InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "he's an airborne ranger,"

kagome654 (kagome654) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-06-16 14:23:00

Current mood:	cheerful
Entry tags:	char: green arrow/oliver queen, char: green lantern/hal jordan, char: green lantern/john stewart, char: superman/clark kent, creator: christopher priest/james owsley, creator: tod smith

The List (Aka: Hal Jordan has no friends)
A while ago I posted Neil Gaiman's 'Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame'. I prefaced the entry by saying it was a continuation of sorts of an older story known as 'The List' (published in Action Comics Weekly #606). I've finally decided to post part of that story, which depicts a surprisingly vulnerable Hal Jordan and (even more surprising) an uncharacteristically rude Alfred Pennyworth.

First, a little background-
Hal Jordan has just returned from space. He's recently been held captive in another galaxy, is on the outs with his girlfriend, is homeless (his apartment having been destroyed), jobless, directionless and totally miserable. To make matters worse people on Earth seem to be afraid of him.

He decides to contact John. Unfortunately as bad as Hal's life is at the moment...well, poor John's is ten times worse.

I think it was emotionally mature for Hal to realize that he needs support and advice. He could have just as easily decided that he needs to work out his problems alone...which would have lead to a lot of ineffectual angst.

I'm a little less impressed by his lack of judgment when it comes to determining who would be the best to talk to about such things. If you're looking for emotional support and guidance Wayne Manor should NOT be your first stop....

Believe it or not, Bruce let him down easily compared to some...

One of the sequels to this story involved him talking to Dinah about his problems. Apparently someone finally remembered they were actually fairly good friends (which makes his treatment of her in 'Cry for Justice' all the more irritating) and it, unsurprisingly, went a lot better than this. Unfortunately I don't have that issue, so I can't post anything from it.

So, we're off to see everyone's favorite archer (Haha...ha).

...Ouch. Someone remind me why these two are friends again?

Anyway, I really liked this story. I don't mind Johns' characterization of Hal as much as some, but he does seem to have a limited emotional range. He always seems to be either full of righteous indignation, talking like a quippy action hero, or angsting in a very macho sort of way that seems oddly shallow. I miss the occasionally goofy Hal, the who is not embarrassed to be a little vulnerable and emotional and can (and has!) 'weep/ed openly and without shame.'

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	nevermore999 2009-06-16 05:13 pm UTC (link)
	...so Bruce, Clark and Ollie don't care that John's being framed for a crime her didn't commit and is currently stuck in jail? I mean, even if Hal sucks, you'd think they'd care that John is in deep shit. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	espanolbot 2009-06-16 05:20 pm UTC (link)
	Probably too busy or can't get involved without revealling their identities or some malarky. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	kagome654 2009-06-16 06:00 pm UTC (link)
	Hal eventually got him out (which makes sense, considering his role in the entire thing). Superman managed to find time to criticize them both, but not lend a hand. Though in his defense things had gotten rather...'complicated' by that time (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	nalanzu 2009-06-18 07:40 am UTC (link)
	...complicated? Complicated how? <3 (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

kagome654
2009-06-18 08:49 am UTC (link)

Complicated in the sense that John was no longer even a prisoner in the United States by that point, but was being held in South Nambia, an African country still suffering under Apartheid. He was extradited there after accusations were made that 'Green Lantern' had stolen a diamond from an abandoned mine in the area. Of course that Green Lantern was Hal, but since John was the one with the public identity he was the one who was blamed.

(Oddly enough it was actually John's idea in the first place, which is kind of surprising given how grounded he usually is).

After exhausting any legal means he could think of to get John out, Hal eventually decided the only thing he could do is bring John his ring and lend him part of his power so he could escape. John not only escaped, but released all the other prisoners as well. In the following weeks he became cozy with the leader of the African Nationalist Resistance, not realizing how extreme certain factions of the group were. Eventually a member that John had released murdered a white official and his wife in their bed. Hal blamed himself, considering himself responsible for all of John's actions at that point.

Superman agreed. He gave Hal a 'courtesy call' and told Hal he either had to deal with John and the entire mess or Superman would. Hal was not impressed. Neither was I, since I thought it would have been better (and less condescending) for Clark to talk to John directly, but eh...he probably wanted to avoid adding to the tension as Nambia and America were already involved in a pretty heavy propaganda war and his presence wouldn't have helped matters.

It's an interesting story (Green Lantern Special #1, written by Owsley). I may have to post it at some point.

Also, I need some John icons...

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	nalanzu 2009-06-19 09:22 am UTC (link)
	O.o That definitely counts as complicated. Veered waaaaay off the original issue. (Way to go, Hal and John.) Many thanks. <3 (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ficticons.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 04:48 pm UTC (link)
	FYI, it's already been posted here (http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/681864.html#cutid1). (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	kagome654 2009-08-10 01:22 am UTC (link)
	Haha, yeah, I posted that at a later date. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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