GREEN LANTERN CORPS QUARTERLY, #7, Winter 1993

Quick & dirty pre-spoilers: What you got here is a Halloween-themed GLCQ centered around happenings related to the Starheart. It's a pretty good one & in all fairness, a great one, as even the weakest story has a twist inching towards Hitchcock. There are vampires, zombies & dark arts, so get ready.

The book opens w/ a short bit about when the Guardians were themselves able warriors, traversing the universe to rid it of potentially harmful & chaos causing "magicks", eventually leading them to the Empire of Tears, and Ysmault. The story is titled, "Horrors: 1".

Though many Guardians fell in Ysmault, they eventually were victorious. They bound up all the mystical & magical, "both good & evil" & compressed it into a star: the Starheart. Over millennia, the Starheart churned until a bit of it escaped & melded w/ Yalan Gur, the dying GL of Sector 2814. Their meteoric essence fell to Earth where it was eventually fashioned into a lantern.

That lantern eventually found its way to Alan Scott. We see a hooded figure has been researching this bit in a crystal ball.

Next chapter is titled, "Horrors: 2" & we have Jade & Obsidian coming home on Halloween night in a slightly ironic scene, to then find their father, Alan Scott, appears twenty years younger. Alan discusses this w/ his wife, Molly & the children & while showing them his new GL uniform, the door rings, & it's the hooded guy from prev story. He is Torquemada, also a GL. He explains that magic is once again running wild in universe. He needs Alan's help. The two fly into the aether as Torquemada starts spinning yarns, which are what follow.

First up is "Ashes to Ashes" which begins w/ a lone woman walking @ night in an old London looking city, alley, etc. & is attacked by a pack of vampires. A GL appears, however. Name of Ash. He recognizes the vampire leader & his backstory plays out: a simple farmer & how he came home to find his farm burning & the vampire leader killing his wife.

Ash frees the girl w/ his ring, she runs. He then fights the leader, who pulls a blade & slices some fingers off w/ the ring. Ash is able to get to the ring & put it on his other hand. Angry, he penetrates that hand into the vampire's heart, killing him. Now, having avenged his wife, Tasha, he says he's done hunting "longteeth" - but the girl he saved stepped from shadows begging him not to quit, for he is needed.

Next tale is titled, "Green Hell!" We meet an old snail-like GL named Barin who guards the gates of Hell from entering the mortal plane. Though once a young, fierce warrior relishing his duties, Barin now wishes to die & be relieved, though he continues on out of duty.

Scene shift to a few Guardians w/ a female GL warrior, named Boodikka. They speak of Barin's fever - a twist comes as the reader learns Barin is, & has been for quite some time, in a coma.

For the next tale, we get something a bit different, as the GL wielding the ring here, Ayria, GL of Aegri Somnia One, uses the power of the ring to foster genocide against the yellow-skinned people of Aegri Somnia Three. The bit is titled, "Triumph of the Will!"

The reader next sees a slightly altered GL symbol, & w/ the name Ayria, the Hitler/Nazi parallels become obv. One reads as Ayria puts yellows in "reformation chambers" within "paradise work-camps". As their wills are broken, their energy transfers to Ayria's power battery.

When AS3 is finally defeated, some choice yellows remain. One, a female named Selaya. Her husband, Illiya, gives her up to Ayria & one night, Selaya, after intercourse, steals Ayria's ring. She then eats it.

Unable to find it, Selaya is sent back to "paradise". There she reunites w/ Illiya for a split until broken. Left w/ power battery only, & w/ a bit of a "Lost Ark" vibe, Ayria & his soldiers case the land for the ring, Sauron-style.

When moving thru Paradise One. Down in the dead bodies, a ring senses the passing battery & lights up, raising Selaya as a Green Lantern zombie! Charging ring, her will raises many others & they defeat Ayria. Lastly, Selaya & Illiya are reunited, then crumble. Good one!

The final seg in this issue moves us back to, "The Starheart!" & where it all began. It is now clear that the Starheart harbors power that can be used for both good & bad. Now that it is "unstable... spewing magical jetsam into the universe," it's time to act.

Alan Scott & Torquemada enter the crust of the Starheart, to find M'la has been tortured & is dead. An unknown monster appears. A sort of Predator looking monster who announces his name is Starheart, comprised of "magical detritus" from inside the Starheart itself. He pronounces himself "wild magic itself -- unfettered & uncontrollable." Starheart then begins trying to enchant & taunt them w/ visions, telling Alan his youth is due to his weakness to power of his ring & the Starheart, etc. After more temptation, Alan Scott freaks & attacks. A battle ensues between all mystical & magical within DCU it seems, but centered on Alan Scott & Starheart. Central moment, Scott thinks he wins, but is wrong. Ultimately, the magic of the Starheart escapes into the Universe.

