Hal Jordan: Green Lantern Appreciation 2020

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Folks, some of you have probably noticed that I've been rather grumpy for quite some time when it comes to this character and my less than positive expectations towards his future in comics or outside media. What I've come to realize lately that is that for some particularly odd reason this doesn't tend to affect my mental health that well. Sounds incredibly silly but when something occurs to this character that I happen to dislike, such as him getting excluded or replaced in outside media projects, or written in an awful way, or basically anything that I could perceive as a certain slight to the character, that more or less ruins my day. Maybe it's partially due to everything that goes on in the world now, maybe part of me is still that teen who read GL Rebirth for the first time all those years ago and fell in love with the GL mythos with Hal at the forefront, maybe I'm still affected by the live-action movie and the non-stop mockery and disrespect that has been hurled this character's way since, or maybe it's simply some distorted sense of entitlement on my part that this character for some reason always has to be treated with nothing less than reverence. Whatever the case, I think at this point I need a break, otherwise I'd just keep bringing down the mood and not give back the same level of support and enthusiasm that people always tend to express here.

Don't wish to appear as if I'm attempting to give myself some level of self-importance by making "farewell speeches" or whatever this is, but I wanted you to know how much fun I've had here and the appreciation I have for all of you who've been nothing but great to me for the years I've posted here. Stay healthy and as a wiser fan than me likes to say, make everyday your brightest day.

Taking a break for your own mental and emotional health are always a great idea. I think you've been taking the treatment of the character too seriously (and pessimistically) for far too long already, so this is great news to hear.

Trust me, I have been down the same road you're on now back in the bad old days in which Hal was either dead or a badly written villain, so I understand how it feels to see a character you love get treated in a way that seems disrespectful.

However, time gave me a little more perspective and I came to understand that Hal Jordan is just another corporate IP that sometimes gets the spotlight and sometimes doesn’t.

At the moment, Hal Jordan is in pretty safe hands with Morrison and Sharp, so I am happy.

Whenever you are ready to come back, we'll be here.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

How has Hal been mistreated? Something I missed while I was gone? (I was infected with Covid and have been battling it and the long term effects for sometime now)

Hope you are feeling better from Covid.

As for Hal's mistreatment, it mostly stems from fans whose first exposure to the character were during the brief period of time in which he was DC's most popular character, which has artificially inflated many fans conception of Hal Jordan's overall status within the DCU. He's easily been one of DC’s biggest characters, for sure, but he's not a character that will always be one of DC’s top characters, particularly now that popular culture is making a concerted effort to highlight heroes who aren't straight white men.

For better or worse, that means it's very likely that the more diverse GLs like John Stewart and Jessica Cruz are going to be more prominent for the foreseeable future.

That doesn't mean that Hal Jordan is a lesser character, it just means that times are changing and audiences are ready for different heroes these days.

Hal isn't going anywhere though. He's too well loved and I suspect he'll be a major part of the HBO Max show. That said, DC is going to be focusing on any major characters they have who aren't straight white men, which means that the focus will be more about Alan, John, and Jessica than Hal.

And, if he were a real person, I think Hal would be perfectly okay with letting these guys take the spotlight.

[liwanag]

[liwanag]

[Anthony Shaw]

The costume under the clothes thing....

[liwanag]

The costume under the clothes thing....

i know.

how about this?

[HAN9000]

Hope you are feeling better from Covid.

As for Hal's mistreatment, it mostly stems from fans whose first exposure to the character were during the brief period of time in which he was DC's most popular character, which has artificially inflated many fans conception of Hal Jordan's overall status within the DCU. He's easily been one of DC’s biggest characters, for sure, but he's not a character that will always be one of DC’s top characters, particularly now that popular culture is making a concerted effort to highlight heroes who aren't straight white men.

For better or worse, that means it's very likely that the more diverse GLs like John Stewart and Jessica Cruz are going to be more prominent for the foreseeable future.

That doesn't mean that Hal Jordan is a lesser character, it just means that times are changing and audiences are ready for different heroes these days.

Hal isn't going anywhere though. He's too well loved and I suspect he'll be a major part of the HBO Max show. That said, DC is going to be focusing on any major characters they have who aren't straight white men, which means that the focus will be more about Alan, John, and Jessica than Hal.

