HAL JORDAN RETURNS IN OCTOBER'S REBIRTH

[MattBrady]

Newsarama has learned that tomorrow’s Wizard #152 will send Hal Jordan fans into fits of glee. The issue contains an article outlining how, in the October-debuting Green Lantern: Rebirth, a five issue miniseries by Geoff Johns and Ethan VanSciver, Hal Jordan will return to the DCU in a costumed form, and with a ring.

The current Green Lantern series will end with issue #181 in September.

Johns is quoted in the article, saying that the storyline will encompass all facets of the Green Lantern mythos, including John Stewart, Guy Gardner, the Spectre, Alan Scott, and Kyle Rayner, who will, according to Johns, play a major role.

And somewhere, members of H.E.A.T. (Hal's Emerald Advancement Team), who have lobbied for the return of Hal Jordan as Green Lantern for eight years are smiling – some for the first time in eight years, when it comes to the franchise.

Rumors of Jordan’s return have been circulating throughout comics fandom for years, basically, since Jordan went nutso in the Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight storyline, killed a bunch of Green Lanterns, became Parallax, took an arrow to the chest in Zero Hour, and died saving the solar system by restarting the sun in Final Night.

During the Day of Judgment miniseries, Jordan becomes the new human host for the Spectre, who had recently dumped Jim Corrigan (Corrigan, jilted, went to Heaven). Jordan was the Spectre since 1999, traveling the path to redemption. Most recently, however, the Spectre/Jordan relationship has been on the rocks, as seen in JSA #60’s (written by Johns) – “Redemption Lost” which has a badly beaten Spectre/Jordan appearing before members of the JSA, saying that he had lost redemption, signifying, at the very least, that the character was undergoing some serious changes.

The rumors of Jordan’s return gained significant traction last year, when new Green Lantern editor Pete Tomasi told fans at a comic convention that they would be very happy in 2004. Last winter, at a book signing for Mythology, Alex Ross told fans, when asked about Hal Jordan returning as Green Lantern, “We won!” Peppered throughout Hal Jordan/Spectre appearances most recently (written by Johns), hints have been liberally dropped that a change was coming for Jordan.

The latest hints came through Wizard's own solicitation for its July issue (#154), which read: "Tying into DC's upcoming Rebirth mini-series, Geoff Johns tells us what he thinks about the longstanding Green Lantern debate as we count down why Hal must get the ring back!"

The solicitation information was quickly changed on Diamond's website to remove all mention of things Rebirth.

DC’s Dan Didio is quoted in the article as saying, "I've always believed that Hal is one of the greatest heroes of the DCU. In my opinion, the path he was taken down in some ways diminished his role and his impact as a hero in the universe. And there’s so many unresolved issues concerning Hal, the Spectre, and the GL Corps itself. So we wanted to rebuilt Hal's character, addressing all the things that occurred in his life that made and unmade the man--and at the same time rebuild the essence of what the Green lanterns stand for.”

Didio went on to say that in his eyes, Green Lantern should become the #3 franchise from DC, behind Superman and Batman.

The full story is in Wizard #152

[GenXMaverick]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Newsarama has learned that tomorrow’s Wizard #152 will send Hal Jordan fans into fits of glee. The issue contains an article outlining how, in the October-debuting Green Lantern: Rebirth, a five issue miniseries b Geoff Johns and Ethan VanSciver, Hal Jordan will return to the DCU.

The current series will end with issue #181 in September.

Well, okay, that I did not know! Holy relaunches, Batman! We've got a new Green Lantern #1.

Johns is quoted in the article, saying that the storyline will encompass all facets of the Green Lantern mythos, including John Stewart, Guy Gardner, the Spectre, Alan Scott, and Kyle Rayner, who will, according to Johns, play a major role.

This I learned last month because to tell the truth Johns has been saying this privately to personal friends for a while. I made the mistake of eavedropping one day when he was in the shop--not my retailer's fault, but it was juicy gossip and I couldn't resist.

The rumors of Jordan’s return gained significant traction last year, when new Green Lantern editor Pete Tomasi told fans at a comic convention that they would be very happy in 2004.

Which has given Carlos Pacheco over a year to get ahead on the new GL series.

Didio went on to say that in his eyes, Green Lantern should become the #3 franchise from DC, behind Superman and Batman.

The full story is in Wizard #152

If GL is #3 and not Wonder Woman (which is news to me), who's #4? Better yet, what number is Diana, anyway?

After all, is it because she's a woman? And why can't John Stewart be GL? I'll leave it at that.

[aphterburn]

Goodbye Kyle....you will be missed by a few.

[Jack Burton]

Originally posted by aphterburn
Goodbye Kyle....you will be missed by a few.

