DC’s Green Lantern (2023-) #37 gives Kyle Rayner another grounded chapter in his return to Earth, trading large-scale cosmic spectacle for awkward relationships, neighborhood problems, and the responsibilities of protecting Odyssey. Written by Jeremy Adams and illustrated by Xermanico, the issue matters because it continues redefining Kyle’s place in the series while quietly laying groundwork for larger conflicts ahead.
Kyle Rayner’s Los Angeles life takes center stage
Since Kyle moved back to Los Angeles, Adams has treated the city as more than a backdrop. It has become part of the character’s new status quo. Kyle is still Earth’s Green Lantern, but his concerns now extend beyond saving planets and battling interstellar threats. He is also trying to help Odyssey adjust to modern life, serve as her bodyguard, and determine whether there is still a future with Jade.
That balance gives the issue much of its personality. Kyle’s superhero duties remain important, but the story is equally interested in the conversations, misunderstandings, and emotional complications that come with being a hero in ordinary spaces. Odyssey’s perspective adds another layer to the book, particularly as she attempts to understand Los Angeles and the culture surrounding her.
Jade’s presence strengthens that character-driven approach. Her history with Kyle gives their scenes an easy familiarity, but also a noticeable tension. The issue does not rush their relationship into a simple romantic reunion. Instead, it allows their interactions to remain funny, occasionally uncomfortable, and emotionally unfinished.
For readers who prefer Green Lantern stories built around personal stakes as much as mythology, this is one of the issue’s clearest strengths. It also makes the current direction accessible to readers who may not be following every cosmic development in DC’s broader Lantern line.
Troll starts as a horror threat before becoming a punchline
The issue’s primary threat is Troll, a new villain connected to the escaped Sciencells inmates who have complicated Kyle’s life in Los Angeles. DC’s official description frames the conflict around a series of death threats directed at Odyssey and a malevolent force that reacts badly when Kyle mocks it.
Xermanico makes an immediate impression with the opening pages. The sequence builds tension through atmosphere and suggestion rather than rushing into a traditional superhero confrontation. There is a psychological quality to the setup, with the artist using suspense and carefully controlled reveals to create the feeling that something is watching from just outside the frame.
That horror-inspired approach is effective, although the mood changes once Troll fully enters the story. The confrontation becomes more comedic than frightening, with Kyle and Jade’s reactions providing much of the humor. The tonal shift is not necessarily a problem—the Green Lantern franchise has always made room for comedy—but it does reduce some of the menace established at the beginning.
Even when the villain fails to make a lasting impression, Xermanico’s artwork remains expressive and energetic. Characters have strong body language, and the visual humor lands through reaction shots and exaggerated expressions rather than overexplained dialogue. Romulo Fajardo Jr.’s colors support the issue’s movement between eerie tension and lighter superhero comedy.
A quick-moving chapter with bigger hooks in the margins
The central conflict is entertaining, but it feels relatively slight compared with the larger threats Kyle has faced during this run. The issue moves quickly and sometimes reads like the first half of a longer chapter rather than a fully contained story. Troll functions well enough as an immediate obstacle, but the character is not given much motivation beyond escaping confinement and causing trouble.
That limitation is especially noticeable because the strongest material comes from the supporting threads. The Hal Jordan and Jayna pages continue to build curiosity around their cosmic journey, keeping that storyline active without overwhelming Kyle’s Earthbound narrative.
The developing S.H.A.D.E. subplot is even more significant. Its latest movement suggests that Kyle’s problems are about to become considerably more complicated, and the issue’s closing developments leave a stronger impression than the main battle. Without giving away the final-page surprise, Adams uses it to connect Kyle’s present circumstances with unresolved elements from his past.
This structure reflects the book’s current appeal. The immediate threat may be modest, but the issue is constantly planting pieces for future stories. Readers looking for a major Lantern event may find the main plot underpowered. Those invested in Kyle’s relationships and the series’ expanding web of subplots will likely find more to enjoy.
Release details and the issue’s place in the current run
Green Lantern (2023-) #37 is published by DC and went on sale in the United States on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The 22-page, Teen-rated comic carries a $4.99 cover price. Jeremy Adams is credited as writer, Xermanico provides the interior art, and Romulo Fajardo Jr. handles colors. The cover is by Eddy Barrows and Fajardo.
The issue continues the direction established after Kyle’s return to Los Angeles. DC’s solicited material for the surrounding issues emphasizes Kyle’s new responsibilities, Odyssey’s arrival in his life, and the renewed importance of Jade. Those elements give the series a distinct identity within the wider Green Lantern franchise, allowing it to explore the difference between being a cosmic champion and being a hero who has to deal with traffic, jobs, old relationships, and escaped villains in his own city.
That approach should also appeal to collectors who follow the creative team’s work across the current series. Adams and Xermanico helped establish the title’s modern tone from its launch, and the continuing focus on Kyle’s personal life gives the run a recognizable throughline even as the supporting cast and threats evolve.
Final verdict
Green Lantern (2023-) #37 is a character-first installment that succeeds more through charm and anticipation than through action. Adams continues to give Kyle Rayner a compelling supporting cast, while Xermanico delivers expressive art and a memorable horror-flavored opening.
Troll does not yet feel like a fully realized villain, and the main conflict lacks the weight of the run’s stronger chapters. Still, the issue’s Los Angeles setting, Kyle and Jade’s chemistry, Odyssey’s ongoing adjustment, and the promising Hal, Jayna, and S.H.A.D.E. developments keep the larger story moving.
For readers who enjoy superhero comics that make room for humor, relationship drama, and quieter world-building, this is an easy recommendation. It may not be the most spectacular chapter of Kyle Rayner’s comeback, but it leaves him in a more interesting place than where it found him.
Sources
dc.com
aiptcomics.com
