Green Lantern: First Flight

Of all the superheroes, the Hal Jordan Green Lantern is the most like Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun. Yet, Hollywood crashed and burned with the deservedly maligned 2011 Ryan Reynolds movie. As usual, DC animation far outshines their live-action colleague-rivals. The 2011 animated series was even better depicting Jordan’s ability to fly by the seat of his pants, as both a test pilot and a “maverick” member of the Lantern Corps. However, his first adventure after succeeding Abin Sur as our sector’s Green Lantern, which happened on this very day according to the DC calendar, gets a briskly energetic animated treatment in Lauren Montgomery’s Green Lantern: First Flight.

Jordan was minding his business testing experimental aircraft for his boss and Hepburn-and-Tracy-esque girlfriend Carrol Ferris when the Green Power of Abin Sur’s ring whisked him away to the dying Green Lantern’s fatal crash site. Soon, a Lantern honor guard comes looking for their comrade’s body and his successor, but they are shocked to discover he is a human earthling.

Jordan quickly learns there is a deep-seated prejudice against humans on Oa, the home of the Guardians of the Universe, who oversee the Lantern Corps. Perhaps the Trisolarans of The Three-Body Problem told them about the Cultural Revolution. Yet, there is no denying the ring chose Jordan, which theoretically is an ironclad testimonial to his virtue.

Consequently, the prestigious Lantern Sinestro offers to take the green Green Lantern under his wing, as he investigates Abin Sur’s murder. Of course, fans know Sinestro is an infamous Lantern turncoat and everyone else could probably guess as much, since his name sounds like “sinister.” Indeed, Sinestro quickly alarms Jordan’s “spider sense,” so to speak. However, none of the other Lanterns want to hear his reservations, because Jordan is only human—particularly not the hulking Kilowog, who has canine and hog-like features.

In general, Jordan is a roguishly relatable superhero and Kilowog is one of the most appealing characters who still largely flies under the radar of non-comics fans. First Flight does a nice job conveying their personality strengths and quirks, but it really excels portraying Sinestro’s devious cunning and duplicity. There is a lot of cataclysmic cosmic wrath in the climatic battle, involving an evil scheme to employ yellow power to nullify the Lanterns’ green, but the film really showcases the characters and the inner dynamics of the Lantern Corps.

Victor Garber is not associated with villainous roles, but the way he verbally chews the scenery and twists his mustache with relish makes him sound like a perfect fit for Sinestro. Christopher Meloni might not have been an obvious choice for Jordan either, but he nicely expresses the pilot’s hotshot attitude. Miichael Madsen and John Larroquette also add colorful tones as Kilowog and fellow Green Lantern Tomar-Re, while Larry Drake and William Schallert sound appropriately uptight as Guardians.

Even though First Flight is technically an origin story, it gets viewers up to speed quickly, while exploring the politics and intrigue of far alien worlds. It is another example of how DC animated films exceeding their live-action counterparts. It is a lot of fun and the voice-over performances are far more accomplished than its DVD-origins might suggest. Highly recommended as a way to mark the beginning of Hal Jordan’s superheroing, Green Lantern: First Flight would also make a nice holiday gift on DVD or BluRay.