Lanterns Rewrites the Worst Moment in Green Lantern History

The Trust Issues Between Hal and John

Right from the first episode, it’s been clear that Hal Jordan and John Stewart are like oil and water—two heroes who just can’t get it together. You’d think that when the world is on fire, these guys would put aside their differences and join forces, right? Nope! Even as Antaan launches his attack and Zoe and her husband Will Macon are busy ripping Rushville a new one, Hal and John are too busy bickering like an old married couple.

Episode 5: Not Exactly Their Best Day

Episode five, dubbed “Lights Out,” is like a dose of cold coffee for our dynamic duo. It’s a stark drop in quality for a season that’s been otherwise brilliant. But don’t worry, folks! This isn’t Hal and John’s worst moment ever—just you wait until you see what’s in the comics. A few weeks ago, we jabbed at John’s most regrettable moment when his arrogance led to the demise of Xanshi. But compared to Hal’s infamous Emerald Twilight, this episode is just a coffee spill on the carpet.

Hal Jordan’s Darkest Hour

If you dive into any comic book discussion about Hal Jordan’s treatment in Lanterns, you’ll find a whole treasure chest of complaints about Earth’s favorite Green Lantern. It’s no secret: Hal’s got a police badge, and during his stint in the beloved Green Lantern/Green Arrow series back in the ’70s, he was the poster child for law enforcement overreach. Hal often felt a little down about his hero gig, leading him to try out various careers—truck driver, insurance salesman, even toy vendor. And, oh boy, let’s not forget that he once dated a 13-year-old girl named Arisia and used his ring to help her jump to adulthood. Yikes!

Emerald Twilight: The Epic Fail

But the real slap to the face for Hal came in the form of the Emerald Twilight arc in 1994, crafted by Ron Marz with illustrations by Darryl Banks. Emerging from the chaos of the Reign of the Superman, where a cyborg doppelgänger of Superman leveled Hal’s hometown, killing practically everyone he cared about—including his girlfriend Carol Ferris—Hal’s grief drove him to use his ring to attempt to resurrect his city. But one ring just wasn’t cutting it, and when the Guardians refused to help, our boy snapped!

Hal’s Villainous Transformation

What followed in Green Lantern #48-50 was Hal going full-on rogue. He started turning against the Green Lantern Corps, snatching rings like they were candy and even killed his buddy Kilowog (like, not cool, dude!). In an extreme move, the Guardians resurrected Sinestro, a rogue Green Lantern, to tackle Hal. Spoiler: Hal wasn’t in a mood for compassion and ended up snapping Sinestro’s neck. Talk about a falling out!

The Rise of Parallax

When Hal emerged from this chaotic mess, he was no longer Hal the Green Lantern; he was Parallax, the guy who decided to go big and terrorize the entire DC Universe. Some readers actually found him more interesting as a villain. Why? Because he believed he was shaping a better universe, even if everyone else begged to differ. Meanwhile, his replacement, Kyle Rayner, was cast in a more heroic light while Hal made a detour into villainy. Parallax was compelling, but that’s not to say that Emerald Twilight didn’t sink quicker than a lead balloon.

Retcon to the Rescue

As if the Emerald Twilight story didn’t mess up enough things, enter Geoff Johns in the 2000s, who decided to give Hal a redemption arc in Green Lantern: Rebirth. Johns revealed Sinestro’s sneaky manipulation of Hal all along, claiming that the dreaded Yellow Impurity came from the evil symbiote Parallax being trapped in the Battery. So, was Hal just a pawn? Yes and no. While it made for a more consistent narrative, it did protect Hal from being the ultimate villain and reinstated his shiny superhero status.

Conclusion: Lessons in Character Development

So, as we watch Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart navigate their respective crises, we can take solace in the fact that it could always be worse. After all, some characters have had it way worse when it comes to development and storytelling mishaps. Stay tuned for more heroes and their misadventures in Lanterns, airing every Sunday at 9 pm EST on HBO and HBO Max!