Green Lantern #0 *Preview/Spoilers*

[Deadpool]

Wait, is Baz apearing in a justice league issue?

[TKE-REF]

I hope that Hal comes back soon, and those that want to read a comic about a victim who unrealistically is picked on because of his religion, more power to them. I just want to read a comic about an individual who inspires the best in people, like Hal did before Johns wrote him.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ar9cg04W1qcs7kp.gif

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

I hope that Hal comes back soon, and those that want to read a comic about a victim who unrealistically is picked on because of his religion, more power to them. I just want to read a comic about an individual who inspires the best in people, like Hal did before Johns wrote him.

[TKE-REF]

I am interested in seeing how the Justice League reaction to him having Hal's ring will be played out in the next two issues. I am also glad to see they didn't retcon Hal having quit the JL in the revamp.

First post back in several months. Glad to be back.

[weareborg]

I'm glad DC is courageous enough to question the country's behavior after 911. I still remember it happened during my college years, when white and black students joined in rare brotherhood to hunt down Islamic terrorists. Many of my classmates had to stay at teachers' apartment to avoid persecution. Fear was indeed powerful, enough to drive people to enjoy hurting innocents.

EDIT: And, regarding Simon being a car thief, I think it's alright. People want to see heroes perfect, it's understandable, but GLC ring selects those with power to overcome great fear, as much as a red ring searches for those with great rage. As long as Simon would start using his power for greater good, does it really matter what race, gender, or criminal background he had before the transformation?

I'm always amazed at how people are constantly trying to claim that a group of people that killed three thousand americans are victims. George Bush went out of his way to ask american citizens to hold their anger and to not blame an entire group of people because of a few radical extremists.

Only a hand full of instances of hostility towards Muslims have been prosecuted in a country of 310 million, yet misguided people constantly cry foul about people in mobs hunting down Muslims. Go to a college campus sometime when someone of Jewish belief is threatened by Palestinian students and college professors. Ask Japanese people during WWII what it was like in interment camps.

Water boarding happened to THREE people. Three of the worst of the worst but Johns has this guy boarded to what claim everyone in the US government overreacts because the guy is Muslim? I'm watching 80 year old grandmothers and 6 year old children practically molested to prove we don't 'racially profile' at airports, and Johns wants people to feel Muslims are being picked on?

I don't buy it. Why doesn't Johns have a christian in Egypt get a ring and show all the hate and persecution by Muslims on other religions?

http://www.newsmax.com/KenTimmerman/...1/21/id/383543

I hope that Hal comes back soon, and those that want to read a comic about a victim who unrealistically is picked on because of his religion, more power to them. I just want to read a comic about an individual who inspires the best in people, like Hal did before Johns wrote him.

[Space Cop]

...EDIT: And, regarding Simon being a car thief, I think it's alright. People want to see heroes perfect, it's understandable, but GLC ring selects those with power to overcome great fear, as much as a red ring searches for those with great rage. As long as Simon would start using his power for greater good, does it really matter what race, gender, or criminal background he had before the transformation?

Well, for me his background doesn't matter so much as his attitude. Like I said, I'll probably be OK with it if the character realizes that his belief, that a life of crime was an acceptable solution to his problems, was wrong. If he still feels like his crimes were justified by his bad situation in life, and only stops being a criminal because he no longer "needs" to steal, then I'm going to continue to feel that he has no business playing the hero.

^This, pretty much. If the crimes were in his past and he had renounced that life some time ago, I'd have no problem with it at all.

And you can't just lump his race and religion in there. Not a single user on here said he couldn't become a GL because of his race or creed. I'd agree with those who said we didn't need a 5th Earth (let alone American) GL, but if we had to have one, sure it makes sense that he (or a theoretical she) represents a different demographic than the others. That's fine.

[Mister Ed]

I'm glad DC is courageous enough to question the country's behavior after 911. I still remember it happened during my college years, when white and black students joined in rare brotherhood to hunt down Islamic terrorists. Many of my classmates had to stay at teachers' apartment to avoid persecution. Fear was indeed powerful, enough to drive people to enjoy hurting innocents.

EDIT: And, regarding Simon being a car thief, I think it's alright. People want to see heroes perfect, it's understandable, but GLC ring selects those with power to overcome great fear, as much as a red ring searches for those with great rage. As long as Simon would start using his power for greater good, does it really matter what race, gender, or criminal background he had before the transformation?

Well, for me his background doesn't matter so much as his attitude. Like I said, I'll probably be OK with it if the character realizes that his belief, that a life of crime was an acceptable solution to his problems, was wrong. If he still feels like his crimes were justified by his bad situation in life, and only stops being a criminal because he no longer "needs" to steal, then I'm going to continue to feel that he has no business playing the hero.

[Cyberium]

I'm glad DC is courageous enough to question the country's behavior after 911. I still remember it happened during my college years, when white and black students joined in rare brotherhood to hunt down Islamic terrorists. Many of my classmates had to stay at teachers' apartment to avoid persecution. Fear was indeed powerful, enough to drive people to enjoy hurting innocents.

EDIT: And, regarding Simon being a car thief, I think it's alright. People want to see heroes perfect, it's understandable, but GLC ring selects those with power to overcome great fear, as much as a red ring searches for those with great rage. As long as Simon would start using his power for greater good, does it really matter what race, gender, or criminal background he had before the transformation?

