Taking 20: Death of a Friend

I grew up in the 90's. It was a dark age to be a comic book fan. That said, there were bright light in those days and I hate it when one goes dark, especially when it's a character I grew up with, one who appealed to me as a right-brain thinker. More after the jump since spoilers ensue.



Kyle Rayner is dead. Who is Kyle Rayner you ask? Kyle Rayner was a Green Lantern, but more than that he was my Green Lantern. Kyle was introduced in the nineties after Hal Jordan, the previous Green Lantern of Earth turned evil. While Hal Jordan had been chosen by the ring because he felt no fear, Kyle was chosen because he was there. Kyle was an ordinary artist, a creative. While Jordan was this guy who could be arrogant, who went through women like Kleenex, Kyle has always been a man who is committed to women. More than that, Kyle always seemed like a more perfect fit for the ring. A green lantern ring reacts to creativity. It is your will made into emerald light. For an artist, that is just power personified because us right brain thinkers, we have mad creativity.

It has sucked to be Kyle though. Unluckily, writers has tended to in recent years hit the character with tragedy like there's no tomorrow. Seriously, let's look at his track record. His first girlfriend was murdered and stuffed in a refrigerator for him to find. His next girlfriend was also murdered (she later got better.). The next one died saving his life. His mother was killed  by a  sentient virus. He's the universe's punching bag and his death here was no better.

Another problem recently has been that the character has fallen to the wayside. Hal Jordan died in an event called "The Final Night" back in 95 and then was actually brought back a few years ago. This was apparently done because there are not enough vanilla characters out there. Anyway, Kyle was booted from the lead of the Green Lantern comic and was instead put into the supporting cast of Green Lantern Corps, a more ensemble book featuring the Green Lanterns of other worlds. More and more, Hal was featured more than Kyle and I thought that was a shame. This is a guy who was a member of the Justice League and now he's a second stringer because he came later.

In the end, I am vaguely happy with how Kyle died. Kyle died saving lives in a crowning moment of awesome. He took down an nearly impossible to kill enemy, saving countless lives including the woman he now loves. He died with no fear and lived preserving life. To me, that's more of a hero than anyone like Hal Jordan who is kinda vanilla in comparison and has only died saving one planet.

Anyway, as a creative, Kyle has always appealed to me. More than that, he just kinda got drawn into becoming a lantern, it isn't something he actively sought. He's a regular person . Hell, is first thought upon getting the ring was to make a little money by his girlfriend at the time taking pictures while he's in action and selling it to the newspaper. In other words, same as Spider-Man. Kyle was also one of my first introductions to the Green Lantern mythos in another way. The character was featured on the 90's Superman animated series in an episode called "In Brightest Day." It was a great episode and a good introduction to a character that isn't quite a household name.

So, Kyle, you will be missed and hopefully the comic book revolving door brings you back sooner than later in the same good version as you are.


Well, that's enough soul-bearing for now. Let's get back to covering crazy crap on YouTube.