History Headscratchers / GreenLantern

** The rings basic programming was based on Green Lantern rings. It normally seeks out persons of great compassion because this is the emotion the Indigo Tribe is based on. As has been pointed out, when left to its own devices the rings will seek out compassionate people. This was proven in BlackestNight when the ring spoke to Ray Plamer, explaining why he was chosen. Similarly, Proselyte sought out Shane Thompson when he was being crushed by an overturned ambulance but still more concerned for his patients than his own fate. It's been established before that the Corps can choose their candidates before they send the rings, which is Mogo's job. Presumably Indigo-1 overrides this and seeks out fellow {{Complete Monster}}s.

*** OTOH, Ray ''does'' torture criminals in ''Cry For Justice'' later.

** The ''rings'' don't choose {{CompleteMonster}}s, ''Indigo-1'' does on the basis of HeelFaceBrainwashing as a community service. Presumably when the selection is left to the automatic like with the other corps it gravitates to concentrations of compassion rather than voids.

** If that is the only thing about the silver age you find overly silly, ''you haven't been reading very much silver age stuff''.

* Why did Ray Palmer get an Indigo Lantern Ring in BlackestNight when BrightestDay revealed that the rings only choose those who have no compassion?

*** Oh yeah I forgot about that. Then again, Atrocitus didn't really let go of his rage in that situation -- it was just in remission.

*** Well, the yellow ring ''did'' try to conscript {{Batman}} and JonathanCrane first. It's probably for the best that TheJoker didn't get his hands on it.

** Not as yet. Though one assumes they would lose their Red Lantern powers (and possibly die since their hearts are no longer beating). That was more or less what happened to Atrocitus when they took him to Ryut and his grief overcame his rage.

* Has it been shown yet what happens to Red Lanterns after they finally get revenge on the ones who wronged them?

*** Well, the yellow ring ''did'' try to conscript {{Batman}} and JonathanCrane first. It's probably for the best that TheJoker didn't get has hands on it.

** I remember Hal mentioning that there were only 138 planets with sentient life in Sector 2814. I can't remember the specific storyline, though.

** Some have posited that the DCU is smaller than our own. So that's one thing. If that doesn't cover enough, though, Earth is actually quite remarkable in its ability to support life; the chances of a given planet being able to hold life may be significantly less than one in a billion. Another theory is that the Guardians of the Universe are [[NonIndicativeName actually]] more like the Guardians of the Known Galaxies (twenty-eight?).

* Why are there only two Green Lanterns for a single space sector if said Space Sectors are 0.028% of the whole freaking universe!There are at least 100 billion galaxies in the universe,each containing billions to trillions of stars.Even if only one planet in a billion has an interstellar civilization,there would be trillions of interstellar races.And the Guardians intend 7200 people to look after all that?!

*** Yes, but when Parallax took over Kyle, he did so very obviously, he had big scary teeth, was obviously and unapologetically evil, and didn't do any real damage. Hal, however, wasn't noticeably different in appearance, wiped out a good fraction of the Green Lantern Corps, and his actions weren't ''evil'' so much as desperate and misguided. Even if Hal wasn't responsible for his actions, his actions were all things that the other members of the Corps could easily imagine him doing.

** The comic in general does often point out how it wasn't Hal's fault but Parallax's, and mostly the only people still on his case about it are the Lost Lanterns. There's still the aspect of Hal feeling rather guilty about having Parallax take over him, but this element too is barely touched on. Of particular note is when Parallax took over Kyle Rayner and his dialouge pointed out insistantly that he was just doing with Kyle what he did with Hal Jordan earlier and neither had any control over their actions.

**Well, people actually bring that up all the time, it's the entire rationale for his return to hero status. As for why some characters can't get over it, well, in some cases like the Lost Lanterns it's just stubborn prejudice. I believe there's also an element to it that even though he wasn't in control when Parallax took over, it was his own fears and inherent weaknesses that allowed it to happen in the first place. Any other Lantern could look at him and say "Well, Parallax didn't take Killowog or Brik, it took this guy, so there must be something wrong with him."

*Why is it that no one ever brings up the fact that Hal was possessed by Parallax, and not responsible for the deaths of the original corps? He blames himself, I understand that, but why does no one ever bring up this distinction?

** To be fair, the resurrection of The Anti-Monitor was to depower the black power battery and the resurrections of The Twelve was to set up for BrightestDay.

** Then I suppose opinion is truly [[YourMileageMayVary in the eye of the beholder.]]