Green Lantern Mosaic was one of my favorite titles as a teenager in the 1990s; shame that John Stewart becoming a Guardian in the final issue never carried over into the main GL book. I hope that DC collects the entire series someday; they can always leave Gerard Jones' name off the credits.
Johns loosing his guardian-powers has an explanation. The abilitys of the Guardians of Oa back then were tied to the central power-battery, and when Hal destroyed it during Emerald Twilight Johns new guardian abilitys got lost because of it. This later on also got referenced after the events of Final Night when Hal as Paralax gave him a bit of his energy so he could walk once more before Hal reignited the sun.
Recall when this came out but never read the series. Didn't know Gerard Jones was capable of something so sophisticated and experimental. Art style is defiant -- ambitious dynamics with an almost expressionist approach to rendering. Definitely will check this out, thanks for the heads up.
I collected much of the series when I was younger. I remember it being different than what I was used to, but I loved seeing what Jones was doing with the Green Lantern universe and the Stewart character. It disappointed me to see the series end and it have no long-term impact on Stewart.
@@kevstubeification We're talking about a comic effectively cancelled at issue six but ran another 12 issues. That tells you editorial saw it as a one-off series but was nice enough to allow its completion.
@@kidzoki I'm glad they allowed it to be completed, but I always wished it had more impact on John Stewart's overall character. It's pretty unique, especially for the 90s.
From your recommendation, I have been slowly reading this and it is quite good so far. You provided some good context to this story as well which really helped out. I doubt this story would be collected, but it would be a good idea to include all of the contextual stuff in it as well (i.e. cosmic odyssey and the beginning of the new green lantern series).
Okay finished up, it was a pretty good character study, even if the ending was rushed. The times when John had to solve conflicts and explored his own psyche was when the series was at its best. John became a godlike being long before Hal even became Parallax. Also, found it ironic that the only way Rockwell could succeed was by teaming up with other aliens to overpower John.
I was buying and reading this when it first came out. Loved the art but couldn’t get into the story at all. Years later I realize it was a little over my head, and I’ll probably enjoy it a lot more now. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for making this. Was a huge MOSAIC fan back in the day and I remember being in my dorm room reading that last issue and not being able to explain why I was so emotionally crushed by it. To use modern slang, I had never felt so "seen" before in a comic protagonist. MOSAIC John Stewart is the best John Stewart....and best Green Lantern.
Im really not a fan of "cosmic" stuff in comics, but the way you analysed + described this has intrigued me. I really do like the way you present things in these videos, clear, concise + always thought provoking. once again, without wishing to sound patronising, well done.
Thanks for covering this story. It was an interesting experiment indeed that, in a better world, might have been given a long run. And well, in that better world, perhaps the author would not have fallen from grace the way he (deservedly) did.
I picked up an irregular allotment of these at a flea market several years ago, and couldn't make heads or tail of it, its a series that really needs you all-in from the get go. Maybe some day. From around the same period, I'd love to see a video on Simonson's Orion solo series (the connection being John Stewart and Orion's shared mission in Cosmic Odyssey).
Would you consider doing an episode on the recent Grant Morrison GL run? It really flew under the radar for most readers, but it has been a strange and unique read.
Absolutely loved this series. I think in addition to sales being a factor in its demise, the split between the DCU proper and the new Vertigo line - not two universes, but (to borrow someone else's metaphor) two continents drifting apart - left GL:M without a home. It was deemed too weird to stay in the DCU but not weird enough to go to Vertigo alongside their superhero books DOOM PATROL and ANIMAL MAN.
Omg that was an amazing video! Hopefully we can get a true John solo GL book soon. Till then we have Far Sector and stuff like Kyle in Omega Men. Kyle and John are my 2 favorite lanterns, neither gets the solo book they deserve.
that's because they don't sell. I'm pretty sure being the green lantern fan you are that you know that both kyle and john aren't the most popular. john comics all flop and do not perform as they waste DC money since nobody reads the comics as quite frankly nobody gives a shxt about him outside the justice league cartoon. and kyle, is awesome truly one of my favorite fictional characters ever, however he's in the shadow of the superior green lantern Hal Jordan . That's why most predecessors suck. Because they will always play second fiddle to the definitve version - Hal Jordan, Batman, Barry Allen, Kyle should have always been a indigo lantern, or something like that
@@legendary3952 you have a point but ill counter with the fact that beside Mosaic (which was the 90s just before the crash) we have never had a John solo GL book only stuff like New52 GL Corps which was a buddy cop book between Guy and John. That book also was the back up to Hals book which Geoff Johns was still writing. He hasn't had the chance to stand on his own without being tied to whatever Hal or Guy was doing. If John Stewart was made lead of the new main GL line I think DC can sell that. As for Kyle I understand what you mean, he is suffering a lighter version of what happened to Wally but i still think he can stand on his own. He should have stayed a white lantern rather than green or maybe just become Ion again.
