Bring on the Bad Guys: The Javelin

Real name: Unrevealed 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#173 (February 1984)

Abilities: Olympic athlete, hand to hand combatant, custom javelins  

Worst act: Theft, attempted murder

Quote: "Now you vill suffer zer wrath of --the Javelin!" 

Created by: Len Wein (script), Dave Gibbons (pencils/letters), Anthony Tollin (colors)

And so we end another feature here at Geekademia. Much like the Golden Age Green Lantern we'll take a special look at another member of the Lantern's rogues. Tihis time out, we look at a fellow who isn't lacking for confidence-the Javelin. 

Funny, all this time I've been doing these and this is the first foe that was involved in the Crisis before the whole thing was revealed. The Javelin is hired by a congressman to steal a new engine from Ferris Aircraft. He gets it and then rebuilds it into a missile/really big javelin before launching it at the company's HQ. 

That would be the most competent he'd ever be as after that he tended to either get captured or dead.  

Yeah, dead. Joined the Suicide Squad and got killed, then again in 2005, then again in 2006. I mean, other people could have used the name but I'd like to think it's the same guy. Clearly getting exploded/shot/run over with visible sound effects but a year or two later he's back in business. 

All things considered, I do love this goofball. I mean, he throws pointed sticks at the most powerful weapon in the universe but his costume is mostly yellow. Not all of it, mind you, just most. He's such a 1960's villain you honestly wonder how he came about in the 80's. He even has a posse of dudes on sky cycles. Pretty sweet for a minor league player. 

Oh, and did I mention the rocket boots? He has rocket boots. This is a guy with rocket boots and pointed sticks and he goes to take on the Green Lantern. Epic confidence if nothing else.

Bring on the Bad Guys: The Rocket Robbers

Real names: Springy, the rest unrevealed

First appearance: Green Lantern II#15 2/2 (September 1962)

Abilities: Basic safecracking, timing 

Worst act: Theft

Quote: "Turning my bullets into soap bubbles!?" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

In hindsight, a gang based around rockets would be a natural fit for the Green Lantern. Rather surprised it took this long, although they need a more peppy image (yes, yet another gang of dudes in suits). 

A fairly basic yarn. Hal delivers some parts to Cape Canaveral and stays to check out the rocket launches. He bops over to Rocket City and finds it under siege. Seems every time a rocket gets launched, the Rocket Robbers strike, since every single man, woman, and child in town loves rockets so much they can't tear their eyes away. 

Even when they're being robbed

Of course, Hal WOULD easily stop them, but he can't use his ring; seems he charged twenty-four hours ago and hasn't done so since, so he isn't going to even check-his ring is out of juice...until he finds out it isn't and easily mops up the crooks. 

Yeah, Hal forgot to factor in time. The robbers are fairly generic but no reason why they can't be used again today.

Bring on the Bad Guys: Mr. Blackstreet

Real name: Blackstreet (although I imagine his first name would be Sidney)

First appearance: Green Lantern II#14 2/2 (July 1962)

Abilities: Basic auto repair 

Worst act: Kidnapping, theft

Quote: "You're young, Mr. Jordan, so of course you wouldn't recall that most fabulous crime of the year 1912--the theft of the archduke's blue diamond, the greatest stone of its kind in history! Ah yes, what a stone there two thieves..." 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Get ready, as it's time for another wacky Jordan brother episode! This time out, Hal kicks things off when he can't find his fraternity ring, so naturally he decides (at a suggestion of Thomas) that he'll just turn his power ring into a duplicate of his school ring. Who's going to know?

While out hunting, both Hal and Jim get poison ivy and, cue the trumpets, their rings get switched at the doctor's office! Sue Williams, even more convinced that Jim is the Green Lantern, takes this time to break into Jim's home and, maddened with glee, she finds proof! Yup, if Jim isn't the Green Lantern then how come he has a green lantern?

Jim, more patiently that most at this point, explains that lantern came off a 1904 Bercedes Menz. She isn't convinced, but after Jim fools around and somehow the power ring listens to him! He flies! At least until he crashes into the ceiling and knocks himself out. She takes her leave now fully convinced Jim was the Green Lantern the whole time. 

