Tales of the Sinestro Corps Parallax Spoilers

[drwho]

Getting this is really making me question whether or not it is even worth buying the rest of the one shots. I like stories that actually move the main story a long and this was more like a pit stop then anything. The art was good and the characterization was good, but it really seems like pointless fluff added for sales. Anyway all that happens here is we see Kyle in some psychic plane where he and Parallax battle. Kyle gets defeated again. Some flash backs about how Kyle is afraid of letting people down because of all the women he knew that passed away and killed because he couldn't save them. I was expecting more out of this than what was given. Just something else for me to b%tch about when it comes to Dc.

[4thHorseman]

I actually enjoyed it, and I feel may possibly have a bigger role in the main story. Helps show that Kyle is doing what he can to defeat Parallax from within, and at the end, may be on his way to do that.

With the other one-shots, I'm more excited for Superboy Prime or the Anti-Monitor, which ever is the one that ends up coming out, and Cyborg Superman.

[Hawkman]

I'm not getting this regardless, but I've been reading spoilers about it on various other forums, and I have to say it sounds a lot like something I'd see in anime. Particularly, an episode of Bleach comes to mind where the lead in that is possessed by an inner-demon of sorts, and has to do battle with himself to defeat it, thus becoming stronger in the process. It's an old theme, I know, but I find it in anime and manga far more often than in western comics these days. I just found that interesting.

Anyway, yeah, I guess I don't really have anything constructive to add to this. I will say that the whole painting motif sounded pretty touching to me, and would probably be even more so if I were a fan of Kyle's.

[Cayman]

Compared to the rest of Sinestro Corps, this was inessential. Not bad by any means, and the art was generally impressive, but I could easily have skipped this.

[Young Avenger]

I brought this issue for Kyle and I enjoyed it. It may not be essential but I liked it for what it was.

[tjarvis]

Story wise, it's not much. But as a nice character beat for Kyle, I did appreciate it.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

I'm only getting the one-shots done by Geoff Johns. I pretty much figured this one would be crap.

Does anyone know if the writer for GL Corps is doing any of the one-shots as well?

[drwho]

The issue itself wasnt bad as a said it just didnt add anything to the main story.

[The Batman]

I've always enjoyed Ron Marz's take on Kyle. Even though I don't ace for the Parallax development, I still enjoyed this and I'm still really enjoying the Sinestro Corps War story.

[Question_Authority]

All the one shots are just character pieces, meant to show what the principle villians are up to during the war. Parallax is tormenting Kyle, Cyborg Superman is probably going to attack the JLA on earth and who knows what Superboy Prime will be up to. If you had expected more development inot the Sinestro Corp conflict, that's just in the two main GL titles.

[stealthwise]

This was a terrible, terrible issue.

Seriously, this story had no forward momentum at all, it rips off part of the worst Stephen King novel (Dreamcatcher), points out how ridiculous Kyle's character motivation and DC's penchant for killing off supporting female characters is, and has a hackneyed ending that one could see coming a mile away.

Not even an F+, and I'm thinking that it was written during a "Deal or No Deal" commercial break.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I have to agree that this wasn't a bad comic per say. It had some nice art and effectively showed what Kyle was going through while Parallax is wreaking havoc with his body, but it didn't actually do anything to forward the story in any meaningful way or reveal anything interesting about Parallax, its origins, motives or future.

And, in a lot of ways, showing that Kyle isn't an active participant as Parallax, he's just locked away inside his body while Parallax controls his body like a puppet, makes this latest incarnation of Parallax far less interesting than he was initially. For all the bitching and moaning that revealing Parallax as a fear parasite, I thought it retained everything that worked about Parallax (hero gone bad) while explaining away the stuff that made no sense (hero suddenly becoming a sadistic murderer with a fetish for mutilation). And, most importantly, it didn't absolve Hal from all responsibility for his actions as Parallax.

Parallax may have infected Hal Jordan, but it was still Hal Jordan who was behind the wheel. The choices and decisions he made as Parallax made have been manipulated and aggrivated by the Yellow Fear Monster whispering terrible things into his subconscious and pressing the mute button on his morality, but it was still Hal Jordan making those decisions. A twisted and darker version of him, but still Hal Jordan.

By making the separation between Parallax and his host body so cleancut, the character loses a lot of oomph in my view. Rather than seeing what Kyle Rayner would be like free of the morals than made him a hero, now he's just another baddie whose taken control of a superhero's body.