matthew salavarria matthew salavarria we never had a John solo book because there isn’t a big appeal for him. In comparison to Hal Jordan or Kyle Rayner “If John was made lead of the GL like I think DC can sell that” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Maybe for 5 issues before getting cancelled buddy John fans come from the show From nostalgia Because people watched the children’s cartoon But in the comics he just is lame No depth, personality, or appeal Hal and John earned their popularity through their solo series. John hasn’t yet Dc also tried to do the John solo run recently but it flopped again He ain’t no Hal Jordan
Mosaic gave John's character a lot of depth imo n idk about the idea of only Hal and Kyle having appeal in GL. The Kyle Rayner collection recently got cancelled after 2 books while the Far Sector, a relatively new lantern, run is still ongoing. The GLC is huge ,exploring more characters might not be a bad idea.
Ragga Muffin I hate the idea of there being so much human Green Lanterns Even worse Only American human Green Lanterns Is it only Americans who have great willpower in DC Comics Is like it if they’re were human blue lanterns etc
I didn’t read this series but was always a fan of Gerard Jones’ writing. Today I just learned he was in jail for CP. I’m trying to find more information as he was a writer I’d ad admired for many years.
Perfectly understandable given what Gerard Jones turned out to be, but a shame this take isn't more known over Stewart being just a stoic military man. Still, you could consider Far Sector a spiritual successor to this, this time by a non-shitty person and between that and Morrison and Earth One, we are once again seeing Green Lantern as ambitious sci-fi series instead of space operatic crossover mania.
I remember this book was very fun to read. I remember it was a lot like Deep Space Nine in that sense. It wasn't afraid to take risks and take a different path from the main series that spawned it. Excellent character piece too.
I saw this comic sitting in my freind's dad's office, I believe it was the first issue. I wasn't intrested in comics at that point, video games were more my thing and I was too busy playing DB Budokai and Battle For Bikni Bottom on gamecube to care. Later in life I've wondered what this book was about. Needless to say I think I'll pick this book up. Thanks dude.
I thought Mosaic was excellent. It gave me a great appreciation for a non standard fight comic story. It provided the much needed redemption from John for the failure his character was saddled with from Cosmic Odyssey.
It is such a shame that the criminal actions of one of the creators prevents DC from republishing this work. A book is not just the writer but the work of artists, editors, letterers and colourists as well. Even people who do bad things are complex people and can do good things as well, both the good and bad are valid things that should have separate consequences. I would love to see an Omnibus with the 18 issue series plus the 4 issue miniseries within a series. Or maybe a couple of volumes of DC Finest John Stewart that would include these.
Thank you for showing me this series, I love Green Lantern (and experimental comics) and have never heard of this series. The only other experimental Green Lantern story I've heard of is Ringworld but I've yet to read it, What are your thoughts on it?
I'm surprised I've never heard of this series! I consider myself a slightly more than casual GL fan, but this one has never even come on to my radar? It sounds like a GREAT series. I'm not too sure about the artwork though. Guess I'll keep an eye out for it in the cheap bins.
I love John Stewart Green Lantern (raised on the JL cartoon and he was the guy), and having never heard of this makes me really wanna check it out. Especially since it feels of a piece with what Grant Morrison was doing on other DC titles (although more sociological than psychological). Is there a collected edition of this? The art is gorgeous, and it's so rare that you see such interesting takes with black mainstream superheroes.
@@StrangeBrainPartsyes it is unfortunate this will not likely be collected. Why should readers and other creators like the artist be punished for the writers crimes. Also the way I see it he was convicted and served his sentence is it up to companies to punish as well as the law. Yes criminals may need to be kept from work where they may recommit crimes, but if we don’t allow criminals to re-integrate in some way back to at least relatively normal life won’t that just encourage them back to crime.
One of my all time favourites. A great look at this character. Too bad about the writer. His Oktane mini series from Dark Hourse is a great read as well. I wrongly predicted the twist ending to M Night Shyamalans The Village would be an ode to this series.
The series is really powerful, and was impactful on me as a kid. Sadly, the writer (Gerard Jones) would later be revealed as a collector of child porn and sentenced to Federal prison in 2018. This is why we can't have nice things.
The only trade I could find was four issues long. No chance of this or Gerard Jones' other DC comic Martian Manhunter: American Secrets getting collected now.
