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Insignia-greenlanterncorps.gif THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS HONOR GUARD BIOGRAPHY
Created by Mike W. Barr and Len Wein

The Original Universe

TEAM DATA


Status: Active
Current Members: Guy Gardner of Earth, Kyle Rayner of Earth, John Stewart of Earth, Ganthet of Oa, Boodikka of Bellatrix,
Base of Operation: Oa (current); Maltus (temporary)
Space Sector: 0
First Appearance: Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1 (May 1981): "Challenge!"
Creators: Mike W. Barr and Len Wein



MEMBERSHIP


HISTORY

Though all Green Lanterns are chosen for their honesty and bravery, there are some in the Corps that even outshine their illustrious compatriots. These emerald warriors are offered the rank and privilege of the Green Lantern Corps Honor Guard.

The original formation and the membership of the Honor Guard has yet to be revealed. The masters of the Green Lantern Corps, the Guardians of the Universe chose the most worthy of the Corps as members of the Honor Guard. It is possible such notable Green Lanterns such as Palaqua, Cimfet Tau, and Yalan Gur were part of the Honor Guard.

In the late twentieth century, the Honor Guard was composed of K'ryssma of Etrea, Apros of Minus 7 Pi, and Tomar-Re of Xudar. The story of K'ryssma and Apros has yet to be told, but tales of the legendary Tomar-Re have been documented.

Shortly after his retirement from the Green Lantern Corps, Tomar-Re was inducted into the Honor Guard by the Guardians of the Universe. He would continue to serve, mostly on Oa, by training new members of the Green Lantern Corps such as Arisia of Graxos IV. - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1-3, Green Lantern Vol. 2 #188

During the war with Nekron and renegade Maltusian Krona, the Honor Guard led the Corps in the absence of the Guardians. Each of the three led a division of the Corps against the armies of the undead. - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1-3

For his heroic actions in the war against Krona, Hal Jordan was offered the unprecedented position of leadership of the Green Lantern Corps, an honor the Green Lantern of Earth declined. - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #3

The so-called Crisis on Infinite Earths took a heavy toll on the multiverse as well as the Green Lantern Corps. One-fourth of the Corps lost their lives during the Crisis as well as the Battle of the Black Moon of Qward. Tomar-Re died at the hands of the Earth criminal known as Goldface. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #198

After the Crisis, the Guardians joined with their Zamaron mates and left for another dimension. They gave independent status to the Green Lantern Corps but some Green Lanterns were given specific assignments. Apros and K'ryssma were assigned to Maltus to protect the mortal Guardian Appa Ali Apsa (also known as the Old-timer) as well as aid in the training of Green Lantern Guy Gardner. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #199-200 - 200

The Guardians decreed they would let Guy keep his power ring, provided he met one requirement. Gardner would have to undergo training on the Guardians' homeworld, Maltus. He would work with the Honor Guard and Appa Ali Apsa while rebuilding the world which was ravaged in the Crisis. Gardner reluctantly agreed. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #200

Gardner was full of anger and he despised the tasks he was required to perform. He was considered too violent in his defense of Maltus from an attack by an armada of starships from Palomaris, who needed women for their world. - Green Lantern Corps #201

While they were more or less satisfied with Gardner's progress, the Honor Guard could not abide by his escape plans. The Green Lanterns confronted Gardner when he attempted to leave Maltus. They easily beat Gardner, and Apros invaded Gardner's mind, disabling him. They did not tell Appa Ali Apsa of the confrontation believing there would not be a second attempt. - Green Lantern Corps #204 - - 205

During a Maltusian sulfur storm Guy saw his window of escape and returned to Earth. The Honor Guard pursued the errant Green Lantern to his homeworld. Subduing Gardner, they were prepared to take his power ring from him when they were stopped by Hal Jordan. The Earth based Green Lanterns offered to take Gardner as their responsibility. They felt he would eventually need to learn how to fit into society and was better off learning on his homeworld. Satisfied with this offer, the Honor Guard returned to Maltus with Appa Ali Apsa. - Green Lantern Corps #207

They returned to Oa for the trail of Sinestro, the former Green Lantern of Korugar. The execution of Sinestro led to the collapse of the Central Power Battery and the battery's subsequent reabsorption of virtually all of the power rings of the Green Lantern Corps.

K'ryssma was integral to the Corps' stabilization of the remains of the Central Power Battery. Joined with other telepathic Green Lanterns, K'ryssma scanned the battery to learn more of the Guardians' origins and prevent Oa from becoming a massive, universe-threatening black hole. When K'ryssma's power ring was absorbed, she reverted to a chrysalis state. - - Green Lantern Corps #224

Some years later, when the Guardians returned and rebuilt the Central Power Battery and Green Lantern Corps, K'ryssma was found by four Earth children whose communities had been transplanted to Oa. The Mosaic Kids restored her to a humanoid form and she ultimately rejoined the Corps. - Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #5

The fall of the Green Lantern Corps at the hands of Hal Jordan again led to the reabsorption of the Corps' power rings. Many Green Lanterns were now easy targets for their enemies and some had been captured by slavers. Apros of Minus 7 Pi was among the unfortunate Green Lanterns to fall victim to this plot. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50, Guy Gardner: Warrior #35

K'ryssma and two other Green Lanterns joined Guy Gardner, now the Human/Vuldarian hybrid known as Warrior, to free scores of former Green Lanterns from a slavery ring run by Gardner's evil clone, known as the Enforcer. Darkstar Ferrin Colos was also instrumental in defeating the slavers. - Guy Gardner: Warrior #35, 37, Darkstars #35

K'ryssma later joined the Darkstars under the leadership of former Green Lantern John Stewart. She was killed defending Rann from the siege of Grayven. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #74


CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of The Green Lantern Corps Honor Guard in chronological order click here


GLCWP NOTE

I'm presuming the Honor Guard to be a long standing tradition of the Corps, therefore it is only logical some of the greatest GLs in history would be part of the Guard. Palaqua and Cimfet Tau were mentioned as the greatest GLs of their time in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2, they died at the hands of MadGod Sector 3600. Yalan Gur appeared in Green Lantern Vol. 3 #19 and was given special preference by the Guardians when they removed the yellow weakness from his ring. Yalan Gur ultimately betrayed his duty by abuse of his power.