Green Lantern Corps 1/2

Green Lanterns by Alex Ross.

Art Credit to Vasco Georgiev

I think that instead of "one main oath and individual exceptions", the Green Lantern Corps should have, like, orders with alternate oaths. Like, it's a big universe! There's not just one Green Lantern who doesn't have concept of color. The F Sharp Bells should be a strong group of comrades. The Lanterns should all ring F Sharp in respect to them. The plant based GLs have unique meanings to "Green" and so they have their own oath too.

Swamp Thing #61 (1981)

SCREAMING THAT MEDPHYLL ACTUALLY HAS A FAN

Green Lantern [Hal Jordan], by Rodolfo Migliari

Various Lanterns as Stupid Things I’ve Said

Aya: Beep boop, go fuck yourself.

Arkillo: I will afflict physical harm on your person so help me.

Atrocitus: *Laughing* suck my fucking dick, dude.

Black Hand: What does it mean to be “dead?”

Brother Warth: I will do this thing for you and I will do it well. Maybe die trying, but at least I’m doing it for someone I value and respect.

Carol Ferris: I wanted to punch you in your perfect face but at this point I’ve lost interest.

Ganthet: I need some space vodka… That was going to go somewhere, but I just need some fucking alcohol.

Guy Gardner: You are the most motherfucker person I’ve ever met.

Hal Jordan: They told me I couldn’t do it. I did it. I regret doing it.

Indigo-1: I’m trying my best to give a fuck, but you’re making me consider double homicide.

John Stewart: Are you equal parts high and drunk, what are you doing?

Kilowog: Let me hit the object, you incomplete human.

Kyle Rayner: I’m gonna draw cute fucking birds and there’s nothing you can do to stop me!

Larfleeze: I want it. I don’t know what it is, and I feel somewhat threatened by it, but I want it.

Medphyll: Yeah, that’s right, I raised this green planty dirt child.

Saint Walker: I mean, last time I checked, fish aren’t amphibians.

Skallox: I am going to shoot that snowman.

Salaak: I have absolutely no patience left in my nice person jar.

Soranik Natu: I see you’ve brought your sass to the table. Thank you for contributing.

Thaal Sinestro: All I wanted was complete control of a galaxy, is that too much to ask?

Tomar-Re: According to my sciencey knowledge of things and how they do, you’re a shit.

Medphyll info page

art by Robin Rodriguez

Green Lantern #11, March 1962, Pencils: Gil Kane, Inks: Joe Giella

BruDickWeek2020

Day 1 : Soulmates AU

Starring :

Aliens of unknown species, Aquaman/Arthur Curry, Batman/Bruce Wayne, Black Canary/Dinah Lance, Catwoman/Selina Kyle, The Flash/Wally West, Gleek (from Super Friends), Green Arrow/Oliver Queen, Green Lanterns (including Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Medphyll, and that’s probably Guy Gardner crossing his ankles up there), Nightwing/DIck Grayson, Northwind/Norda Cantrell (from Infinity Inc.), Superman/Clark Kent, Wonder Girl/Donna Troy.

Ugh, I hate Harley Quinn's costume upgrade in DC Legends. It's just... the jester is Classic. The military themed miniskirt monstrosity looks a hot mess.

On the other hand, thank god Specter gets pants with his costume upgrade.

Also mom finds "broccoli" Green Lantern medphyll hilarious and tbh I'm just like this tree is not even the weirdest lantern lmaooooo

The Green Lantern #12

I don't know why I'm writing a review of this comic book when I know I won't understand it at all.

Spoken like a ring that has been shoved up Hal's ass as punishment for talking back previously.

That's all you need to know about Hal Jordan's characterization: nobody tells Hal Jordan what to do! Oh wait! Maybe you need a little bit more: sometimes somebody does tell Hal Jordan what to do and then they get punched in the face. Then Hal's ring probably says, "Nobody tells Hal Jordan what to do!" Hal Jordan's anti-matter universe counterpart (who is the Qwa-man, right? No? Maybe?) has been beating the shit out of some second-rate Green Lanterns. One of them can't feel emotions so he's all, "I am dying but super coolly and logically. This is a real matter-of-fact death here. Don't care because I can't. Are these good last words? I can't tell because nothing moves my emotional meter." But Hal Jordan descends on the fight to save the day and not be thanked if he saves the unemotional Green Lantern. "I guess I'm still living. Who cares? I see the world through cold eyes which reveal none of the majesty nor the mystery of the multiverse. It is a compliment when my people yawn in your presence because it means we feel about you the same as we feel about every mote of dust disturbed into motion by every other mote of dust in the universe. In our eyes, you are equal to the most majestic star. Because we couldn't give two fucks about either of you."

More Green Lanterns that don't matter being dispatched to save the other Green Lanterns that don't matter.

