Name: Harold “Hal” Jordan
First Appearance: Showcase #22 (October 1959)
Creators: John Broome (writer) and Gil Kane (artist)
Background:
Birthplace: Coast City, California (a fictional city in the DC Universe)
Occupation: Test pilot for Ferris Aircraft, later becomes a full-time hero
Origin Story:
Hal Jordan was chosen by the dying alien Green Lantern Abin Sur to be his successor. Abin Sur, a member of the Green Lantern Corps, crash-landed on Earth and used his power ring to summon a worthy individual. Hal was selected due to his bravery and integrity. After being given the ring and oath, Hal joined the Green Lantern Corps, becoming the guardian of Sector 2814, which includes Earth.
Powers and Abilities:
Power Ring: Hal wields a Green Lantern ring, which can materialize constructs from the wielder’s imagination fueled by willpower. The ring grants flight, superhuman strength, force field creation, energy blasts, and more. Its capabilities are limited only by the user’s creativity and willpower, but it must be recharged every 24 hours using the Green Lantern’s lantern, which is powered by the Central Power Battery on Oa.
Willpower: Hal is known for his exceptional willpower, which enhances his effectiveness with the ring.
Key Events and Story Arcs:
Emerald Dawn: A retelling of Hal’s origin, giving depth to his early days as a Green Lantern.
Emerald Twilight: Hal destroys the Central Power Battery on Oa, becoming Parallax, a being of fear, after the destruction of Coast City by Mongul and Cyborg Superman.
The Final Night: Hal sacrifices himself to reignite the sun, an act of redemption.
Green Lantern: Rebirth: Hal is resurrected, and it’s revealed that Parallax was an entity that had possessed him, not his true self.
Sinestro Corps War: Hal leads the Green Lantern Corps against Sinestro and his fear-based Corps.
Blackest Night: Hal fights against the Black Lanterns, including his own reanimated corpse.
War of the Green Lanterns: Hal, along with other Earth Lanterns, battles Krona’s influence over the Corps.
DC Rebirth: Hal returns to prominence, dealing with various threats and leading the Corps into new conflicts.
Personality:
Hal is often depicted as brave, sometimes reckless, with a strong sense of justice and duty. He’s known for his leadership qualities, though his approach can sometimes clash with the more by-the-book members of the Corps like John Stewart. His personal life is marked by complex relationships, notably with Carol Ferris, who at times becomes the villain Star Sapphire.
Relationships:
Carol Ferris: Hal’s on-again, off-again love interest, who also has her own alter-ego as Star Sapphire.
Sinestro: Former mentor turned arch-nemesis, with a complex relationship involving respect, rivalry, and betrayal.
Other Green Lanterns: Hal has formed deep bonds with fellow Lanterns like John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, and Simon Baz, often leading or working alongside them.
Legacy:
Hal Jordan has left an indelible mark on the Green Lantern mythos. His journey from a test pilot to one of DC’s premier heroes, his fall and redemption, and his continuous battle against both external and internal threats have made him one of the most beloved and complex characters in comics.
Recent Developments:
Hal continues to evolve, facing new challenges with the United Planets’ influence over the Corps, and he’s set to lead in new storylines involving the Fractal Lanterns and the restructuring of the Green Lantern Corps.
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