Sounds somewhat or somehow this Mosaic event borrowed concepts or minutia from a tested & true modern (for its publication date though ... this work of fiction revolving around a futureccfq
I agree with Alessio. Never read the series but judging by the stills in the video, this series suffers more from the horrible art as the big 2 were starting to hire mediocre artists & Rob Liefield clones in trying to cut costs in the creative department as they were heading into the comics industry's dark age. Even if the story is great, without at least a competent, consist artwork a series won't have long to live. It's a visual medium, the artwork will always trump story-telling. I am interested in checking out Jim Balent's early DC work in his short run on the series.
its a shame for the artist though, even if im not a fan of thier style, to know that because some absolute monster worked with you on something it will never see the light of day again must be quite depressing
This is an unjust and unfair depiction of Norman Rockwell. Rockwell's views on race were more thoughtful and nuanced than this comic and video lazily show. This is not surprising. In Gerard Jones's case, contempt for the 1950s and swooning over multiculturalism was a mask for his unhealthy interest in children.
I’ve never heard of this series before. It sounds very interesting. I’m glad you cover less talked about series like these.
Green Lantern Mosaic was one of my favorite titles as a teenager in the 1990s; shame that John Stewart becoming a Guardian in the final issue never carried over into the main GL book. I hope that DC collects the entire series someday; they can always leave Gerard Jones' name off the credits.
Johns loosing his guardian-powers has an explanation. The abilitys of the Guardians of Oa back then were tied to the central power-battery, and when Hal destroyed it during Emerald Twilight Johns new guardian abilitys got lost because of it. This later on also got referenced after the events of Final Night when Hal as Paralax gave him a bit of his energy so he could walk once more before Hal reignited the sun.
Recall when this came out but never read the series. Didn't know Gerard Jones was capable of something so sophisticated and experimental. Art style is defiant -- ambitious dynamics with an almost expressionist approach to rendering. Definitely will check this out, thanks for the heads up.
I collected much of the series when I was younger. I remember it being different than what I was used to, but I loved seeing what Jones was doing with the Green Lantern universe and the Stewart character. It disappointed me to see the series end and it have no long-term impact on Stewart.
@@kevstubeification We're talking about a comic effectively cancelled at issue six but ran another 12 issues. That tells you editorial saw it as a one-off series but was nice enough to allow its completion.
@@kidzoki I'm glad they allowed it to be completed, but I always wished it had more impact on John Stewart's overall character. It's pretty unique, especially for the 90s.
The GLC was used between 86 and 90 in the Green Lantern Corps comics.
From your recommendation, I have been slowly reading this and it is quite good so far. You provided some good context to this story as well which really helped out. I doubt this story would be collected, but it would be a good idea to include all of the contextual stuff in it as well (i.e. cosmic odyssey and the beginning of the new green lantern series).
Okay finished up, it was a pretty good character study, even if the ending was rushed. The times when John had to solve conflicts and explored his own psyche was when the series was at its best. John became a godlike being long before Hal even became Parallax. Also, found it ironic that the only way Rockwell could succeed was by teaming up with other aliens to overpower John.
I was buying and reading this when it first came out. Loved the art but couldn’t get into the story at all. Years later I realize it was a little over my head, and I’ll probably enjoy it a lot more now.
Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for making this. Was a huge MOSAIC fan back in the day and I remember being in my dorm room reading that last issue and not being able to explain why I was so emotionally crushed by it. To use modern slang, I had never felt so "seen" before in a comic protagonist. MOSAIC John Stewart is the best John Stewart....and best Green Lantern.
Im really not a fan of "cosmic" stuff in comics, but the way you analysed + described this has intrigued me. I really do like the way you present things in these videos, clear, concise + always thought provoking. once again, without wishing to sound patronising, well done.
I loved this series. Completely underrated writing.
Finally some one speaks about mosaic. This was my introduction to John Stewart
Glad to see this series getting a look. It has been ages.
Thanks for covering this story. It was an interesting experiment indeed that, in a better world, might have been given a long run. And well, in that better world, perhaps the author would not have fallen from grace the way he (deservedly) did.
05:18 Holy Crap that's messed up
Now this was an absolutely mad little thing that I never thought a mainstream superhero story could be turned into.
I picked up an irregular allotment of these at a flea market several years ago, and couldn't make heads or tail of it, its a series that really needs you all-in from the get go. Maybe some day.
From around the same period, I'd love to see a video on Simonson's Orion solo series (the connection being John Stewart and Orion's shared mission in Cosmic Odyssey).
Would you consider doing an episode on the recent Grant Morrison GL run? It really flew under the radar for most readers, but it has been a strange and unique read.