Feel I missed out not putting a Jordan Owned Count this time out. 

The Mr. Blackstreet's goons break in and take both Jim and the lamp. When Jim wakes up, Blackstreet explains; seems that in 1912 a thief stole a precious gem and hid it in an archduke's car-the same car Jim's lantern came from. Blackstreet has spent years but he has finally put the car together and so the gem will be his!

Hal thankfully gets his ring back and manages to take down the car thieves but Sue is now convinced, more than ever, that Jim is the Green Lantern and isn't telling her. 

Blackstreet isn't a horrible character, but he feels out of place here. I could see his scam doing better in Gotham or maybe Star City. Of course I would be remiss if I failed to mention the obvious references to noted actor Sydney Greenstreet. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: The Spectarns

Real names: Unrevealed 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#13 (June 1962)

Abilities: Mind control

Worst act: Attempted world conquering 

Quote: "We have already proved that we can handle Green Lantern! He will be no obstacle to us in our forthcoming miltary action!" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

An alien invasion, and this one is sort of Hal's fault. As the Green Lantern, he's rushing to get back to Earth to meet Carol for a date when wouldn't you know it, he crash lands on the planet Spectar (head first too). It's in the same orbit as Earth but in a different dimension. Seems Hal was going so fast he broke every barrier and landed on it. They are a friendly people though and wish he well on his journey.

At least until he leaves, then they drop the whole polite thing and reveal what they want-to rule over Earth! And thanks to their newest agent, they will!

Yup, Hal went and got himself Manchurian Canidated. Thomas is the first one to notice things are off and goes with Hal on his vacation, where he happens to run into equally vacationing Barry Allen and his gal pal Iris West. 

Can the Flash help figure things out?

Interesting twist I'll give it that. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: 3 Safe Crackers

Real names: Frankie, Danny, unrevealed

First appearance: Green Lantern II#12 2/2 (April 1962)

Abilities: Cracking safes

Worst act: Theft, destruction of property  

Quote: "Frankie--look!! That's funny--I'm shoutin'--but I can't hear my own voice!" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Basic story; to wit Hal is stumped at work. He goes on a date with Carol when inspiration strikes. Hurrying back to Ferris Aircraft, he is struck deaf. 

Yup, whole area is completely devoid of sound. How? Seems our titular safe crackers have a special drill that somehow sucks up all the sound around everything. That seems a bit more hazardous than it would be worth-what if the police were sneaking up on you?

In any event Hal easily smacks them down and calls it a night. Thomas starts keeping a Green Lantern scrapbook starting in this story. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Ferenc Aldebaran

Real name: Ferenc Aldebaran

First appearance: Green Lantern II#12 1/2 (April 1962)

Abilities: Inventor, slight of hand 

Worst act: Brainwashing, attempted insurrection 

Quote: "As you must know, Mr. Solar Director, my powers are not inconsiderable! And I have come to place them at your service--to help quell this rebellion!" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Remember the Solar Council? Yeah, they have yet another problem, so they kidnap Hal and implant false memories in his head. It seems a group of generals have betrayed the government and set up a rebel faction. Calling themselves the Junta, they have been trying to destroy things for a while.

Puzzling over things in his office, when a wandering magician bursts through his door and doing card tricks! Is this a common problem in the future?

It turns out, none of the generals can explain why they turned renegade, but all of them recall meeting Ferenc. Yeah, it turns out our simple traveling magician hypnotized the generals and bent them to his will. He tries to brainwash Hal but can't (insert pun here) but Hal counter by turning his statue (yeah, giant statue of Green Lantern got erected after last time) alive and having it smack the guy around.

