He wanted to prove the light of fear could be mastered.
His intentions were pure...
...but his hopes were naive.
Consumed by the yellow power of fear...
...the Guardian became the very evil he had wished to destroy.
He became Parallax.
For the universe's safety and his own...
...Abin Sur was charged with imprisoning Parallax in the Lost Sector.
But he escaped.
Feeding on the fear of others, he grew larger, more powerful.
And is now headed here...
...to take his revenge on you and destroy the Corps.
Then we have no choice.
We must prepare to harness the power of our enemy and fight fear with fear.
To protect our sectors, we must be able to defend ourselves.
We must forge a yellow ring.
Watch your step.
Senator. Senator.
Don't have to worry about me no more
I'm gone
I'm gone, I'm gone
Hello.
Hi.
Everybody get on your feet
You make me nervous When you're in your seat
Rough night, huh?
Hector.
How you doing? What have you been up to?
- Same old, same old. - Yeah. Me too.
Hal Jordan. Worst pilot I've ever seen. Or the best. Not quite sure.
I've been called both.
- Glad you could make it, son. - I was a little surprised I got the invite.
No, you're family, Hal.
There are thinkers in this world and there are doers.
And you are one of the doers.
Yeah, but the thinkers make what I do possible.
Wouldn't have a plane unless someone thought it up.
Of course.
Excuse me, I need a drink.
- I gotta get back to work. This is work. - Yes, sir.
- Nice to see you, son. You too. You too.
Nice.
Yeah, my dad used to train in it.
I was talking about your dress.
Nice jacket.
Last time I checked, you didn't even own one.
Yeah, I've been shaking up the wardrobe lately.
Congratulations on the contract. How'd you manage to pull that off?
I pointed out you only won because you broke the rules of engagement.
And Tom figured out how to give the Sabres more altitude.
So I guess in a way, without even meaning to...
...you actually did us a favor.
Look...
...I'm uncomfortable with the word "hero. "
Hey
Thank you. Thank you all for joining us.
Great evening.
Somebody very special I'd like to thank for helping us to nail this contract:
My daughter, Carol Ferris.
Come on!
Congratulations, Carol.
I take one look at you, young lady...
...or at Hal Jordan over there, spitting image of his dad...
Whoo! - You give us hope.
A toast to our future.
Hear, hear! To the future!
We're in good hands.
Hector! Oh, my God! Hey!
- Congratulations. Um... Thank you.
Here's to you and Hal, the future.
Yeah, heh, I'm sorry.
I know it couldn't have been easy growing up with your dad.
But, hey, you're doing great, so... Ha, ha.
I am. I'm doing great. Ha, ha.
- He's right, though. I'm not a doer. Ha, ha.
Although I did get to examine an alien body recently.
That was very cool.
I can't tell anyone about it, but, hey, you can't have everything.
Hector telling you another of his science-fiction stories?
What the hell's wrong with him?
Can't keep his mouth shut.
You really do have a creative imagination.
Bye.
Senator.
I apologize. We really must go.
- Good night, Carol. - Good night.
Senator!
Hey.
Thanks for everything.
Bye, senator!
Get the crash crew here. Our helicopter's going down.
Oh, my God.
What is that? What is that?
What happened tonight took place in just a matter of seconds...
...but people will be talking about it for years to come.
A helicopter careening out of control, headed toward certain tragedy...
...when all of a sudden, a mystery man, a hero, saves the day...
...incredibly diverting the helicopter from destroying innocent people...
...and miraculously rescuing Carol Ferris.
The real question tonight is who is this amazing hero and where is he now?
Start talking.
- A racetrack? - Yeah.
Hmm.
That's the best you could come up with for your first big appearance? Racetrack.
Oh, I'm sorry. Did I disappoint you?
I materialized a track out of pure energy, saving hundreds, and you're disappointed.
I'm sorry about that.
No, I wanna see this stuff. Show me.
I don't think that's a good idea.
Come on, I wanna see this stuff.
I wanna see the outfit, the flying... You gotta show me.
Hal, being your best friend's no picnic.
- It's for emergencies! - You owe me!
Hal, I wanna see it.
Fine.
Hold on to your glasses.
All right.
Question:
- You ready to have your mind blown? - Yeah.
Ring.
Finger.
Here we go.
- Did you break it already? - I didn't break it, okay? It's just...
It's out of juice. I have to recharge it.
Now pay attention.
Aah! Green!
- Wow. - I know, right?!
Whoo!
