LANTERN's universe

[RobertScorpio]

I have been a DC comics fan for many years. Not a "detailed" fan, meaning I don't read them all. But when watching GREEN LANTERN FIRST FLIGHT, and recalling the past Comic books I have read, they state that there are only 3600 or so Lanterns, and that they cover the ENTIRE universe. Well...does that really seem to be enough Green Lanterns considering how big the universe is? I mean, they can see millions of galaxy's now, I think. And only 3600 or patrol ALL that space?

Or am I missing something here?

Rob

 

[Professor Zoom]

Space is big, and very very empty. So, maybe.

 

[bionicbob]

I have been a DC comics fan for many years. Not a "detailed" fan, meaning I don't read them all. But when watching GREEN LANTERN FIRST FLIGHT, and recalling the past Comic books I have read, they state that there are only 3600 or so Lanterns, and that they cover the ENTIRE universe. Well...does that really seem to be enough Green Lanterns considering how big the universe is? I mean, they can see millions of galaxy's now, I think. And only 3600 or patrol ALL that space?

Or am I missing something here?

Rob

That number is correct.
Atleast that was how many Lanterns there were in pre-Geoff Johns run.

Since the relaunch (REBIRTH and RECHARGE), that number has basically doubled, with each space sector having 2 Lanterns assigned, an experienced officer and a rookie. Though some worlds have more (ie: Earth).

Still not alot of Lanterns when you consider how big the UNIVERSE is, but remember GLs are not regular crime fighters. They only usually deal with things of galactic significance and leave the "regular" crime fighting to the local authorities.

If you want to read great GL stories, definitely pick up the tpb of Johns run on GL and the GL Corps. It is the best run on GL in decades.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I have been a DC comics fan for many years. Not a "detailed" fan, meaning I don't read them all. But when watching GREEN LANTERN FIRST FLIGHT, and recalling the past Comic books I have read, they state that there are only 3600 or so Lanterns, and that they cover the ENTIRE universe. Well...does that really seem to be enough Green Lanterns considering how big the universe is? I mean, they can see millions of galaxy's now, I think. And only 3600 or patrol ALL that space?

Or am I missing something here?

Rob

That number is correct.
Atleast that was how many Lanterns there were in pre-Geoff Johns run.

Since the relaunch (REBIRTH and RECHARGE), that number has basically doubled, with each space sector having 2 Lanterns assigned, an experienced officer and a rookie. Though some worlds have more (ie: Earth).

Still not alot of Lanterns when you consider how big the UNIVERSE is, but remember GLs are not regular crime fighters. They only usually deal with things of galactic significance and leave the "regular" crime fighting to the local authorities.

If you want to read great GL stories, definitely pick up the tpb of Johns run on GL and the GL Corps. It is the best run on GL in decades.

Thanks, I will do just that. I am a big fan of Johns work so I am sure it will be good..

Rob

 

[TheArsenal]

Still not alot of Lanterns when you consider how big the UNIVERSE is, but remember GLs are not regular crime fighters. They only usually deal with things of galactic significance and leave the "regular" crime fighting to the local authorities.

I also get the impression that there are entire swaths of the universe off limits or un-patrolled for one reason or another.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Still not alot of Lanterns when you consider how big the UNIVERSE is, but remember GLs are not regular crime fighters. They only usually deal with things of galactic significance and leave the "regular" crime fighting to the local authorities.

I also get the impression that there are entire swaths of the universe off limits or un-patrolled for one reason or another.

In the new cartoon, and I'm sure in the comics as well, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) is taken to OA at the center of the universe. They must travel at speeds far faster than even the Pre-Crisis Superman. I don't even think Kirk's Enterprise, or heck, even Q, could get around that fast!!!

Rob

 

[coolghoul]

Two questions - is it a Lantern Universe or a Lantern Galaxy? I guess you could break up a galaxy into 3000 sectors or something. I'd be curious about Oa being at the center of the universe. Per Big Bang (did it happen in the 616-MU?) everything expands outwards from the center of the Universe - so nothing should be at the center (with everything having "radiated" outwards.)

Also - how do the Lanterns travel? I know Boom tube technology can be semi-instantaneous but don't think the Lanterns use that.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Two questions - is it a Lantern Universe or a Lantern Galaxy? I guess you could break up a galaxy into 3000 sectors or something. I'd be curious about Oa being at the center of the universe. Per Big Bang (did it happen in the 616-MU?) everything expands outwards from the center of the Universe - so nothing should be at the center (with everything having "radiated" outwards.)