Thus Hal is sent back to the 20th Century with no memory of the last few hours and metal in his hair, a fact he is oddly unconcerned with. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Ralph and Bandy

 Real names: Ralph, Bandy

First appearance: Green Lantern II#11 2/2 (March 1962)

Abilities: Breaking into things

Worst act: Robbery

Quote: "Huh? I can see why! He hasn't got his power ring!!" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Bit silly; the first yarn in this issue featured Sinestro so we'll focus on the backup. Hal has a hot date with Carol Ferris, but wouldn't you know it, he lost his ring!

Yeah, while stopping at a florist, the Power Ring slipped out of his pocket, where a small child picks it up. The kid then promptly falls into a pit and somehow lacks the will to escape. Hal leaves the date and searches the ring, but he finds Ralph and Bandy instead. Thankfully the kid chucks the ring to him, and the tides are quickly turned. 

Ok, with soap opera shenanigans aplenty but Hal doesn't come across as the best here.

Bring on the Bad Guys: Sonar

Real name: Bito Wladon

First appearance: Green Lantern II#14 1/2 (July 1962)

Abilities: Inventor 

Worst act: Attempted murder

Quote: "Since my country is about to become world-famous, I must be dressed when I appear in America! This outfit looks rather regal--just what I want--in keeping with the future status of Modora!" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

As this is the 22nd, today is the day we take a look back at a favorite member of the hero's rogues. In the steps of Two-Face, Lex Luthor, the Cheetah, Sportsmaster/Solomon Grundy, the Shade, the Mad Mod, and Captain Boomerang, we welcome a member of the Silver Age Green Lantern's rogues-the master of nuclear sonics-Sonar!

So, what is Sonar's deal? It seems he started as a simple watchmaker's apprentice and a patriot. Living in the tiny European backwater of Modora, Bito's heart swelled with pride at his nation. Much to his anger, however, is the fact that the rest of the world refuses to see his land's greatness. 

So naturally he masters (and possibly creates) the field of nucleo-sonics. All his has to do is steal the materials and soon the whole world will be forced to see his genius!

So Green Lantern is on the hunt for a stamp. Yeah, Thomas is a keen stamp collector and what he pines for more than anything else, is a Modoran stamp. Well, that's all Hal needs to hear so he suits up and pops over to the tiny nation, but wouldn't you know, Modora doesn't uses stamps. 

Why would they? Everyone knows where everyone lives. Why should they write a letter? During the quest for a stamp, Hal learns of Sonar's plans and soon stops him. 

I love this guy. For appearances, he showed up here and a few more times next year but then he wouldn't appear again until 1976. He made a few more appearances in the 1970's then he vanished again until 1985.

As far as his visual, there is something about the vaguely military uniform that helps make him stand out, plus he is rocking a cape. Few people can pull that off. 

But what of his motivation? He wants his country to be respected, so he picks a fight with Hal Jordan. Understandable and at the end of his first issue he's even happy that he lost. Why not? People know of his home now and that's all he wants. Rare to see a silver age villain get the win first time out. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Hank

Real name: Hank

First appearance: Green Lantern II#10 2/2 (Jan. 1962)

Abilities: Inventor 

Worst act: Robbery

Quote: "Into the bank boys!" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Murphy Anderson (inks)

Technically the villains here would be two gangs of three, but I got tired of saying 3 Crooks or 2 robbers. The main point here is the origin for Green Lantern's oath (even though later stories would suggest this oath was created by the guardians)

Hal, shortly after getting the ring, first encounters a gang of robbers lead by Hank. They plan to rob a bank using what would now be considered a flashbang. This includes Hal, but his ring function as a radar, thus letting him capture the three robbers. 

Shortly thereafter, another gang is on the run and take refuge in a cave. Using his ring to light the way, Hal coats the crooks into a special paint that makes hiding in the dark impossible. 

Yeah, a nice little jaunt even if later stories would make this impossible. Hank is fairly flat character but he does help establish Hal as the Green Lantern.

Bring on the Bad Guys: Robots of the Miniature World

 Real names: Not Applicable 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#10 1/2 (Jan. 1962)

Abilities: Various 

Worst act: Staging a coup

Quote: "That Human--is our enemy! We must fight him--" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Odd, even when compared to the previous entries. Hal is taking down some smugglers when a woman pleads with him from within his ring. 