If by few you mean most then yes he will be missed

[Primate]

Originally posted by MattBrady
...Alex Ross told fans, when asked about Hal Jordan returning as Green Lantern, “We won!”...

Heh. I was right. Interesting.

I have mixed feelings about this. There is no single DCU writer I trust more than Johns to shepherd this project. That said, I sincerely hope that Kyle isn't killed or dismissed in as cavalier a fashion as Hal was.

Too bad they're relaunching with a new #1.

It's almost surreal that this is happening. For many Green Lantern fans like myself, this is the eternal, seminal, pie-in-the-sky comics storyline we have been both anticipating and.or dreading, the one thing we thought might never happen. I almost can't believe it's actually finally going to be canon.

I thinkw e shpuld buckle up for a fun and bumpy ride..."Beware my power..."

[AnthonyL]

I had no interest in this when I read about it at ComiX-fan a couple days ago.

But now that EVS is attached, i'm so there.

Anthony L

[KSChris]

If they make Kyle second-fiddle to Jordan, I swear I will stop reading Green Lantern.

[Moonbeam]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Daredevil Father comes out tomorrow, and I find out Hal's back today.

There is a God

[drifter13x]

I haven't followed the GL franchise since Ron Marz left. I like the Kyle Rayner character, he was an intresting person outside of the costume and his relationship with Dona Troy was great. Hopefully we'll still see him kick about the DCU in some form, but I figure that there is an excellent chance he'll just loose the ring or get killed or something (up coming Identity Crisis victim?).

[Zeus]

Holy unexpected returns Batman!! (yeah, i know, second time someone's used a Batman refrence...bite me)

This is unexpected, to say the least. I heard the rumors, but figured they were JUST that, rumors. I'll miss Kyle...but i liked him better with the chunky mask, the early Kyle that was in the JLA.

But i've always liked Hal...time to give him his due. Hopefully Kyle wont disapear

and everyones missing the best part...Guy Gardner is coming back! SWWEEEEEET!

[Padding]

DAMN YOU DC FOR RELAUNCHING TO GET SALES

DAMN YOU DC FOR DISRESPECTING READERS AND TRYING TO GET SALES

DAMN YOU DC BECAUSE IT'S YOUR FAULT I DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND

DAMN YOU DC BECAUSE I'M NOT 8 ANYMORE


This was a parody, back to your regularly scheduled posting

[BillReed]

I must say, I don't care who's wearing the ring... I'd rather see something new and less cliched. But, for the luvva...does it have to be Johns? Blah. That guarantees I won't go near it. And Van Sciver... Well, it's shouting "Avoid me!"

[drumore]

I suppose it's debatable if Superman or Batman are #1. (Superman in identity, Batman in sales)

Wonder Woman at #3.

Flash and Green Lantern switch-hitting at 4 and 5.

After that I'd saw it's a jumble between Aquaman, Green Arrow, Hawkman depending on the current trend, creative team, and public perception.

[blankpoint]

I have a hunch that Alex Ross is going to pull down the wall-paintings of Hal as GL he's been wanking to for the past 8 years and submit them to DC as covers for the series.

I don't know what to think of this. One of the aspects I like about the DCU is the sprawling continuity and the sense of legacy inherent to major characters. I have a feeling that a straight relaunch of Hal as GL will soon become a bland thing. What I do think would be good is a new GL Corps book, with Hal, Kyle, and others serving as the main characters. A complete science-fiction book I think is the right way to go.

[blind3rdeye]

If this is true, FUCK MY OLD BOOTS!!!
I just hope they keep Kyle around. I really have grown to like that character.
Still, it's gonna be pretty cool to see Hal in the uniform again.

[The Marvel]

Wow.

Actually, I don't think I could care less about this if you paid me. All this does is further help negate the meaning of any story ever told or to be told using any major (read: Marvel or DC) superhero.

What this says is that no consequence ever lasts, ever matters, or will ever matter, simply because there will always be another writer or editor down the line that really doesn't care about consistency, meaning or continuity.

No one ever stays dead, no one ever stays evil or good, no story ever really means anything or has any real, lasting consequences.

On the bright side, the thousands (or hundreds) of really sad individuals that comprise H.E.A.T. have won a major victory for the eternal status quo and an assuredness that no story ever really matters.

Congrats, guys.

[Dave Accampo]

I don't want to be one of those snarky "yawn, I'm so unimpressed" posters, so I'm going to ramble a little bit to see if I can make a coherent point...

