Wizard's roundup of all things emerald and intergalactic
By Jamie Dunst
Posted 9/05/2008
THE STORY SO FAR...
• Hal Jordan discovered a group of Green Lanterns that he thought he had killed as Parallax to be alive and being used by the Manhunters. They are dubbed, "The Lost Lanterns."
• Sinestro establishes his own Corps and goes to war with the Green Lantern Corps.
• During the war, the Guardians of the Universe begin rewriting the book of OA and put in the first of ten new laws. The first of which enables their Green Lanterns to use lethal force.
• The few residents of Coast City not only decide to stay during the attack on their city by Sinestro; but show their unity to their hero by shining green lights all over the city. This act of bravery leads to Coast City's resurgence and new nickname: "Coast City: The City Without Fear."
• The Guardians implement a new group within the Green Lantern Corps creating the Alpha Lanterns.
• Hal Jordan tells Sinestro that he is on death row.
• Laira kills Amon Sur for killing slain Green Lantern Ke'Haan's family even though Amon Sur had given himself up.
• The Guardians of the Universe put Laira into custody for the murder of Amon Sur.
• The Guardians of the Universe introduce the Alpha Lanterns.
• Attrocitus kills Qull in his quest for revenge against Sinestro.
• Laira is expelled from the Green Lantern Corps.
• The Controllers begin to seek out the power of Orange.
• Laira becomes a member of the Red Lantern Corps.
• Hal Jordan's early days are retold.
• Abin Sur investigates the Darkest Night prophecy.
• Hal's first experience with the power ring is retold.
• Hal begins his GL training and eventually passes getting his emblem symbol as a sign that he is officially a Green Lantern
• Hal Jordan's meets Green Lantern Sinestro
• We are introduced to William Hand
• Hal and Sinestro make nice with each other
• Hal and Sinestro learn about the massacre of Sector 666 from an message from Abin Sur that was made for Sinestro
• Hal and Sinestro face off with Atrocitus
THIS WEEK...
Green Lantern #34
Geoff Johns (W), Ivan Reis (A)
• Hal and Sinestro face off against Atrocitus. The first thing Atrocitus has done is drain both power rings of their energy so both Hal and Sinestro are facing their opponent without any energy. Hal goes in full-force to only get knocked back by his larger and stronger opponent. Hal tries to regroup and attack again but Sinestro pushes him out of the way before Atrocitus can make another attack.
• Atrocitus goes after William Hand now that he no longer feels that the two Green Lanterns pose any threat to him. Meanwhile, Sinestro continues to berate Jordan for not using smarts when battling Atrocitus. Sinestro explains that falling back is not a sign of fear, but a military tactic. Sinestro goes on by saying that what Hal did was an act of stupidity. Sinestro then gets his power battery from a confined pocket dimension and is a bit annoyed to say the least when he learns that Hal does not know about how to do this. Together, the charge their rings and get back into the fight.
• William Hand is being pursued by Atrocitus. William continues to flee until he falls into a open grave. Atrocitus catches up with William who is says that he only see how cold the bodies would be. Atrocitus says to William that his destiny awaits and that his insides hold the power that will destroy the Guardians of the Universe. Atrocitus tells William Hand is the incubator of death to all. Then Hal and Sinestro break up the little conversation as they tackle Atrocitus.
• As Hal and Sinestro attack Atrocitus, Sinestro again berates Hal for his weak constructs. He tells Hal to open his mind and to strengthen his constructs. Sinestro tells Hal that he must let go of his anger. Atrocitus smacks Hal around saying that he's just a rookie. He then turns towards Sinestro and says he is known to him. Atrocitus says that the prophecies call Sinestro the greatest of them all and that if anyone is to oppose their revenge, it would be Sinestro. As Hal gains his senses, he sees that Sinestro is losing the fight. Atrocitus tells Sinestro that he would bathe in Sinestro's blood. Hal goes off and lets loose some serious emerald energy Atrocitus's way.
• Hal sends a giant fighter jet at Atrocitus, destroying the yellow vehicle that Atrocitus was going to use to flatten Sinestro. Atrocitus is shocked that Hal's attack was able to effect him in such a way. Sinestro uses this time to taunt Atrocitus, telling him that it is good that he knows his name. Sinestro tells Atrocitus to tell the other four of the inversions who they must fear. Then he finishes off Atrocitus by pulverizing him with a emerald construct of Kilowog. Sinestro tells an unconscious Atrocitus that he and the others must fear Sinestro, the greatest Green Lantern of them all.