Stumped, Hal talks to the ring directly and it tells him. To wit, a scientist named Blanding shrunk himself and his family down to the atomic level to escape all violence. Blanding also built a ton of robots to make the atomic world livable, but before you can say 'Jack Robinson', the robots all go evil and decide to subjugate all that dwell within the atomic landscape. 

 Hal naturally manages to stop and bring the Blandings back to the real world. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: 2 Crooks

Real names: Punchy and Looie (Louie?)

First appearance: Green Lantern II#9 2/2 (Nov./Dec. 1961)

Abilities: Regular strength and violence  

Worst act: Kidnapping

Quote: "You're a regular Groucho the Question-Asker, ain't you? Better Shaddup!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

I was tempted to make Sue Williams the villain here, but that seemed a bit silly. 

The main story here are Hal's brothers. Older sibling Jack and younger bro Jim have asked Hal over for an important task. To wit, Jack is running for Coast City DA and they need Hal's help to hand out flyers. In walks Sue Williams, ace gal reporter. She is hunting for the secret identity of the Green Lantern she KNOWS who he is-Jim Jordan!

Naturally she is going to prove this, mostly by either basely accusing him or flinging herself off of balconies. Thankfully Hal is nearby in all cases to save her, but all this does is convince her even more of Jim being the hero. 

When the two crooks kidnapped Jack, she is naturally put out at Jim's reluctance to leap forward and heroically bounce the bullets off his impervious force field. Hal easily follows the crooks and rescues his brother. Sue kisses him with some indelible lipstick, but wouldn't you know it, when she sees Jim the next day he has a bandage over his chin. Cut himself shaving is a poor excuse, she smugly thinks to herself.

What was it about reporters back in the day?

Bring on the Bad Guys: The Packer Gang

Real names: Unrevealed 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#9 1/2 (Nov./Dec. 1961)

Abilities: Capable of robbing freight trains 

Worst act: Robbery

Quote: "Green Lantern!?"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Murphy Anderson (inks)

Bit a cheat, as the Packer Gang is mostly one and done in the first two pages. No, the real villain of this yarn is Sinestro, who comes back with a proper Power Ring but we already talked about him. 

The Packer Gang seems awful small for a gang (3 guys) and while robbing trains is not good, seems odd that Green Lantern would concern himself with such small fry. Maybe if they were stealing stuff meant for Ferris Aircraft? In any event, they show up and Hal easily smacks them down. His power ring starts losing juice, but that's part of Sinestro's master plan. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Zegors

Real name: Zegors

First appearance: Green Lantern II#8 (Sep./Oct. 1961)

Abilities: Eye beams

Worst act: Shrinking people 

Quote: N/A

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Odd man, just odd. 

Hal just straight up gets kidnapped. It seems in the year 5700 AD, the Earth is imperiled! Giant salamanders, who have been living up the ground for ages, are finally matured their power and now they are shrinking people left and right. 

So naturally the only thing to do kidnap the Green Lantern and brainwash him into thinking he's a space jockey named Pol Manning. They also give him a girlfriend, Iona Vane, secretary to the High Council of Star City.

Not creepy at all, no...

Regardless of this nonsense Hal manages to free all the folks and stop the lizards. Just a story that raises more questions. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: 3 Hi-jackers

Real names: Unrevealed 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#7 2/2 (July/Aug. 1961)

Abilities: Carrying guns

Worst act: Attempted hijacking 

Quote: "Look! Green Lantern slammed into that seat--"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

I suppose the real villain here would be Hal. Yeah, seems Hal has a weird dream where his friend Tom gets turned into a bird via his power ring. The ring hears these thoughts and figures, 'eh, why not?' so Tom awakes to find himself a seagull.

And wouldn't you know, Tom's girlfriend Terga is coming to town! No sooner does Hal get on her plane than 3 dudes opt to hijack it! Hal tries to be a hero but sadly gets a bump on the head (by flying straight into a seat that was straight in front of him) so thus he is out cold. 

