HISTORY:
Despite the vast power of the emerald ring, it is limited to a twenty-four hour operating period before it needs to be recharged. A number of ring wielders consider this a solemn, private moment, when they would reaffirm their dedication. Though an oath is not necessary for the ring or battery to function properly, it can be used for timing and to steel the ring wielder's concentration.
[Sh # 22]
Oaths may reflect the ring wielder's adventures, their homeworld, the cosmos, or be a battle cry. A few Green Lanterns, such as Lysandra of Zintha, chose oaths to honor their deities, and would speak it as a prayer.
[GL2 # 162]
A number of oaths, such as that of Olapet of Southern Goldstar, remain untranslatable by the power ring. Katma Tui-Stewart of Korugar did not choose to recite an oath for many years. She would remain silent while recharging her power ring, but later chose a fellow ring wielder's oath. It is not known when members of the Green Lantern Corps started the practice of reciting oaths. Some oaths have been passed down through the years.
[GL2 # 217]
A Green Lantern might honor his/her/its predecessor, trainer, or other notable Green Lantern by adopting their oath. The most widely known oath was that of Hal Jordan of Earth, considered the greatest Green Lantern of all. Jordan's oath would be adopted by many of his fellow Green Lanterns, including most of the Green Lantern Corps of Earth. One member of that Corps, Salakk of Slyggia, chose to keep his oath, the oath spoken by Tomar-Re and Alan Scott.
[Sh # 22, GL2 # 201, GL2 # 36]
Jordan's oath was composed a week after he became Green Lantern. Each line has special significance to the emerald crusader. He explained how he wrote the oath to Tom Kalmaku, keeper of the GREEN LANTERN CASEBOOK.
"In brightest day" was from a bank robbery involving a super-magnesium bomb. When the device exploded, anyone without protective eye-goggles were blinded, including Hal Jordan. He switched to his Green Lantern identity, but still could not see the bank robbers. Green Lantern used his ring as a radar device and managed to capture the criminals.
A day or so later, Green Lantern followed a trio of train robbers to a network of caves in the Sierro Hills. The robbers had memorized every foot of the caves and easily eluded capture. The cave was darkened by a thick, black fog that even the power ring had trouble penetrating. Green Lantern commanded the ring to make the robbers themselves glow. Sweeping the beam around the cave, the robbers were now visible, even "in blackest night..."
A break-in at Ferris Aircraft netted two burglars a safe containing a large sum of money: the company payroll. Green Lantern knew he had no time to waste. It was his duty to find the criminals, "...no evil will escape my sight..." no matter how difficult it would be. He blanketed the area surrounding Ferris Aircraft with a wide belt of radiation. When the safe was blown, Green Lantern detected the minute earth tremors which led him to the criminals.
The last two lines "...let those who worship evil's might, beware my power --Green Lantern's light!" were added to make the oath rhyme.
[GL2 # 10]
In later years, Jordan changed the oath slightly. The word "blackest" was replaced with "darkest." He told Kalmaku that he was becoming a bit politically correct.
[GL3 # 43]
To be denied the recitation of the oath is a mark of dishonor. As seen in the case of Dalor of Timron, a Green Lantern accused of malfeasance may not speak his oath until his guilt or innocence is determined. Though the Green Lantern of Timron was cleared of charges levelled against him, he later adopted the oath of Tomar-Re, the previous ring wielder of Space Sector 2813.
[GL2 # 155, 193]
The sad case of Driq of Criq shows how important the oath is to a Green Lantern. Even after his death, his ring refused to let his life force escape his body. Despite the obvious difficulties, he still managed to verbalize some thought during the charging of his power ring.
[GL2 # 217]
OATHS:
(in order of publication)
"And I shall shed my light over dark evil,
For the dark things cannot stand the light,
the light of the Green Lantern!"
-Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern
[ALL-AMERICAN # 16, Martin Nodell, Bill Finger]
-Tomar-Re of Xudar
[GL2 # 38]
later adopted by: Dalor, Salakk"Let all power and triumph be mine in whatever right I do!"
-Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern
[COMICS CAVALCADE # 1, Winter, 1942, author unknown]
(the only time this oath was spoken)"In brightest day, in blackest night,
no evil shall escape my sight!
Let those who worship evil's might,
beware my power.. Green Lantern's light!"
-Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern
[1943, credited to Alfred Bester]
-Hal Jordan of Earth
[SHOWCASE # 22]
later adopted by: Arisia, Ch'p, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Katma Tui-Stewart, Kilowog, Quarzz Teranh, Symon Terrynce, El'Qa Sqa Zreenah"In brightest day, in blackest night,
all evil shall escape my sight!
Let those who worship evil's might,
fear not my power... Green Lantern's light!"
-Hal Jordan
[GL2 # 13, John Broome]
(Hal was controlled by the Spectarns, an evil alien race)
"In brightest day, in blackest night,
no justice shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship justice's might,
beware my power... Evil Green Lantern's light!"
-The "Evil Green Lanterns" led by Sinestro
[GL2 # 52, John Broome]
(Sinestro stole the Central Power Battery to form his own "Corps")"On worlds afar or scenes at home,
wherever the cause should make me roam,
always I vow to fight the good fight--
to combat evil with all Green Lantern's might!"
-Guy Gardner
[GL2 # 59, John Broome]
(in a "virtual reality")"From lantern comes the gift we give--
to shed light's grace on all that live!"
