Following the blockbuster finale of the previous volume, Grant Morrison accompanied this time around by artist Xermanico, work together and bring this twisted reality to life. Delivering Hal Jordan into the darkest depths of the newly envisioned world, this sinister take on the DC universe is not one to miss. The Godfather of digital coloring himself, Steve Oliff, continuities to layer each page in glorious hues while retaining the uniform look between the series. With this mini-series to bridge the gap between the two volumes of the main title, expect the absolutely unexpected, especially when Grant Morrison is involved.

Back in his role as Black Star Parallax, Hal Jordan awakens to a new world that is far from brave while struck by visions of a world lost. Finding himself a commanding officer of the Black Stars, Jordan seemingly falls in line without hesitation. Spreading their tyranny across the galaxy, no one is safe from these dark officers. Traveling from the far reaches of Ysmault to indoctrinate the Five Inversions within their ranks, to War World and facing down against Mongul, Hal Jordan ends at his final goal, Earth.

While a significant change from the artistry of Liam Sharp, Xermanico makes this mini-series entirely his own and brings this dark nightmare into reality. While a much-needed break for Sharp, Xermanico is a welcomed change to the series and a perfect way to indicate the change in reality. Xermanico’s fine line details and excellent character work bring this series to the forefront and displays his artistic ability on full blast. Steve Oliff returns with his beautiful color palette, delivering the dreary hues to perfectly accent this dark vision.

Morrison continues to be at the top of his game with this new mini-series. Taking Hal Jordan and the Lantern mythos as a whole to places previously unseen is an old hat for Grant. Remaining true to the character while intertwining Silver age continuity proves to be precisely what the franchise required. Continuing to stand head and shoulders above his predecessors, Morrison and his team of brilliant artists deliver yet another stunning chapter to an overall unforgettable saga.

While still a continuation of the previous run, this mini-series can easily be enjoyed by fans new and old. Grant Morrison, Xermanico, and Steve Oliff blasted this issue out of the park and created an absolute work of art. With two more installments still to come, things are sure to ramp up fast as time runs out for Hal Jordan’s homeworld.

Grade: A+