Thankfully Tom is able to bust through the plane's glass and wake Hal up. 

Pretty bland, all things considered and honestly we could have done without them. We already had Tom being turned into a bird. Isn't that dramatic enough?

Bring on the Bad Guys: Sinestro

Real name: Thaal Sinestro

First appearance: Green Lantern II#7 1/2 (July/Aug. 1961)

Abilities: Yellow Power Ring

Worst act: Murder, attempted conquest of galaxy

Quote: "Silence! Or all of you will get the same treatment! I am Green Lantern--no one can tell me what to do!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Tempted to have this guy on the 22nd, but I found a better candidate. Hal (in this continuity) first encounters Sinestro when a town he was visiting vanishes. The Guardian of the Galaxy kidnap him, again, and explain Sinestro's deal. 

Seems he used to be a Green Lantern, and a darn good one too until he went full fascist and took over his home world. The Guardians, stepping up for once, stripped him of his powers and banished him to the world of Qward. You know, that place filled with guys who make crazy weapons and who all hate you?

Seems the Weaponers aren't bothered by Thaal's faux pas so they hook him up with a Yellow Power Ring, which is exactly the same as the Green Lantern's Power Ring only its yellow, i.e. the only thing that the Green Lantern's are vulnerable to; good plan guys. 

Hal manages to outwit both the Weaponers and Sinestro, which doesn't speak of either group really, especially since Hal uses the old 'move the clock forward' bit. 

As a concept, I rather like the Training Day approach. Good cop gone bad is an easy story to sell and it hit harder if Hal and Thaal are friends first then enemies. Easy to see why he's hung around to the present day though. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Phantoms of Aku

Real names: Ibr, Kadmun

First appearance: Green Lantern II#6 (May/June 1961)

Abilities: Mental force

Worst act: Assault 

Quote: "The beings from whose minds we spring will never stop trying to control us--until we destroy them!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

More Forbidden Planet type foes this time out. On the planet Aku, the world is in peril! The inhabitants found the secret to immortality. They just sleep and let machines take care of all their needs. 

Also, as they sleep their bodies create mental phantom versions of themselves to run the place. Ibr in particular is rather angry and seems to be composed of the real Ibr's dark side, so much so he plots to destroy the sleeping Akuians. 

Wouldn't that make that suicide of some sort?

Thankfully Hal is here to save the day. He also creates multiple delicates of himself, which from what we've seen are fully alive beings, but I guess they don't count? The story lurches from Forbidden Planet to more Romeo and Juliet but a happy ending all around, even if Carol is convinced that Hal is a spy. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Hector Hammond

Real name: Hector Hammond 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#5 (Mar./April 1961)

Abilities: (at the time) being darn lucky

Worst act: Theft, kidnapping 

Quote: "Yes! It's my own invention--a house that can rise above the clouds to fine weather anytime I wish! At the turn of a switch!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Of all the foes we've seen so far, Hector Hammond was the biggest one (aside from the Weaponers, although I'd say he had more impact). 

We'll be ignoring his turn as the giant headed genius and focusing on his first appearance in Green Lantern. He's like the 1960's techbro. He's out in the woods one day when he finds a meteorite that's mutating the local plant life. 

So he figures he'll kidnap some local eggheads and expose them to the weird radiation. This makes them all super geniuses, instead of dead. He then takes credit for all their work and passes their inventions off as his own. 

The fact that a man in 1961 is passing off a flying house as a 'tinkering hobby' is either very clever or very dumb; hadn't quite figured that out yet. 

Somehow Hammond has only become more relevant and I can see how he works as a villain. He claims to have all this genius but he's an empty suit, he only gets by on sheer dumb luck and the work of others. It's almost a pity they altered him so much later on, I think this version of the character would work just fine for a reoccurring foe. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: 3 Thieves

Real names: Woozy, Chip

First appearance: Green Lantern II#4 2/2 (Jan./Feb. 1961)

Abilities: Bluffing 

Worst act: Theft 

Quote: "I found I could make it, Carol--so I just opened the throttle on my green beam--and here I am! But don't let me interrupt things!"