• William Hand is shocked about what he's just seen. He then notices the yellow device that Atrocitus had and puts in it in his jacket pocket before Hal comes to make sure he is ok. William just runs away and before Ha l can go after him, Sinestro tells him to let the boy go. Hal asks Sinestro what Atrocitus would want with the kid and Sinestro responds by saying that Atrocitus's kind gain power through the blood of others they deem "doorways." Beings that they believe are tied to the great power of universal power. Sinestro thinks that their beliefs are utter nonsense.
• Hal asks Sinestro if he saw what he did. Hal continues to tell Sinestro that he used his ring against yellow. Sinestro doesn't look very amused. Sinestro tells Hal that he helped the takedown and arrest of Atrocitus without his ring seeking out a replacement. He tells Hal that he survived and that should be enough. Sinestro continues on by asking Hal if he thinks he's never tried to pierce something that was yellow and it was futile. Even for Sinestro. Hal goes on by saying that he did and Sinestro tells him that he's heard enough. Hal then says something not so nice to Sinestro and the ring can't translate it very well.
• Sinestro gets in Hal's face telling him that he sees someone who needs to stand out and who doesn't like to be upstaged. Sinestro says that being a member of the Green Lantern Corps, Hal will need to get used to that. Hal responds by asking Sinestro what makes him think that he still wants to be a member after all of this. Sinestro tells Hal that he needs to get a hold of his anger and that it was his anger that almost got him killed today. Sinestro doesn't know what is the cause of Hal's anger but he knows that Hal is directing that anger towards him. Sinestro tells Hal that he needs to grow up and to move on with his life. Hal says he will and tells the ring to take him to Carl Ferris.
• As Hal rockets off to his destination, he barely hears or just ignores Sinestro's comments about protocols that must be followed. Hal thinks that his command will take him some beach house in in Florida, but he's a bit surprised to find himself in some house just outside of Coast City. Hal bangs on the door until Carol opens it. She wonders why Hal is there and Hal wants to know where her father is. She tries to tell Hal that her father is not here, but Hal knows otherwise since his ring brought him there. Hal storms upstairs and opens the door to a room and is shocked to see Carl Ferris in a hospital bed and in bad condition.
• Hal looks at Carl for a moment before he notices the picture of Carl and Hal's dad together. He asks Carol what's going on and she responds by telling him that he's sick. She continues by telling Hal that her father and Hal's father were best friends and after the crash, it took a toll on Carl until his health began to suffer from it. Carol tells Hal that when her dad got too sick to get out of bed, she took over the company but made it look like her father was still calling the shots.
• She tells that after her mom died, all that her father had left was his company. When Hal said that he had her too, she told him that she was a spoiled brat who yelled to get what she wants. When her father once said no to something she wanted, she told her father that she wished her mom was alive instead of him. Carol continues on telling Hal that her father remembers Hal bringing his father a bagged lunch and Carl tells his daughter he wished he had a son like Hal. This makes Hal feel guilty cause he says that he wasn't much of a son. He tells Carol that she's been there for her dad while Hal has not been there for anyone in his family and that's he wasted so much time hating someone who didn't deserve his hate. Hal apologizes to Carol.
• As Hal leaves, Carol follows him down says that it's not so easy being alone. They look at each other for a moment before Hal embraces Carol telling her that she is not alone. Later on, Hal looks at his ring and he makes an emerald construct of his father. As he looks at the construct, which is smiling at Hal. Looking upon the construct of Hal's father puts a smile on his face. Sinestro arrives to see this and he tells Hal that he's just witnessed the true power of the power ring.
• Hal turns to see Sinestro, who tells Hal that the ring has helped him find his will to live and that is the most basic element within one's willpower. Hal tells Sinestro was right to which Sinestro simply responds by saying of course he was. Hal then says that he wasn't right about everything though. He does say that the anger Hal was holding on since he was a kid wasn't helping anyone and it was all for nothing. Sinestro says that berating Jordan was his job. He continues to tell Hal that he's dealt with great loss himself and if it wasn't for Abin Sur's help, he would probably not still have his Green Lant ern ring. Sinestro says that overcoming fear is something that Green Lanterns excel at but when it comes to guilt, regret and loss that even Green Lanterns still struggle with that.
• Sinestro tells Hal to never forget this because one day he may need to pass this on to a rookie just as Sinestro has passed the knowledge to Hal. Hal asks Sinestro if he thinks he'll make it as a Green Lantern now to which Sinestro responds by saying he will if he comes to understand the honor that's been bestowed to him and if he learns the meaning behind the oath they recite. Sinestro also adds that Hal will do well to get off his ball of mud and to experience the wonders of the other planets of his sector. Sinestro even says to check out the planets in his sector. Hal offers his hand in friendship to Sinestro and thanks him. Then Hal's and Sinestro's rings tell them that they have been fraternizing too long and that they both must return to OA for immediate discipline. Come back next month for the punishment!