Torquemada is able to conceal some magic in a small sphere, but otherwise, Alan Scott is now determined to face the darkside of the Starheart, or the darkside of its power, wherever it appears.

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GREEN LANTERN, Vol. 2, #156, September 1982

Issue begins w/ Hal cruising through the galaxies as GL & getting a "you are our only hope" mental signal from a place nearby that looks much like Earth. This baffles Hal since Earth is a billion light years away. The title of the story is "Judas World!" Due to the surrounding star formation, Hal remembers the planet as Pharon IV, but doesnt recall it looking like Earth. Hal charges his ring, says his oath, then swoops down to check it out.

Hal nears what looks to be Ferris Aircraft ("Southern California") & is met ecstatically by old chums Carol Ferris & Thom. Something seems odd to Hal, ie. too good to be true. A tidal wave hits. Hal calms it, then probes the people to tell him who they truly are. They finally give in, but the result rocks Hal to the point of disappearing. Ends up GL was simply playing a trick, instead of "disappearing" he became Hal Jordan of Ferris Aircraft & begins snooping around.

Soon, in a hangar gathering, it is revealed that these doppelgangers are Pharoids & there is some process of world duplication going on in regard to planet Sol III (Earth). These imposters will eventually replace the real versions of themselves on Earth. They will then install equipment on Earth that allows them to send Earth crashing into Dalgova, planet of the Pharoid's aeon-long enemies. After taking this all in, Hal is detected & quickly changes into GL mode & battles the foes. He finds he has an ally in one, Trigus. Ends up Trigus was the one who sent GL the mental help signal in space as Trigus isnt keen on the use of Sol III (& its innocents) to destroy Dalgova.

Hal intervenes in the "war" as it ends up the Dalgovians were also about to attack. He tries to settle the age long conflict as the sides realize they cant even recall the reasons for their "hatred" in the first place. This ultimately brings about a peace conference of sorts. Hal flies off w/ "for to wage a war is simple, but to wage a peace is the truest test of civiled beings!"

Writer: Mike W. Barr
Guest Artist: Gil Kane
Editor: Len Wein
Letterer: Annette Kawecki
Colorist: Tony Tollin

This issue ends w/ a Green Lantern Corps story titled "The Gladiator's Apprentice". We are introduced to Portworld, a planet in Sector 6, as well as an old-timer GL stationed there named Wylxa. He takes care of some pirates on a space freighter. Ends up Wylxa has a protege named Tahr (to be the GL successor for the sector), who is causing Wylxa a bit of grief, but mainly it becomes clear that Wylxa is a bit of a task master & seems never satisfied w/ the progress of his pupil. It isnt until Wylxa begins to remember his own youth, & his own shortcomings/errors, that he is finally able to loosen the reigns on Tahr a bit.

Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Artists: Paris Cullins & Pablo Marcos
Letters: Kubert
Colors: Jerry Serpe
Editor: Dave Manak

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TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS, Vol. 1, #3, July 1981

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Book begins @ Ferris Aircraft, in the Los Angeles area, where Tom (Thomas Kalmaku) takes Carol Ferris to Hal Jordan's office & shows her the "dead" power battery discarded there. They both feel this doesnt bode well for Hal, wherever he may be. Scene shifts to a ringless (& "former school teacher") Guy Gardner, in a catatonic state, in a hospital, watching the storm outside, wishing he had a ring & could respond to the Guardians call he can feel deep inside. Elsewhere on Earth is "architect" John Stewart who senses something awry, but figured the Guardians will let him know personally if his help is needed. We then learn that one Guardian is using all their might to protect Earth from the goings on in the rest of the universe. The issue is titled, "Triumph!" It is the final issue of a 3-part series.

More GLs arrive on Oa to find slain GLs tossed about. Hal hasnt stirred. Arisia recaps the tale of Krona & Nekron detailed in the previous issue, bringing us to the situation @ hand: a shrinking universe, a destroyed Central Power Battery, etc. Hal finally comes to & a melancholy discussion over Krona's superior power commences. Tomar-Re is ready to throw in the towel; however, Hal rallies his willpower (though he has to admit it would be nice to spend Armaggedon w/ Carol, Tom, Brothers Jim & Jack, Eve Doremus...), determined to beat Krona alone if he has to. Soon, Hal finds that all the other GLs have followed & are @ his side. The gang of GLs, using their rings, create a warp in the cosmos & disappear.

