Back-Issue Spotlight:Green Lantern#0

Yep, it's Friday, and today I was bored and figured what the hell. So here's this week's edition of Back-Issue Spotlight after all, with today's pick being one of my favorite Issue Zero's to come out of Zero Hour back in '94: Green Lantern#0.

This issue, unlike some of the others that were just included as a cheap gimmick to boast sales, actually matters since it follows directly after the conclusion of Zero Hour.

If you remember that far back, After Parallax/Hal get shot right in the fucking chest by lifelong buddy Green Arrow, him and Kyle are basically locked out of time when Waverider reboots the universe.

Well this issue opens up with both spiraling outside of time, until Parallax is able to latch onto Waverider's signal, and they both land on Oa, home of he then very dead Guardians.

Parallax/Hal wants to recharge, and decides the best way to do that is by sucking up the remaining residual energy that's still floating around Oa.

It doesn't work out though, since Hal realizes he needs a ring to tap into the energies. Kyle bravely fights all the way, trying his best to keep him from achieving his twisted goals.

They keep fighting until Hal breaks down, after seeing Kilowog skull. They then start talking about just how hard it is being a Green Lantern, with Kyle bringing up his dead girlfriend Alex, and how much he still missed her.

Hal actually convinces Kyle to give him his GL ring and let him be Green Lantern again. Kyle does, saying "Yeah well, probably bound to happen sooner or later." 

Try 10 more years later there Kyle.

Hal gets his old ring back, and goes back to trying to tap the energies in Oa. This prompts Kyle to have a sudden change of heart, and then the shit is back on, but this time Kyle's powerless.

Hal chases Kyle through a crypt/mausoleum for dead Lanterns which is creepily illustrated by Daryl Banks, where Kyle dumps a dead Lantern onto Hal, pinning to the ground. Kyle quickly grabs his ring back, and the shit is back on.

But rather then go back to Rocky and Apollo Creed round 74, Kyle quickly and smartly, decides to blow up Oa so Parallax/Hal can't steal those remaining residual energies.

Oa goes boom, and both of them look like they didn't make it. Except when we see Kyle emerge unscathed from the gigantic blast.

Writer Ron Marz(speaking through Kyle) goes on to make a point to say Kyle's the new Green Lantern now, and that's how things are going be for the near future, so deal with it old school Hal fans. Or something like that;)

I remember at the time having mixed reactions to what DC did with Hal, with his heel turn and all.

On one side it was interesting and was a much needed boast to sales, plus Kyle was, and still is, pretty likable. 

But on the other hand, it was the way they replaced Hal that most likely was(and could still be) a source of anger and hate towards Kyle. Marz tried his best to flesh out a believable explanation for a very shitty editorial-mandated decision. I think he did okay with what he had to work with, justifying Hal's actions as being tired of the Guardians being dicks to him despite his unwavering loyalty and then with the utter and complete destruction of his home town, Coast City.

It wasn't too far-fetched, but again, it was ultimately the way it was done that just left a bad taste in everyone's mouths.

But of course all is well again, and Hal's back again, even with the introduction of a brand new Green Lantern in Simon Baz. So far so good on how Johns' handled him, and with a new creative team taking over, hopefully that will continue.

Hey, like I said, how a good weekend people;)