| LORD MALVOLIO OF THE GREEN FLAME | BIOGRAPHY |
| Created by James Owsley and M.D. Bright |
Lord Malvolio
PERSONAL DATA
Homeworld: Earth
Space Sector: 2814
Marital Status: Presumed single
Known Relatives: Unnamed mother (deceased), unnamed father (deceased)
Gender: Male
Eyes: Unknown
Hair: Blonde
First Appearance: Action Comics Weekly #632 (December 27, 1988): "Beyond Phobus"
Creators: James Owsley and M.D. Bright
HISTORY
In his own words, Lord Malvolio was born in England in the year 1612. His father was an offworlder, a Green Lantern from Space Sector 1634. Why his father was on Earth has never been revealed. Even less is known about Malvolio's mother, a human woman, who died in childbirth.
Malvolio's father shared his knowledge with his son who, two hundred years later, killed him in his sleep and took the power ring. Malvolio believed he alone should have the power of the green flame. He travelled the stars until he found the space sector and homeworld of his father.
Learning of the death of Malvolio's father, the Guardians of the Universe appointed the being known as Priest as the new Green Lantern for Space Sector 1634.
On behalf of the Guardians, Priest fought Lord Malvolio. Although he was ordered to kill Malvolio, Priest imprisoned Malvolio within a starless void instead. Priest was stripped of his power ring for disobeying the Guardians' orders. Lord Malvolio would observe the sector from his prison for many years.
The races of Sector 1634 had worshipped their Green Lantern as a god. He was a noble being, worthy of respect and acclaim. This Green Lantern had taken a far more active role in shaping his space sector than others of the Corps. He had kept the peace for generations. This may have been Lord Malvolio or his late father. With the loss of their Green Lantern the worlds were thrown into chaos. Orbiting the star Selsia, the fifth and sixth planets of that system ultimately came into conflict.
A new Green Lantern would be needed to prevent the war from spilling across the galaxy. In the late 20th Century, Hal Jordan was brought by Priest to stop the warring sides. Priest trained Jordan in the use of his power ring in non-programmed sectors. Jordan took the leader from each side to sign a peace treaty. Unknown to the Green Lantern of Earth, he had only delayed the war by giving both sides a new target: Hal Jordan.
Jordan would again find himself in Priest's sector while chasing the occupant of an alien shrine that had caused major destruction on Earth. Lord Malvolio somehow pulled Jordan out of spacewarp and into his realm. The people of the worlds within the area of space worshipped their Green Lantern. Malvolio had built a huge base of operations for himself, the Green Lantern insignia etched into the side of a mountain.
The Green Lantern of Earth was puzzled by the existence of another of the Corps. Following the execution of Sinestro and the collapse of the Central Power Battery on Oa, the majority of the Corps had lost their power rings. Regardless, Jordan sought out his fellow Green Lantern to ask for help in finding a way home.
Lord Malvolio appeared deranged to Jordan, and he left to ask for help from an alien scientist from Selsia V. The helpful alien told Jordan the path he was looking for was "beyond phobus". Lord Malvolio killed the alien on the spot for assisting Jordan. He told Jordan that he would never leave.
Jordan had been summoned by Lord Malvolio to serve as heir apparent. He was to renounce his ties with Priest so that both Green Lanterns could forge an alliance to ultimately crush him.
The two fought, Jordan quickly realized he was no match for Lord Malvolio and he fled. Jordan found a golden space station which could offer refuge from Malvolio. He questioned a human named Wallace, who had been squire to Lord Malvolio. Wallace had served Malvolio since his master had slain his own father and taken the power of the green flame. Jordan learned the station was not made to protect them from Malvolio but rather as a shrine to him. Malvolio burst through the side of the station and instantly killed all those aboard. He then turned his attention to Jordan.
Lashing out in anger, Jordan repeatedly hit Malvolio, striking him down. He turned his back which infuriated the large Green Lantern. When he turned back, Malvolio fired a yellow energy weapon which destroyed Jordan's ring. Jordan's only option was to run.