Guardians float about in space, straining to hold order on the universe & close the rift to the dimension of death. However, Nekron has his own plans & summons Krona, who attacks the Guardians, immediately killing one. The rift grows larger between dimensions. Nekron is eager to pass into the living dimension. The GLs arrive @ the rift & once again, confront Krona. A massive battle clash goes on & we witness Tylot (one of Krona's army), who was spared by the GLs in the previous issue/battle, change allegiances & suddnely become a GL. Tomar-Re is then approached by the spirit of his father, coming from the rift, tempting him to give in to the death dimension. A conflicted Tomar-Re abolishes his father's spirit. It is then Hal who has an idea. He has all of the GLs direct their energy to him & he flies into the rift & "into the dread domain of the lord of the unliving". Confronting Nekron head-on, Hal pleads to all the dead GL spirits to join in his cause & to Nekron's chagrin, they respond. Sensing the shift in power as Nekron is distracted, the Guardians are able to refocus & rout Krona & his army, who flee back through the rift. The Guardians then begin closing the rift, but Hal is still in the death dimension. It appears Hal is lost, when suddenly, the spirit of Abin Sur appears & pushes Hal back through the rift just before it closes. All is balanced once more in the universe. Tylot thanks the GLs & then disappears, leaving his ring. The Guardians escort the GLs back to Oa where they all celebrate. Soon after, Hal is honored by the Guardians, presented w/ the "crimson mantle of command" symbolizing the promotion to Leader of the Corps. But Hal turns it down. He likes being equal to everyone else. The Guardians then lead the ritual of ring recharge now that the Central Battery of Power has been fixed. After charging their rings, all of the GLs hail & honor Hal & Hal cries openly.

Scripter: Len Wein (from a plot by Mike W. Barr)
Illustrators: Joe Staton & Frank McLaughlin)
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Editor: Dick Giordano

The CORPS CONFLICTS column @ the end of the issue (by Michael C. Carmichael) concerns itself w/ the origin of Hal Jordan's "oath", while also mentioning Alan Scott's oath. It is said that statistically, there are 3600 GLs, though only about 3000 say an oath. Of these, 100 say Hal's oath. It is also interesting, specified here, that Hal's world, Earth-1, & his oath, work "scientifically", whereas Alan's oath, & Earth-2, work "magically".

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TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS, Vol. 1, #2, June 1981

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Book opens w/ the Guardians flying through space @ the edge of the universe after having fled Oa @ end of previous issue. This is 2 of a 3 book series. The Guardians are searching for the rift that allowed Krona back into their universe. They find it, but are expected. The story is titled, "Defeat!" The Guardians try to close the rift but are instead struck w/ dark lightning from a hand on the other side of the rift, referred to as "Krona's master". They are confronted by a terror on the other side that makes them realize the threat is much larger than Krona. One of the Guardians leaves the pack to warn the GLs of this realization.

Back on Oa, the GLs sift through wreckage, but Hal Jordan steps up & declares a call-to-arms to track down Krona & his minions as the GLs are now running out of time w/ the "Master Power Battery" destroyed (their rings cannot be recharged after 24 hrs have lapsed). Discussion follows. We meet a few more GLs: Galious Zed & K'Ryssma. The Honor Guard agrees & the GLs all take off to find Krona. Stel warps ahead & is blindsided by Krona. M'Dahna pronounces Stel dead when the others arrive. Hal deduces that the universe is contracting vs. expanding & the GLs speak of the "primal atom theory". Hal believes Krona is attempting to uncreate the universe. The GLs soon come face-to-face w/ Krona's "army". A battle ensues. Arkkis Chummuck has particular trouble w/ Gorokk as he is yellow & Arkkis' ring cannot affect him; however, mustering all his strength, Arkkis ultimately kills Gorokk. We watch as others fight, & finally, the GLs come out victorious, though losing many of their own in the process. Hal questions Tylot, one of Krona's survivors, hearing the tale of Krona's plung through dimensions into the "timeless domain" of Nekron, Lord of the Unliving. It is then revealed that b/c Krona was "immortal" but entered into the dark domain which made him also dead, an anomaly was @ hand, causing the dimensional rift between the two dimensions. Seeing the dimension of the living, Nekron sent Krona to destroy the immortal Guardians which would help enlarge the rift. As the GLs contemplate the gravity of the situation, the messenger Guardian arrives to tell them that Krona is attacking Oa while the GLs are tied up w/ his minions. Exhausted from his journey, & battle w/ Nekron, the Guardian promptly dies in Hal's arms. The rift grows larger.