[Hypo]

This was...all right.

[GreenLantern888]

So I'm just going to not worry about Simon and just carry on in GL till Hal and Sinestro come and take the book back.

I would've been happier if Black Hand was the main character of the book, at least he's interesting.

[Gauntlet101010]

I guess I feel like succumbing to the temptation to solve your problems through crime exhibits a weaker will, too, IMHO.

Of course part of my problem is, even if he meets the current letter of the requirements, that doesn't mean I like the idea of giving a ring to somebody that sees crime as the answer to his problems, and I can't ignore the fact that evidence of that happening before is rather thin on the ground. Most GLs that went wrong in the past were shown as being corrupted by the power, not criminals to begin with.

A malfunctioning ring can explain it happening here, but I'm not going to have any interest in reading about such a character being portrayed as a "heroic" GL unless I see him realizing that his earlier attitude was a mistake, rather than still feeling like his actions as a car thief were justifed under the cirumstances. If the reason he gives up crime is that he admits that it was WRONG to do as he did, I could warm to the guy. If the only reason he gives up crime is that he feels like now he doesn't "need to" steal cars to accomplish his goals any more, then I'm going to avoid him like the plague, as much as possible.

I get your point here. Not sure if I totally agree, especially about it exibiting a weaker will, but he's definately a different breed than the rest. I mean, he is a criminal. No argument there. So being a space cop is obviously an ill fit.

[Mister Ed]

I'm just gonna go with poor expression. Because the comparison really detracts from your main argument. I just can't get past it if that's how you're framing the discussion.

As for the point, in the Silver Age, where being honest was a requirement, you'd be more correct. Because, obviously, being a car thief isn't honest and isn't GL worthy. But just overcoming great fear; being strong willed, well ...

I guess I feel like succumbing to the temptation to solve your problems through crime exhibits a weaker will, too, IMHO.

Of course part of my problem is, even if he meets the current letter of the requirements, that doesn't mean I like the idea of giving a ring to somebody that sees crime as the answer to his problems, and I can't ignore the fact that evidence of that happening before is rather thin on the ground. Most GLs that went wrong in the past were shown as being corrupted by the power, not criminals to begin with.

A malfunctioning ring can explain it happening here, but I'm not going to have any interest in reading about such a character being portrayed as a "heroic" GL unless I see him realizing that his earlier attitude was a mistake, rather than still feeling like his actions as a car thief were justifed under the cirumstances. If the reason he gives up crime is that he admits that it was WRONG to do as he did, I could warm to the guy. If the only reason he gives up crime is that he feels like now he doesn't "need to" steal cars to accomplish his goals any more, then I'm going to avoid him like the plague, as much as possible.

[Space Cop]

Well, that depends on your definition of "the right thing" within the context of the story Baz is trying to support his family...

...It seems like you keep trying to reframe my argument into something it isn't, namely saying "Baz is the same as Brainiac!". My analogy ISN'T as broad as you are making it out to be. Maybe I'm just not expressing it well. That's a real possibility.

I get what you're saying and I didn't think you were just equating them. I agree there's a common link between his brand of crime and the criminal in general. That would be the view that you "have to do what you have to do" or "if I can't legitimately support my family, the world at large owes me enough that I'll just take it." A few things to consider:

(1) In his interviews Mahnke said Simon carrying the gun as a GL was an extension of his life and attitude as a car thief. So, what would he do if he tried to steal a car and the owner defended it with a gun?

(2) Is it still possibly justified if the person he steals from needed that car? What if it's owned by a guy with no insurance who needs it for a job by which he just barely feeds his 5 kids? The criminal assumption of a guy like Simon is that his needs outweigh those of the owner and/or he doesn't even consider their needs.

(3) In the past GLs would stop this kind of crime. They'd be the guys who lock up car thieves! Hal used to be squeaky clean. He would've busted Baz.

I do agree with Gauntlet that Johns didn't outright justify Baz's thievery in the story. I'm pretty sure he'll be repentant for what he's done. BUT I still think the story overall was designed to make you feel Baz was a victim and pushed too far.

[samuraix87]

so in gl # 15 it will explain why he has it his ring is out of power and he asked the jl what the other human gls used as back up i this is from geoff johns at his signing in michigan

[Gauntlet101010]

Which isn't what I'm saying. But there is a BIG difference between never having made a mistake, and being a currently active car thief whose mindset is apparently that his behavior is justified somehow, and not in fact "a mistake". That MINDSET, that the situation he is in JUSTIFIES stealing cars, that that is an acceptable solution to his problems, is what I object to in a GL, and THAT is what he shares with other villains, even given the widely varying SCOPE of their crimes.



Except in that one way, that one way that I'm objecting to.

It seems like you keep trying to reframe my argument into something it isn't, namely saying "Baz is the same as Brainiac!". My analogy ISN'T as broad as you are making it out to be. Maybe I'm just not expressing it well. That's a real possibility.

I'm just gonna go with poor expression. Because the comparison really detracts from your main argument. I just can't get past it if that's how you're framing the discussion.

As for the point, in the Silver Age, where being honest was a requirement, you'd be more correct. Because, obviously, being a car thief isn't honest and isn't GL worthy. But just overcoming great fear; being strong willed, well ...