SHOWCASE #22, September-October 1959

[As you can see, I am using the ad-less "Showcase Presents Green Lantern Vol. One" from 2005 for this - for now just the 1st tale, the others will follow, probably on this same entry]

This is the original origin story for Hal Jordan. Title page shows Hal Jordan in flightless pilot trainer nearing Abin Sur's crash site by green power beam. Title of the story is, "SOS Green Lantern".

We are told Hal Has been transported to the crash site in the "Southwest U.S.A." - we see Abin Sur struggling, dying, w/ need of passing his battery of power on to a "deserving Earthman" - Abin puts his ring to the battery* & asks it to find his successor - we then watch as a green beam goes out to search as Abin Sur yells, "He must be one w/o fear! Entirely w/o fear!" The green beam circles the Earth - we then see test pilot, Hal, @ Ferris Aircraft Company, in a flightless trainer "of his own design" - the green beam arrives & transports Hal to Abin Sur's spaceship - Hal steps inside & is communicated w/ by telepathy - Abin Sur shows him the battery - Hal says, "it looks like a Green Lantern." Abin Sur then schools Hal on the reason for this meeting & the battery of power - it needs someone "fearless... & honest!" Abin scans Hal w/ ring & confirms he is honest; he then mentions that the Battery* selected him as one w/o fear.

Abin then begins to tell the tale of his demise: his ship blasted by radiation outside Earth, a yellow light, causing him to crash... Abin informs Hal of the Battery's* power over all except that which is yellow & tells him of the impurity within & its importance. Abin then gives Hal the ring & explains the charge time, etc. Abin dies.

Next we see Hal in GL uniform after disposing of Abin Sur & his "rocket" per Abin's orders. Abin had also told Hal to take his special uniform.* Next we seen Hal experimenting w/ his new powers & then, choosing to take a secret identity, to call himself Green Lantern*, after the power battery. He charges his ring, saying, "& in time, I hope to make Green Lantern a name to be feared by evil doers everywhere!"

Writer: John Broome
Artists: Gil Kane & Joe Giella

* It is interesting the emphasis of the Battery of Power, moreso than the ring. In addition, we have a uniform being passed on, as well as the mention that Hal is the one that comes up w/ the term "Green Lantern" due to the power battery.