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Showcase Presents Green Lantern: 1
01/08/2006 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: DC Comics. 500 page illustrated softcover. Price: $ 9.99(US), $13.50 (CAN). ISBN: 1-4012-0759-6. Buy Showcase Presents Green Lantern: 1 in the USA - or Buy Showcase Presents Green Lantern: 1 in the UK  check out website: www.dccomics.com
I picked a copy of this book couple months ago. It seemed excellent value for money and had all the early stories of Green Lantern that I never read when young. Well, except for GL # 17 which is the earliest I owned. This volume actually covers Showcase 22+24 and Green Lantern # 1-17 so buying this you'd be seeing all the early tales of the second GL, Hal Jordan.
The biggest surprise I had when opening this book was it all being in black and white. Had the early Green Lantern tales not used outlines around his power beam effects, the pages would have been strangely blank. As it is, the one advantage of monotone is seeing Gil Kane's art in all its glory.
Historically, the second Green Lantern was created based on the success of recreation of the Flash with a modern origin. Unlike the first Green Lantern who's ring was from a magical source with zero effect on wood, this second version came from a more Science Fiction source with a heavy homage to EE 'Doc' Smith's 'Lensmen' books. The Guardians formed the Green Lantern Corps covering the galaxy in sectors, equipping each of them with a power ring that has to be re-charged on a 24 hour or equivalent day cycle. The only limitation on what this ring can do being dependent on its wearer's imagination. The only thing that could stop it was the colour yellow because of an impurity in its manufacturer.
When the Green Lantern of this sector, Abin Sur, is fatally injured in a crash on this planet, his power ring locates test pilot Hal Jordan, seeing him as an honest fearless man to take his place. Jordan isn't given the full story of the Guardians or the Corps but promises to become Abin Sur's successor. From this start we follow his adventures which includes visiting an alternative dimension planet called Qward, the far future where he is given a different personna and his earliest encounters with Hector Hammond, Sonar and probably his biggest menace, Sinestro.
Practically all of the tales, except for GL # 17 which was by Gardner Fox, was written by John Broome who is probably better known for his work on the 'Doom Patrol' series. DC Comics had a habit of not crediting who wrote or drew their comics for a long time.
The biggest impression I got was how second-rate Green Lantern was. Very few of his adventures were off-planet and most of the time, he would be after common criminals. I remember a few years down the line from these tales that when artist Neal Adams went to DC, he asked to be given a series that had poor sales and was given Green Lantern and based off these tales, its hard not to see why. It might have got a small fan base but Green Lantern was written as a second-string character rather than as potentially one of the most powerful men on the planet with a device that could rival Superman's abilities.
It wasn't until much later that he was truly allowed to flourish. Instead, the stories outside of his battles were mostly focused on his attention to his boss, Carol Ferris, who had the hots for his alter-ego. Considering that 60s DC Comics were plot and not character orientated, none of this should be much of a surprise to any of you old enough to remember that far back.
Is it worth reading these stories? From an historical POV, I would say yes. It's certainly a cheap way to getting to read these stories without breaking the bank Even as a missed opportunity, its interesting to see Green Lantern develop without anyone in his city questioning why he isn't named after his ring or how his secret oath became public knowledge. So get while still available.
GF Willmetts
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