Green Lantern 101 - Guy Gardner

People either love Guy Gardner or hate him, but as the second Green Lantern of Earth the outspoken red head has a long and storied history dating back to 1968.  Like Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner was created by legendary comic book creators John Broome and Gil Kane, however many fans know very little about the history of the man who could have been chosen over Hal and the history that has shaped him into the character we love and hate today.

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Podcast of Oa Episode 17

In this episode of the Podcast of Oa hosts Bill Giancoli and Myron Rumsey talk about the recently released DC Animated Film "Justice League: Doom".   The finale to the Keeper War saga in Green Lantern Corps #6 stirs conversation about the shifting roles of the Corps and the underlying narrative behind the history of the Keepers and their relationship with the Guardians of the Universe.  Meanwhile the rise of Invictus in Green Lantern: New Guardians #6 sparks talk about the nature of the emotional spectrum.

And last but certainly not least we have a very special guest on hand for a new Green Lantern spotlight - and Bill and Myron may never be the same again!

The Podcast of Oa is the official podcast of the Blog of Oa and a proud member of the Comics Podcast Network. Share your comments and questions by calling the show’s voicemail line at 406-PODOFOA (406-763-6362) while Skype users can leave a voicemail on the show's account, blogofoa. Send your emails to greenlantern@stny.rr.com. You can also find the Blog and Podcast of Oa on Facebook and Google+.

Green Lantern and other related characters are the copyrighted property of DC Comics Inc. and are used without permission. The Blog of Oa and the Podcast of Oa are fan productions and do not claim any ownership over the Green Lantern or any other copyrighted properties.

Show Notes
00:00:00  Intro
00:01:48  Green Lantern Corps #6
00:25:25  Green Lantern Spotlight
00:33:11  Green Lantern: New Guardians #6
00:49:46  Justice League: Doom
01:09:54  Closing

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Green Lantern 101 - Salaak

The character of Salaak has been present in the Green Lantern mythology for over the last thirty years and like many characters has seen his story change and his role within the Green Lantern Corps change over time.  Originally created as an antagonist for Hal Jordan within the Corps, Salaak became one of the most revered and important members, becoming the second in command of the Corps.

Origins -

Green Lantern v.2  #149

Salaak first appeared in Green Lantern #149 (Volume 2) in 1982 as a creation of Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton.  He was a foil within the Green Lantern Corps for Hal Jordan and it's there that his characteristic pessimism and gruff exterior began.  His role was a minor one and his questioning of Hal's actions served as a catalyst for Arisia's already blooming infatuation with the Earth man.  His significance within the Corps was so minor in those days that it wasn't uncommon to see his name spelled incorrectly as Sallak or Salakk and often more than one variation in any given issue.  In fact for year's his name was spelled Salakk almost all of the time and it even appeared that way when the Corps was relaunched during the "Green Lantern Corps: Recharge" mini-series.  As he became a more regularly used character he put aside his dislike for Hal Jordan after fighting alongside him against many threats to galactic peace. 

Green Lantern v.2 #215

Crisis and the Destruction of the Corps -

During the Crisis on Infinite Earths Salaak played a role in protecting several sectors for the Green Lantern Corps but he emerged from the experience with an even blearier outlook on life.  Shortly after the Crisis the Guardians left the universe with their former partners, the Zamarons, who had gone on to create the Star Sapphires after they had parted with their mates eons before.

Salaak became one of a contingent of Green Lanterns based on Earth in the wake of the departure of the Guardians and his loneliness led to a close friendship with Ch'p, the squirrel-like Green Lantern of Sector 1014.  But at one point Salaak disappeared into the future to take on the guise of Pol Manning as a replacement for Hal Jordan.

Pol Manning was the Solar Director in the 57th Century, and to make a convoluted story easier to follow, he needed to be replaced for the stability of the future.  Previously the other leaders used time travel to pluck an exceptional person from Earth's past, Hal Jordan, mind controlled him and disguised him as their own missing leader.  Now the effects of sending the human back and forth through time caused damage to him and the leaders of the 57th Century needed a new Pol Manning - and Salaak was the one chosen.

Eventually Salaak's mind is freed but he chooses to remain in the future married to his human wife.  However one day Salaak noticed that there were no Green Lanterns in his time and upon venturing to Oa he shockingly learned that the Corps had been dismantled when the central power battery was destroyed in the 20th Century.  Leaving his wife behind Salaak arrives back in the present day too late, the Green Lanterns have sentenced Sinestro to death and the events that unfold lead to the battery's destruction.  With that Salaak and almost all of the Green Lantern Corp remain powerless and he joined his friend Ch'p to live out the rest of his days as his advisor in the last issue of volume two of Green Lantern, issue 224, which had been named The Green Lantern Corps since issue 201.

The Return of  Corps and the Rise of Parallax -

Both Ch'p and Salaak rejoined the Corps when is was reformed, however Salaak lost his best friend when the small being was hit by a yellow tractor trailer on the Mosaic World (Green Lantern: Mosaic #2).  While Salaak remained in the Corps he again became more of a background character and when Hal Jordan entered the central power battery on Oa during "Emerald Twilight" Salaak become one of the many Green Lanterns left without a power ring.  Salaak and a number of other former Green Lanterns were captured and later freed by Guy Gardner, whose newly discovered alien heritage granted him new abilities (Guy Gardner: Warrior #35).