The Green Lantern of Earth knew he had few options. Using the largest weapon he could find, an energy cannon with a body harness, Jordan awaited his enemy's arrival. The shots went wild, punching a hole in the side of the station. Malvolio plugged the tearing metal and stood to face the Earth's Green Lantern.
Jordan had not given up, he used part of the harness as a bow and arrow. The "arrow" sunk into Malvolio's chest, apparently killing him. Jordan had not intended to kill Malvolio, only stop him. He took the power ring from Malvolio's finger. It had made the journey from Earth and would take Jordan home again.
After Jordan departed, Malvolio arose and pulled the projectile from his chest. His plan had been fulfilled, Jordan now soared the spaceways with Lord Malvolio's ring. The illusions surrounding Malvolio dissolved, leaving him in a lightless void...
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Lord Malvolio of the Green Flame in chronological order click here
GLCWP NOTE
A number of GL fans asked about a follow-up to this story, supposedly Gerard Jones had been planning something. At the very least, Jones hadn't forgotten about Malvolio, the name popped up in dialogue between Hal and Guy in Green Lantern Vol. 3 #25.
I did a substantial rewrite of this entry after learning new information from Christopher Priest (formerly known as James Owsley), the creator of Malvolio (Priest's post available below).
How powerful was Lord Malvolio? The Guardians knew him, Hal even told Guy about him. Did they fear him? Malvolio destroyed Hal's ring, no mean feat there. It forced Hal to take Malvolio's ring to return home.
Malvolio's surroundings were a projection of his willpower, put there to lull Hal into a false sense of security. He pulled the Earth GL into his prison, to use him as a weapon against Priest.
At any rate, Hal *was* wearing Malvolio's ring during Emerald Twilight...
CHRISTOPHER PRIEST SPEAKS
This is a copy of a response to my original LORD MALVOLIO entry, posted on rec.arts.comics.dc.universe:
Subject: Re: Lord Malvolio (was Re: Green Lantern...Enough Already!)
From: (Priest)
Date: 26 Apr 1996 14:58:07 GMT
Message-ID: Wow. This is scary and flattering all at once. Yes, drmouse is dead on.
Some ampiflications:
In article <4lh034$mt7@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, drmouse@aol.com (DRMOUSE) wrote:
- > LORD MALVOLIO OF THE GREEN FLAME
- >
- > HOMEWORLD: Earth
- >
- > SECTOR: originally from 2814, now in 1634.
Amazing. *I* didn't even remember that.
- > PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
- > A highly muscular, large human, grey hair, wears a GL uniform with a striking resemblance to Alan Scott's.
There was a reason for that, but I honestly can't remember. I believe we were going to assert Scott's uniform was actually based on Malvolio's.
- > HISTORY:
- >
- > In his own words, Lord Malvolio was born in England in the year 1612. His father was an offworlder, a Green Lantern from Space Sector 1634. Why his father was on Earth has never been revealed.
There was no GL of Earth at that time. Malvie's dad was a big blue-skinned guy. He fell in love with an earth woman (probably against the Guardians' wishes).
- > Even less is known about Malvolio's mother, a human woman, who died in childbirth.
Which is probably why the marriage would have been against the Guardians' wishes.
- > Malvolio's father shared his knowledge with his son who, two hundred years later, slayed him and took the power ring.
Malvolio was/is insane. A congenital defect. He has MAJOR EGO PROBLEMS. Although he worshipped his dad, at some point he realized his dad was an idiot and that he, Malvolio, alone should have the power of "the green flame."
He killed his dad in his sleep-- an incredibly ignoble gesture, and something that fuels Malvie's insanity all the more.
- > Malvolio believed he alone was chosen on Earth to wield the power of the green flame. He travelled the stars until he found Priest's sector of space and the homeworld of his father.
Hmmm... hard to remember now, but the Guardians may have sent Priest (then a GL) to drive Malvie away from Earth.
