Ok, looks like I've got more to say about this little sub-event(?), than I thought. Part 3 was out today, with the long-anticipated fist fight between Hal 'No. 1' Jordan and Guy 'Woulda been' Gardner. By, long anticipated, I mean from the preview pages in Emerald Warriors #1, if they've ever fought before I don't know about it. The Guy Gardner I remember best is the incarnation from the 1987 relaunch of Justice League by Giffen, Matteiss and Maguire. Page 1 was just a single panel of Guy on his own, feet on the JLI conference table thinking of how best to announce his role as leader of the new group. Of course the minute Batman walked in, it was over and from then on Gardner dreamed of ways to usurp Bat's leadership until a) Maxwell Lord took over for both and, b) Bats knocked a ringless Guy out with a famous single punch. Over the years Guy Gardner has developed into a pretty complex and useful character(and has stayed powerful, even in the abscence of the Corps, with yellow power rings, morpho-genetic grafts, etc.) , and is basically essential to the DCU, as a perfect example of an everyday character who happens to have extraordinary abilities. He is as wilful as Hal Jordan, but more arrogant with it and so was in the running to pick up Abin Sur's ring when he crashlanded on Earth, a fact that comes up every now and then, and does so here, as he and Hal begin to succumb to the influence of Parallax. Strangely, the fight doesn't feel as defining in terms of Guy and Hal's ultimate friendship as last weeks falling out between Kyle and John, despite Guy and Hal being known to be serios rivals in the past, while Kyle and John had always shared a friendly comradeship until then. I suppose its how the writers like to shake things up now and then, but I have to say I preferred the previous status quo. Kyle and John don't seem the type to go the distance as silent rivals the way Guy and Hal have over the years.
Guy Gadner is so integral to the DCU, it must have been tough to decide where to place him for the events of 'Brightest Day', as he would have fit as well into "JL: Generation Lost", as he has into "Emerald Warriors" which is probably why he and Ice split up so suddenly immediately before both series began(she got the Justice League, he got the GL Corps; not the same as splitting electrical equipment and furniture, but this is the DCU, after all.) . Of course, the fact that he came under the influence of Atrocitus' red ring in 'Blackest Night' was probably what kept him in the cosmic color spectrum end of the events, rather than as part of the earth bound adventures of his former comrades as they battle against Max Lord. Not much goes on in this issue, but I always like to see people put their differences aside and unite against greater danger, and with Guy and Hal unsure of how to proceed without their rings, and Kilowog left fighting half the corps in space, there is enough to bring me back next time, even if my collecting obsession wouldn't do so anyway.
I started buying DC comics again almost three years ago now, with the advent of Grant Morrisons Final Crisis, and am now wondering if I'd ever find the perfect place to stop buying the comics altogether. Not that I want to, you understand, it'd just be nice to know that I'd reached a plateau where things could go either way and the signs point to " keep buying for the fun of it, but it'll be awhile before something 'unmissable' comes along, or stop right here and you won't miss what comes next", you know? "Flashpoint" is on its way however, and I just need to see what happens when today's talent is allowed to 'run amok' with the 75 years of mythology built up in the DCU(once again)
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