three
      heroes
      without
      losing
      sight
      of
      Hal
      who,
      as
      the
      seasoned
     
     
      warrior
      of
      the
      trio,
      is
      naturally
      in
      the
      forefront
      of
      the
      adventures.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Niven
      and
      scripter
      Byrne
      are
      also
      careful
      to
      preserve
      the
     
     
      integrity
      of
      Jordan’s
      character
      as
      a
      common
      man,
      an
      everyday
     
     
      Joe
      who
      finds
      himself
      in
      the
      role
      of
      spacefaring
      adventurer.
     
     
      Jordon’s
      character
      helps
      to
      add
      a
      human
      perspective
      and
      touches
     
     
      of
      humour
      in
      the
      perception
      of
      the
      story’s
      cosmic
      events,
      and
      the
     
     
      secrets
      behind
      the
      Corps
      are
      a
      major
      new
      element
      in
      the
      Green
     
     
      Lantern
      Corps
      mythos
      and
      a
      realistically
      sobering
      reminder
      for
     
     
      Jordan
      that
      no
      beings
      are
      without
      flaw,
      that
      even
      the
      immortal
     
     
      Oans
      are
      disappointingly
      human,
      as
      recognized
      by
      the
      irrever-
     
     
      ent
      Guardian
      Ganthet.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      The
      book’s
      story
      is
      matched
      by
      the
      fantastic
      visuals
      supplied
      by
     
     
      penciller
      John
      Byrne.
      Byrne
      is
      capable
      of
      keeping
      a
      wide
     
     
      variety
      of
      faces
      and
      figures
      in
      his
      characters
      and
      in
      bringing
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Solid
      detail
      to
      every
      setting
      from
      Hal
      Jordon’s
      motel
      to
      the
      high-
     
     
      ‘ech
      halls
      of
      Oa,
      not
      to
      mention
      little
      touches
      like
      the
      con-
     
     
      ‘tantly
      changing
      designs
      on
      Ganthet’s
      tie.
      Possessed
      of
      a
      strong
     
     
      ‘torytelling
      sense
      and
      the
      pacing
      and
      dynamic
      energy
      necessary
     
     
      for
      comics
      art,
      Byrne
      is
      also
      an
      artist
      of
      seemingly
      limitless
     
     
      ‘echnical
      creativity.
      The
      only
      quibble
      with
      his
      gorgeous
      work
     
     
      here
      is
      his
      inking
      his
      own
      pencils,
      which
      in
      this
      case
      is
      a
      bit
     
     
      sketchy
      in
      places.
      It’s
      a
      minor
      flaw
      at
      best,
      and
      easy
      to
      overlook
     
     
      with
      the
      powerful
      drawings
      by
      Byrne
      and
      the
      rich
      colouring
     
     
      -‘Dplied
      to
      the
      drawings
      by
      Matt
      Webb.
      It’s
      one
      of
      those
      books
     
     
      that
      deserves
      the
      high
      quality
      prestige
      format
      printing
      process
     
     
      ‘Sed
      here,
      and
      the
      high
      quality
      paper
      brings
      out
      the
      skilful
     
     
      drawings
      and
      vibrant
      colours
      of
      the
      artists.
      There’s
      even
      a
     
     
      Tather
      classy
      ‘‘foil-enhanced’’
      cover
      superimposing
      a
      silver
     
     
      logo
      of
      the
      title
      ona
      fantastic
      drawing
      by
      Byrne.
      It
      all
      adds
      up
     
     
      ‘0a
      gorgeous,
      handsomely
      designed
      book
      that
      is
      actually
      worth
     
    
   
   
    
     
      the
      relatively
      high
      price
      ($6.95)
      that
      prestige
      format
      books
      like
     
     
      these
      traditionally
      demand.
      Check
      out
      Ganthet’s
      Tale
      while
     
     
      it’s
      still
      in
      the
      stores,
      because
      it
      may
      not
      be
      around
      for
      long.