Trust the Phantom Stranger
For Scipio, because he asked for it:
Yes, friends, that is indeed the Phantom Stranger playing Candyland with the niece of Hal Jordan. This exchange took place during Hal Jordan's unfairly maligned Spectre series (sue me; I liked it).The worst thing about Hal being brought back (besides Hal being brought back) was the retroactive deletion of Helen Jordan from continuity. I loved that little girl...
Labels: Phantom Stranger, The Spectre
posted by Diamondrock @ 6:53 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
That...
is beautiful.
Isn't it, though?
Unfortunately, in the very next issue the Stranger double promises Helen that her "Uncle Hal" will never leave her.
Though I guess you could argue that if Helen doesn't exist anymore, the Stranger's in the clear...
It's lovely, but doesn't redeem (so to speak) the Hal Jordan Spectre series, since the Stranger's-unexpectedly-sweet-relationship-with-little-girl-who-needs-a-friend-amidst-mystic-weirdness is cribbed from the old McManus Dr. Fate!
I too loved the Hal "Spectre" series, and more than anything the Hal / Helen relationship. Hal may have been sort of an oaf in life, but in death he was a darn fine uncle.
Two thoughts on Helen Jordan:
1) in a recent Action Comics storyline, Kurt Busiek showed a possible future in which Helen Jordan succeeds Hal as a Green Lantern. So it seems Kurt wants her in continuity.
2) Geoff Johns apparently doesn't want to have any "baggage" attached to Hal, i.e. Helen, but there's a reasonable way around it: the next time Hal's sister-in-law gives birth, it can be a girl named Helen. Who says that Hal's Spectrely adventures with Helen occurred exactly chronologically and exactly as depicted? Just so long as there was some reality to the Hal / Helen period, even if Helen wasn't eight years old so much as not yet born.
The Phantom Stranger is indeed a force to be dealt with. The only man who can play Candyland while wearing a cape and fedora, and still look cool while doing it.
Didn't they start out with the idea that anyone who met Hal in his Spectre form forgot that Hal was the Spectre shortly after he left? Did they ever explain why that went away?
Dude, we're talking about the fucking Phantom Stranger here, not some two-bit "hero". The goddamn PHANTOM STRANGER!! Who's like a force of the universe, man!
"I must advance my gamepiece to the next red space...
...for I am... a stranger!"
Jacob: Gonna have to disagree, friend. I really liked that Spectre series. But then, I've never read the Fate series you reference...
Anon: I'm sure you're right about Johns not wanting the extra baggage. And I do like your fix. I hope they do that. I loved seeing her show up in Superman. Busiek's always good for the continuity porn...
Sally: The Phantom Stranger looks cool no matter what he does. He could mow the lawn and still be awe-inspiring.
CollectedEditions: I think they did. As for explaining it away... They haven't really explained anything away. They've basically just decided to act as though Hal's time as the Spectre never even happened.
Acespot: Word.
Matthew: Damn straight.
Re: Helen being not-yet-born ... I'll admit it, if they have just one panel somewhere -- just one panel where Hal feels like he's known Helen for a long long time, or Helen always seems to cheer up when Hal is in the room -- I'm guaranteed to tear up.
It is admissions like that which make me glad I am anonymous. Perhaps even a stranger.
CollectedEditions: I think they did. As for explaining it away... They haven't really explained anything away. They've basically just decided to act as though Hal's time as the Spectre never even happened.
That seems rather silly, to me, considering that Rebirth was centered around the idea.
I hadn't heard about any of this, incidentally. Did all of the sweeping under the rug happen with Infinite Crisis, or 52, or what?
-M
I totally loved the scene with The Phantom Stranger and the little girl, it was so adorable! This is one of the sweetest moments where we can see how well he handles kids.
Quite funny too, actually. I was surprised to see him playing games. No idea where he got it when it just appeared out of thin air... But it's THE Phantom Stranger, so I shouldn't ask. XD
Loved the stargazing scene too.
Oh my god, there's a lot of effective material in this post!
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