 1940, and the Silver Age Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, gained his own DC comic book series in 1960, shortly after first appearing Showcase #22 the year prior.

During the first 75 issues of GL’s own Silver Age comic, Gil Kane is the artist most associated with this run.

In these early issues Gil is not quite GIL KANE yet. The art is very solid, slick, and polished, in DC tradition, but it would take a few years before Gil’s trademark style would fully break through the conservative confines of the scripting and editing.

By the time Gil finishes his 10-year run with issue #75, Green Lantern is not a giant commercial success, but Gil Kane is most certainly GIL KANE. Reading through collected editions of the series, you can clearly see the metamorphosis of his storytelling capabilities and artistic style.

As for issue #76 in 1970 (Another anniversary, now that you mention it) Denny O’Neil and DC shake things up a bit by adding Green Arrow to the mix — and artist Neal Adams takes the reigns.

The rest, as they say, really is history.