I dislike conspiracies/connections retconned into the past (has been done with both Wayne deaths and Krypton's destruction now in certain versions), but I can't deny there'd probably be a lot of fans who would go for it. And it's almost inevitable for prequels - in the end, people usually want to see the "present" villains, etc. when the watch/read, even if they don't actually have a place there in continuity.i wonder how people if martin's death was further explored. like say hal found that the crash wasn't an accident but more deliberate.
and somehow the crash was tied to the manhunters and was known by the guardians.
Well, corporate espionage was actually a common plot in early Silver Age Green Lantern stories.
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Yes - a new set of Guardians were going to appear claiming the others were frauds. That divided the Corps into two factions with Hal leading the side with the original Guardians. The truth behind Martin's death is revealed, putting Hal in the position of knowing he's right about who the real Guardians are yet despising them for what they did. In the end, Hal would win the day, but enter the power battery and absorb enough power to become his own hero and leave the Corps behind because he could no longer work for the Guardians. A new GL would be created to take Hal's place and Hal would have become a solo hero.
The story behind the story is of course as infamous as the printed version of "Emerald Twilight"!
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Re: pre-GL Hal stories:
-- I can see a lot of potential for a tv series or some other format outside of regular DC continuity.(not that there'd ever be demand for it at this point) Unless it were just one story, having something set in the past and be in-continuity would have too many constraints.
-- First and foremost, it would be about how Hal became a man worthy to wear the GL ring. Hal was never the kind of hero like Kyle who grew into the role - Hal was already worthy. I get that some writers found that challenging in terms of presenting an arc for Hal so they made him somehow not ready for the ring when he got it, but for something set years in the past it would make sense. Unfortunately, it means seeing a Hal that's not the man we know - he might be shown to have traits like cockiness, impulsiveness, anger or insecurity. But as long as they make him likeable and plant the seeds of his future heroism, it could work.
-- In terms of the actual stories, I like a lot of what you guys have been saying about alien conspiracies, Ferris Air, etc. It could even be a good way to introduce Kyle's father, who was a "Man in Black." (maybe season 2 ).... and of course a lot of stories with Carol, Tom and Hal's family. Coast City itself could end up taking on a weird Roswell/Area 51 vibe. I also like the idea of Hal's father's crash being an inciting incident the way Mulder's sister's abduction was for him, but it should be one of those things that ends up going either unresolved or that Martin's death was incidental rather than anyone targeting him. It would just be a way to get Hal involved with the shenanigans.
-- Aside from alien stuff, Hal's possible role in the military would also play a part. And it would play into the larger theme of fear - of aliens, of other countries, of death or failure, of losing control or losing our way of life, etc... where Hal ultimately shows that he can overcome those fears and even inspire bravery in others.
If there were a "Smallville"/"Gotham" type show with Hal, what other aspects of GL or DC lore can be used? (Manhunters and their infiltration agents have already been mentioned)
-- There can be a Martian Manhunter story similar to what Cooke did in "New Frontier"
-- Hal's pilot buddy Larry Trainor has a mysterious accident and disappears even though he survived. People around the project are either transferred or die by a series of mysterious accidents.
-- Hector Hammond was depicted briefly in the comics as a thorn in Hal's side before the got the Big Head. Keep him as a regular in a similar capacity or as the creepy longtime acquaintance /scientist like in the movie. They could even be friends in a Clark/Lex kinda way. Maybe down the line he gets affected by a meteor and begins to develop psychic powers (but doesn't go full-on giant head yet)
-- A non-Arrowverse STAR labs could appear from time to time.
-- Mikaal Thomas - the Blue Starman could pop up.
-- Speaking of "New Frontier," why not introduce The Center and his minions?
-- New Gods incursions could happen at anytime. No reason to think that Darkseid didn't have spies in places other than Metropolis in his search for anti-Life.
-- Bruce Gordon/Eclipso could be there, first as a scientist then later as perhaps someone suffering from DID perhaps before he even becomes Eclipso. (or cheat and have him become Eclipso anyway)
-- Gotta have an episode with The Wrecking Crew
-- Perhaps they'll establish that there were rumors of a spacecraft crashing years ago in Kansas somewhere ....
-- ... and then later on, actually have Superman be part of the world where Lois publishes that first story about him and then everyone knows for sure that aliens exist and see how that ripples out to affect things moving forward. In my fantasyland, that would maybe start off the final season after a nice 6 season run. (six seasons then a movie!)
I hope the tragic death of Martin Jordan remains an accident. I understand Carl Ferris having to live under some suspicion of malice or incompetence.
Perhaps this drives him to push Carol so hard.