Green Lantern's ring abilities

[GL2k2]

I started this thread to find out exactly what is GL capable of doing. From what we've gathered from the cartoon so far, he can pull objects, create a shield, fly, make a protective envelopment shield, and fire laser blasts.

I was wondering from anyone else with knowledge of GL corps, what else. I remember something about the ring being able to cause invisiblity too. Also, shape shift much like Martian Manhunter.

If anyone else knows anything about GL's abilities feel free to post em up.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

From what I'm led to believe, a GL's ring is limited only by the wielder's imagination and his/her willpower to turn it into reality. In theory, a GL can use the ring to create anything he/she has the imagination to think of and the mental strength to generate and maintain.

I believe it doesn't affect the wielder directly (there's tiny print on the inside band saying "For External Use Only" =8^), so no literal shapeshifting or invisiblity for a GL. Something like Kyle Rayner making a Manga Mecha-style armor suit to surround his body is about as close to shapeshifting as you'll get.

In the Animated Age, John Stewart has also used the ring to create the rescue tube for the sunken sub in "The Enemy Below" and followed spacecraft trails in "War World." The JLAdventures comic also showed a translator ability.

www.glcorps.org has lots more info on the "official" powers of the ring, and the GL Corps in general.

-- Ed/Ace

[Clark J. Kent]

http://www.glcorps.org/rings.html

That page will answer every single question you could possibly ever have about power rings. I advise EVERYONE to read this.

[MattL.]

I advise EVERYONE to read this.


Read it. Already knew it.

I still prefer the shows approach with the exception of Kyle. Some like it not because we are unwashed masses who arent versed in Lantern lore and need to be healed by a lesson.

Some of us just like it because we like it. TAS has always taken the mythology and offered either a new twist, a fusion or a radical approach to something and 98% of the time it really works. In my opinion JLTAS Green Lantern is such a case.

I dont mean any disrespect Clark J. To a certain extent I can understand how you feel. I had to deal with a rather pompus fellow on the DC Boards who was constantly lobbying for Superman to get rid of his costume, his secret identity and his stance on *battleing* evil yet still proclaimed himself a Superman fan. Frustrating would be an understatement.

I think its possible that hearing people be anti-ring constructs might be some equivalent to that for you.

However unlike whats mentioned above, I think the ring as it is in JLTAS is a change that helps more than it hurts. TAS has never stuck to the letter of the law set by the comics and so far its been nothing but a good thing.

[SimonMoon5]

Originally posted by Clark J. Kent
http://www.glcorps.org/rings.html

That page will answer every single question you could possibly ever have about power rings. I advise EVERYONE to read this.

While that *is* a good page, it's not quite as anal-retentive as it could be. :) There are dozens of examples of GLs using powers not on that list. A more complete listing is found in the GL Sourcebook for the 1st edition DC Heroes RPG. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have that handy, so I can't list the other powers. But you probably didn't want that much detail anyway.

[SimonMoon5]

Originally posted by Ace the Bathound

I believe it doesn't affec the wielder directly

Well, except for Arisia using it to age herself. And I think Guy Gardner used it to slowly improve his physique, but I don't recall exactly when that was revealed.

And invisibility doesn't have to affect the wearer. It's just a matter of affecting light near the wearer.

[Clark J. Kent]

Originally posted by MattL.
I dont mean any disrespect Clark J. To a certain extent I can understand how you feel. I had to deal with a rather pompus fellow on the DC Boards who was constantly lobbying for Superman to get rid of his costume, his secret identity and his stance on *battleing* evil yet still proclaimed himself a Superman fan. Frustrating would be an understatement.

I think its possible that hearing people be anti-ring constructs might be some equivalent to that for you. No offense taken, Matt, and I hope you don't take any offense to my post.

My real gripe with the ring is that some people don't understand what it has always been capable of. Since you already understand it's true potential, I really don't mind as much that you prefer the JL's take.

I just don't like that people who seem not to know what the ring can REALLY do are weighing in on this very divided issue. They've never read a GL comic book, nor seen the S:TAS episode "In Brightest Day." To have formulated an informed opinion (READ: An opinion that actually matters) you need to have seen "my side" of the issue before claiming that "your side" is the best.

And you, MattL, have seen both sides, so I cannot berate you for an opinion. I put up the link for people who really think that GL can only make bubbles and shoot lasers.

Matt, I can accept that John does not make complex constructs. (I would prefer to not to have to, but I can accept it :) )But I would like to see him render himself invisible, and I would like to see the ring's other abilities as well. Just a little creativity. He doesn't have to be an artist to think outside of the proverbial box. (I won't even go into the fact that the comic version of John is an architect.) But if he's such a great Green Lantern, he would exercise a little more variations in his attacks and strategies.

