Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Absolute Green Lantern #1DC Comicsis remixing one of its most controversial twists by turning a classic hero dark once more. Every once in a while, a beloved superhero will take a walk on the dark side, becoming evil. This often happens in alternate timelines and/or with variant versions of the classic hero. As such, the Absolute Universe’s Hal Jordan has just made his debut, though not as theGreen LanternDC fans know and love from the primary Earth.
As seen inAbsolute Green Lantern #1by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay, the issue opens with a new version of Hal Jordan walking down a desert road, completely traumatized and incredibly scared of what will happen next. As the story continues, it’s revealed that, rather than receiving a green power ring from Abin Sur, Hal has seemingly become a villain against his will.That said, fans of Hal Jordan will find this arc somewhat familiar, as it has essentially happened to the iconic Green Lantern before in the main DC timeline.
What Just Happened to Hal Jordan In The Absolute Universe?
Corrupted By A Dark Force
In the Absolute Universe, Hal Jordan buys and sells collectibles while living in the small town of Evergreen. Other residents of Evergreen include John Stewart, Jo Mullein, and Guy Gardner. However, a massive green construct of the Green Lantern Corps' symbol lands in the center of the town, right where Hal, John, and Jo were eating lunch as aredesigned and intense-looking Abin Surhovers above the town.
After the reveal that Hal touched the construct, the issue jumps back to the present, where his hand is now covered in a black energy that talks to him, claiming to be the “absence of light” and “the secret heart within every star”. Having already killed a cop, Hal’s later shown killing a diner patron who threatens him, having seen the chaos happening in Evergreen on TV and Hal’s admitting he’d done some terrible things.As such, it’s clear that Hal Jordan has involuntarily become this new series' tragic villain, while Jo Mullein has become the Absolute Universe’s first human Green Lantern.
What Will The Absolute Universe’s Hal Jordan Become?
The Absolute Version of a Major Green Lantern Foe
Considering that this issue holds the title “Black Hand” and the black energy covering Hal’s hand, it’s not hard to put the pieces together.The Absolute Universe’s Hal Jordan is becoming a dark new version of the classic Green Lantern villain Black Hand. In the main DC timeline,William Hand aka Black Handwas a villain who wielded a device capable of draining the energy of a Green Lantern’s power ring.
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Black Hand would later gain the power to drain the life force of his victims, making him the perfect candidate to become a herald of Nekron, the physical embodiment of Death and the color black on the Emotional Spectrum. As such, Black Hand became the leader of the Black Lantern Corps after he killed himself and was reanimated inthe major DCBlackest Nightcrossover event.Now, it seems as though the Absolute Universe’s Hal Jordan is in danger of going down a similar path in this dark new version of the DC Universe.
Hal Jordan’s Past DC Villain History
Parallax
Hal Jordan becoming a villain is certainly nothing new for the character, even in the main DC timeline. As seen in 1994’sEmerald Twilightstoryline, Hal had a full-on psychotic break after Coast City and all its people were destroyed by Mongul and the Cyborg Superman. In his grief, Hal drained his power ring in an attempt to rebuild his city and even constructs of the thousands who’d died, including his loved ones.
“Hopefully, Jo Mullein will be able to free her friend from this dark force’s control in the issues to come…”
After being reprimanded by the Guardians for using this ring for personal use, Jordan came to Oa to drain the power of the entire Central Power Battery. Upon entering the power source,Green Lantern was corrupted by the ancient yellow fear entity known as Parallax.This controversially turned Hal into a long-term DC villain, while Kyle Rayner became the new Green Lantern in his place.
While Jordan eventually sacrificed himself and became the host of the Spectre following his death, it was a full 20 years before Hal Jordan was fully rid of Parallax and became a Green Lantern once more.Keeping that in mind, it’s clear that the Absolute Universe is riffing off the Parallax arc, with Hal Jordan now being corrupted by another dark force in this new reality. Hopefully, Jo Mullein will be able to free her friend from this dark force’s control in the issues to come.