[Green Gardner]

By making the separation between Parallax and his host body so cleancut, the character loses a lot of oomph in my view. Rather than seeing what Kyle Rayner would be like free of the morals than made him a hero, now he's just another baddie whose taken control of a superhero's body.
I understand that point you're trying to make, but at the same time, I can't help but feel the critique is somewhat unfair. The idea of Hal still being responsible to a degree for his actions as Parallax is compelling, sure, but for Hal's situation. Hal was corrupted over a course of years, without his knowledge. It offers an interesting look at the darker side of his character, but without sacrificing the heroic aspects of the character.

Kyle, on the other hand, knows EXACTLY what Parallax is. Given that wrinkle, I don't really see how they'd go about redeeming Kyle for any complicity in this. And if Parallax is capable of simply flat our erasing the nobler aspects of Kyle's character in less than the time it took me to write this sentence, I don't see how it would be much different from how he's possessed now. Either way, it's not Kyle. Just Parallax ACTING vaguely like Kyle. And furthermore, if Kyle's personality is that easily destroyed, I'd tend to think that'd diminish the character.

As is, I quite liked this issue. The art was fantastic, it did Kyle a service in that we actually got to see him fighting back any way he could, and despite the despair present for much of the issue, the hopeful ending serves as one of the few bright notes of this event as seen so far. No, it's not in any way essential to the story, but I'm glad it was there all the same.

[Sean Walsh]

I think I liked this issue. Pure character development, adds zero action or plot development to THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR, but it was alright.

But great art. I don't think we need to argue that. Adriana Melo hit a grand slam with this one.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I understand that point you're trying to make, but at the same time, I can't help but feel the critique is somewhat unfair. The idea of Hal still being responsible to a degree for his actions as Parallax is compelling, sure, but for Hal's situation. Hal was corrupted over a course of years, without his knowledge. It offers an interesting look at the darker side of his character, but without sacrificing the heroic aspects of the character.

Kyle, on the other hand, knows EXACTLY what Parallax is. Given that wrinkle, I don't really see how they'd go about redeeming Kyle for any complicity in this. And if Parallax is capable of simply flat our erasing the nobler aspects of Kyle's character in less than the time it took me to write this sentence, I don't see how it would be much different from how he's possessed now. Either way, it's not Kyle. Just Parallax ACTING vaguely like Kyle. And furthermore, if Kyle's personality is that easily destroyed, I'd tend to think that'd diminish the character.



Yeah, I understand where you're coming from. But you'd think that Parallax would have learned its way around the human mind from being bonded to Hal's soul for all those years that it would be able to subvert Kyle without the subterfuge that was required to turn Hal to the dark side.

Think of Parallax as a really powerful drug that causes homocidal meglomania. Even if you know that you've been drugged, your personality and behavior will still be altered. That wouldn't diminish Kyle's heroism or nobility to my mind.

I dunno, I just prefer the idea of Parallax as twisted version of whomever its bonded to, rather than just a straight up baddie wearing a hero's body. Luckily, unless Johns plans to explore this notion later on, I can just ignore this story and continue to look at Parallax as a parasitic personality warper, rather than another generic sock puppet baddie.

[Green Gardner]

The problem with that approach, at least for me, is how Kyllax has been acting outside this story. Absolutely, the idea of this malevolent entity capable of twisting your darker impulses, and even your nobler ones into some sort of dark charicature of yourself is interesting. Like the One Ring, on steroids. But if that's really what we're expected to believe has happened with Kyle, it doesn't really speak that well of the character.

I mean, sure, Hal was corrupted. He became a murderer, and that's not cool. But even at his worst (Okay, maybe not the version we saw in Last Will And Testament, but for most everything else, it holds true.), Hal's motives were still noble. His instinct to protect those counting on him clashed with his fears that he wouldn't be able to, so he made damn sure he WOULD be able to. Lofty goal, chillingly ruthless methods. And even then, let's remember that he was planning to undo the damage he did after he was done.

Evil Kyle, from what I've seen...he wants to be "special" again, so he'll gleefully murder all his friends and plunge the universe into darkness and suffering (Hell, that's being optimistic. He IS working for the freaking Anti-Monitor.) to do it. I'm not seeing even a shred of the heroic Kyle in there. It sounds more to me like Parallax is working with a spoiled 6 year old, resentful that he's no longer an only child. To buy the idea that this is still ANY version of Kyle, I'd need to at least see some major doubt and hesitation over the things he's been doing lately.