I feel like silver surfer by slott is better
I liked Mosaic. It was a very thoughtful comic.
It was one of my all-time favorites
Absolutely loved this series. I think in addition to sales being a factor in its demise, the split between the DCU proper and the new Vertigo line - not two universes, but (to borrow someone else's metaphor) two continents drifting apart - left GL:M without a home. It was deemed too weird to stay in the DCU but not weird enough to go to Vertigo alongside their superhero books DOOM PATROL and ANIMAL MAN.
I always stayed away cause of the covers but ur video makes me want to read it.
Omg that was an amazing video! Hopefully we can get a true John solo GL book soon. Till then we have Far Sector and stuff like Kyle in Omega Men. Kyle and John are my 2 favorite lanterns, neither gets the solo book they deserve.
that's because they don't sell. I'm pretty sure being the green lantern fan you are that you know that both kyle and john aren't the most popular. john comics all flop and do not perform as they waste DC money since nobody reads the comics as quite frankly nobody gives a shxt about him outside the justice league cartoon.
and kyle, is awesome truly one of my favorite fictional characters ever, however he's in the shadow of the superior green lantern Hal Jordan .
That's why most predecessors suck. Because they will always play second fiddle to the definitve version - Hal Jordan, Batman, Barry Allen,
Kyle should have always been a indigo lantern, or something like that
@@legendary3952 you have a point but ill counter with the fact that beside Mosaic (which was the 90s just before the crash) we have never had a John solo GL book only stuff like New52 GL Corps which was a buddy cop book between Guy and John. That book also was the back up to Hals book which Geoff Johns was still writing. He hasn't had the chance to stand on his own without being tied to whatever Hal or Guy was doing. If John Stewart was made lead of the new main GL line I think DC can sell that. As for Kyle I understand what you mean, he is suffering a lighter version of what happened to Wally but i still think he can stand on his own. He should have stayed a white lantern rather than green or maybe just become Ion again.
matthew salavarria matthew salavarria we never had a John solo book because there isn’t a big appeal for him.
In comparison to Hal Jordan or Kyle Rayner
“If John was made lead of the GL like I think DC can sell that”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Maybe for 5 issues before getting cancelled buddy
John fans come from the show
From nostalgia
Because people watched the children’s cartoon
But in the comics he just is lame
No depth, personality, or appeal
Hal and John earned their popularity through their solo series. John hasn’t yet
Dc also tried to do the John solo run recently but it flopped again
He ain’t no Hal Jordan
Mosaic gave John's character a lot of depth imo n idk about the idea of only Hal and Kyle having appeal in GL. The Kyle Rayner collection recently got cancelled after 2 books while the Far Sector, a relatively new lantern, run is still ongoing. The GLC is huge ,exploring more characters might not be a bad idea.
Ragga Muffin I hate the idea of there being so much human Green Lanterns
Even worse
Only American human Green Lanterns
Is it only Americans who have great willpower in DC Comics
Is like it if they’re were human blue lanterns etc
love your style man.
I didn’t read this series but was always a fan of Gerard Jones’ writing. Today I just learned he was in jail for CP. I’m trying to find more information as he was a writer I’d ad admired for many years.
Perfectly understandable given what Gerard Jones turned out to be, but a shame this take isn't more known over Stewart being just a stoic military man. Still, you could consider Far Sector a spiritual successor to this, this time by a non-shitty person and between that and Morrison and Earth One, we are once again seeing Green Lantern as ambitious sci-fi series instead of space operatic crossover mania.
Omg your right Far Sector does feel lile a spiritual sequel. I have all of Mosaic and Far Sector and did not notice till you said so.
bloody hell @Markuscriticus that google depressed the crap out of me. at least i still have my thriller album to listen to without an pro......ohFFS!!
I remember this book was very fun to read. I remember it was a lot like Deep Space Nine in that sense. It wasn't afraid to take risks and take a different path from the main series that spawned it. Excellent character piece too.
I got issue no. 5 when I was a kid. My cousin gave a stash of comicbooks and one of them is issue 5 of the storyline.
Excellent series.. Gerard Jones being a pos abuser destroyed any hope of this being collected.
It was faintly in my memory, but I had to verify.
What’s a pos abuser?
@@Kulturkriget holy crap
That's what he's referring too. And yes, Gerard Jones is currently incarcerated.
It's nice that DC gave them enough notice about the cancellation, but then to wave it all away renders the gesture moot.
Good video dude
I saw this comic sitting in my freind's dad's office, I believe it was the first issue. I wasn't intrested in comics at that point, video games were more my thing and I was too busy playing DB Budokai and Battle For Bikni Bottom on gamecube to care. Later in life I've wondered what this book was about.