Created by: John Broome (script), John Broome/Mike Sekowsky/Ross Andru/Carmine Infantino (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

The Weaponers are once again the foes in the first story. Here, we have a rather convoluted yarn. Hal crashes a party, despite Green Lantern being the one invited. Woozy; however, and along with his two pals, shows up as the Green Lantern.

Hal quickly figures it out. He actually does very little, as Carol is the one to unmask Woozy. Woozy then asks the guest for their valuables so he can go around the world with them. The guests, shockingly, agree. Once everyone puts their cash and such on a table, Chip and the other guy cut the power and split. 

Hal finally leaps into action and easily catches the trio. A bit silly, and if a few parlor tricks is all it takes to convince someone you're outer space cop, well, I guess things really were simpler back in the 60's. 

Bring on the Bd Guys: Chiller-Diller

Real name: N/A

First appearance: Green Lantern II#3 2/2 (Nov./Dec. 1960)

Abilities: Giant 

Worst act: Mayhem 

Quote: "Strange...I know I'm a 'Chiller-Diller' but what that means...or what I'm supposed to do...I don't know! But this place is full of odd-looking creatures! "

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Skipping the first story in this issue, as it features the return of the Weaponers. Here, we see Hal facing a real dilemma-head trauma. 

Yeah, while being pressured by Carol to marry him (it's a Leap Year thing), Hal opts to creature a monster to run amuck and fight thus giving him an excuse to leave. It's only when a child's toy plane knocks him out that things so screwy. Children's toys back in 1960 being made of solid lead apparently. 

Interesting, I mean the monster doesn't seem awful. The fact that the ring can create fully sentient creatures is something that might warrant a serious conversation at some point. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Duke Danfield

 Real names: Duke Danfield 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#2 2/2 (Sept./Oct. 1960)

Abilities: Claim jumping 

Worst act: Murder, access to yellow color clothing in a short notice 

Quote: "...That's why I'm going to play a game of freeze-out with him! Weeper, there'd a water spray can in our plane! Bring it to me..."

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

The main focus of this story is the first appearance of Tom Kalmaku, better known as a vaguely racist slur. TLDR version: Some years ago, Tom's dad and his partner struck it rich in the wilds of the Yukon. Tom's dad returned home to die whereas his partner seems to have vanished. 

Hal realizes a problem when he sees disguised men beat the tar out of Tom; seems Tom inherited his father's love of maps but not the map itself. It's not a problem, as Hal is able to scan Tom's brain and see what Tom couldn't quite recall. 

Yeah, Duke is just a nickel and dime level crook, hiding out and learning where some treasure is buried before the owners find it isn't the win you think.

Hal getting an adult sidekick who knows who he is, which is a twist for the time, is also the biggest thing about the issue but Tom is no Jimmy Olson

Bring on the Bad Guys: Weaponers of Qward

Real names: Unrevealed 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#2 1/2 (Sept./Oct. 1960)

Abilities: Crafting weapons 

Worst act: Being tyrants, murder

Quote: "Surrender--or perish!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Ah, now here we finally have a foe that makes an impact and also isn't some generic dude in a suit. 

First we gets introduced to Qward, an alien world that happens to exist in the same spot as Earth but just in a different space time level. Telle-Teg, refugee from the world, comes to Earth and begs Hal for help. He and his followers wish to leave their world and be settled somewhere else as the Weaponers are cruel and vicious leaders. 

The Weaponers have followed him though and here we get a foe that Hal actually has trouble facing. Telle-Teg even dies, although Hal manages to get the rest of Teg's followers to another planet. They aren't even stopped at the end of the story.

 Good build up even if the Weaponers themselves a bit on the thin side for characterization. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Puppet-Master

 Real name: Unrevealed

First appearance: Green Lantern II#1 2/2 (July/Aug. 1960)

Abilities: Being able to control people

Worst act: Robbery, attempted murder 

Quote: "Green Lantern escaped me! But I must get rid of him! He's interfering with my criminal operations!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Well, the cover is a lie. Hal is menaced by a giant clown but the real bad guy is a scientist dressed in a yellow jumpsuit. 