But again, I DO see your point. This version of the Parallax/host dynamic isn't as psychologically interesting, perhaps, though I did think it was a compelling vehicle for exploring Kyle's own doubts and fears. I'm just not sure I could buy the story you envision. Could just be me though.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Evil Kyle, from what I've seen...he wants to be "special" again, so he'll gleefully murder all his friends and plunge the universe into darkness and suffering (Hell, that's being optimistic. He IS working for the freaking Anti-Monitor.) to do it. I'm not seeing even a shred of the heroic Kyle in there. It sounds more to me like Parallax is working with a spoiled 6 year old, resentful that he's no longer an only child. To buy the idea that this is still ANY version of Kyle, I'd need to at least see some major doubt and hesitation over the things he's been doing lately.


Again, chalk that up to Parallax simply growing better at manipulating the human mind to its own ends after years of being bonded to Hal's soul. Whereas Parallax was constantly struggling to manipulate Hal to do what it wanted, Parallax is now able to completely supress the noblest parts of its host and amplify the host's worst instincts and desires. I don't think that diminishes Kyle as a character, it just means that Parallax is growing stronger and becoming a more dangerous threat than ever before.

[Carter Hall]

Okay, it sounds like a lot of these reviews have been mixed on this issue. Here's my two cents:

First off, to me, this felt like an addition to the Ion miniseries more than anything, which was all about Ron Marz developing Kyle's character during all he's gone through these days. And this one-shot was no different- it was a pause from the main story to see what's going on within Kyle Rayner. I enjoyed the Ion series a great deal, and I enjoyed this story, too, for the same reasons. I understand that it has no bearing on the overall story, but I didn't expect it to, and for that matter, the ending of the issue, with Kyle walking towards the green light in the painting very well might come back to be a plot device for how he frees himself from Parallax.

As for Parallax himself, I agree he was a bit different from how he's normally characterized (see Rebirth), but this could also be because he's taken on a different host. And I don't subscribe to this "Parallax is like a drug" interpretation, because even Johns himself said (in his extra material for the Rebirth TPB) "Hal Jordan is NOT Parallax- never has been," and other commentary, which to me said that Hal was NOT responsible for his actions as Parallax. Hence, I didn't have any problems with Parallax's actions not really being Kyle's or whatever, nor with how Parallax has taken over Kyle.

All in all, a solid issue. You don't have to read it to get the Sinestro Corps War story, but if you like "Director's Cut" material, I thought the ish was great.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I hadn't read any of those interviews. That's a shame. Anyway, I prefer my version and I'll continue to ignore anything that contradicts it because it makes the story more interesting to me :)

[mgs]

I liked this comic, but 1. definitely the title didn't fit. I mean, all those backups were at least in the past and were stories or whatnot, but there's nothing to suggest that this should've been called a 'Tales of..' story.

I loved Melo's art, she got me when doing Gail's Rose and Thorn books and Marlo is a great inker as well. It was kinda silly for him to be battling with such fervor only to lose b/c he had no confidence, but there is the whole possible redemption thing at the end, and hopefully, that will stop him from killing that family in the last page of the GL, book.

[jv2k]

Parralax did also mention that Kyle didn't have the same will power that Hal did.
He says something along the lines of "It took a whole city to die for Hal to get week enough for me to control. For you all it took was the death of your mom"

We also have to take into account that kyle got jumped and parralax actually physically leaped into kyles body instead of subtly infesting him like he did Hal and he probably has a power boost from sinestro's corp.

Since kyle actually knows about parralax the entity it also probably couldn't take any chances on influencing him. Unlike the first time it invaded a human Kyle would know he's infected and fight it.


Anyway I thought this was an interesting issue. I don't know why anyone would think that this was a continuation of the Sinestro Wars story as it is a look at various members and not the origins. After all we already have a Parralax origin(one in countdown more similar to other sinestro corps story and one in rebirth) and a third would be pointless.

[BYC]

I think retcons have a tendency to destroy/loosen the logic of the original story. Cause now we have to decide if Hal was Parallax or not, or if Parallax completely supressed Hal during the long possession.

