Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Green Lantern used to be one of DC's best books. Two weeks away was all it took to see how far it's fallen. Jeremy Adams had one of comics' hottest streaks... so what happened?
Jeremy Adams' Green Lantern was one of the easiest books to recommend at DC Comics for nearly two years. Great character work, exciting superhero action, and a clear understanding of Hal Jordan made it a weekly highlight. Then the focus shifted to Kyle Rayner... and somehow the magic disappeared.
Instead of building on everything that made Green Lantern one of DC's strongest ongoing series, the book has settled into low-stakes, forgettable stories that feel completely at odds with the franchise's biggest strengths. Wes explains why the latest issue feels like it's running on autopilot, why Hal Jordan remains the far more compelling lead, and why this sudden downturn is so disappointing coming from one of DC's best writers.
Fortunately, there were still a few comics worth recommending this week. Robert Kirkman's new sci-fi series Terminal #1 makes an intriguing first impression despite a confusing opening issue, Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora wrap up their Superboy Prime storyline in Superman #40, and Chris Condon closes out another entertaining pulp adventure with The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #6.
Big thanks to The 616 Comics, the #1 producer-retailer in the comic book industry. Use code THINKINGCRITICAL at checkout for 10% OFF their exclusive variant covers on their website or app:
๐ the616comics.com
๐ง Want More No-BS Comic Talk?
The latest Hot or Not Podcast is live right now, covering even more weekly releases and deeper discussion.
Then itโs time for the weekโs must-read comics:
Terminal #1 โ Image Comics
Writers: Robert Kirkman & Joe Casey
Artist: Andy Cooper
A mysterious new sci-fi series blending superhero and X-Men influences with strong artwork, intriguing concepts, and a shocking cliffhanger that leaves plenty of questions for future issues.
Superman #40 โ DC Comics
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Dan Mora
The Superboy Prime story concludes with gorgeous artwork, fun character moments, and plenty of meta commentary as Williamson wraps up one of the strongest Superman arcs of his run.
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #6 โ Vertigo
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: Jacob Phillips
Ezra Cain battles Nazi operatives, giant robots, and impossible odds in the thrilling conclusion to a stylish pulp adventure that hopefully won't be the detective's last.
Support the Channel / Join the Community
Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
๐ patreon.com/thinkingcritical
Back Channel Memberships
๐ youtube.com/@Wes_From_TC/join
๐ Official Thinking Critical Merch
๐ redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
00:00 Intro
01:04 What Happened to Green Lantern
05:03 Terminal #1
07:33 Superman #40
10:01 The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #6
Follow the Channel
๐ฑ TikTok: tiktok.com/@thinking_critical
๐ธ Instagram: instagram.com/thinkingcrit
๐ Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1368359010382132
๐ฌ Discord: discord.gg/uHM3Z68
๐ฎ Twitch: twitch.tv/thinking_critical_yt
Contact Wes
๐ฆ Twitter: twitter.com/Wes_from_TC
๐ง Email: wesdigscomic@gmail.com
๐ Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTubeโs automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.
Green Lantern used to be one of DC's best books. Two weeks away was all it took to see how far it's fallen. Jeremy Adams had one of comics' hottest streaks... so what happened?
Jeremy Adams' Green Lantern was one of the easiest books to recommend at DC Comics for nearly two years. Great character work, exciting superhero action, and a clear understanding of Hal Jordan made it a weekly highlight. Then the focus shifted to Kyle Rayner... and somehow the magic disappeared.
Instead of building on everything that made Green Lantern one of DC's strongest ongoing series, the book has settled into low-stakes, forgettable stories that feel completely at odds with the franchise's biggest strengths. Wes explains why the latest issue feels like it's running on autopilot, why Hal Jordan remains the far more compelling lead, and why this sudden downturn is so disappointing coming from one of DC's best writers.
Fortunately, there were still a few comics worth recommending this week. Robert Kirkman's new sci-fi series Terminal #1 makes an intriguing first impression despite a confusing opening issue, Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora wrap up their Superboy Prime storyline in Superman #40, and Chris Condon closes out another entertaining pulp adventure with The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #6.
Big thanks to The 616 Comics, the #1 producer-retailer in the comic book industry. Use code THINKINGCRITICAL at checkout for 10% OFF their exclusive variant covers on their website or app:
๐ the616comics.com
๐ง Want More No-BS Comic Talk?
The latest Hot or Not Podcast is live right now, covering even more weekly releases and deeper discussion.
Then itโs time for the weekโs must-read comics:
Terminal #1 โ Image Comics
Writers: Robert Kirkman & Joe Casey
Artist: Andy Cooper
A mysterious new sci-fi series blending superhero and X-Men influences with strong artwork, intriguing concepts, and a shocking cliffhanger that leaves plenty of questions for future issues.
Superman #40 โ DC Comics
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Dan Mora
The Superboy Prime story concludes with gorgeous artwork, fun character moments, and plenty of meta commentary as Williamson wraps up one of the strongest Superman arcs of his run.
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #6 โ Vertigo
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: Jacob Phillips
Ezra Cain battles Nazi operatives, giant robots, and impossible odds in the thrilling conclusion to a stylish pulp adventure that hopefully won't be the detective's last.
Support the Channel / Join the Community
Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
๐ patreon.com/thinkingcritical
Back Channel Memberships
๐ youtube.com/@Wes_From_TC/join
๐ Official Thinking Critical Merch
๐ redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
00:00 Intro
01:04 What Happened to Green Lantern
05:03 Terminal #1
07:33 Superman #40
10:01 The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #6
Follow the Channel
๐ฑ TikTok: tiktok.com/@thinking_critical
๐ธ Instagram: instagram.com/thinkingcrit
๐ Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1368359010382132
๐ฌ Discord: discord.gg/uHM3Z68
๐ฎ Twitch: twitch.tv/thinking_critical_yt
Contact Wes
๐ฆ Twitter: twitter.com/Wes_from_TC
๐ง Email: wesdigscomic@gmail.com
๐ Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTubeโs automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.