Basically Hal finds out about this when a two-bit hood named Biffy tries to rob a bank and this gets him dragged into a mess when he notices a rash of similar robberies in which the crooks didn't seem aware of what they were doing. 

While in a charity parade, a giant clown puppet tries to shoot Hal with a giant gun, but it turns out the puppet was being controlled by a hypnotized operator. 

An average tale. We have next to nothing on this guy aside from wanting to make himself rich. His jumpsuit might pose a problem but Hal overcomes it with no issue.  

Funny enough, the Puppet-Master would also be the first foe Hal fights a second time when he goes up against the Justice League. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Dryg

 Real name: Dryg

First appearance: Green Lantern II#1 1/2 (July/Aug. 1960)

Abilities: Mental energy, being a giant  

Worst act: Attempted murder 

Quote: N/A

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Murphy Anderson (inks)

So we see Hal in his own series, and it opens with a recap about his getting the power ring. We also see the Guardians of the Galaxy for the first time and they want to know if the deceased Abin Sur picked the right guy.

Very similar to the yarn in Showcase I#23, Hal is sent to a planet populated by yellow cavemen, who are being attacked by a brown giant. Since the giant isn't yellow, Hal has no issue luring him to the artic region of the planet and freezing him in a giant block of ice. 

Not bad, but more rehashing of what we've seen before, which was the style at the time so I can't get too worked up over that. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Blob creature

Real name: Not applicable 

First appearance: Showcase I#24 2/2 (Jan./Feb. 1960)

Abilities: Shooting yellow beams from eyes

Worst act: Attempted murder 

Quote: "Now at last...thanks to you...I am no longer a menace...to myself...or world..."

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Most of the story is taken up by a dream sequence of Carrol, convinced that Hal and Green Lantern are the same person. A car wreck knocks her out, leaving Hal free to investigate. What does he find? 

Seems some scientists were messing around with cosmic radiation, as you do, and accidently created a giant monster. The text refers to it as a blob, but it sports a vague chicken like head. The blob easily smacks Hal away but after a point he figures out that a creature that is apparently feeding off of radiation, so why not cut it off from its' feed source?

Which works great and causes the blob to shrink into a puddle. 

Ok, and we do see some quick thinking on Hal's part. The 'Carrol is convinced Hal is GL' is already starting to wear out it's welcome

Bring on the Bad Guys: 3 Spies

 Real names: Unrevealed, Moster

First appearance: Showcase I#24 1/2 (Jan./Feb. 1960)

Abilities: Espionage, being smarter than Hal Jordon

Worst act: Theft, espionage 

Quote: "When the missile blasts off, the explosion will utterly destroy our enemy Green Lantern! Count down Moster!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

More soap opera; to wit Carol Ferris is convinced Green Lantern is going to propose to her when he rushes off to save someone drowning. 

Hal, meanwhile, discovers the top secret aircraft plans he was supposed to turn over to the Army are missing! Using his power ring, Hal probes his own mind and manages to see an odd fellow bumping into his at lunch. From there Green Lantern tracks the fellow down to a local amusement park. 

Basic and honestly flat. The spies barely have any names and their plans all hinge on Hal being a goof. This might be the first time Hal gets hit in the head and knocked out, by a plain guy in a suit. A yellow roller coaster train goes off the track but thankfully the underside isn't yellow because of course it wasn't.

Bring on the Bad Guys: Invisible Destroyer

Real name: N/A

First appearance: Showcase I#23 2/2 (Nov./Dec.1959)

Abilities: Being invisible 

Worst act: Theft, attempted murder

Quote: "I feed on radiation! Each dose that I absorb makes me more powerful! Soon I will be the most powerful being on Earth!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Odd that an invisible man would insist on wearing a full outfit with a cape. Kind of defeats the point of being invisible, doesn't it?

