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by Dave Scrimgeour and Kevin McCluskey   Script- Denny O'Neil Art- Neal Adams Editor- Julie Schwartz Published by DC Comics SynopsisHal Jordan unwittingly comes to the aid of a shady Star City slumlord named Jubal Slade, which draws the ire of not only Slade's tenants but also one Oliver Queen. A later attempt to rectify this situation turns violent, which infuriates The Guardians, and Hal finds himself called to stand before their Grand Council. Hal ignores their punishment and returns to earth, where he teams up with Ollie to expose Slade and also to right his earlier wrong. His insubordination does not go unnoticed however, but thanks to Ollie pleading both Hal and the human race's case, The Guardians decide to sent one of their number to accompany the Green Lantern and the Green Arrow on a road trip to find the real essence of the United States and the humanity within. Dave So, we're going back to April 1970, for this first issue of Green Lantern/ Green Arrow. Was this the first time they did a crossover in DC comics? I'm not familiar with the history of these characters, but it makes for a refreshing change, tackling new material. Even if it's 50 years old. Kev No. They'd done crossovers before. There had certainly been World's Finest and Justice League stuff prior to this, but from what I've read, both of these characters' titles were struggling a bit sales-wise, so the decision was made to put the two of them together, in a bit of a last ditch attempt to boost the numbers. Dave Ah, I see. I like the cover though. Very bright, eye catching and GREEN. It's a nice palette of colours used throughout this. Kev I like the cover too. It’s got you asking questions as to what goes on in the issue and it immediately shows you the conflict between the boys in Green. It’s a good set-up. Dave I get the feeling Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil were put together as a winning combo. Again, I'm not familiar with these guys.  Adams, O'Neil and Schwartz going all-city before all-city was really a thing. Kev I'm a little bit more familiar with their work on Batman. It's interesting, I always thought they were a close partnership, but apparently they were thrown together because they were both young, up and comers at the time, yet they hardly ever actually met in person. Dave I like the splash page of Green Lantern flying through the crowded streets. There's a lot of nice detail in there and it captures the hustle and bustle of city life nicely. Plus, the narrative is setting us up for somewhat of a cynical tone. It doesn't look as if there will be any happy endings or anything. Kev Yeh, man, that Neal Adam's Star Cityscape is class, and I agree, the narrator's caption boxes leave you in no doubt as to the tone of this issue. Lots of in-your-face foreshadowing here. Dave I also like the credits, on the side of the truck, cleverly intertwined within the picture. Kev Definitely. I'm a total sucker for little touches like that. Dave Even Star City has those classic American, yellow taxis. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh, those big city yellow cabs. Dave A rookie mistake made by Green Lantern here, jumping headfirst into a situation he knows nothing about. Kev Definitely. Interestingly, Green Lantern is portrayed as being pretty right wing, authoritarian and a little condescending, to boot here, calling people “Punk” and “Sonny” and saying things like, “They’re acting like animals.” Dave That's a nice, quick display of his skills that he uses to take down the "punks," as he calls them, against the well dressed man. "Punk" was a common term used in the 70's. It was used throughout TV and films. Kev It sure was. My favourite use of it being Dirty Harry's. Yeh. Hal's shown to be pretty reactionary here. His prejudices shine through. Dave He's quite hot tempered is ol' Lantern. He's acting without a lot of thought here. Kev He is, isn't he? Neal Adam's draws the "victim" of the assault with just enough smugness, to make you realise that there's more to him than we're initially being led to believe. I love that panel of the can bouncing off Green Lantern’s head.  Robin Hood and his not so merry man. Dave The Green Arrow looks like a throwback to the days of Errol Flynn. I like this look for this version of the character. Kev Definitely. I like it too. I think it's great. It's basically just Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, isn't it? Maybe not exactly contemporary though. Still, it's a strong look. Dave This is also a story about the gentrification that took place in 70's New York. The city went through a lot of it back then, so there was a contemporary relevance to this story back in 1970 when it was published. I think the contrast of the two characters is great, not just visually, but in terms of outlooks as to what is happening in their society. The two of them get pretty heated in the exchange of their views. The Green Arrow is straight to the point, "Seems like I've heard that line before...at the Nazi War trails" Kev Yeh, the politics in this run is not going to be subtle, is it? Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, in my opinion. It's already starting to feel very timely. “I’ll give you a guided tour...a look at how the other half lives-- --if you call that living.” These issues were relevant at the time and they're just as relevant now, despite being 50 years old. Has anything really changed in half a century? Dave Perhaps not, no. What do you make of the title, 'No Evil Shall Escape My Sight?' Kev Ha, ha! Yeh, that's not exactly understated. Ollie is very much the voice of the left and Hal is representing the voice of the right. Dave It's quite the contrast for Green Lantern, essentially setting him in an urban environment. It reflects the naivety of Green Lantern's, quite narrow, perspective in a complicated modern world. Kev Definitely. And of course we have this classic scene with the politics of race too, with the older black gentleman and the "skins" question. Oooh! He’s got you there Lantern. Too busy off world, fighting to protect aliens, whilst you neglect the people on your own planet, eh? Yeh, you hang your head in shame.  Droppin' truth bombs. Dave This story is clearly hinting that the monsters are not just "bug eyed monsters or mad scientists," which, to be fair, was very prevalent for comic book stories written during the 60's. The turn of a new decade is bringing more gritty reality to these tales. I've got to say, I wasn't sure what to expect when I was reading this, but I do like the setting for it. I have never particularly been interested in those cosmic, outer space stories. Kev I don't mind a cosmic story, when it's done well, but they do have a tendency to descend into just a lot of "stuff" happening. The fantasy elements of them often completely take over, and they end-up bearing no resemblance to reality whatsoever and that tends to be when I switch-off. Dave Jubal Slade in a penthouse, eh? Hmmm, kind-of reminds me of a particular character we have been recently reviewing, one Mr. Wilson Fisk. And the Kingpin first made his appearance about 3 years before this story. Kev Yeh. Jubal Slade is like a diet Wilson Fisk. I like the team-up logo. It's a simple, yet effective combination of both their individual ones. Dave The panel of the Green Lantern at the window desperately pleading with Slade is a nice one. The use of colours is excellent. Also, it reflects the frustration he is feeling.  And has a game of charades too, by the looks of it. Kev Yeh, man. Adam's use of body language is outstanding. I really like the flying motion that he manages to convey as well. Hal Jordan looks and feels weightless as you read this, like he is effortlessly defying gravity. Dave Obviously the cosmic stuff is essential to the background of Green Lantern, but it doesn't outweigh the rest of the story in this issue. Kev No. Not at all. I think this is the beginning of Denny O'Neil taking Hal down a peg or two. Literally bringing him back down to earth. And with a bump as well. This story is about him being humbled somewhat. The grounding of a high flying, space exploring hero, if you like. Dave Green Lantern doesn't mess about when it comes to tackling Slade's henchmen. Kev He certainly does not. No use of his powers either really. Just a good, old fashioned left and a right. Dave Yeah he's a bit of an old fashioned brawler is Green Lantern. Then he is quickly interrupted by the Galactic Guardian. Are you familiar with any of Green Lantern's background? I'm not.  The game of charades did not go well for Hal Jordan.....  .....and ended even worse for Slade's goons. Kev Just the absolute basics. I've been getting the current Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp run, but I'm so far behind on reading it at this point. What I have read of it is really good though. The Green Lantern Corps are basically space cops when you boil it right down to its essence though, I think. Dave There is plenty of conflict in this issue. The Green Lantern, in amongst his almost adolescent outbursts, is quick to see the folly of his ways. He even shows remorse when he, rather ashamedly says, "I'm sorry." Kev Yeh, this is what I mean when I say that this is him being humbled. Dave The Grand Council of Galactic Guardians totally have a look of Star Trek about them. Kev Ha, ha! Definitely. Do you think they've sent him on this busywork mission to keep him distracted and out of the way of something else? Do you think they have a more sinister agenda? Dave Could be both. Keep him out of the way, but also get him back to the job they probably think he should be doing, intergalactic corporate politics. Even in space the bosses are the same. Kev Ha, ha! True. I suppose everyone's got a boss, don't they? Dave Yep. Some good artwork of Green Lantern while he's tackling the meteor shower.  Space Cop. Kev Yeh, it's an excellent contrast to the urban setting that we have in Star City, isn't it? Why do dodgy slumlords always want to meet at midnight. It’s never 9:30 am, in broad daylight, is it? Dave True, midnight seems to be a common meeting time. Good job they were the only two superheroes in the city otherwise, I'm pretty sure there would be a whole bunch of meetings taking place at midnight. Kev Especially midnight meetings down at the docks. That's often the preferred location. It'd get pretty crowded down there pretty quickly, I reckon. The differences in their approaches towards Slade really highlight the differences in Oliver Queen and Hal Jordan as people, as well as their perspectives on this situation, and the wider world too, I suppose. Dave It's like chalk and cheese with Oliver and Hal in opinions and perspectives. Kev Definitely. That scene, with Slade's attempted set-up/trap for Green Arrow, is straight out of a noir movie. It's very atmospheric. Lots of use of blue lighting. Very James Cameron. Before James Cameron. Dave It's a great page of panels with the blue colours, yeah. Very James Cameron-esque indeed. Bearing in mind this was 1970 too. Way before the days of the Tech-Noir nightclub in 'The Terminator' and also before 'The Abyss' too. I still love the 70's look of the trench coat and hat for the henchmen. Everyone was well dressed in those days. Even a "hood."  