
IMAGE DAY

Writer(s)
Larry Niven, John Byrne
Penciler(s)
John Byrne
Colorist(s)
Matt Webb
Cover
John Byrne
Publisher
DC Comics
Publication Date
November, 1992
IN READING GUIDES, LISTS, REVIEWS
In Green Lantern: Ganthet’s Tale (1992), Ganthet tells the origin story of the Guardians of the Universe. Let’s list five common myths about the Guardians of the Universe in ascending order.
5. THE GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE FIRST CREATED THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS
In History Of The DC Universe (1986), Harbinger records data on the Monitor’s files after Crisis On Infinite Earths. On Oa, Krona’s forbidden experiments led to calamity.
As a result, the Malthusians became the Guardians of the Universe to combat the evil in the DC multiverse. Originally, it is a myth that the Guardians first created the Green Lantern Corps.
The Guardians saw it as their responsibility to safeguard the multiverse from the evil that one of them had created. At first, they experimented on genetics in order to create “the perfect warrior”. They created a race of “genetically transformed lizards” known as Psions which was a failure.
Afterwards, they created the Manhunters, “a corps of android soldiers” whose purpose was “to combat the evil”. In the end, the Manhunters rebelled and “their legions disbanded”.
The Guardians of the Universe finally met success with the Green Lantern Corps. They harnessed the energies of the Emotional Spectrum from the emotional energy of will which the Guardians of the Universe stored in the Central Power Battery on Oa. It was to create green power rings to equip “the bravest from each sector of space”.
DC Day: Green Lantern Corps, Database Comics
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4. THE GUARDIANS ARE LITTLE BLUE MEN
Generally, one popular depiction of the Guardians is as serious little blue men. Though this is their current incarnation, it is a myth. Originally, the Guardians are from the planet Maltus. Possibly, the first life-forms in the DC Universe. At the beginning, they were tall blue humanoids with dark hair. At first, they engaged in constant war. Later, they began to study science and became scientists. In History Of The DC Universe (1986), Harbinger tells of the origin of the multiverse.
After Krona’s experiments on the beginning of time, the DC multiverse was created. Hence, evil emerged in the universe. In order to combat evil, they relocated to Oa, the center of the DC multiverse. They became the Guardians of the Universe. With their immense powers, they sought to bring order to the universe. Particularly, the Guardian Ganthet has the power of size alteration. When he appears with the Quintessence, he appears as a giant blue man.
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3. THE GUARDIANS ARE WEAKER THAN MAGIC
In Tales Of The Green Lantern Annual (1986) #2, the Guardians of the Universe tame magic. To begin, GL Abin Sur is above the planet Ysmault. Curiously, he inquires information from his ring about the planet. Millennia ago, as the ring tells, it was the throneworld of the Empire of Tears. At the time, the Empire of Tears spanned three galaxies. In fact, it reigned supreme and its “regents” committed abominations.1
In the early universe, magic was a powerful and chaotic force. Newly formed, the Guardians sought to create order. On the planet, they arrived and defeated the demons. Powerfully, they chained the disembodied minds on Ysmault. In this way, they turned it into a corpseworld. After the war, the Guardians gathered the mystical forces of the universe in an orb called the Starheart. Over the ages, its fragments fell to Earth. Eventually, it became the JSA’s Alan Scott’s ring. Thus, it is a myth that Guardians are weaker than magic.
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CHECK OUT THE STORY: In JLA: Trial By Fire, The Guardians Of The Universe Feared The Martian Race.
A FAN OF THIS STORY? CLICK ON Green Lantern: Ganthet’s Tale BELOW TO BUY THE COMIC ON AMAZON.
2. THE GUARDIANS ARE AN IMMORTAL RACE
Really, the Guardians are an immortal race from Oa. In fact, they may be as old as the DC Universe. And they have lived for billions of years. Though they are effectively immortal, Guardians can die. In Green Lantern (1994) #48, Hal Jordan is driven mad by the destruction of Coast City. At the orders of Cyborg Superman, Mongul used Warworld to annihilate it.
In Green Lantern (1994) #50, Hal Jordan becomes pssessed by the demonic entity named Parallax. Terribly, the Green Lantern has defeated the Green Lantern Corps. On Oa, he heads for the Central Power Battery. As a last ditch effort, the Guardians sacrifice themselves to create the most powerful power ring. Only Ganthet survives and he teleports away to seek the Last Green Lantern. As it turned out, it was struggling L.A. artist Kyle Rayner.
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1. THE GUARDIANS DON’T FEEL EMOTIONS
Eventually, the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps do come back. After a battle with Ion, Hal Jordan resurrects them with a wish. Nevertheless, they remain as detached and manipulative as before. Peculiarly, a characteristic of the Guardians is to be above emotions.
Ironically, they forged the most powerful weapon in the universe using willpower. In Green Lantern (2007) #22, Sinestro tells Kyle that the Guardians actually feared emotions. Millennia ago, they sought to control the fear entity, namely Parallax. Eventually, this gave birth to the yellow impurity.
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VISIT THE CYBORG APPRECIATION PAGE.
LINKS
FOOTNOTES
- Tales of The Green Lantern Corps Annual #2.
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