Needless to say I think I'll pick this book up. Thanks dude.
Interesting story
I thought Mosaic was excellent. It gave me a great appreciation for a non standard fight comic story. It provided the much needed redemption from John for the failure his character was saddled with from Cosmic Odyssey.
It is such a shame that the criminal actions of one of the creators prevents DC from republishing this work. A book is not just the writer but the work of artists, editors, letterers and colourists as well. Even people who do bad things are complex people and can do good things as well, both the good and bad are valid things that should have separate consequences. I would love to see an Omnibus with the 18 issue series plus the 4 issue miniseries within a series. Or maybe a couple of volumes of DC Finest John Stewart that would include these.
Thank you for showing me this series, I love Green Lantern (and experimental comics) and have never heard of this series.
The only other experimental Green Lantern story I've heard of is Ringworld but I've yet to read it, What are your thoughts on it?
If you want something experimental and GL id say read Tom Kings Omega Men mini series it involves Kyle and takes place right before DC Rebirth.
Never has a wiki search made me so depressed so quickly.
I'm surprised I've never heard of this series! I consider myself a slightly more than casual GL fan, but this one has never even come on to my radar? It sounds like a GREAT series. I'm not too sure about the artwork though. Guess I'll keep an eye out for it in the cheap bins.
I love John Stewart Green Lantern (raised on the JL cartoon and he was the guy), and having never heard of this makes me really wanna check it out. Especially since it feels of a piece with what Grant Morrison was doing on other DC titles (although more sociological than psychological). Is there a collected edition of this? The art is gorgeous, and it's so rare that you see such interesting takes with black mainstream superheroes.
In recent years the writer was convicted of quite a serious crime. With that in mind, it's unlikely DC will collect the material.
@@StrangeBrainPartsyes it is unfortunate this will not likely be collected. Why should readers and other creators like the artist be punished for the writers crimes. Also the way I see it he was convicted and served his sentence is it up to companies to punish as well as the law. Yes criminals may need to be kept from work where they may recommit crimes, but if we don’t allow criminals to re-integrate in some way back to at least relatively normal life won’t that just encourage them back to crime.
One of my all time favourites. A great look at this character. Too bad about the writer. His Oktane mini series from Dark Hourse is a great read as well. I wrongly predicted the twist ending to M Night Shyamalans The Village would be an ode to this series.
Poor Ch'p
What music do you use in your intro? It feels retro future trippy.
messed up to have something like this cancelled
The series is really powerful, and was impactful on me as a kid. Sadly, the writer (Gerard Jones) would later be revealed as a collector of child porn and sentenced to Federal prison in 2018. This is why we can't have nice things.
I've heard this book was excellent, but I find a trade of it is slightly harder to find than a Lantern ring in our universe.🧐
how i feel about most books mentioned on this channel
The only trade I could find was four issues long. No chance of this or Gerard Jones' other DC comic Martian Manhunter: American Secrets getting collected now.
@@jakepalermo9181 i was hunting down the Question in trade, it is actually cheaper to buy the original issues Mint🤣🤣
come on dude, don't sugar coat it, JS' ego caused that planet to be destroyed.
wrong Rockwell, try looking up, George Lincoln Rockwell. ...lol
I was about to point this out, scanned the comments to see if anyone else had yet.
Have you read Justice league:the Nail?
Sounds somewhat or somehow this Mosaic event borrowed concepts or minutia from a tested & true modern (for its publication date though ... this work of fiction revolving around a futureccfq
Mosaic was groundbreaking. Story was fabulous art was bad. Also, why didn’t John stop Hal as parallax.
Is it me or has the art...let’s say...not aged well?
I agree with Alessio. Never read the series but judging by the stills in the video, this series suffers more from the horrible art as the big 2 were starting to hire mediocre artists & Rob Liefield clones in trying to cut costs in the creative department as they were heading into the comics industry's dark age. Even if the story is great, without at least a competent, consist artwork a series won't have long to live. It's a visual medium, the artwork will always trump story-telling. I am interested in checking out Jim Balent's early DC work in his short run on the series.
its a shame for the artist though, even if im not a fan of thier style, to know that because some absolute monster worked with you on something it will never see the light of day again must be quite depressing
This is an unjust and unfair depiction of Norman Rockwell. Rockwell's views on race were more thoughtful and nuanced than this comic and video lazily show. This is not surprising. In Gerard Jones's case, contempt for the 1950s and swooning over multiculturalism was a mask for his unhealthy interest in children.