Oh-- point of order: Malvolio was NEVER a Green Lantern. His FATHER was. Malvie killed dad and took his ring-- but he was NEVER a member of the corps.
Once the guardian's learned of Malvoilio's father's death, they appointed a new GL for sector 1634-- Priest-- and sent Priest to corrall fat boy.
- > The actions of Lord Malvolio are unclear at this point, some of this knowledge was given to Hal by PRIEST. The being known as Priest was also a Green Lantern of Space Sector 1634, though he may have resigned his position in the Corps before Malvolio's time.
- > On behalf of the Guardians of the Universe, Priest fought Lord Malvolio. Priest managed to trick his opponent, imprisoning Malvolio within a starless void. Lord Malvolio would observe the sector from his prison for many years.
Priest was booted out of the GL corps by the Guardians because he refused to kill Malvolio (the Guardians had ordered him to pop the bastard). Instead, Priest imprisoned Malvie and the little fathead pipsqueaks took Priest's stripes.
- > The races of Sector 1634 had worshipped their Green Lantern as a god. He was a noble being, worthy of respect and acclaim. This Green Lantern had taken a far more active role in shaping his space sector than others of the Corps. He had kept the peace for generations. This may have been Lord Malvolio or his late father. With the loss of their Green Lantern the worlds were thrown into chaos. Orbiting the star Selsia, the fifth and sixth planets of that system ultimately came into conflict.
- >
- > A new Green Lantern would be needed to prevent the war from spilling across the galaxy. In the late 20th Century HAL JORDAN was brought by Priest to stop the warring sides. Priest trained Jordan in the use of his power ring in non-programmed sectors. Jordan took the leader from each side to sign a peace treaty. Unknown to the Green Lantern of Earth, he had only delayed the war by giving both sides a new target: Hal Jordan.
They sent a big robot (called a "Keeper") after him in a Green Lantern special done by Doc and me-- our final "chapter" of the ACW GL series.
- > Jordan would again find himself in Priest's sector while chasing the occupant of an alien shrine that had caused major destruction on Earth. Entering warpspace, Lord Malvolio somehow brought Jordan into his realm.
- >
- > The people of the worlds within the area of space worshipped their Green Lantern. Malvolio had built a huge base of operations for himself, the Green Lantern insignia etched into the side of a mountain.
Ok-- here's where it gets loopy, and yes, it's probably my fault:
"Malovolio's World," the mountain retreat, the alien scientist-- everything we saw in that arc-- was all an illusion. Malvolio was in JAIL, imprisoned by Priest and looking for a way out. He brought Hal there (yanking Hal out of the space warp Hal had fallen into while chasing the alien) and created all this B-S for one purpose only--
--to get Hal to put on Malvolio's ring, which Parallax wears today.
- > Jordan had not given up, he used part of the harness as a bow and arrow. The "arrow" sunk into Malvolio's chest, apparently killing him. Jordan had not intended to kill Malvolio only stop him. He took the power ring from Malvolio's finger. It had made the journey from Earth and would take Jordan home again.
- >
- > After Jordan departed, Malvolio arose and pulled the projectile from his chest. His plan had been fulfilled, Jordan now soared the spaceways with Lord Malvolio's ring. The illusions surrounding Malvolio dissolved, leaving him in a lightless void...
- >
- > OATH: unknown
He has no oath. He's just a nut job.
- > Yet another Green Lantern mystery that may never be solved. A number of GL fans had asked about a follow-up to this story, supposedly Gerard Jones had been planning something.
I've tried no fewer than six times to bring Malvolio back. DC has no interest in the character.
In 1992 I pitched "The Freedom Fighters," a super-heroic (sort of) team consisting of Ray, Black Condor, Phantom Lady, the Hawks, (Roger Stern's) Starman and Arion The Immortal. The team's unlikely, warped Professor X? Malvolio. DC declined it.
- > At the very least, Jones hadn't forgotten about Malvolio, the name popped up in dialogue between Hal and Guy in GL3 # 25.