Can we at least compromise on those points? :)

[Thundercleese]

i know in BB part 1 he shined it on the ground and was able to see the gorilla's footprints

[Nightwing]

I agree that I like how John is handling the ring's powers in Animated JL so far, although I've noticed some consistencies between my thoughts and all the opinions here.

Observation number one, I also want GL to do more with the ring, because he can. But I think that's the one draw back we have to accept about having this one character in a show with 7 other heroes. When writing for all of them, sometimes people have to be dumbed down. For example, recalling how Superman's full ability has been watered down a bit. The episode would end to quickly. Writing around these types of "Well, why didn't he just..." situations and keeping them from happening takes a true master of all the characters, especially on a show with 7 of them.

The GL comic on the other hand, deals with one GL....well, on GL at a time anyway. :)

EDIT: I had it in my head but I forgot to type it. That ever happen to you? Shut up, yes it has. :mad: I think in a way this shows a bit of how JL is handling John's character. Kyle is very creative, imaginative, and with a full heart to back it all up. And John is more like the cop of the GLs. I would think John's imagination isn't as broad as Kyle's, and that might factor into why John has only had more physical type uses for the ring (X-ray, laser cutter...).

*Kyle Shoots Sinestro with a green ooze type substance*
"Ever get gum in your hair? Takes FOREVER to get out. :D"


Still, words can't express how well I can relate to the gripe about certain types of fans that MattL is talking about, so I completely agree with him stating his argument. Venting is a virtue. ;)

[DerekPowers]

Im a bit confussed...everyones talking about the way kyle uses his ring as being a result of him being an artist, hence, has a more creative mind.

now is that really the way it is? i dont read gl, so do all the gls use there rings creatively or ONLY kyle??

because if its only kyle then i dont know why anyone would be complaining, since theyd have no reason to expect john stewart to use it that way.

BUT, if they all use it creatively, but having john create things like giant fly swaters and wrenches and stuff would be out of character, they should make him use it creatively but just in a different way.

i liked how he used it as a sheild then gun in b&b 2. but they could be doing some cool combos and video game weapons type stuff. like he could have this shield that blocks and fires. like, i know this isnt the best comparison, but like how ryoko uses her gems or something like that, but GL style. that would be sweet!! peace.

[Clark J. Kent]

Derek, read that link I posted above.

Kyle is not the only one to use his ring creatively, although he has certainly used it the MOST creatively as any other GL.

Even John Stewart used his ring creatively.

[MattL.]

No offense taken, Matt, and I hope you don't take any offense to my post.



Not at all man. I dont even find anything intrinsically bad about the idea of the shapes either. Hell, I enjoy a good Gil Kane rendering of Hal beating down a baddy with a boxing glove as much as the next fellow. :)


I agree that John could stand to be a bit more resourceful with his ring but I just dont want them to use the creating objects thing to do it.

The series take on the ring is one that never occured to me but once i saw it I really began to like it. **Alot**. That quasi Lensman/Jedi force approach. It fits in many ways what TAS is attempting to do with the Lantern Corp and also with the lowered power levels that *all* the characters are operating on.

Its a new take and I think it could even work in mainline with the compromise being that *some* of the GL's could create shapes depending on things like their own skill levels and personalities.

Myself, I really dont have a problem with power levels big or small. Hell I didn't have a problem with Superman traveling through time by flying around the world or with him being hurt by electrical charges in STAS. Whichever one you are doing, wether or not it works depends greatly on how its played.

Lets say you lower Supermans power levels and have him do nothing but get swatted around like a rag doll all day. Thats lame. At the other end of the spectrum, you give him the cosmic demi-god power levels of the Maggin stories and when he pushes a planet its just a very casually omnipotent experience instead of being played for the colossal feat of godlike strength and struggle that it is. Again, lame.

Bringing the subject back to Green Lantern. With the other Leaguers powered down, if John can create any shape that comes to his mind and turn invisible then you once again run into the danger of making the other characters useless.

So in this version the rings power is a cosmic light, a force. You *could* having do more creative things with it, but just dont resort to the shapes. For example, he could easily use one of his force feilds as a bludegon type weapon without the writers having to make him create a big green hammer.


As for turning invisible, its cooler when you have Martian Manhunter turning invisible anyway since in this version he's like a beerslam of the best aspects of comics J'Onn and the Vision. The fusion making a cooler whole than either part seperately. In way he has the aura of being the team mystic without actually being a mystic or magic based character. If that makes sense. :p