Also - how do the Lanterns travel? I know Boom tube technology can be semi-instantaneous but don't think the Lanterns use that.

The distance the Lanterns can travel is incredible. I am not even sure the Spectre could travel fast..

Rob

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

I have been a DC comics fan for many years. Not a "detailed" fan, meaning I don't read them all. But when watching GREEN LANTERN FIRST FLIGHT, and recalling the past Comic books I have read, they state that there are only 3600 or so Lanterns, and that they cover the ENTIRE universe. Well...does that really seem to be enough Green Lanterns considering how big the universe is? I mean, they can see millions of galaxy's now, I think. And only 3600 or patrol ALL that space?

Or am I missing something here?

Rob

I do know that there is a significant chunk that is off limits. Plus I mean Apokolips...*shudders* He tortured a poor green lantern.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I have been a DC comics fan for many years. Not a "detailed" fan, meaning I don't read them all. But when watching GREEN LANTERN FIRST FLIGHT, and recalling the past Comic books I have read, they state that there are only 3600 or so Lanterns, and that they cover the ENTIRE universe. Well...does that really seem to be enough Green Lanterns considering how big the universe is? I mean, they can see millions of galaxy's now, I think. And only 3600 or patrol ALL that space?

Or am I missing something here?

Rob

I do know that there is a significant chunk that is off limits. Plus I mean Apokolips...*shudders* He tortured a poor green lantern.

even if 90% of the known universe was off limits, that still seems like a rather big area of space to covers...I think I would reboot it to say 3600 patrol our galaxy, and its 400 billion worlds...

Rob

 

[Admiral2]

I have been a DC comics fan for many years. Not a "detailed" fan, meaning I don't read them all. But when watching GREEN LANTERN FIRST FLIGHT, and recalling the past Comic books I have read, they state that there are only 3600 or so Lanterns, and that they cover the ENTIRE universe. Well...does that really seem to be enough Green Lanterns considering how big the universe is? I mean, they can see millions of galaxy's now, I think. And only 3600 or patrol ALL that space?

Or am I missing something here?

Rob

These are the same people who've been telling you that Superman can completely change his appearance by changing his clothes and putting on a pair of glasses and this is what you wonder about?

It's simple. The ring lets you do whatever you please. If you want to patrol one-thirty-six-hundredth of the Universe and get back for dinner, you can, long as your ring is charged.

Don't overthink it.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I do know that there is a significant chunk that is off limits. Plus I mean Apokolips...*shudders* He tortured a poor green lantern.

So did Michale Gorbachev. Do the Russians love their children too?

These are the same people who've been telling you that Superman can completely change his appearance by changing his clothes and putting on a pair of glasses and this is what you wonder about?

It's simple. The ring lets you do whatever you please. If you want to patrol one-thirty-six-hundredth of the Universe and get back for dinner, you can, long as your ring is charged.

Don't overthink it.

in the early 80s, Jordan was called on this. spending too much if not all his time on earth, so they made earth off limits. "Take a look around they" said, "save some other worlds from utter doom and chaos"..."But my girlfriend" he said... "Stuff your girlfriend" the Guardians of the universe countered, they themselves above things like sex since not one of them midgets hadn't dipped their wick in 3 billion years, "this is more important than getting your rocks off"... So he stuck his "tail" between his legs and we, the readers, had a year and change of complete space adventures during the late 150s vol one to late 160s... However that "tail" between Jordan's legs had a mind of its own, and eventually "it" said to the Guardians what he should have said in the first place "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me" ...Well, on the cover the words were "I quit" but that ladies and gentlemen, because Guy Gardner, the greatest green lantern of them all, was in a coma at the time, is how we got a brother to sack up for the detail do a fine job until his unrivalled super arrogance destroyed the planet Xanshi (or when I first read the book I thought it said one 1/4 of the Universe, but Starlin is always on Weed and we can just side step his hyperbola or my miscomprehension of the text.) in Cosmic Odyssey...

Y'know, Hal should have just asked Carol to come into space with him?

And maybe he did?

Did he?

