Hal and Barry

[Flying Grayson]

while sitting around, thumbing through the Identity Crisis tpb I was reminded of the friendship between Barry Allen and Hal Jordan. It occured to me though, that while I've long known of such a friendship, I've never seen any evidence of this in the comics. Unlike Oliver Queen and Hal who are seen together frequently since their trip around America. But with Barry and Hal, I just chalk it up to the Flash-Lantern comradere that has exsisted through the ages.

And why, for that matter, is there always a connection between the two? These seem to be the generational characters of the DCU, the flash a bit more than Green Lantern, but the point is still (semi-) valid.

[EinBebop]

I could be wrong, but I seem to recall from my old Green Lantern Archive that Barry was the first other superhero that Hal met, and the first to learn his identity. Seems like they teamed up fairly often in those early years. Don't think they did much in the years leading up to Barry's death, but that might've had more to do with the directions of the individual books.

And then I vaguely remember that when Kyle first became a hero, there was a whole thing with him and Wally not liking each other, and comparisons to the closeness of Barry/Hal and Jay/Alan.

[Jin Kazama]

They did a pretty cool six-or-so issue miniseries about five years ago where the two of them teamed up. They also show it alot in the JLA: Year One mini.

Honestly, though, whenever I think of Hal teaming up with anyone, it's Ollie. Then again, a lot of that was post-Crisis, which we all know Barry wasn't around for.

[EinBebop]

Honestly, though, whenever I think of Hal teaming up with anyone, it's Ollie. Then again, a lot of that was post-Crisis, which we all know Barry wasn't around for.And that might be a lot of it... Hal/Barry gets lost in the shadow of the 'hard-traveling heroes' Hal and Ollie (from the 70's, not post-crisis), an absolutely legendary friendship.

[BCVM22]

They did a pretty cool six-or-so issue miniseries about five years ago where the two of them teamed up. They also show it alot in the JLA: Year One mini.

Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold by Mark Waid, Tom Peyer and Barry Kitson. Great piece of work, that starts smack dab in the middle of the Silver Age and jumps forward with each issue, all the way to right after Iris Allen's death. It does a good job of exploring the dynamic between Hal and Barry and bouncing the dynamic off Kid Flash, Green Arrow, Flash I (Jay) and Green Lantern I (Alan) at various points throughout the limited. A recommended read for any fans of either hero.

[AdamYJ]

Hal and Barry met really early in the Silver Age. Going back to the old Green Lantern #13 from the '60s.

The Lantern/Flash and Lantern/Arrow friendships started with the Silver Age and carried over to their succesors. Interestingly enough, the dynamic was switched. Originally, Hal and Ollie didn't get along so well, but warmed up to each other. However, Hal and Barry hit it off easily. For the younger guys, it was the other way. Kyle and Wally didn't care much for each other at first. Largely, because Wally didn't trust Kyle's lack of experience, which Kyle of course reacted to in a similarly hostile fashion (Wally has a tendency of forming opinions of others rather quickly anyway). Kyle and Connor, on the other hand, got along rather easily.

[mammy2shoesfan]

Another way to look at is look at the trio of Superman, Batman and Wonderwoman. People like it when those three team up and even though they may not be buddy buddy they are very close and that has worked bor the better part of the last 70 years. So its only natural for fans and writers look for that next great friendship among the heros.
Aquaman can get linked to Supes, Bats and Wondy because of Superfriends but him much like Martian Manhunter are outsiders. So that leaves Hal, Barry and Ollie. People may think of Hal and Barry first because they where orignal JLA and then Hal and Ollie due the 70s. Also these guys are regular humans (ok maybe not Barry but you know what I mean) so its really easy to make a great friendship out of that.

[Anthonynotes]

Another way to look at is look at the trio of Superman, Batman and Wonderwoman. People like it when those three team up and even though they may not be buddy buddy they are very close and that has worked bor the better part of the last 70 years.

For most of the Superman-Batman teamup history, they *were* "buddy-buddy", with Batman as Superman's best (superhero) friend, until "Man of Steel"/"Batman: Year One" came along and revamped their relationship to its present day "wary trust" version---unless Supes and Bats have gotten closer as friends in "Superman/Batman", which I don't read...

Oh, and that's "Wonder Woman" (two separate words). ;-)

[wonderfly]

For the younger guys, it was the other way. Kyle and Wally didn't care much for each other at first. Largely, because Wally didn't trust Kyle's lack of experience, which Kyle of course reacted to in a similarly hostile fashion (Wally has a tendency of forming opinions of others rather quickly anyway). Kyle and Connor, on the other hand, got along rather easily.

Just curious, but how did Kyle react to Roy/Speedy/Arsenal/Red Arrow, (whatever he's calling himself) when they first met? Or did they never meet?

[Jin Kazama]

Kyle and Connor, on the other hand, got along rather easily.

That was kind of a given, though. Connor started being Arrow around the same time that Kyle became Lantern, so they both were inexperienced and unsure about how well they would do, so they gravitated twoard each other.

Wally, on the other hand, had been Flash for some time up to that point, so the dynamic didn't work as well.

[mammy2shoesfan]

For most of the Superman-Batman teamup history, they *were* "buddy-buddy", with Batman as Superman's best (superhero) friend, until "Man of Steel"/"Batman: Year One" came along and revamped their relationship to its present day "wary trust" version---unless Supes and Bats have gotten closer as friends in "Superman/Batman", which I don't read...