Not bad, huh?
You're a superhero.
Don't they always get the girl?
Evening, ma'am.
Didn't get a chance to say goodbye.
Are you okay?
Uh, yeah, no, I'm glad to have a chance to thank you.
Just doing my job. No thanks necessary, miss.
No, it is.
You saved my life.
You saved all of our lives. That was a very...
Hal?
Miss?
Hal?!
Oh, my Go... Oh, my God!
- Oh, my God! Hal! - How did you know it was me?
What? I've known you my whole life! I've seen you naked!
You don't think I would recognize you because I can't see your cheekbones?!
What is this?! Why is your skin green? Why are you glowing?
What the hell is with that mask?!
It came with the outfit.
Cool, huh?
So it all works because of this magic ring? Ha, ha.
No, there's no such thing as magic.
Intergalactic green peacekeepers, thousands of them.
Ha, ha. - But, no.
I'm not making it up.
I mean, when we were kids, who'd have thought?
- I did, actually. I called this early on. - Ha-ha-ha.
I said, "One day I'll be a green space cop. " Here I am.
Okay, so at the party, how did you make that big green ramp thing?
Anything I see in my mind, I can create. I just have to focus.
Anything?
Anything.
Happy birthday. Better late than never.
Um...
Okay, so how does it work?
They just, um, call you on your cell, "Cat in a tree, downtown Milky Way"?
No. I don't think it works exactly like that.
Well, technically speaking, um...
...I actually sort of, uh...
...quit.
What do you mean? How?
Well, I mean, it's a lot like quitting anything else, really.
I don't understand.
How do you walk away from something like that?
Is that even possible?
Oh, I think we both know I'm pretty good at walking away.
If for once you didn't quit something you cared about...
...what's the worst that could happen?
Well, thank you. This has been really something.
- I know I've made a lot of mistakes... - Look, Hal, I'm not mad at you.
I feel bad for you, really.
You've been given so much so often.
And you just...
Good night.
Dr. Hammond?
There is something I'd like to show you.
Something I'm fairly certain you'll want to see.
See you later, Mom.
I love you. Bye, baby.
No!
Physical contact accesses mnemonic data.
I can see your memories.
Dad.
Son, this is my fault.
But I'm gonna fix it.
We're gonna get you well again. Whatever it takes.
I don't know what you're talking about.
We detected traces of a second alien life form...
...buried within the body of the first.
You've been exposed.
I've never felt better in my life.
We know everything, son.
I've never felt better in my life.
To be chosen to join its ranks is the highest of honors...
...and the greatest of responsibilities.
The ring never makes a mistake.
It's gonna be all right.
They just need to run some tests, that's all.
Keep him under.
I only want what's best for you.
Run.
- Hector. Shh, shh.
Don't worry.
I only want what's best for you.
The ring, it chose you.
Take it!
Hal.
Hi.
The alien was one of you.
How did we end up so different?
Hmm? Hmm?
Sit down!
Now...
...how's Carol?
- That came out wrong. - Please.
I've made mistakes... - Look, Hal...
I feel bad for you, really. Good night.
You're just as much of a failure as I was.
And just as afraid.
Well...
...I used to fight my fear.
But now that I've tasted its true power...
...I'll never go back.
No!
You wear the ring of the Lantern that imprisoned me.
You will suffer the same fate.
Once I have devoured your world...
...I will have all the strength I need...
...to defeat the Corps and destroy the Guardians.
Let me get this straight.
This thing that's out there attacking planets is connected to Hector?
Somehow it infected him after it killed Abin Sur.
- Well, you're just gonna have to stop it. - Oh, I'm just gonna have to stop it, huh?
Well, I tried that and I failed.
And the senator died. I told you, the ring made a mistake.
Wait, go back. How did the ring make a mistake?
The one thing that a Green Lantern is supposed to be is fearless.
Fearless is the job description.
That isn't me.
So you're just gonna walk away again?
Explain this to me, Hal. Please explain to me just once, why.
Because I'm afraid!
You don't think your dad ever felt afraid?
If he did, he figured out some way to beat it.
Yeah, well, there's a word for that:
Courage.
They said that the ring wouldn't have chosen me if it didn't see something.
Something I don't see. Yet.
I see it.
I always have.
The ring didn't see that you were fearless.
It saw that you had the ability to overcome fear.
It saw that you're courageous.
Which you are.
Just like your dad.
The Lantern is a threat.
Eliminate him.
Our new weapon is ready.