I liked Hal, and I liked Kyle. I was fine with Kyle as a Lantern because he was an interesting character...as well defined as Hal when in the right hands (and that goes for both characters). One of the things I liked about Kyle's tenure as GL is that it was marked by the tragedy of what had come before. He had stepped into a role that had driven his predecessor mad. That, and Kyle slowly learning to admire the legacy was what made that a fun ride. Of course, I haven't read GL in a while, so that obviously wore a little thin, especially once Hal was a good guy again...

As a long-time, jaded reader, I always knew they would simply bring Hal back if they needed a boost in sales or they thought they could milk the franchise audience for more (which is essentially what Hal as the Spectre was). So, I'm really as unimpressed with this as i was with the Spectre move. For me, it's not about getting angry that a beloved character is returning or another getting pushed to the sidelines...it's just what monthly serial publications eventually have to do...

That said, I do think that you can still tell good stories about either character. Simply based on the concept of each, there are still plenty of good stories. So I'd probably buy a series based on that. I don't know if Johns could do that for me, to be honest, so it's definitely a wait and see thing for me...

The only way that I think this move weakens the characters is that telling stories ABOUT how people come back to life, about continuity, are really usually pretty boring. I thought Kevin Smith's run on Green Arrow was a bit bland because it was so focused on getting GA back to life. On the other hand, Brad Meltzer told a great story that simply used the resurrection as a backdrop for a great little character story.

My guess is that the new series will probably feature Hal, John, and Kyle. I mean why not try to increase your audience by focusing on more than one GL? Depending on how they do it, it could be cool. But I'm also thinking there's a good chance that it could water down each character and end up uninspired and derivative.

Just my thoughts. Definitely a wait and see thing...

Dave

[AlexLothos]

Blah. I respect the Hal Jordan lovers and fans, but I liked John Stewart and I never wanted to see him back in the GL costume (well, he is on the JLA cartoon, and that was an interesting surprise...).

I never really cared for DC. The only thing they had to me was the Bat-family, and I love them greatly. When they introduced Kyle as the new GL it grabbed my attention and kept it. Kyle is someone I can relate to. Hal was never someone I could see myself as.

At any rate, this is bad news. I didn't like the Ion thing, but I tolorated it. I liked when Jade got a ring, but when he started passing them out like free cupons, I really didn't like that (I was never a fan of the GL corps concept- one ring, one bearer was a better idea. Otherwise it loses what makes it special... though again, it looks kinda cool in the cartoon), but I took that also. Now this... well, like I said when I started reading GL, if they put Hal back in the main GL position, I'm dropping it. I'm just one guy and DC can shrug and go on unaffected, but I'm just letting my lone voice be heard.

[SanityOrMadness]

Damn...

[whippis]

This is what is wrong with comics. This is the kind of thing that make comics inaccessable to new readers. This is why current readers are considered by the world at large as nerds.

Good books get cancelled because no one reads them.

All fans want are the same characters doing the same thing over and over and over.

Grow up and demand better books, please.

[Hypestyle]

What is Ron Marz' role in this, if any?

Hopefully Hal will not go nuts again, or get killed, etc..

but how will the other heroes react, especially Batman?

[El Argentino]

I hope that Geoff don't kill Kyle!!!....and I hope to God see the name Carlos Pacheco on the new #1 cover....


and I'd love to see Guy on green and ring again...

and that Ross pic is horrible....

and...

and...

[BriGuy]

The current Green Lantern series will end with issue #181 in September.

That upsets me. I hate the trend of restarting books. And Green Lantern is the one book I've been reading since I started reading comics to last. They really don't need to restart this title. People will buy it with Jordan back regardless if it's a #1 or not. Just put the ongoing on hiatus while the Rebirth mini is going on. Especially if they're planning on making it a franchise. There will still be a Green Lantern #1. They don't all have to be #1s.

Ah well. I'm happy to have a talented writer like Johns on it though. I hope he sticks with the franchise and is not just doing the mini. And I'm looking forward to seeing Ethan's work.



(Edited to give props to Ethan)

[Tyler Smith]

I can see why they're going with a new #1--that's a pretty weak creative team, as far as I'm concerned; they'll need to reboot the numbering to help sales. I'll be skipping this.

[gwangung]

Originally posted by The Marvel
Wow.

Actually, I don't think I could care less about this if you paid me. All this does is further help negate the meaning of any story ever told or to be told using any major (read: Marvel or DC) superhero.

What this says is that no consequence ever lasts, ever matters, or will ever matter, simply because there will always be another writer or editor down the line that really doesn't care about consistency, meaning or continuity.

No one ever stays dead, no one ever stays evil or good, no story ever really means anything or has any real, lasting consequences.

True. The effect of the fanboy mentality.

And part of the reason the public doesn't take comics seriously...few consquences, few significant stories, etc. In a form where anythings does or CAN happen, very little matters.