The Keeper of the Book and Clarissi of the Corps -

Following the defeat of Parallax the Green Lantern Corps is again reactivated and this time Salaak finds himself in a far greater role serving the Guardians as their administrative liaison and the Keeper of the Book of Oa (Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1).  While this new role keeps Salaak on Oa he has found himself taking action in major events like the Sinestro Corp Wars and Blackest Night when he took command of the Green Lantern Corps as the Clarissi, stopping the Alpha Lanterns from assuming control when the Guardians became incapacitated.

While Salaak sometimes disagrees with some of the Guardians' decisions, particularly when they have rewritten the Book of Oa, he always maintains his composure and never oversteps his position even when the Guardians have withheld key information from him.  Only time will tell if Salaak will continue to be passive when dealing with the decision making of the Guardians in light of their recent statements regarding the Corps and the coming of the Third Army.

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Green Lantern 101 - Rori Dag

With Green Lantern #5 talking about the creation of the Third Army to be led by the First Lantern and requests for information highlighting Green Lantern characters both old and new on the Podcast of Oa it seems like the perfect moment in time to launch a new feature on the Blog - Green Lantern 101.  This new feature will take characters that we highlight on the podcast and present some of their history for people who are looking to find out more about the rich history behind the Green Lantern mythology.  To start out there's no better plan to begin that with the first Green Lantern, Rori Dag.

Origins -

In the Silver Age the Green Lantern comics sometimes features a back up feature called "Tales of the Power Ring" and in 1969 issue 67 featured the story "The First Green Lantern" written by legendary writer Gardner Fox.  Set in "ages past" on the planet Rojira, two sets of unique beings populated a planet on two land masses separated by volcanic barriers of molten lava.



The cover of Green Lantern #67

One one side were the war like Rulanns who resembled human sized starfish and were capable of regenerating body parts during cycles when their bodies would become paralyzed.  Because they could not die from their fighting the Rulanns were perpetually frustrated never having tasted victory or defeat.  One day a particular Rulann, Korad, mused while paralyzed that he could use the lava to destroy his enemies before they could regenerate, and upon emerging from his paralysis he began to explore the lava barriers until he discovered a pathway to the other side.

 

On the other side lived the simple humanoids called the Jirenn who lived in peace and harmony with nature, cultivating what they need from the land.  Korad wanders into their village and kills one of the Jirenn, tasting victory for the first time and telepathically summoning his brethren to come an conquer the Jirenn.

One of the Jirenn, Rori Dag, emerges as a leader and encourages them to fight back by copying what Korad does.  Locked in battle Korad easily overpowers Rori Dag and is about to kill him with he enters his paralysis and recovery cycle.  Suddenly a Guardian appears and present Dag with a battery and ring and explains the yellow weakness and recharge time to him as well as the edict that the ring cannot be used to kill another being.  Dag equates the green battery to a green lantern, leading to the Guardian deciding that this is a good name for the battery and Rori Dag and then departs.

Emerging from his paralysis Korad attacks anew and Rori Dag figures out how to defeat him without killing him by launching the Rulann with a catapult construct.  Learning that the ring can make him fly, the first Green Lantern soars above his people and saves them by rebuilding the lava trench and returning the Rulann to their side of the barrier.  The Guardian returns and rewards him with a symbol of his status as Green Lantern, a power battery insignia, on his green and black clothing which will be adopted to become the uniform for future Green Lanterns.

Death and Legacy -

Little more about Rori Dag is known other than that he died from unknown causes and none of his adventures have been documented.  Throughout the rest of the Silver Age Rori Dag's likeness was used frequently when the history of the Green Lantern Corps was recounted which cemented his status as the first Green Lantern in DC history.

Rori Dag continued to be identified as the first Green Lantern for decades 

Rori Dag became enshrined in the Crypts on Oa.

Post Green Lantern: Rebirth Rori Dag has continued to be a part of the Green Lantern mythology and his image appears in the Sinestro Corps War Secret Files special as a part of the crypts on Oa.  During Blackest Night there is a scene of a large contingent of Black Lanterns emerging from the crypts and while the characters were not named one particular Black Lantern bore a striking resemblance to Rori Dag leading most to assume that it was indeed his body claimed by the forces of Nekron.

Rori Dag of Sector 1234.....Rise!

Rori Stroh, Dag's current successor

Today Rori Dag's Sector 1234 is protected by another Jirenn, Rori Stroh, named after the legendary Rori Dag.  By this time the ages have past and the Jirenn have become one of the most advanced races in the universe.  In the same Secret Files issue Rori Stroh is among the members of the Corps who is given a biography which indicates that some of the original story of Rori Dag may have been altered, or perhaps there is more to the story than what was on the page back in 1969.  Here the biography states that Rori Dag was one of the founding members of the Green Lantern Corps rather than THE first Green Lantern.

What remains to be seen is whether that has any bearing on the story of the First Lantern mentioned in Green Lantern #5. 

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