Cat. Burglars. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh. He's a sharp-lookin' hood. He's got the stereotypical gangster lingo down as well. ".....a neighbourhood that can never really be brightened." Is this narrator's statement meant to inform us that Hal Jordan is just not suited to these problems whatsoever? That they are completely out of his wheelhouse? That the light of the Green Lantern simply does not apply here? Dave Probably. That's a good set-piece there, with Green Arrow taking down Slade's hoods. That panel of Oliver sitting on a flying couch is quite funny though. It takes you back to the more cosmic element of the story again. However, the narrative in that panel is just as good at doing so.  Plenty of leg room on Green Lantern Airlines. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh, it's pretty "epic." It's another nice Star Cityscape by Adams. Slade's "I'll die before I lose my freedom" is interesting. It's like he's saying it's his God given right to exploit people as long as it's within the parameters of the law of the land. ".....and remember America...it's a good country...beautiful...fertile...and it's terribly sick." Again, how much has really changed in 50 years? Dave Yep. "Still the windbag may be bluffing" is a good line and delivered by Green Lantern with a kind of cheeky expression on his face. Green Arrow and Green Lantern together; youth teamed-up with experience, tempers frayed, it is almost a bit like Batman and Robin here. Kev That's a good point about their dynamic. It's not a million miles away from Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson's, I suppose. This is essentially going to be a buddy cop, road trip tale, isn't it? Dave Yeah, it's a bit of a buddy cop story. I suppose, had it been written more recently, it would've be labelled a "bromance." Kev Ha, ha! Probably, yeh. Wow. The MLK and JFK bit is heavy. "Something is wrong! Something is killing us all....! Some hideous moral cancer is rotting our very souls!" This is essentially just an establishing issue, but by the end of it, the table is well and truly set for the story arc that is to come. Dave Yeah, and "You're no more than a puppet and the guardians pull your strings." Harsh words indeed from Ollie here.  "Alas, poor Yorick!" Kev That's a great panel actually, yeh. Dave "Human beings are no more than statistics to you and your crew." That's an interesting dig at the powers that be, the Government. Also, there was a lot of backlash against authority at the time, what with the Vietnam War going on. It really set left wing views against the right wing. Which is an age old battle, of course. Kev I thought that about Vietnam as well. Especially with the "...disillusioned kids ripping up campuses..." line. That ties back into the generational divide that you alluded to earlier as well. Something that has become all too familiar again between the Baby Boomers and the Millenials. Dave So, the final page has them driving off together, the classic ending to many a story. Which leaves it open for future adventures, I suppose.  "Gold, Frankenstein and Grrr!"  Easy riders. Kev Yep. We've got our journey of self-discovery/American road trip story now. With the added bonus of a Guardian passenger, as a third wheel, to boot. Dave So how would you sum up this issue? Kev I like it. It's simultaneously of its time and yet timeless. The narration in the caption boxes reminds me of Stan Lee's work on early 'Amazing Spider-Man' and the politics of it are far from subtle. But in saying that, when you put it into the context of the era it was released, I think it's excellent. No-one was really doing anything as socially relevant as this in superhero comics at the time, and as such, I think it stands up and it deserves the respect it's afforded. What about yourself? What did you make of this first issue of this seminal run? Dave True. It would certainly resonate with the period it was released in. I was very surprised by this issue. I was probably pre-judging the material to be some intergalactic space story, not an urban tale. Granted yeah, some of the social issues raised are in your face a bit, but bearing in mind that this has been done so many times after this run, which is the reason why we are familiar with it, is a testament to its influence. It was fresh at the time and a big change of pace for the comic and characters. Kev I think you're right. I really think it was a bit of a force for change in superhero comics. It's been interesting going into something cold, for me. Usually we have that lens of nostalgia that we look at these things through, because we've already read them when we were kids, or at least a lot younger, (and we make no bones about that) but it was good to go into something completely fresh and without any baggage for a change. (D) & (K) Next: 'Journey To Desolation.' 
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