DC Day: 5 Popular Myths About The Guardians Of The Universe

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.