In the previous issues, the town of Evergreen was encased in a terrifying green dome. John Stewart is dead. Hal Jordan is possessed. Now, in Absolute Green Lantern #4, the mystery of where the townspeople went is finally answered, and the “Green Lantern” is revealed to be something far more clinical and terrifying than a superhero.
The Voice in the Dark
The issue begins with Hal Jordan deep in a psychological battle with the Black Hand. The entity inside him is a nihilistic force, mocking the concept of “Penance.” It tells Hal that “God is a big, black zero”—a dark circle that surrounds everything. It urges Hal to embrace his role as the “Black Star.”
Jo Mullein tries to snap him out of it, but Hal is terrified. He admits he doesn’t want to hurt her, but the Black Hand is a predatory force that reacts to the “Light” Jo represents. He begs her to run, but Jo refuses to leave a friend behind.
The Empty Silence of Evergreen
Jo and a local man named Todd survey the town. The horror isn’t in what they see, but in what they don’t see.
- The Vanishing: Every house in Evergreen is perfectly intact, but completely empty. There are no signs of a struggle. Todd describes it as if thousands of people simply stopped existing in an instant.
- The Theory: Jo realizes that the entity, Abin Sur, didn’t destroy the town with fire; it “processed” it.
The Interview with an Alien God
Jo decides she has had enough and marches to the center of the green light to confront Abin Sur. The entity descends, repeating its cold mantra: “Be Without Fear.”
- The Prosecution: Jo demands to know where the people are. Abin Sur responds with terrifying precision. It claims it has only “ended the existence” of three people who were beyond saving.
- The Revelation of Oa: When Jo asks about John Stewart and the rest of the town, Abin Sur reveals a shocking new truth about this universe’s lore. The people aren’t dead; they are being held in Oa.
- The Purgatory: In this world, Oa is not a planet—it is the “Omega-Alpha.” It is a state of being where individuals are held for “Judgment in Progress.” The Green Lantern isn’t a protector; it is a cosmic bailiff transporting “chaotic” souls to a place of ultimate judgment.
The Gold Standard
Recalling John Stewart’s final discovery—that “Gold” (symbolizing knowledge and enlightenment) can pierce the Green Light—Jo takes a desperate gamble.
- The Breach: As Abin Sur prepares to “process” more of the world, Jo doesn’t use a weapon. She uses her gold wedding ring.
- The Feedback: Because the ring represents a truth the Green Light cannot categorize as “fear” or “chaos,” it creates a massive feedback loop. The green dome shatters, and the energy of the Abin Sur entity is forcibly dispersed. For the first time, the “God” has been wounded by a human.
The Shadow of Hector Hammond
As the dome falls and the survivors catch their breath, they realize they aren’t alone. A fleet of high-tech vehicles swarms the area.
- The Cleanup Crew: These aren’t rescue workers. They are a private tactical unit.
- The Final Reveal: A man emerges from the lead vehicle, looking over the wreckage of the cosmic event with a cold, intellectual curiosity. He announces that the site is now under his jurisdiction. The issue ends on a chilling note as he identifies himself: Hector Hammond.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Read: Absolute Green Lantern #3 – The Price of Knowledge & The Death of John Stewart
