Green Lantern #35

And we come to the conclusion of Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis Secret Origin for Hal Jordan. I must say, that they have done a superlative job of it. I liked making Hector Hammond a part of it all, I liked seeing a young and callow Hal training on Oa, and I really liked Sinestro. That last phrase is something I never thought I would say, as I've always thought that Sinestro was the quintessential villain. He's still an egotist, arrogant and elitist, but by God, he's a sympathetic egotist! It is also a little uncomfortable to realize just how much he and Hal have in common.

Well, the boys have managed to capture Atrocitus, but apparently in working together they have violated a rule of the Guardians and are hauled back to Oa, to answer for themselves. Sinestro...rather wisely tells Hal to shut up and let him do the talking. The Guardians are pleased enough that they have recaptured Atrocitus, but being a bit on the anal side, keep harping on the fact that it took the two of them to do this. And blah blah blah, about how Lanterns have to fend for themselves. Bless his heart, Hal ups and asks "Why?"

The Guardians, never having had this asked of them, are stumped. And no doubt a bit shocked that this uppity Earthman is actually arguing with them. They mouth a few more platitudes, and again, Hal asks "Why?"

Heh heh.

Then of course, Hal being Hal, he just can't help but bring up the whole story of the Manhunters and the massacree in sector 666. The Guardians, naturally don't like this. Then Hal has the nerve to tell them that while they expect the Lanterns to be without fear, they certainly seem to be fearful themselves. This REALLY pisses the little blue munchkins off, and even Sinestro is getting nervous. But Hal is certainly the boy who has realized that the Emperer has no clothes, and he's relentless in pointing out their hypocrisy. The rings don't work on yellow? Why? The buildings on Oa are all yellow for that very reason, and that territorial edict is @#$%^!! I love the part where the ring can't translate Hal's explitives.

The Guardians are having hissy fits and are THIS close to kicking Hal out of the Corps. Hearing the truth hurts apparently. Then Sinestro steps up and outs Ganthet, telling them that he was ordered by one of them to go and help Hal in the first place. This gets their attention off of Hal and onto the idea of which one of them is doing this. So, they let the two of them go, but make Sinestro responsible for Hal's shenanigans.

What is interesting is that quite a number of the other Lanterns are portrayed as listening to Hal's little rant. However much they may be indoctrinated by the Guardians, it has to ring a certain chord with each of them. Later of course, Hal is still trying to prove that he could beat the yellow weakness, without any success. Tomar Re believes him,which surprises Sinestro.

Oh Hal, you're like that cool kid that moved into the new school.

Hal does fly back to Earth, and is overjoyed at being able to fly again, although Tom can't quite understand why he wants to fly a PLANE, when he can fly on his own. He has fixed up the old plane that Hal's dad took him up in, which is rather sweet. Carol wanders over and Hal immediately goes into wolf mode. This is at least ONE part of the old Silver Age Hal that Geoff Johns has kept...if there is one thing that Hal Jordan enjoys, it's a chase.

We have a brief visit with Hector Hammond,who is getting weirder and weirder, and Black Hand, who is also getting stranger. Sinestro returns Atrocitus to Ysmault and gets a bellyfull of more personal prophecies. Finally, Hal meets up with Jim at their parent's graves, and decides that perhaps it is time that he shared something of himself with his brother.

I know that some people didn't understand why Johns decided to devote seven issues to Hal's origin, when it is something that practically everyone is already familiar with. I think that it was necessary, because it sets up SO many plot points for the upcoming Blackest Night saga, from Hector Hammond and Black Hand's own origins and their subsequent relationships with Hal, to Sinestro's fall. There has also been a fair amount of kvetching over having the Guardians portrayed as they look in the present. If you look closely however, it is pretty obvious that at this stage, ALL of the Guardians are still male. They may be bald, in the manner in which the female Guardians are currently presented, but none of them have comic book breasts. And, as we all know, it is simply inpossible for a female character to be drawn without double D cups. So everyone can calm down.