In 1994, Coast City, where Hal Jordan resided, was obliterated during the famous “Death of Superman” incident. This catastrophe deeply affected Hal, but it marked just the beginning of his sorrow as Green Lantern. When the Green Lantern Corps refused to let him rebuild his hometown, their decision sent the hero spiraling out of control. Overwhelmed by grief and anger, he launched a rampage that led to the deaths of every Lantern he encountered, including his closest friend Kilowog. This marked a dramatic change for Hal, who then committed the ultimate betrayal by taking over all the power from the central power battery on Oa, transforming into something entirely different: Parallax, the last vestige of the Green Lantern Corps.
It’s no secret to fans that things took a turn for the worse when it was disclosed that he had been controlled by the Parallax entity. This unfortunate event led our hero, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, on a sinister journey towards villainy. However, despite his redemption later on, many believe that Hal Jordan as the malevolent Parallax character was more captivating and suited for the Justice League than the heroic Green Lantern.
Hal’s Greatest Character Development
The amount Hal Jordan lost on the day Coast City was demolished might lead one to ponder the Joker’s saying about just “one terrible day” causing someone to snap. This incident served as that fateful day for Hal, and although it wasn’t a beloved twist by many longtime fans of his character, exploring Hal’s struggles through this catastrophe and illustrating the tenuous boundary between righteousness and wickedness in even the strongest-willed individuals is captivating character progression. There’s a wealth of compelling narratives to be mined from this period, especially in stories like Zero Hour and The Final Night.
The problem lies in the fact that Hal’s return to being a “good guy” and distancing himself from his time as Parallax lessens the impact of his darker deeds. In the context of Zero Hour, re-reading the story, the final threat doesn’t carry the same sense of urgency as it initially did. His hasty transformation into a hero following this events seems inconsistent.
In a different wording: By having Hal Jordan, a cherished hero, make a “last” selfless sacrifice in The Final Night, the storyline loses some impact. It was risky to transform such a beloved character into a major antagonist. However, this concept had immense potential for intrigue. If DC Comics had maintained Hal as Parallax, it would have created captivating tales involving the Justice League grappling with one of their own, a formidable adversary not just because of his powers but due to their past camaraderie. Even if Hal’s ultimate fate was redemption, a gradual process would have added layers of complexity. Unfortunately, DC rushed through this villainous phase for Hal and failed to establish any significant, lasting consequences.
Parallax Hal is Best Remembered Now as a 90’s Gimmick and Not Real Development
Essentially, instead of serving as an authentic narrative of sorrow, decline, and resurrection, Hal Jordan’s tenure as Parallax now appears more like a marketing ploy, a part of the 90s overhaul rather than genuine character progression. Prolonging Hal’s villainous phases could have led to intriguing developments. Regrettably, his transformation is now primarily remembered as sensationalistic, much like Azrael Batman from “Knightfall” and certain Supermen from “Death of Superman,” serving mainly to boost sales. In retrospect, it seems like a missed chance, particularly given the increasing number of Green Lantern Corps characters.
Over time, Hal has had numerous perspectives, and it’s beneficial for storytelling not to stick to just one. Maintaining the status quo isn’t conducive to compelling narratives, but revertiging Hal to his heroic role wasn’t a bad move by DC. However, leaving Hal’s Parallax transformation unexplored still seems like an oversight in retrospect. One of the most remarkable character arcs in comic history could have been more thoroughly examined with Hal. Regrettably, we didn’t delve deeper into his potential as a villain, which might have made for a fascinating tale.
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2025-07-21 22:14