Posted on 10/04/2004 1:03:57 PM PDT by escapefromboston
Does a mass murderer deserve a second chance?
And what must he do to not only win back his life but become worthy of being called a hero?
Comic book readers will find out when DC tries to rehabilitate Hal Jordan, once one of its most stalwart heroes, in the six-issue miniseries ``Green Lantern: Rebirth,'' later this month.
Acclaimed writer Geoff Johns (``JSA,'' ``Flash'') takes on the challenge of redeeming the most notorious traitor in DC's vaunted ranks.
If anyone is up to the task, it's Johns, who not only has revitalized '40s crime-fighting team Justice Society for a new generation in the monthly ``JSA'' but managed to resurrect Hawkman, a mythic warrior with years of messy continuity.
``Bringing Hawkman back was like taking a tricycle around the block because Hawkman wasn't a bad guy. He didn't try to destroy the universe,'' Johns said in a recent telephone interview. ``This is a big thing. (Jordan) killed people, he became a bad guy and he's dead, and I'm going to answer all those questions, every single one.''
Jordan's run as Green Lantern has always been a bit of a bellwether for the times.
As a swinging test pilot in the '60s, he discovered a dying alien who bequeathed him his emerald power ring with his last breath, drafting him into the Green Lantern Corps, a sort of intergalactic police force.
In the '70s, Jordan took a road trip through America that found him powerless before pollution, drug abuse and other social ills, in award-winning stories that are still remembered today.
In the '80s, as sales fell and the comics industry went through its grim and gritty phase, Jordan went mad with power and destroyed a city. It wasn't a crowd-pleaser of a story line.
In the '90s, Jordan gave up his life to save the world. Not long after, he returned as the Spectre, the right hand of God, a spirit of vengeance.
With that kind of complicated history, Johns has his work cut out for him.
``I'm well aware of everything that has happened. I won't be rebooting anything. Every single thing that has happened is going to tie into Green Lantern mythology. He went crazy. He killed people. It's a story about rising from the ashes - and I'm bringing a life back to the DC Universe who happens to be big symbol.''
It's not like the DC Universe has been lacking a Green Lantern since Jordan went gray, nuts and power-mad. The original, Alan Scott, continues to kick butt in ``JSA.'' John Stewart may be best known to non-readers because of his many appearances on Cartoon Network's ``Justice League'' series. And the title holder of the monthly ``Green Lantern'' comic happens to be belong to artist Kyle Rayner.
So what is the appeal of a character who went on to his heavenly reward years ago (though, judging by the reaction on the DC message boards, has been badly missed all these years)?
``He's got a kickass origin, right up there with Spider-Man,'' Johns said. ``He's got a bit of Indiana Jones, Hans Solo and Maverick in him. He was always this square-jawed California hotshot. I'm bringing him back as the icon he is.''
Judging from the first issue of ``Rebirth,'' on sale Oct. 27, all of Hal's friends, colleagues and even a few enemies will play major parts in Hal's resurrection.
``By the end of series, the whole goal is for those readers who do not even know Hal to be cheering him on to have him come back, to kind of polish him up and remind him why he is an icon.''
Bring back Abin Sur!
Not to mention Katma Tui (sp?)
This is the first time I have posted an article on FR. Okay so its not the most important thing ever posted but it was interesting to me.
It's about time they bring back Hal Jordan, and everyone should go buy his new comic book! (hmm does anyone even read comics anymore?? oh well)
I just read Green Lantern: rebirth. It was excellent. great art and great writing.
I was on a comic book messageboard (yes, I am a nerd) and someone was trying to say Hal would vote for Kerry. Ya, right
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