Once I've mastered its power...
...I'll begin training the Corps to do the same.
Though Earth will be lost...
...we'll be ready to make a stand against Parallax before it reaches Oa.
Then the power of the enemy will be ours.
At what cost?
You dare enter this chamber? - I need your help.
You gotta help me save my world.
I know that humans aren't the strongest species, or the smartest.
We're young, we have a lot to learn.
But we're worth saving.
This new weapon of yours, you can't use it.
Once you cross that line, once you've given in to fear, you'll never go back. I've seen it.
Look, I know right now you're afraid.
You dare accuse the Guardians of feeling fear?
Yes, I do.
That's exactly why Parallax is beating you...
...because you're afraid to even admit you're afraid.
I know.
I spent my entire life doing it.
You know, we have a saying on Earth.
We say, "I'm only human. "
We say it because we're vulnerable, we say it because we know we're afraid.
It doesn't mean we're weak.
Help me save my planet.
Don't give in to fear.
Fight it. Fight it with me.
Your words are compelling, young human.
But as immortals, we must measure our actions over billions of years...
...and the fate of the universe.
We simply cannot risk losing everything on the chance you might be right.
Then don't. Don't risk any more lives.
Just mine.
Let me go fight for my world...
...and I'll show you that will is stronger than fear.
There is no way you can succeed.
You will die, Hal Jordan.
Then I'll die trying.
Good luck, Green Lantern.
I wouldn't do that.
Look closely.
She's beautiful, isn't she?
I loved her from the moment I first saw her.
But she could never see me, as you were always standing in the way.
But not anymore.
No! No! Don't! Don't do this, Hector.
Please.
I know how you feel.
Come on, look at yourself!
No, I know what it's like...
...to not live up to expectations...
...to feel like nothing that you do will ever be good enough.
I know what it's like to be afraid.
Let me help you.
Hal. You've changed.
How wonderful that all it took for you to grow up was the end of the world.
Now it's my turn.
And if I can't be like you, I'm gonna make her like me.
And let's face it, once she's like me...
...then you wouldn't be very interested.
Hmm? Now, would you?
- Why can't you? - Hmm?
Why can't you be like me?
Heh. Huh?
Let her go...
...and you can have it.
You can do anything.
Be anything.
Take it.
Let her make the choice.
Okay.
Wow.
Now bring her down.
Hal.
I lied.
I lied too.
See, the way it works is...
...you have to be chosen.
You have failed me.
Stay here.
No problem.
Your will is strong, but not strong enough.
You are nothing without the ring.
You must move out of the area now.
Please clear the streets.
Clear the streets immediately.
You can never beat this. You'll die.
At least I can get it away from here.
- How do you think you're gonna do that? - I don't know. I don't know.
Maybe I can outthink it or...
The dogfight, remember?
Those were a couple of jets.
Unbeatable jets.
The ring chose me for a reason.
This is why.
- Look, I'm probably not... - Please don't. No.
Hey.
This is a mandatory evacuation.
Everyone must clear the streets immediately.
Police emergency, everyone must clear the street now.
Everybody off now! Now!
Go! Go!
Run!
- Run! - Aah! Aah!
I feel your fear growing.
You will be dead soon.
In brightest day, in blackest night...
And when you're gone, I'll destroy everything you ever loved.
- No evil shall escape my sight.
Your family, your home, your planet will be no more.
Let those who worship evil's might...
The entire human race will be wiped out because you, Hal Jordan...
...were afraid.
- Beware my power:
Green Lantern's light!
The bigger you are, the faster you burn.
Though his time wearing the ring has been brief...
...Hal Jordan's defeat of Parallax will be remembered as long as the Corps exists.
His actions are a reminder of why the ring chose each of us.
To overcome fear...
...and destroy evil wherever it may hide.
As Lanterns, we must fight with all our will.
Our wills haven't always been united.
It's time they were.
- Ha-ha-ha. - Can I train them or can I train them?
You're impertinent, Hal Jordan.
You're rash, volatile, opinionated.
It seems Abin Sur found another just like himself.
Wow, I am never getting used to that.
My new job requires that I travel.
Be away for a while.
Away, never gone.
Hal.
Yeah?
Can you take off the mask?
That's really cool. Ha, ha.
So, what happens now?
I'm gonna go look for trouble.
Of all the Lanterns who have ever worn the ring...
...there was one whose light shined brightest.
At first, his humanity was thought to be a weakness.
And yet it proved to be his greatest strength.