But yeah, it seems that Dr. Phillips and his imagination (plus all that radiation) caused him to create a being. A being that feeds on radiation and if he has to denotate a nuke to get a bit to eat? That's what he'll do. 

An odd villain, with some shades of Forbidden Planet thrown in for good measure. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Yellow birds

Real names: N/A

First appearance: Showcase I#23 1/2 (Nov./Dec. 1959)

Abilities: Being giant birds

Worst act: Attempted murder 

Quote: "Kreeeeeeeeeee!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

More soap than space opera here. We also learn that Hal Jordan lives in Coast City. 

Basically, Hal learns that Carol is gaga over the Green Lantern and he sneaks himself an invite by saying how close he and GL are. The catch? She wants Hal AND the Green Lantern to show up. 

What is he to do? Mostly ignore all that as he gets a summons from his lantern. Yeah, he takes the ring he takes the orders too, and his job this time is to investigate an emergency on Venus. Hal pops over and what does he finds? Giant yellow pterodactyls trying to eat up some blue cave folk. Hal would save them...but his ring is powerless against yellow!

So he traps them in a cave via a ring created hawk. 

A bit silly and yeah, there is tension about his weakness but then he just ignores it. The birds could just as easily been any other color and the story wouldn't be changed that much. Also, how did the blue cave folk get their message out in the first place?

Oh, and if you're wondering about the party, Hal just flies in as the Green Lantern and says Hal is a good buddy of his but he couldn't make it. Carol doesn't seem too upset over that. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Dr. Parris

Real name: Parris

First appearance: Showcase I#22 3/3 (Sept./Oct. 1959)

Abilities: Nuclear scientist 

Worst act: Attempted treason, destruction of government property 

Quote: "Green Lantern! I've been half-expecting you!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

And so we reach the last story of the first appearance of Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern. Hal, as the Green Lantern, gets invited to a charity ball that happens so often in comics. While he's kissing on Carol Ferris, he spots a missile streaking towards the city! A yellow missile!

That for some reason has a red nosecone. 

That's all he needs, thankfully, and thus the city is saved. He finds it isn't a nuke so then it must have been aiming for something specific! The government building that houses their hydrogen info, that must be it!

Using his ring to tell him pretty much everything, Hal finds the doc who (despite Hal only being the Green Lantern for a fairly short time) apparently was waiting for him? He easily captures him and drops him off with the military. 

So, all in all a fairly weak run. More of a science fiction bent than Alan Scott but Hal is fairly flat as a character, although Broome and Kane seem to be ramping up the soap opera elements a fair bit, what with Hal chasing after Carol and her turning him down. 

Seriously, the whole 'town almost blown to bit' gets glossed over fairly quickly so Hal can get cussed out by Carol for kissing with his eyes open. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: 3 Saboteurs

 Real names: Unrevealed 

First appearance: Showcase I#22 2/3 (Sep/Oct. 1959)

Abilities: Using machines to lock plane controls to force them to crash. 

Worst act: Sabotaging test planes 

Quote: "I can't understand it! Our radiation-sender brought the plane down--but it didn't crash!"

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), and Joe Giella (inks)

So, here we go with a return of an old favorite. This year we'll be taking a look back at the Silver Age Green Lantern himself, Hal Jordan.

The first story is the origin for Hal Jordan and sets up the series, this second story has him in action for the first time. Going with a more science fiction theme, this story established that the Green Lanterns were a galaxy wide police force. To wit, Lantern Abin Sur crash lands on Earth and the best candidate to replace him is a test pilot named Hal Jordan. 

So, with the second story, Hal (after flirting with his boss's daughter Carol) sees an experimental jet, the Flaming Spear, in distress. 

First he saves the jet, then using his ring to follow the radiation trail, finds the saboteurs. This would also set the standard for the series too. They smack him with a lamp, which just happens to be yellow (the ring's only weakness, as opposed to Alan Scott's vulnerability to wood). They escape in a car, which is painted yellow!

Thankfully Jordan creates a series of ice picks and pops their unpainted tires. Yeah, Jordan can't stop anything yellow but thankfully there's one part that isn't painted.