It's a bit annoying that the guy who wrote the retcon can't get the story right :D

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I think retcons have a tendency to destroy/loosen the logic of the original story. Cause now we have to decide if Hal was Parallax or not, or if Parallax completely supressed Hal during the long possession.

It's a bit annoying that the guy who wrote the retcon can't get the story right :D


This story was written by Ron Marz, who wrote the original Emerald Twilight.

Geoff Johns wrote Rebirth, which retconned Emerald Twilight.

So, this is the writer of the retconned story retconning the retcon.

My head hurts.

[Carter Hall]

I liked this comic, but 1. definitely the title didn't fit. I mean, all those backups were at least in the past and were stories or whatnot, but there's nothing to suggest that this should've been called a 'Tales of..' story.

I agree with this. I would've preferred a different title to the book if it wasn't going to be an origin story/ tale out of the character's past like the TOTSC backstories in the GL ongoing that were so wonderful.

As far as the Parallax/Hal thing being inconsistant, I really don't think it is. Just read Rebirth again, folks. The Parallax entity took over Hal's body and was responsible for all the bad things that were done. Whenever Parallax did something that was good occasionally, it's said in the story that "the good man was shining through," probably because Hal was fighting the whole way just like what Kyle is doing right now. For crying out loud, the whole miniseries of Rebirth is about Hal, the Spectre, and Parallax fighting for control of Hal's body.

I think Geoff Johns' work GL needs to be looked at for what it is within the whole context. The concepts they're working with right now with Parallax and the GL Corps and everything else in the Sinestro Corps stories are based heavily on what was established in Rebirth.

[BeastieRunner]

I liked the interaction with Kyle/Parallax. The fight was good too. 4 power rings out of 5.

[Bob-el]

I liked this comic, but 1. definitely the title didn't fit.

I liked this issue as much as anything with Kyle in quite awhile but the title should have been TOTSC:Kyle Rayner or some such. TOTSC: Parallax should have been mainly about Parallax.

Does his escape into the painting at the end have anything to do with his appearance in Countdown or is it supposed to be pre-Sinestro War?

[Alex L]

I agree with this. I would've preferred a different title to the book if it wasn't going to be an origin story/ tale out of the character's past like the TOTSC backstories in the GL ongoing that were so wonderful.

As far as the Parallax/Hal thing being inconsistant, I really don't think it is. Just read Rebirth again, folks. The Parallax entity took over Hal's body and was responsible for all the bad things that were done. Whenever Parallax did something that was good occasionally, it's said in the story that "the good man was shining through," probably because Hal was fighting the whole way just like what Kyle is doing right now. For crying out loud, the whole miniseries of Rebirth is about Hal, the Spectre, and Parallax fighting for control of Hal's body.

I think Geoff Johns' work GL needs to be looked at for what it is within the whole context. The concepts they're working with right now with Parallax and the GL Corps and everything else in the Sinestro Corps stories are based heavily on what was established in Rebirth.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Spectre have to explain the existence of Parallax to Hal?

That would show that Hal didn't know Parallax was there -- certainly not in the way that Kyle does.

[E-Tagg]

I liked this issue as much as anything with Kyle in quite awhile but the title should have been TOTSC:Kyle Rayner or some such. TOTSC: Parallax should have been mainly about Parallax.

I agree; it wasn't an issue about Parallax, it was all Kyle. Why not just call it Ion?

But as a person that doesn't know much about the guy, I actually enjoyed seeing an issue that sidestepped the main storyline to dwell a bit. The whole War is so fast and furious that you don't get much time to think about some of the individual beats, but that's exactly what Kyle's being forced to do. Also, I liked how he was progressively stripped down of his powers and talents; it's one of those cheesy moments that's hero-defining and I dug it.

[jv2k]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Spectre have to explain the existence of Parallax to Hal?

That would show that Hal didn't know Parallax was there -- certainly not in the way that Kyle does.

I believe I stated this earlier but the easiest explanation would be that Kyle knows about parralax and the subtle tricks it used on Hal just wouldn't work the same way since kyle wouldn't fall for the same trick twice what with him seeing parralax literally hopping into his body.

It could also be parralax's method of entering kyles body. With Hal he slowly entered through the ring due to Hal's fear meaning up until he absorbed the battery Parralax didn't have the power to do what he did to kyle. By the time Hal did that Parralax didn't NEED to.

[titanfan]

So, is the Kyle who is hanging out with Donna Troy in Countdown really Parallax in disguise?