Last week, Absolute Martian Manhunter (written by Deniz Camp with art by Javier Rodriguez) became the newest comic book in DC Comics' Absolute Universe. It was a funky, neon noir story that ended with the alien (who we assume is J'onn J'onzz) saying he’s the Martian Mind****er. A week later, DC released the newest instalment in that Universe, Absolute Green Lantern No. 1.
Like everything we’ve seen from this new Elsworld, there were changes to the characters and their world. But those changes are, like always with the Absolute Universe, amazing.
Absolute Green Lantern No. 1 creative team
- Writer: AL Ewing
- Artist: Jahnoy Lindsay
- Colorist: Jahnoy Lindsay
Hal Jordan: Black Arm Lantern?
Originally, before Abin Sur dies, he gives Hal Jordan his Green Lantern Ring. Here, not only does Sur look more like a Dragon Ball character, but he also appears to be evil. Instead of giving him a power ring to do good, Sur turns Hal’s arm black. With it came the power to kill that he can't control. This terrifies Hal, which is an emotion that isn’t becoming of Green Lantern.
Those aren’t the only changes in Absolute Green Lantern. Hal isn’t a pilot in this universe, he's a collectibles dealer. That explains why he’s scared instead of embracing the change to his body. He hasn’t had a lot of the death-defying experiences that defined him. The funny thing is that Hal isn't scared for himself. He's concerned about innocent people.
Writer Al Ewing kept a couple of things in this series that we know from the Hal Jordan of DC Comics' primary universe. Among them is his bravery. When a biker slams into a giant green dome (we later see it’s created by a Green Lantern), Hal jumps into action to see what he can do. There was no regard for his well-being. He just wanted to help. That is very much like the Hal Jordan we know.
Sojourner “Jo” Mullein, Guy Gardner, and John Stewart
Joining Hal in this universe are known DC Comics' characters (and Lanters in DC's main continuity), Sojourner “Jo” Mullein and John Stewart, who both design buildings. For John Stewart, this isn't too different from his original story where he was an architect. However, Jo was a police officer on Earth Prime, leaving the force after her partner beat someone to death. It could be the same in the Absolute Universe.
During his lunch with John Stewart and Jo Mullein, Hal brings up Guy Gardner. Guy is another DC Green Lantern who has a lack of respect for authority on Earth Prime, but is now a police officer here. To top it off, he's married to Jo. Considering their personalities are vastly different, it's weird that they're a couple. But that explains why they're on a break or divorced (it's unclear because Jo is still wearing her wedding ring).
Their relationship took a hit when Guy said Jo would’ve been chief by now if she had stayed on the police force. The problem is that something happened that caused her to quit, and Guy knows what the incident was. That led to Jo saying some not-so-nice things to her husband. Knowing Guy, he probably pushed the issue, and Jo spoke her mind.
Absolutely wonderful
We don’t know what’s going on with the Green Lanterns. Why did their giant symbol crush a town? If they're a threat, why is Jo wearing their logo and glowing green? Is yellow still a weakness? Furthermore, what’s going on with Abin Sur? He may seem evil, but that doesn’t mean he is. All of this remains a mystery that will be solved as the series continues.
One thing is for sure, though: We can't wait to see where Absolute Green Lantern takes us next.
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