 

[ElScoob]

As to Oa: I think it's been at least hinted, if not stated outright, that its position at the center of the universe is a function more of the Guardians' fiat than of cosmic cartography... it's at the center because they say it is. If the spatial volume of the universe is truly infinite, then one point's as good a 'center' as another. The main point is that it's at the center of the Guardians' cartographic system. Using Oa as a center point, the universe is treated as a sphere divided into 3600 wedges (like sections of an orange), each one presumably encompassing one tenth of a degree. Because those points converge on Oa, each Lantern can technically be said to be within their own sector even when on Oa.

There are plenty of odd references within the stories, though, that seem to give the lie to this setup. For instance, there is a 'Sector 3601' which is said to be outside the Guardians' area of influence... and that's hard to reconcile with the sphere-divided-into-3600-wedges model (unless it's just an arbitrary blob of space carved out of the rest of the sphere, which is possible since the main defining characteristic of Sector 3601 is that it is inherently hostile to/incapable of supporting organic life; maybe the Guardians just sort of cordoned off that part of the sphere, perhaps out of parts of several normal 'wedge' sectors, and gave it the 3601 designation to distinguish it from everyplace else). There's also a Sector 3599 which is described as 'the oldest known sector in the universe' and said to be the most distant sector, at the 'edge of the universe'. Again, hard to figure--if it's one of 3600 wedges centered on Oa, it's no further away from the Guardians' frame of reference than Sector 0001. Additionally, there's the case of Sector 666, in which the robotic Manhunters are said to have exterminated all life. Killing everything in a wedge one-tenth of a degree across and with a presumably infinite radius out from Oa is a darned impressive feat.

Meanwhile: the speeds at which GLs travel have never been discussed too explicitly, though in more recent decades (and especially in the Johns era) there are references to 'space warps' or 'hyperspace' as well as periods of hibernation during long flights. Much like in other SF/space opera settings, the rings are basically as fast as they need to be to serve the story.

My guess is that the Guardians arbitrarily claim influence/jurisdiction over the entire universe (except for the bits they don't claim, like Sector 3601) but that in practice their sphere of influence has limits. Those limits are probably defined by the range of the Guardians' awareness (which is certainly considerable) and the distance Green Lanterns can travel in a reasonable period of time (which is also considerable). So in the end, it still ends up being almost unimaginably vast but technically finite.

(In some cases, the Guardians' sphere of influence seems to be confined to our own galaxy rather than truly universal... but I've never cared for that. I've always liked the Green Lantern mythos to have a more cosmic scope.)

--g

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

"Stuff your girlfriend" the Guardians of the universe countered, they themselves above things like sex since not one of them midgets hadn't dipped their wick in 3 billion years, "this is more important than getting your rocks off"

My favorite laugh-out-loud moment in GL was some decades ago when the Guardians first revealed that the Zamorans were the Oan females - at the end of the storyline the blue boys abdicated, each picking a Zamoran and disappearing into another plane of existence to "create a new generation of Guardians."

IOW...

For purple Amazon chicks, the Zamorans were damned hot, and towered over the Guardians. The image was hilarious.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I believe I read a comic where it said that Oa was either in the centre of the universe, or it was moved to the centre of the universe if it was off kilter slightly, but it is literally in the centre in so far as they can map the expanding infinites recess... Which is why they moved their flag from Maltus since geographically it is a brilliant symbol of authority.

Considering we've seen Hal Jordan create the Universe for decades now from different perspectives, it's obvious that they know where the original point of creation is, even if the lop sided boundaries of space might constantly reassituate where is the centre of the universe that you have to wonder if Oa is mobile constantly remaining stationary against the centrepoint?

 

[Mr Light]

Apokalips and New Genesis aren't in our universe though, but in a pocket dimension or something. That's why you need a Boom Tube to reach it. And why the "natural form" of the New Gods are skyscraper sized (Devilance the Pursuer in 52, Darkseid at the end of Countdown). When you go through the Boom to their realm you get resized to fit them.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I liked one of Peter David's Super Girl comics half a decade before that when Super Girl went to Apcolypse actual sized.

So the idea that they are all very big is probably even older than that.

Um. Isn't the source wall according to 52 a fence containing the DCU separating it from the other 51 worlds which all have their own source wall?

Wouldn't that seem to suggest that every universe has it's own new gods hemmed in behind their own source wall, or not?