And, if he were a real person, I think Hal would be perfectly okay with letting these guys take the spotlight.

Honestly, I never think of Hal as straight... He is clealy pansexual in the way how writers like Morrison or Johns portray him. Besides, how pathetic it is to remain straight after seeing all those different extraterrestrial life forms...
I guess DC might consider it too radical to let A-lst male characters come out of the closet. On the other hand, IMO, Alan, the family man, should never be gay.

[HAN9000]

Folks, some of you have probably noticed that I've been rather grumpy for quite some time when it comes to this character and my less than positive expectations towards his future in comics or outside media. What I've come to realize lately that is that for some particularly odd reason this doesn't tend to affect my mental health that well. Sounds incredibly silly but when something occurs to this character that I happen to dislike, such as him getting excluded or replaced in outside media projects, or written in an awful way, or basically anything that I could perceive as a certain slight to the character, that more or less ruins my day. Maybe it's partially due to everything that goes on in the world now, maybe part of me is still that teen who read GL Rebirth for the first time all those years ago and fell in love with the GL mythos with Hal at the forefront, maybe I'm still affected by the live-action movie and the non-stop mockery and disrespect that has been hurled this character's way since, or maybe it's simply some distorted sense of entitlement on my part that this character for some reason always has to be treated with nothing less than reverence. Whatever the case, I think at this point I need a break, otherwise I'd just keep bringing down the mood and not give back the same level of support and enthusiasm that people always tend to express here.

Don't wish to appear as if I'm attempting to give myself some level of self-importance by making "farewell speeches" or whatever this is, but I wanted you to know how much fun I've had here and the appreciation I have for all of you who've been nothing but great to me for the years I've posted here. Stay healthy and as a wiser fan than me likes to say, make everyday your brightest day.

I've always liked your penetrating comments. It's nice to have you as a vocal fan speaking out your thoughts. Hopefully we’ll see you again after you're ready.

[silly]

How has Hal been mistreated? Something I missed while I was gone? (I was infected with Covid and have been battling it and the long term effects for sometime now)

Hope you get better soon Doc.

What comes to mind is how Hal was portrayed in the animated movies. He was written as immature, incapable.

I think the animated JL movie that best depicted Hal was JL Doom.

[Mutatis_Mutandis]

Honestly, I never think of Hal as straight... He is clealy pansexual in the way how writers like Morrison or Johns portray him. Besides, how pathetic it is to remain straight after seeing all those different extraterrestrial life forms...
I guess DC might consider it too radical to let A-lst male characters come out of the closet. On the other hand, IMO, Alan, the family man, should never be gay.

That's how I see it too. Though in my head, exposure to all those extraterrestrial life forms also means Hal's conception of sexuality is way beyond Earth's standards of neatly categorized identities.

[silly]

Looking forward to hear GL news in DC Fandome.

[Anthony Shaw]

i know.

how about this?

I try to curb my neurotic tendencies, and not think too hard......but was that costume a spare......and properly sanitized?

Abin could have been living like pre-Guardians MCU Peter Quill in that ship before his demise.

[Anthony Shaw]

That's how I see it too. Though in my head, exposure to all those extraterrestrial life forms also means Hal's conception of sexuality is way beyond Earth's standards of neatly categorized identities.

[Anthony Shaw]

I actually looked this story up.

At first, I was gonna post that Hal's not a playa, he just crush a lot.

Then I looked up the story.

She actually tried to catfish Hal. Well, at least she was not like Jason Wyngarde.



Then told her about Carol.....after the kiss.



But still leaves with a smile on his face after botching a job (that pays his bills).

IIRC, Carol actually put the down payment for that rig.



Hal is crazy.

[silly]

I actually looked this story up.

At first, I was gonna post that Hal's not a playa, he just crush a lot.

Then I looked up the story.

She actually tried to catfish Hal. Well, at least she was not like Jason Wyngarde.



Then told her about Carol.....after the kiss.



But still leaves with a smile on his face after botching a job (that pays his bills).

IIRC, Carol actually put the down payment for that rig.



Hal is crazy.

Who was the writer for this story?