Oh, and that's "Wonder Woman" (two separate words). ;-)

I know it was buddy buddy until 85/86. But they really weren't drinking buddy buddy. I know you would see Superman and Batman together as best friends but I'm sure Clark Kent and Bruce Wanye where best friends. Now even when things where their worst between S&B you could always tell that if push came to shove that those two would be their for each other like after Jason died. Who was there for Bats Supes was there. The have a bond that will always be there each other but Ollie, Barry and Hal I could see those guys together at the bar in and out of costume.

[BCVM22]

Just curious, but how did Kyle react to Roy/Speedy/Arsenal/Red Arrow, (whatever he's calling himself) when they first met? Or did they never meet?

I believe their first meetings would have been during Kyle's stint as a Titan with Roy running the team. I specifically recall an issue of Green Lantern in which Kyle was late for a training session and Roy chewed him out accordingly. From what I understand, though, that entire team was pretty dysfunctional, so I don't know if that's a valid indicator of their overall relationship.

[wonderfly]

I believe their first meetings would have been during Kyle's stint as a Titan with Roy running the team. I specifically recall an issue of Green Lantern in which Kyle was late for a training session and Roy chewed him out accordingly. From what I understand, though, that entire team was pretty dysfunctional, so I don't know if that's a valid indicator of their overall relationship.

Thanks, I was just curious...Roy and Kyle are two of the few DC heroes I actually find myself interested in, for some reason...

[SAMaine]

Alan and Jay are drinkin' buddies.

Barry, Hal, and Ollie are drinkin' buddies.

Kyle, Wally, and Connor are drinking' buddies.

Bart has yet to get his drinking buddies, so there should be a new Green Lantern soon, probably using the Tangent Green Lantern. (Unless Kyle returned the Lantern to the Tangent Comics' Universe.)

[EinBebop]

Bart has yet to get his drinking buddies, so there should be a new Green Lantern soon, probably using the Tangent Green Lantern.Is Bart old enough to drink?

[SAMaine]

He's CURRENTLY in his 20s physically... While the fact of his being from the 30th century, his hyperaging, and his couple of years with Barry and Wally's family subduing Superboy-Prime, make his age like -995 or something, technically.

But yeah, he's physically old enough to drink now.

[EinBebop]

He's CURRENTLY in his 20s physically... While the fact of his being from the 30th century, his hyperaging, and his couple of years with Barry and Wally's family subduing Superboy-Prime, make his age like -995 or something, technically.

But yeah, he's physically old enough to drink now.Billy Batson must be pissed.

[AdamYJ]

Alan and Jay are drinkin' buddies.

Barry, Hal, and Ollie are drinkin' buddies.

Kyle, Wally, and Connor are drinking' buddies.

Except for the part where Connor doesn't drink. I guess he'd just have some seltzer with lemon, or something like that. He'd make a good designated driver if he had a driver's license. :p


Bart has yet to get his drinking buddies, so there should be a new Green Lantern soon, probably using the Tangent Green Lantern. (Unless Kyle returned the Lantern to the Tangent Comics' Universe.)

Bart used to be buds with Tim and Kon-El, but he's ended up lapping them age-wise and poor Kon is dead. Maybe Bart could be buddies with the new Atom. Ryan could stand to meet some other super-guys. The relationship there is usually Atom and Hawkman, but I don't know if Ryan Choi would really hit it off with Carter.

[Jor-El]

I don't really think it's correct to pair all those people up as "drinkin' buddies." I never saw the dynamic between any of those characters as being drinkin' buddies, and what's more is that I think it's severely limiting to set them up in those cliques and imply that Hal and Alan or Alan and Kyle wouldn't get together for a beer and talk about old times. Hell, one of the things that Marz did in his Green Lantern run was to establish the (long-since forgotten) fact (thanks Judd Winick) that Alan, John, Guy, and Kyle all got together now and then for drinks; at the time, Hal was dead but his time-lost self joined the group for a night in the "Emerald Knights" storyline. They're all heroes and all of them have served in a Justice Society or Justice League somewhere down the line.

Also, why doesn't Bart have "drinkin' buddies" yet? He's served on the Teen Titans. He's been in Young Justice. None of those people would ever consider sitting down with him?

This all assumes that all those characters you mentioned even drink to begin with. We know that Connor does not and he might not be the only one. Anyone more familiar with the drinking habits of the other characters?

[jv2k]

Because all his buddies are too young to drink :P

[AdamYJ]

Also, why doesn't Bart have "drinkin' buddies" yet? He's served on the Teen Titans. He's been in Young Justice. None of those people would ever consider sitting down with him?

Oh, I know! Bart could be buds with The Ray again. Ray joined at the end of Young Justice, but he was the oldest one there at the time, and Bart may have been the youngest. However, they were pretty good friends. Now, they'd pretty much be in the same age range.

Anyway, Jor, you're letting the "drinking buddies" thing get to you a bit too much. It's just a matter of which friends you could actually imagine hanging out while in civilian mode. Even if Batman and Superman liked each other, you could never imagine Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne hanging out. It has nothing to do with actual drinking.

[SAMaine]

Anyway, Jor, you're letting the "drinking buddies" thing get to you a bit too much. It's just a matter of which friends you could actually imagine hanging out while in civilian mode. Even if Batman and Superman liked each other, you could never imagine Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne hanging out. It has nothing to do with actual drinking.

Yeah, it's got nothing to do with drinking... and while various generations of Flashs, Green Lanterns, and Green Arrows will hang out together, I've divided them into peer groups, hence my comment on the Tangent Green Lantern.