SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #41, by Robert Venditti, Brandon Peterson, Tomeu Morey and Dave Sharpe, on sale now.
Tensions have been rising in the pages of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps for quite some time, now. Be it between John Stewart and the Guardians of the Universe, the Lanterns and the Sinestro Corps, or even between the Lanterns themselves, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the proverbial butting of heads, egos and ideals. As a result, in Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #41, we witness what could be the start of one corps member’s journey down a deadly, yet all too familiar path.
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As the name implies, the story arc titled “Zod’s Will” has seen Hal and his fellow Lanterns battling the displaced Kryptonian general and his family, who currently hold a position of power on the planet Jekuul. The crux of the conflict is quite simple -- neither the denizens of Jekuul nor General Zod believe they need the protection of the Green Lantern Corps. Hal, however, knowing Zod’s tyrannical tendencies, refuses to allow the longtime Superman foe to impose his will on the people of the Lantern-controlled space sector 2811.
Nevertheless, the iron-willed Green Lantern eventually manages to get the upper hand on his much more powerful opponent, placing him under arrest and binding him with one of his ring's constructs. However, no sooner does he apprehend Zod than the Guardians of the Universe arrive on the scene, with Green Lantern Corps leader John Stewart in tow.
“These events are in defiance of our commands as Guardians of the Universe,” says Sayd. “You must release the general,” Ganthet adds. Then, much to Hal’s surprise, John reciprocates the Guardians’ orders.
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Against his better judgment, Hal releases Zod and accompanies his fellow Lanterns back to Mogo. Still, despite his compliance, he isn’t prepared to simply sweep the events on Jekuul under the rug.
“Why’d you do it, John?” Hal asks. “You’re smart enough to know the danger Zod poses.” However, while John believes they should encourage the fact that the new iteration of the Guardians isn’t using the Lanterns to impose their will, Hal still has his doubts.
Referring back to the “Mind Games” arc from Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #30-31, Hal recalls his and Superman’s encounter with Sinestro, Parallax and Hector Hammond. “Afterward,” he tells John, “I couldn’t help but think… if we took care of threats – you know, permanently – once in a while, the universe would be a much safer place.” John, on the other hand, feels such an approach “isn’t police work. It’s war.”
As Hal flies off in silence on the final page, one can’t help but recall how he was once driven insane by the destruction of Coast City – as well as being infected by Parallax – turning him into a cosmic super-villain. After wiping out the Green Lantern Corps and trying to rewrite reality, Hal’s good nature eventually prevailed, and he sacrificed himself to reignite the sun during Earth’s Final Night. (Of course, with this being comics, he would eventually be resurrected.)
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Given Hal’s ominous last words in this issue, could we be on the brink of an all-out Green Lantern Corps Civil War, with a villainous Hal Jordan leading the opposition? It’s certainly possible, but before that, the Lanterns are going to need to band together to deal with the newly reincarnated Darkstars, whose presence will begin to be felt in Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #42.