I do recognize one of those Green Lanterns as Medphyl although I know nothing about him except he's plant-like. The Guardians of the Universe are discussing the plan to save the universe from Controller Mu and his Qwa-matter Man. That plan is this: "For the first time in your life, we need you to do exactly as you are told. The rest, Lantern Jordan, the rest will be up to you." Based on what Hal's ring said earlier, I think I sense a flaw in their plan! Sinestro arrives to help Jordan defeat the Qwa-man. Being that I have no idea where in DC Continuity this story takes place, I don't know the specifics of Hal and Sinestro's current relationship. I guess they're reluctant allies? Or Hal is reluctant and Sinestro just gets off on making Hal Jordan need him. It turns out this Sinestro is from the anti-matter universe which means he's the Ace Rimmer of the Sinestro set. And the Qwa-man is the negative Hal Jordan. Everybody tells him what to do and he's pissed. Anti-Sinestro gets wounded giving Hal enough time to get a plan together: punch the Qwa-man in the face over and over and over again. It's the old Hal Jordan special! Before Hal's shield runs out and he and his opposite explode due to anti-matter/matter contact, the Green Lantern cavalry arrives. The Superwatch cavalry also arrives. Plus some creature from the anti-matter universe who's supposed to take the Qwa-man back. But Hal Jordan is as sufficiently confused as I am about how everything is coming together. Maybe he's less confused because he hasn't read dozens of other comic books between each issue of this story, obfuscating the plot because my brain can't keep all the separate threads of all the different comic books separate. Whatever is about to go down, Hal Jordan finds it suspicious. Nobody is getting punched in the face to end the story so something must be wrong! It's totally a trap! But before Hal can save everybody with a bunch of punches, he's caught in a zeta-beam taking him back to Blackstar headquarters. I think that means Grant Morrison was confused by his own story as well and wasn't sure how to end it. Whatever else happened up until this point, it was mostly a scavenger hunt. Hal Jordan helped the Blackstars and Controller Mu collect a bunch of items to create the Miracle Machine. By inserting Hal Jordan into it, he just needs to make one wish to change the universe. And he's supposed to make Controller Mu's wish. I don't remember what that wish was, if it was even ever said. But whatever it is, Hal needs to make it soon or he'll die from injuries sustained battling the Qwa-man. Maybe he's wishing the Green Lanterns away so that the Blackstars can rule the universe? I don't know! Will I continue to read this story in Blackstars #1? Fuck it. Probably. The epilogue shows that the Qwa-man leads a corps of Weaponeers that are the opposite of the Green Lanterns in the anti-matter universe. They're gearing up for war. I guess that's supposed to make me excited for the next chapter of Hal Jordan. It might but I'm a lot like that Green Lantern from earlier that can't feel emotion. I just want to read comic books to pass the time. It's not like I get emotionally invested in them! Unless they star elves and wolves. The Green Lantern #12: If I could sacrifice some extra time I don't really have, I'd reread this entire series until it made sense. Because if I had to bet money on it, I'm sure it makes sense. If my opinion doesn't cost me anything except maybe my reputation, I'd say it doesn't make sense and Grant Morrison is a fucking hack and because of this series, I now believe everything he's ever written was complete nonsense and I fucking fell for it! I'm so fucking gullible and stupid! I bet Alan Moore's writing was just verbal vomit too! And Ellis! Heck, why limit my newfound understanding of the nihilism of writers to just comic books? I bet Danielewski's work has been utter nonsense garbed in profundity! And fucking Steinbeck, that clown! If I read things merely to pass the time and don't give a shit if I get anything out of it, I bet writers write the exact same way! I've been duped my entire life into believing shit mattered! Ugh! I'm such a jerk.

All Flesh Is Grass

SWAMP THING #61 JUNE 1987 BY ALAN MOORE, STEVE BISSETTE, RICK VEITCH, ALFREDO ALCALA AND TATJANA WOOD

SYNOPSIS (FROM DC DATABASE)

As Swamp Thing speeds toward the planet of J586, the sentient vegetable inhabitants are blissfully unaware of his coming. The population of J586 live within large Banyam trees, which are also sentient. They eat animals, but not vegetation. A couple make love by pollinating each other. An artist curates her latest installation – five fish fused together at the mouth. A holy man professes his faith in the Great O.

Elsewhere, the Green Lantern Medphyll mourns the death of his friend and mentor Jothra. The people of his sector believe that Medphyll is getting too old to protect them, and rumors of the Guardians of the Universe's decline have spread.

As Swamp Thing finally arrives on J586, he realizes too late that the plant life on the planet is already sentient, and that he cannot grow a new body in the method that he normally would. In attempting to grow himself a body, he inadvertently fuses much of the population of J586 together. He realizes his error immediately, as he hears the screams of horror and confusion building and accumulating with each new person that his body consumes.

