Oath-a-palooza.
Thursday, August 7th, 2008 @ 12:00 am | Green Lantern, What Were They Thinking
Alan Scott’s oath, despite “continuity”, was what would eventually be Hal’s oath (In brightest day/in blackest night/no evil shall escape my sight/let those who worship evil’s might/beware my power, Green Lantern’s light).
They went through a bunch of others first. Here are some I came across:
In issue 7 of his self-titled comic, he uses what would become the “Earth-2″ Green Lantern oath.
A personal favorite, I might add.
Then three issues later, they start mucking about with the oaths again, giving us the “modern” one.
I only had a handful of issues, so I may have missed some variants.
Which do you guys like best?
August 7th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Does Alan Scott even do the oath anymore what with his star heart and all??
I like the modern one. The other ones are like “May the darkness never darken the darky dark dark dark….”
August 7th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Speaking of the well-known oath, legendary SciFi author Alfred Bester is generally credited with creating it, but after hearing about that for years, he finally revealed that he hadn’t…it had already been established in the comic before he had ever begun writing GL stories in the 40s.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Wow, I never knew the golden age GL ever used the modern oath.
The modern one is the best. Most of the others sound convoluted and just don’t have that “ring” to ‘em. (Get it? Ring? Thanks, ladies and germs, I’ll be here all week).
August 7th, 2008 at 1:37 am
“Setting all minds right” sounds terrible. Is GL in a sekt or some kind of dictatorship, similar to what US under Bush started to look like?
Also, what’s so wrong with the mystery, that light of GL has to pierce through it, in the same way as it pierces through darkness?
August 7th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Vastly prefer the modern oath, it’s alliterative rhyming nature gives it a ring the others can’t match.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:48 am
It occurs to me that the different oaths may account for the different powers/weaknesses. Everyone knows that spells have to be spoken properly to work properly. That or the writers weren’t paid enough to worry about continuity.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Jon Snow said: ‘similar to what US under Bush started to look like?’ what do you mean “started”?
August 7th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I agree, the old one sounds like his going to brainwash people.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Yep, the modern one is the best by a long shot.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am
madwoman:I meant to write “is starting” instead of “started” since it is ongoing process, but my boss got into the room before I could finish editing my post. Sorry for the confusion. Or mayhaps you expect detailed explanation?
August 7th, 2008 at 9:18 am
My favorite was from Comic Cavalcade #1 in 1942:
“Let all power and triumph be mine in whatever right I do!”
August 7th, 2008 at 9:32 am
As a kid I liked Hal’s version, but as an adult I find it kind of sing-songy and weak. I’m now more drawn the “Earth-2″ version more, although…doesn’t it always sound like it’s the second half, and we never get to hear the first?
August 7th, 2008 at 9:37 am
to jon snow: sorry, noooooo detailed explanation needed, thanks.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I thought that Alan used the “shed my light over dark evil” in his origin story, too, but I might be wrong.
And… of the ones above, I have to say that “In brightest day” works best for me. A few years ago, I might have voted for one of the others, but after hearing John Stewart invoke it in Justice League… whoa.
Still, I have a fondness for Rot Lop Fan’s oath:
“In loudest din or hush profound,
my ears catch evil’s slightest sound.
Let those who toll out evil’s knell,
beware my power:
The F-Sharp Bell!”
August 7th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Guilty conscious??
If you guys think this is a dictatorship….
letting it go….letting it go…this is NOT a political forum
just do some of us the same courtesy….
Back on topic…..
I like the modern oath best….but the infrequency in which Alan Scott recited his made it special, too.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:41 am
“Let my lantern’s light penetrate the evil. Because the evil can not stand the light. The green light. The green light of my ring. The green ring of Green Lantern. Green Lantern’s green ring light!”
August 8th, 2008 at 4:39 am
“I’ll use my ring to do some good
unless something is made of wood
it’s power change – no explanation -
as often as this incantation”
August 8th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Two can play at that game!
“In blackest dark, in brightest day
My ring makes bad guys run away!
I swear to stop all evil fellows
(except the ones with costumes yellow)”
August 10th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
In brightest day, in darkest night
No evil shall escape the might
Of the Hal Jordan Punch
What?
August 10th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
The classic, natch – as noted above the rhyme makes it.
but after hearing John Stewart invoke it in Justice League… whoa.
Phil LaMarr does great work as John, but I’d like to hear him do it as one of his other noted characters, Hermes Conrad (Futurama).
“In Brightest Day, In darkest night, mon…”
August 20th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Daffy Duck’s was a favorite of mine:
In blackest day or brightest night
Watermelon, cantaloupe, yadda-e-yadda
Erm…superstitious and cowardly lot
With liberty and justice for all!
September 1st, 2008 at 6:27 am
The ‘Earth-2′ oath was indeed the first one Alan used and appeared from his first or second appearance in All-American Comics. I think it’s better than some of the others he tried out, but not as good as the ‘modern’ one.
March 15th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Like Your Obedient Serpent, I’m rather fond of the F-Sharp Bell’s oath, which is probably because Alan Moore penned it.