The debut of Absolute Green Lantern #1 (2025) introduces a chilling, reimagined world where the classic “emerald knight” tropes are replaced with a blend of cosmic horror and high-stakes mystery. Written by Al Ewing and illustrated by Jahnoy Lindsay, this first chapter sets a dark tone for a universe where the rules of the Green Lantern have completely changed.
A Terrifying New Beginning
The story opens with a haunting internal monologue: “Be without fear… You are in the absence of light”. We are immediately introduced to Hal Jordan, who is in a state of extreme distress and terror, repeatedly telling himself he is “so scared”.
The tension escalates when a state trooper finds Hal wandering alone near a state line in extreme heat. The encounter quickly turns hostile as the trooper, suspicious of what Hal is hiding in his pocket, demands he lie down and show his hands. Hal tries to explain that “something happened” and mentions a name that will be familiar to fans: Abin Sur. The scene ends tragically with a flash of light and Hal apologizing over the body of the state trooper.
The Destruction of Evergreen
The narrative shifts to a roadside diner where patrons, including a man named Moe, watch a shocking emergency news bulletin. Live helicopter footage reveals the total destruction of Evergreen, Nevada, Hal Jordan’s hometown. A mysterious, massive object has leveled the town, and although the destruction appears absolute, no bodies have been recovered.
Five Days Earlier: The Calm Before the Storm
The story then jumps back five days to Evergreen, before the catastrophe. We meet John Stewart, a collectibles dealer and “man of knowledge,” and Jo Mullein, an architect who has recently moved back to her hometown. Their conversation hints at a strained past, mentioning a disagreement with someone named Guy and Jo’s reluctance to discuss her time in Coast City.
As they talk, a group of bikers speeds through town. Suddenly, tragedy strikes. One of the bikers hits an invisible “force field” at high speed and is killed instantly. Jo and John discover a massive, glowing green dome that has appeared out of nowhere, cutting off all cell reception and trapping them inside.
The Curse of the “Black Hand”
Back in the present-day diner, Hal Jordan arrives, looking disheveled and traumatized. He confesses to the patrons that he was in Evergreen and that everything is his fault. He explains that he “wanted to be the hero” and that Abin Sur gave him a weapon—something far worse than a gun.
When a diner patron named Earl tries to forcibly see what Hal is hiding, the “weapon” reveals itself: The Black Hand. It is not a ring, but a terrifying power that Hal struggles to control, claiming it “responds to danger”. In a desperate struggle, shots are fired, and Hal is left pleading for death, only for the mysterious power to keep him alive. The issue ends on a cliffhanger as Jo Mullein finds the battered Hal Jordan, asking what happened to him.
