Green Lantern
“Funeral for a Hero”
Volume 3, Issue 81, December 1996
Released October 2, 1996
Cover Price: $3.95
Guide Price: $6.00 (as of 2003)
Estimated Issue Sales: 93,791
Writer: Ron Marz
Penciller: Darryl Banks
Inker: Romeo Tanghal
Colorist: Pamela Rambo
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Assistant Editor: Eddie Berganza
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Heroes: Alpha Centurion, Amazing Man II, Aquaman, Atom Smasher, Aztek, Big Barda, Black Canary II, Black Lightning, Blue Beetle II, Blue Devil, Booster Gold, Brainiac 5, Brik, Captain Atom, Captain Marvel, Cosmic Boy, Donna Troy, Elongated Man, Ferro, Fire, Firestorm V, Flash III, Flash IV, Gates, Geo-Force, Green Arrow II, Green Lantern V, Huntress II, Jade, Jesse Quick, John Constantine, Katana, Lobo, Martian Manhunter, Max Mercury, Metamorpho, Mister Miracle, Obsidian, Ray II, Red Tornado, Saturn Girl, Sparx II, Starman VII, Steel III, Superboy III, Supergirl III, Superman, Swamp Thing, Ultra Boy, Warrior, Wildcat I, Wonder Woman
Villain: Sonar
Supporting: Carol Ferris, Phantom Stranger, Skeets I, Thomas Kalmaku
Setting: Coast City, DCU, USA, 20th-century
Cover Description: The logo of the Green Lantern Corps appears in a field of granite above the text "His Light Will Burn Forever," as though representing a tombstone. (No Booster Gold.)
Brief Synopsis: The DC Universe's heroes assemble for the funeral of Hal Jordan.
Booster Gold's role in this story:
Cameo (Booster Gold makes a minor appearance)
Costume Worn: MARK X armored power-suit
Issue Notes: There are two published versions of this issue, one deluxe version (sold via direct-market comic book specialty stores) and one newsstand. The deluxe/direct version contains an extra story, but Booster's appearances are the same in each version.
Page 3, panel 3
Booster Gold (with built-in Skeets), Guy Gardner, Mister Miracle, and John Stewart meet outside the green citadel erected for Hal Jordan's funeral on the site of the former Coast City. Like most of the heroes assembled, Booster and Miracle wear their "uniforms" to pay tribute to Jordan. Since Gardner's costume is his skin, like former Green Lantern John Stewart, he wears the traditional funeral garb: a black suit.
Page 8, panel 1
A huge number of heroes attend the services for Hal Jordan inside the green chapel. Identifiable heroes (and villains) pictured are Alan Scott (as Sentinel), Alpha Centurion, Amazing Man II, Aquaman, Aztek, Big Barda, Black Canary II, Black Lightning, Blue Beetle II, Blue Devil, Booster Gold, Brainiac 5, Brik, Captain Atom, Captain Marvel (mistakenly colored as an African-American), Carol Ferris, Connor Hawke (as Green Arrow II), Cosmic Boy, Donna Troy, Elongated Man, Ferro, Fire, Firestorm V, Flash III, Gates, Geo-Force, Guy Gardner, Huntress II, Impulse, Jade, Jessie Quick, John Constantine, John Stewart, Katana, Kyle Rayner (as Green Lantern), Lobo, Martian Manhunter, Max Mercury, Metamorpho, Mister Miracle, Nuklon, Obsidian, Phantom Stranger, Ray II, Red Tornado, Saturn Girl, Sonar, Sparx II, Starman VII, Steel III, Superboy III, Supergirl III, Superman, Swamp Thing, Tom "Pieface" Kalmaku and family, Ultra Boy, Wildcat I and Wonder Woman. Not pictured with Booster but also shown to be present are Ash, Atom II, Batman, Captain Marvel, Jr., Deadman, Guardian II, Major Disaster, Mary Marvel, Nightwing, Robin III, Salakk, Takion, Tattooed Man, and Torquemada. This sizable gathering of over 70 characters is the largest collection of super powered individuals that Booster Gold has appeared with on-panel up to this point in his career.
Boosterrific Review: Superhuman funerals are generally a who's who of the "in" crowd of the time, and this is no exception. Everyone who is anyone in the 1990s DC Universe is present for the funeral of hero-turned-villain-turned-hero Hal Jordan. Like other issues of this ilk, this story transparently strives to pull at the heart strings and succeeds primarily by not too strongly overdoing it. It certainly helps that the character in question is so fondly remembered by heroes and fans alike. The biggest problem with this issue is not the slightly erratic characterization but the uneven art and erratic coloring. Certainly, this issue qualifies as a must-read, but it is by no means perfect.
Boosterrific Rating: Gold Standard.
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