I think it's fair to say I am something of an expert on not respecting Green Lantern, backed by a twenty-year track record of highlighting his foibles.
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| For which twenty years is not enough. |
Yet, this week, in Aquaman, of all places, I read the most damningly dismissive dis of Hal Jordan I have ever seen. And from the mouth of a little girl.
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| NEVER HERE-O BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA |
A witticism truly worthy of a young person discriminating enough to dress as Aquaman for Halloween. One which strikes at a flaw in the execution of Hal Jordan as a character that is more pervasive than his being stupid,
or clumsy,
or vain.
It strikes at the fact that the "Hero of Coast City" is never there. His adventures seldom occur there, he has few connections there, and it seldom has need of him (except when it is endangered by the fact that he lives there).
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| He is NOT at home, washing his tights. |
It's the same criticism I make of his infamous heel-turn into a universe-destroying maniac when Coast City was destroyed. "How could Hal be that upset about Coast City when he's barely ever there?"
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| My own interpretation is that he wasn't upset so much because he LURVED Coast City, but because he felt guilt for being away so much, including when it needed him most. It was own failure that drove him mad, not grief. |
The fault isn't really "Hal's", as a character. It's the fault of the writers who consistently favor extraterrestrial adventures for Hal rather than terrestrial ones. It's an understandable preference; Earth is, after all, lousy with superheroes and in space there are lot fewer things to hit your head on.
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| Fewer. But not zero. |
6 comments:
If we want to make Coast City relevant, give it a space race vibe, except of course it's less about getting to the moon and more about spacecraft that can explore the solar system (or beyond). Mind you, when you stare into the abyss of space, the abyss stares back at you, and Coast City will attract all kinds of attention. Having a Green Lantern on hand - not to direct the space race, but to smooth over the complications - might not be a bad idea.
I do agree, Hal feeling guilty about Coast City makes a lot of sense. I also think of it like this. You can throw yourself into your work and downplay all the other aspects of your life, and it can be rewarding. Until it isn't. You burn yourself out, or your job suddenly hits complications, and suddenly you're completely untethered.
I still think Hal's going off to murder his friends was out of character. Say what you will about Hal (and I know you will (and I love you for it)), he was consistently a good guy until DC decided he would be the next hero to break.
(In one of my few flights of fan fiction, I wrote the version of Emerald Twilight that would have happened if the Guardians had just sent John to talk to Hal, rather than try to confront him directly. Spoilers, John talked sense to him, got him to surrender his ring, and found suitable employment for him on the Mosaic.)
- HJF1
What Coast City needs is some OTHER heroes.
Maybe Aquaman? "Coast" is right in the name and he clearly has a fan base there. But I'd miss the lighthouse. Plastic Man? He's got a West Coast vibe. Plus God knows Coast City is used to heroes that screw up. DC could make it a tech hub and move Steel and Mr. Terrific there. It's not like Metropolis needs them.
Hmm. Back in the 80s, there was a contingent of alien GLs living on earth. Maybe revisit that idea? Contrive some reason for it to make sense for, say, the crystal one or the beaky one to be on earth, they'd interact with the locals and be local celebrities.
It is canon that Xudarians are in love with baseball. When some Xudarians on the Mosaic first saw some humans playing baseball, they just about lost their minds, and took to the sport immediately. (Fantastic reflexes and eye-hand coordination, not much power.) I could see a Xudarian GL hoping to spend at least a little time on earth.
- HJF1
"Plastic Man? He's got a West Coast vibe. " A surprising statement! To me, "Eel" O'Brien, an Irish gangster who robbed warehouses and then joined the FBI is about as East Coast as it gets.
There was a brief period recently (almost certainly over, since nothing sensible lasts) where Hal Jordan was CONFINED to earth. He could GL, but only HERE. I thought that was a great way to go; let the other earth GLs pad about the universe and the Watchtower, with aliens occasionally visiting Hal on earth.
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