-Eddore of Tront
[TGLC # 1, Len Wein]
(first of two oaths)
later adopted by: Arisia"I charge this ring with matchless might,
To banish all of evil's blight.
May all my --"
-Dalor of Timron
[GL2 # 155, Mike W. Barr]
(interrupted before completion)"...power to foil evil with me instill...
my Green Lantern vow to fulfill!"
-Eddore of Tront
[GL2 # 160, Mike W. Barr]
(second oath)
"The cosmos through,
in every part,
one thing endures:
a loving heart.
Against the knaves
who'd quell this song
Green Lanterns stand,
to right the wrong!"
-Liana of M'Elu
[GL2 # 162, Kurt Busiek]"In brightest day, in blackest night,
no evil shall escape my sight..."
-KT21 of Jerome
[GL2 # 187, Mike Baron]
(variation of Hal's oath)"Once there was but darkness,
full and forever-
but then came the light,
and then the life,
and then the light of the Green Lantern--
and then myself,
to do it justice!"
-K'ryssma of Etrea
[GL2 # 198, Steve Englehart]
"Bring light to the ring,
I charge thee--unveil every evil around me!
Replenish the power to--"
-The Green Man of Uxor
[OMEGA MEN # 29, Todd Klein]
(interrupted before completion)"Once there was but darkness,
full and forever--
but then came the light of the Green Lantern--
and then myself--
to do it justice!"
-Flodo Span of Inner Tasnia
[GL2 # 217, Steve Englehart]
(alteration of K'ryssma's oath)"PLUPHH!"
-Driq of Criq
[GL2 # 217, Steve Englehart]
(since death, Driq's verbal skills are not what they used to be)
"In loudest din or hush profound,
my ears catch evil's slightest sound.
Let those who toll out evil's knell,
beware my power: The F-Sharp Bell!"
-Rot Lop Fan of the Obsidian Deeps
[TGLCA # 3, Alan Moore]"You who are wicked, evil, and mean--
I'm the nastiest creep you've *ever* seen!
Come one, come all; put up a fight;
I'll pound your butts with Green Lantern's light.
Yowza."
-Jack T. Chance of Garnet
[GLCQ # 1, John Ostrander]"In this place of black and grey and dark...
the green shall be my light, my hope, my strength.
All that is good is all I defend.
I shall not falter."
-Barin
[GLCQ # 7, James Robinson]"In brightest day, in darkest night,
beware my power--
Green Lantern's light!"
-Rak Arranya
[GLA # 5, Chuck Dixon]
(variation of Hal's oath)
later used by: Taa
"In brightest light, in darkest sea,
all dangers will be seen by me!
While others from these dangers flee,
I shall always a Green Lantern be!"
-Green Lantern of Penelo
[GL2 # 159, Bob Rozakis]"As I touch this battery,
flow the power into me.
Guide my hand, my heart, my soul...
make right and justice my lasting goal!
In the name of Thar...Amen!"
-Lysandra of Zintha
[GL2 # 169, Jack C. Harris]"In forest dark or glade beferned,
no blade of grass shall go unturned.
Let those that have the daylight spurned,
tread not where this green lamp has burned"
-Medphyll of J586
[SWAMP THING # 61, Alan Moore]"Let those who worship evil's might--
beware my power,
the power of the Green Lantern!"
-Sinestro of Korugar
[GL2 # 222, Steve Englehart]
(flashback to his days as GL, a modification of Hal's oath)"When day is bright...
...or is it night?
No... ah...
...something or other
will escape my sight...
...let those who...who...
Let all those looking for a fight...
...something something something...
Green Lantern's light."
-Perdoo of Qualar IV
[GLA # 5, Len Wein]
(a confused variation of Hal Jordan's oath)
CREATIVE TEAM: Unless noted otherwise, I gave sole credits to the writer of each issue as the creator of the oath. See individual character listings.
'mouse note -
Other heroes had magic words. To invoke the name of "Shazam!" granted Billy Batson the powers of the World's Mightiest Mortal. In the Green Lantern Corps, the ring wielders had their magic words too. They chose their own. These words were not needed for the power, but they added a little something extra to the characters.
The story behind the most famous Green Lantern oath of all, "In brightest day..." was told by Hal Jordan to his friend, Tom "Pieface" Kalmaku in GL2 # 10 (January, 1962) "The Origin of Green Lantern's Oath!" The tale was written by John Broome.
The true creator of Hal's oath remains debatable. I've read references crediting science fiction novelist Alfred Bester as the oath's author, but I've also read he denied writing it.
Alan Scott's oath was given to Tomar-Re in GL2 # 36. Surprisingly, none of the old-time fans noticed.
Oaths were always a popular aspect of the GL mythos. A number of readers sent in oaths they created for certain characters.
"I am chosen over all the rest
I must not fail when put to the test
Come what may,
come what might,
I am forever the servant of the Lantern's light"
-GL2 # 146 Letter Column. For Arisia by Bob Kohut"For honor, duty, freedom, right,
I wield the power of Lantern's light;
All good rejoice, all evil flee,
for that power resides with me."
-GL2 # 148 Letter Column. For Arkkis Chummuck by Pam Miller"I recharge my ring to use its power
To help the victims in their needing hour
And though my mindstalks may cease to live
I will use all the power I have to give."
-GL2 # 162 Letter column. For Medphyll by Tony St. Clair"The light of justice is so serene,
that evil's dark can ne'er demean.
The light of justice must be seen--
And it shall--
in the lantern green."
-GL2 # 163 Letter column. One of 15 oaths by Kevin Dooley