I'm surprised Jones wasn't run out on a rail for that. Then again, maybe he was . . .
- > Who really was Lord Malvolio? The Guardians had heard of him, Hal even told Guy about him. Did Malvolio have any connection to Alan Scott?
Nope.
- > Did his power ring work on wood?
Malvolio, like Priest, doesn't need a ring. See, Denny O'Neil (my GL ed at the time) and I agree the limitations of Hal's ring were (ironically) imposed to keep him from going nuts. That the limitations were mostly mental or post-hypnotic.
Malvolio didn't know any of the rules. He doesn't know his ring can't work on yellow, so Malvie's ring *can.* In fact, Malvie, like Priest, can connect to the GL force without the ring.
- > It *may* have worked on yellow... Malvolio smashed through the golden hull of a space station to get at Hal.
It *did* work on yellow.
- > Malvolio destroyed Hal's ring, no mean feat there. It forced Hal to take Malvolio's ring to return home.
Where that was going: Malvolio was going to home in on his ring and use that as a beacon to find his way back to Earth... somehow. But then *Office Wars (TM)*, and the GL book changed editors. Andy Helfer didn't like any of this stuff, so we jettisoned it and began work on Emerald Dawn. 15 months later, with barely the first script done, and my close friendship with Andy hanging by a thread, I quit the book.
Andy's a terrific editor and a good friend of mine, but we were going to kill each other over GL. I'd been working with Denny, who had a very Carl Sagan approach to the entire concept. I was much more comfortable with Denny.
- > Was Malvolio "trained" by Priest, ala Ben Kenobi training Anakin Skywalker?
Malvie was not trained by anyone. He was the Ultimate Loose Cannon.
- > Malvolio saw the power he could command, and killed his father for the ring.
Malvie killed his dad because he thought he could do the job better. Because he thought his dad was unworthy of the power. Malvie was not covetous of the power. He is the Super Ego.
- > Did Priest get the job of GL after Malvolio killed his father?
Yes.
- > Was he assigned to stop Malvolio's rampage?
Yes. And when he refused to kill Malvie, the Guardians booted him. Priest went into self-exile on a rock in the middle of nowhere.
- > Malvolio was imprisoned in a extra-dimensional pocket of Space Sector 1634. Priest had sentenced to exile by the Guardians... was he Malvolio's jailer?
Nah. But, that woulda been great had I thought about it.
- > Malvolio's surroundings seemed to be a projection of his willpower put there to lull Hal into a false sense of security. He pulled the Earth GL into his prison, to use him as a weapon against Priest.
Exactly. Like a holodeck.
- > Perhaps Priest had been using Hal as a pawn against Malvolio?
Nope. Priest was ultimately going to replace the Guardians, whom Denny and I both thought were a little 1960's, as Hal's "big brother." Priest was legit.
Andy did not like Priest. Andy had Priest killed. Thanks Andy. I guess being marooned on an asteroid 3000 light years from Earth wasn't far enough out of the story!!!!!!
- > Still, why would the Guardians allow Malvolio to have any contact with members of the Corps?
They didn't "allow" Malvie to contact Hal. My best guess is Malvie, who is after all part human and raised on Earth, has been trying to escape and get home for centuries. The Earth GL blundering into his sector made it easy for him.
- > FILE: lord_mal.log
Whatsis? A FAQ or something? Wow-- never knew anyone gave a damn about ol' Malvie.
Thanks for posting!
BTW-- Malvolio's Ring is DC's Instant Way Out of this Parallax business. They'll never use it, but it *is* there.
Useless Info Dept: Malvolio was created by MD Bright and myself, but was named (after the Shakespearean character) by DC Senior Editor Dan Raspler.
//priest // Cheyenne Mountain Ranch, Colorado // "It's not canon unless it shows up on a TV show or in a movie. If that were not the case then the fan bitches Marshak and Culbreath would have canonical material *vomit.*" --Michael A. Chary on Star Trek