Now, I've
warmed to Simon over the last year. I never hated the character but
it has to be said DC didn't do the best job of selling him during the
New 52. He was introduced and after Geoff Johns left the series he
was just sort of... there. Jessica Cruz, however, I instantly loved
when Green Lanterns launched.
I didn't follow Forever Evil
(which I think is where she was introduced) so she was a new
character to me. I love her, I love how she's used as a vehicle for
psychological issues not usually dealt with in superhero comics, I
love her design (the cool eye thingy especially)...
… I
love her and Guy Gardner together. I've been catching up on the GL
titles and just finished the Lost In Space
arc of Green Lanterns
where Jessica and Simon are summoned to Mogo for a training day.
Simon gets to work on his creativity with Kyle, which ties back to
his issues with giving up his gun, and Jessica gets Guy as her drill
instructor.
Naturally,
Guy has to be Guy about things and goes all drill sergeant from hell
on her, pushes her to her breaking point and she lamps him.
And,
my goodness, but it works. For all the progress he's made since the
early JLI days, Guy is still no the best at emotions. I mean, this is
man went to confront the former second-in-command of the Sinestro
Corps in his shirtsleeves
and when he's confronted with a Lantern who has to get past her
anxiety to earn her badge, of course he pushes way harder than he
should and she thumps him.
After
which, of course, he starts complimenting her after spending a day
tearing her down. Guy has a very direct an not entirely healthy
approach to people earning his respect.
Guy's
a mess of issues, that's not news, but so is Jessica. When the two
fight for real, the fight that has Guy declare Jess fit for duty
(because, again, Guy), he explains to her how he used to get in his
own way. He does it in the most cocky, self-aggrandising way
imaginable (again...) but he is making a genuine effort to connect
with her.
And,
I wonder, does he see something of Ice in her? Because with most of
the other human Lanterns, there's a lot said of the people they lost:
Hal's father, Katma Tui, Alex deWitt, Nazir's coma, Kilowog's family
if we want to extend the point. These events define a lot of those
Lantern's relationships.
Guy
lost Tora who, truth be told, had more than a little anxiety of her
own and it was only after her death that Guy really examined his
behaviour. A lot of his actions since have been about being the
better man he believes she deserved.
Not
that I want Guy and Jessica to hook up, good grief no! That wouldn't
be good for either of them, but one thing this arc does point out is
that Jessica is seriously missing out on mentoring. Simon is not much
more experienced than she is, really, and Guy as a teacher (which is,
legitimately, his civilian profession) is something I feel we could
do with seeing more of.
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