After 67 Years, DC Just Gave Green Lantern a New Color & New Powers

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It’s been a year in the making, and Hal Jordan in the Absolute Universe has finally gained superpowers – though he’s not becoming a Green Lantern. The series Absolute Green Lantern has unfolded as a cosmic puzzle, following a group of friends caught in a large-scale war. Like other books in the Absolute line, this version of the Green Lantern story is quite different from the main DC Universe. It reimagines core concepts – there are no Guardians of the Universe, and the Emotional Spectrum doesn’t seem to exist in the same way.

The comic series Absolute Green Lantern has introduced a new system called ‘Levels of Light.’ Currently, there are four levels – Qard, Rao, Sur, and Aur – which correspond to the Black, Red, Green, and Gold lights. Unlike the previous system based on emotions, these lights are tied to specific actions. For instance, Qard represents impulsive or reckless action, as Hal Jordan learned when he accidentally shot Abin Sur and was afflicted by the Black Hand. Hal is now recovering and trying to determine which level of light best suits him.

Hal Jordan Discovers the Power of Love

In the twelfth issue of Absolute Green Lantern, Hector Hammond is on a vengeful mission to kill Jo Mullein. He’s weaponizing his most powerful creation, the Absolute Obsidian, to achieve this. Using advanced psychic technology, Hammond controls Obsidian, sending it after Jo, Hal Jordan, and Cameron Chase. Chase manages to briefly halt Obsidian with gunfire, giving the three a chance to escape to the roof. However, their relief is short-lived, as Obsidian smashes through the roof, ready to finish them off.

Jo quickly retrieves her ring from the debris, giving the team a chance to fight back. Now wielding the power of a Green Lantern, she inflicts significant damage on Obsidian. However, Hal cautions her that Obsidian isn’t being controlled remotely by Hammond – there’s a person actually inside the construct. Jo is too focused on the fight to fully understand what Hal means. A strange energy, reminiscent of the Black Hand, starts radiating from Hal, but it has a noticeable pink hue.

Okay, so things take a really interesting turn. Jo gets briefly sidelined, which gives Hal the opening he needs. And when Hal steps into the spotlight, it’s not just light – it’s this vibrant, almost shocking pink energy! He starts talking about the person trapped inside that Obsidian, and gets into this surprisingly deep philosophical riff on what it means to act impulsively. He argues that while thoughtless action can be destructive, at its core, it’s actually an expression of love. Then, using this new power, he manages to free Todd Rice from the Obsidian, leaving Jo completely baffled about what just happened. It’s a genuinely surprising moment and really shifts the dynamic.

Hal’s New Power Adds Onto Absolute Emotional Spectrum’s Lore

Even after a year, fans are still trying to figure out all the mysteries in Absolute Green Lantern. The story recently hinted at light levels beyond the original four we thought existed. However, it seems the energy Hal Jordan found isn’t a new light level at all, but the original form of Qard. What we first thought was the most basic and chaotic energy might actually be one of the most powerful and meaningful parts of the spectrum.

When Hal was infected by the Black Hand, he felt a dark energy trying to take over his natural self. He realized that impulsive actions can be twisted into something evil, just like the Black Hand itself. However, Hal also understood that acting without thinking can actually be an expression of love – we often act on instinct for those we care about without considering the consequences. This insight allowed him to unlock the full potential of the Qard level, finally giving him the powers he needed in this large-scale, cosmic story.

It’s difficult to say if the Qard level is truly comparable to the love-fueled Star Sapphires from the main DC Universe. Both groups seem to have healing abilities and a strong sense of empathy. However, there’s still a lot we don’t know about how these different light-based powers connect. Luckily, Hal’s new abilities offer another clue that could help us understand everything better. While some fans might prefer Hal’s classic uniform, pink actually suits him quite well in Absolute Green Lantern.

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2026-03-12 16:40