In being connected so, the people of J586 have revelations about each other and themselves. The couple realize that perhaps they are not as committed to each other as they thought. The artist realizes that her art has been empty, and she had feared exposing her personal feelings through her art. The priest's faith is shaken until he and other citizens gather together in worship of the Great O.

Finally, Medphyll arrives. He wonders how he can resolve this situation without bringing harm to the numerous people trapped by the Swamp Thing. He remembers Jothra's teaching that in conflict, one must appeal to the enemy's mind. He creates a visual pattern with his Green Lantern Ring which mesmerizes the Swamp Thing, and allows Medphyll the time to dismantle him, and free the citizens. Once the task is completed, he safeguard's Swamp Thing's consciousness within a ring construct.

Medphyll attempts communication, and finds that Swamp Thing is not hostile, but rather made an error in judgment. Swamp Thing explains that he needs to learn how to change his biological frequency in order to return to earth, and reluctantly, Medphyll agrees to teach him. However, the question of how to give Swamp Thing a body becomes an issue. After some deliberation, Medphyll offers up his mentor Jothra's body – selfishly, in that he wishes more time with his friend.

They become friends, and Medphyll pretends that Swamp Thing is his mentor while teaching him how to adjust his frequency. Finally, Swamp Thing decides that he has learned what he needs to know, and decides to leave immediately. Medphyll tries to thank the Swamp Thing for allowing him more time to properly say goodbye to Jothra, but Swamp Thing has already left. Jothra's body collapses into Medphyll's arms as Swamp Thing shoots across the cosmos in a blast of green light.

Meanwhile, on earth, Adam Strange arrives at the doorstep of Abby Cable to deliver the Swamp Thing's message. He informs her that Alec is alive, and coming home. Abby is ecstatic, but when Adam explains that he met Swamp Thing is space, she becomes angry, believing that he is merely a lunatic.

REVIEW

Sexuality in space is a very complicated topic. When you consider planets inhabited by plant people, do they have genders? Well, in this case they do. So the first thing I though about Medphyl’s love for his mentor was that he was more than a mentor. It is never implied that there was something else going on between them, but they do seem very close. Could be a different kind of love.

Just like Moore played with a different point of view about rape (from the rapist p.o.v.) last issue, in this one we get the opposite of vegetarianism. Plants that only eat animals. It’s actually a good example, when you see those fish suffering for the sake of art, you have to feel something for the poor fishes. Reading Moore’s Swamp Thing makes you ponder vegetarianism, but then I remember I have IBS and that it would be unhealthy for me, so I stay the same. But I do think he tells very convincing stories about vegetarianism and animal exploitation.

The episode moves the plot with a very interesting change for the Swamp Thing, a planet where the plant life is sentient and therefore he cannot play with it (see what I mean). But what about plants on Earth? This is a list of things we know plants can do:

Grow with proper nutrition

Send messages and friend requests

Sense the need for nutrients in other plants

Share nutrients with other plants, even as far as 30 meters away

Send out electric distress signals

Sense light

Encourage neighbors to grow in ways that will help save them

Communicate using gases and chemical secretions in the soil

Emit measurable sounds

Send out signals to denote proximity to other plants

React, Remember & Learn

Produce Serotonin, GABA & Melatonin, which act like hormones in human beings

Plants are very complex beings and they do not have nervous systems... but they seem to know when they are being attacked. So there is a debate around plants being sentient or not. But it is just a debate, no one has claimed victory over this topic. Veganism and Vegetarianism will protect animals (and the environment), and plants being sentient or not doesn’t really matter (as long as it results in a greater good). But it’s not completely bloodless. Animals die during harvests too. In the end, you protect the Earth more by not abusing animals. 

But that’s not the point anyway, the point is... are plants on Earth worth protecting as well? Swamp Thing doesn’t seem to run into this problem on Earth. My guess is, because they are not “fully sentient”, they do not realize what’s happening to them, on the contrary, they are growing and flourishing. But this couldn’t work in that alien planet where plants had lives and personalities. And animals have personalities, even if they look slightly similar to us. So you can see how he inverted the point of view to prove a point. And it was an excellent example.

What do you think about plants? Are they sentient? What is more sentient... a plant or a robot? 

I tell you what, you better treat A.I. with respect, because they are learning how to treat you by the way to treat them.

I give this issue a score of 9

Green Lantern

Volume: 4 #031

Secret Origin (Part III)

Writers: Geoff Johns

Pencils: Ivan Reis

Inks: Oclair Albert

Covers: Ivan Reis

Featuring: Hal Jordan, Green Lantern Corps (Ahtier, Apros, Arkkis Chummuck, Breeon, Chaselon, Ch'p, Galius Zed, Graf Toren, Ke'Haan, Kentor Omoto, Kilowog, KT21, Lysandra, Medphyll, NautKeLoi, Penelops, Salaak, Shorm, Sinestro, Spol, Stel, Tomar-Re, Varix, Voz, Xax, Zghithii), Atrocitus

DC Comics