Green Lantern Corps #21 Review: “Footsteps in the Dark”

Released: October 14, 2026
Verdict: A solid issue that’s carrying too much weight.

Jess has her hands full trying to set rules of order for the new Alpha Guardians when Jo Mullein drops a fresh problem on her desk: the interplanetary pirates Jo beat down say they were on legitimate business, and their solicitors want a word with the Corps’ lawyers. The Corps really can’t catch a break.

El gets her own lane

The book is clearly trying to separate El from John, and from humanity too. That gives her a more distinct vibe and purpose, and it moves her away from being a personification of someone’s dead little sister. I’m for that. It also reads a bit like cleanup after the earlier changes around John’s mother and ring, which all came from the alternate John anyway. Still, it’s good to see El and Keli holding their own and showing they’re capable. Keli in particular should talk to the other Lanterns about her trauma and her backstory from before her debut.

Predator and the Love problem

Predator does some weird things here. It cleanses itself of the Power of Love, which sets up a new Love entity. On paper, an emotional entity that wants to be more than its base emotion is an interesting idea, but it leaves Predator with little to do. I also wonder what mortality means for its obsession with Carol, and whether the obsession just stops. Previous issues teased Carol going on a quest to gather the pieces of love, so I hope she doesn’t get saddled with becoming the new Love entity. Then again, could she be?

The Darkstars

I’m not convinced the book has done enough to make the Darkstars bad enough to justify the Corps busting them up. They acted like rabid cops toward Simon and Keli last month, but Jo threw the first punch this time, and they never intended to kidnap Katma at all.

Guardians, Alpha and otherwise

I’m sure the Alpha Guardians will be as effective a replacement as every other attempt to replace the Guardians, especially with Larfleeze on the roster. We also get talking Books of Oa now. With another “the Central Battery will fall” plot looming, the new Alpha body probably won’t last long enough to show what it can do. Oa is the Gotham of space.

The bloat

It’s interesting that Jessica recruits a pile of Lanterns for the Alpha Guardians while Guy deals with Predator, and John, El, Simon and Keli free Jo and Katma from the Darkstars. That’s a lot of threads. Overall, the issue is fine, but it’s bloated.

Up next: the crossover event “First Light” begins.