| EMERALD GENESIS: HISTORY OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS |
Welcome to Emerald Genesis, the working title for the History of the Green Lantern Corps. This History of the GLC Mega Post spins-off of, and ties into, the Green Lantern Corps profile.
I'm a fan of the Green Lantern mythos, and I've been waiting for DC to do an in-depth look on the Green Lantern Corps. In the early '90's, it looked like DC was about to do just that.
Things appeared to be going well for the growing family of Green Lantern titles. One project of particular interest was the proposed three issue prestige format History of the Green Lantern Corps. It was never published.
In place of the mini-series, DC published Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale. Written by famed author Larry Niven (Ringworld, The Integral Trees) with art and scripting by fan favorite John Byrne (X-Men, Fantastic Four, Superman, Wonder Woman). Ganthet's Tale dealt with the critical event in universal history that would lead to the formation of the Green Lantern Corps.
The foundation of Niven's work was to be used as "The Green Lantern Bible", which would answer some of the questions regarding the Guardians' history, the Green Lantern Corps, and serve as story springboards. Larry Niven's Green Lantern Bible can be found in his book Playgrounds of the Mind.
Gerard Jones (then writer of Green Lantern, Green Lantern: Mosaic, and contributer to Green Lantern Corps Quarterly) blended ideas from Niven and other creators to further expand the Green Lantern universe. Jones' tenure changed the readers' perception of the Guardians from a group of "benevolent little blue men" to a society with motivations *very* different than that of humans.
How far this story would have went may never be known. In rapid succession, Mosaic and the Quarterly were cancelled, Guy Gardner's connection to the Corps would be downplayed, he would lose Sinestro's yellow power ring. Green Lantern Vol. 3 #47 was the last written by Jones. DC Comics had other plans for Green Lantern.
Editor Kevin Dooley and writer Ron Marz (Silver Surfer, Green Lantern Corps Quarterly) used the destruction of Coast City from the Return of Superman storyline as the motivation for Hal Jordan to seize power in an attempt to resurrect his hometown. In three issues, Green Lantern Vol. 4 #48-50, Hal had destroyed the Guardians, the Corps, Sinestro, and became one of the DC Universe's most powerful villains. To learn more of this storyline dubbed Emerald Twilight and how it came to be go to this page: What Might Have Been! Emerald Twilight
Now we were left with was Kyle Rayner, the successor to the power ring and title of Green Lantern. Several years after his introduction fans would still argue for and against DC's decision. Kevin Dooley repeatedly dismissed any requests fans have for the Corps, believing fans didn't remember or cared about the Green Lantern Corps.
In 2004, ten years after Emerald Twilight, it was decided to bring back Hal Jordan and the Corps. In the mini-series Green Lantern: Rebirth writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver did just that. Hal Jordan was returned to Green Lantern status as was all of Earth's other former Green Lanterns and the Corps was brought back as well, this time twice as big with two Lanterns operating each space sector.
Since then the Green Lantern mythos has become a major cornerstone of the DC Universe once again.
The History of the Green Lantern Corps has been written by a diehard fan of the late Green Lantern Corps. This is my attempt to spotlight the Green Lantern mythos that scores of talented creators have worked on, and thousands fans have enjoyed.
This is an unofficial history. It is not endorsed, approved, edited or accreditted by DC Comics, or the GL creative team.
I'll attempt to clarify, index, and report on GL Corps history, as shown in, but not limited to, the many titles published by DC Comics. A simplified bibliography will be posted sometime later. I apologize for any typos or continuity gaffes that I'm sure will pop up.
Where this will lead is anyone's guess.
For now, I offer old fans and new fans alike to take a look back at the ever-changing DC Universe... and the forces which shaped the Green Lantern mythos.
Enjoy. 'mouse (Mike Bond)
-Fifteen Billion Years Goes By So Fast, But This Will Take Forever...