Hal leads the GLs back to Oa where they confront Krona. Soon, the GLs find they have met their match as Krona has waylaid them all save Hal who taps into all the GLs power rings for a massive blast, but still Krona is not affected, besting Hal, though sparing his life as he wishes Hal to experience the destruction of the universe. Krona tells the wounded GLs to return to their native worlds so they can die w/ their own. He then enters a portal in the sky & disappears.

Scripter: Len Wein (from a plot by Mike W. Barr)
Artists: Joe Staton & Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: Ben Oda
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Editor: Dick Giordano

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The CORPS CONFLICTS column (written by Michael C. Carmichael) @ the end of this issue centers around Tomar-Re & his history w/ the Guardians & the GL Corps. It tells of his first mission to save the people of Krypton, which was initially considered a failure; however, b/c of what happened w/ Superman, it eventually came to be seen by the Guardians as a "meant to be" for the universe. We are then schooled in the history between Tomar-Re & Hal Jordan, their duels w/ Sinestro, as well as Tomar-Re's elevation to Honor Guard & removal from normal GL business.

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TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS, Vol. 1, #1, May 1981

Here we have the 1st issue in a 3 part series surrounding the Green Lantern Corps. The story is titled "Challenge!" & begins w/ Hal Jordan blazing through sector 2814 on his way to Oa in response to a call from the Guardians - he is met by new GL, Arisia, from sector 2815, who is starstruck. We learn that Oa is at the "heart of the universe". Once there, Hal speaks w/ many other GLs including Gk'd, Charlie Vicker, Stel, Katma Tui (who Arisia shows jealous toward), Xax, Arkkis Chummuck & Eddore, who sends Hal into a reverie about how he became a GL. Following we have the telling of Hal's origin story & how he got the ring from Abin Sur. "You will have power over everything -- except that which is yellow!" An interesting detail of this version of the story is that Hal actually removes Abin Sur's uniform & "dons" it himself.

After Hal finishes his tale, Tomar-Re & the Honor Guard appear on a stage, addressing the gathering GLs. The Guardians themselves then appear. We then have Hal telling another story, this time to Arisia, explaining why though the Guardians were magnificent, they were also to blame for the evil in the world. We hear the story of old Oa, the Paradise of the Immortals, & Krona's "unsatiable ambition" which leads to the unleashing of evil into the universe & b/c of this happening, the origin of the Guardians to combat it. There is mention of the pre-GL Manhunters proving "untrustworthy" which leads to "living agents" ie. the Green Lanterns. Hal goes a bit further, telling of his own tangle w/ Krona on Earth & the help he received from Alan Scott, original GL from parallel world Earth-2, until he is reprimanded by one of the Guardians.

Just as the Guardians are about to resume the announcement, it is too late. They are interrupted by the appearance in a "stellar screen" showing Krona & his minions. Krona is back & he announces his plans to destroy the Guardians & their "precious" universe. The entire GL Corps then joins in a ritual of charging their rings within the Battery of Power. Hal gives his oath, as do others. A few GLs notice something odd w/ the battery. It begins shaking. Then, unexpectedly, the Battery explodes. Many GLs, like Spak-Drom, die b/c of this. In the aftermath, Hal realizes that the Guardians are gone, though they communicate through a crystal that the GLs are now to find Krona & "put an end to his madness". Hal then poses the problem that w/ the Battery now destroyed, the GLs have less than 24 hours to defeat Krona as their rings will become useless. The remaining GLs then band together to find & beat Krona while @ the same time, Krona laughs mockingly "halfway across the galaxy".

Scripter: Len Wein (from a plot by Mike W. Barr)
Illustrators: Joe Staton & Frank McLaughlin
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Anthony Tollin
Editor: Dick Giordano

NEXT ISSUE

This issue also has a column titled, CORPS CONFLICTS, attributed to no specific writer. It tells the history of the Earth GLs' involvement w/ the GL Corps. We learn that the first Earth GL to be involved w/ a Corps battle was in 1928, when the Guardians feared the rise of one Earth kingpin, Al Magone. Eventually Magone was annexed to a prison planet, though once there, he did even more damage, eventually causing an all out battle. It was around this time that Roger Vicker was wrongly killed & his brother, Charley, joined the GL ranks. We then mainly read about Hal Jordan's dealings w/ the Corps, his battles w/ Sinestro, as well as the Qwardians.

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