Science Fiction Superhero: Green Lantern

NEWSIrama SCIENCE FICTION SUPERHERO www.newsarama.com GREEN LANTERN Unlike Superman, who is an alien from a distant planet, Green Lantern is just an ordinary human who has been given great power by the beings who maintain the balance of good and evil in the universe. ABOVE: RYAN REYNOLDS STARS IN "GREEN LANTERN" (2011) GREEN LANTERN BATTLES UNDEAD SUPERHEROES IN 2010'S "BLACKEST NIGHT" MINISERIES HAL JORDAN Although an early hero named "Green Lantern" appeared in 1940, the 1959 reboot of the character is the superhero we recognize. In the comic book "DC Showcase No. 22," an alien spacecraft crash-lands in the southwestern United States. As he dies, the alien pilot selects military flier Hal Jordan to inherit his power ring and uniform. Jordan becomes Green Lantern, protector of Space Sector 2814. POWER RING EW TARE MY RING.LETMERIT IT CWICU--! WITH THIS RwO EW MLL DRAN AOER FRC LOONE! HE.. THE BATTEev...FFECTNE FOR 2 MOURS... NOT PAIL ME.. Created thousands of years ago, the Power Rings are a weapon for focusing willpower, channeled through the Central Power Battery on the planet Oa, The The wearer can project force beams, fly through space and create objects by imagining them. The i e ring's power is pro- portional to the wearer's will. A Power Ring chooses its user, preferring beings who can "overcome great fear." CONSTRUCTS The Power Ring enables the wearer to create physical objects which exist for as long as the user maintains the willpower to imagine them. The constructs glow with green light. Even complex mechanical objects can be created. POWER BATTERY Originally the Power Rings held a 24-hour supply of energy, after which they must be recharged from a lantern-shaped Power Battery. In the current continuity, there is no time limit and the ring is only charged when its energy runs low. "In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight Let those who worship evil's might, Beware my power... Green Lantern's light!" GREEN LANTERN'S OATH PLANET OA A planet at the center of the universe, Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps and of the Guardians. A huge home Central Power Battery on Oa lirectiv directly links to each Green Lantern's Power Battery, channeling green energy to fuel the Power Rings. Oa was destroyed in a battle between Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner. The planet has since been restored. THE GUARDIANS These ancient beings evolved soon after the universe began. The Guardians originated on a planet called Maltus but later relocated to planet Oa. The Guardians created the Green Lantern Corps thousands of years ago, and have maintained control since. GREEN LANTERN CORPS The Corps is a vast interstellar police force designed to keep order in the universe. Members are recruited from planets in each of the 3,600 Space Sectors. The Power Rings themselves choose the beings who are to become Green Lanterns. The total membership of the Corps is 7,200. Hal Jordan is the most renowned Lantern from planet Earth. OTHER LANTERNS OF EARTH ALAN SCOTT GUY GARDNER JOHN STEWART KYLE RAYNER The original Golden Age hero debuted in 1940. Scott's In 1971, Stewart was an architect chosen to become the backup Green Lantern after Debuting in 1968, Originally a graphic designer, Rayner Gardner was revealed to be the Power Ring's became Earth's defender in 1994 when Jordan turned mystical power was obtained from the alternate choice Starheart, an artifact shaped like a lantern. after Hal Jordan. Gardner was into the villain injured in a Parallax. disaster. FAMOUS ALIEN LANTERNS ABIN SUR TOMAR-RE CH'P KILOWOG First appearing in 1959, the dying Abin Sur gave his power ring, costume and lantern to his Introduced in 1982, Ch'p Drill sergeant of the Corps, Kilowog hails from the Tomar was the first member of the Corps to be introduced into the comic book in 1961. resembles a combination chipmunk and squirrel. planet Bolovax Vik. He first appeared in 1986. successor, Hal Jordan. MOGO The entire planet Mogo is a Green Lantern. Mogo is a sentient being possessed of enormous willpower and is responsible for guiding Power Rings to new users. This most unusual of Green Lanterns was introduced in the 1985 story "Mogo Doesn't Socialize." ALL "GREEN LANTERN" ARTWORK AND CHARACTER NAMES © AND M 2011 DC COMICS SOURCES: "SILVER AGE OF COMIC BOOK ART" BY ARLEN SCHUMER; GREEN LANTERN ARCHIVES, VOLUME 1; TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS, VOLUME 2 WEB: http://dccomics.com http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com http://greenlantern.wikia.com GRAPHIC BY KARL TATE, NEWSARAMA.COM