April 15, 2009 

Silver Age Classics

Today we’re going to continue talking about The Shark (I can dig it). Now, I’m sure you’re wondering just how The Shark was able to take on Hal. Sure, he had the Silver Age ability to pull powers out of his butt, calling it “mind over matter”, but Hal had the Ultimate Weapon from Beyond the Stars, a weapon limited only by his imagination (which, admittedly, is likely a bit of a problem for Hal, poor sap).

Still, the Shark seems outmatched. Not to worry though, sportsfans!

Invisible Yellow strikes again!

Also, please to note the awesomeness of the title.

Tune in tomorrow to see how our hero (well, someone’s hero) escapes!


  • http://www.jlroberson.org JLRoberson

    Invisible freaking yellow. Why don’t they just make Hal’s ring so it doesn’t work when villains would rather it didn’t?(at least on the first try) It would make more sense.

  • Megalon

    I wish he’d evolve himself some pants already.

  • sezaar

    Future manshark still hasn’t been able to evolve into a creature with a fashion sense.

    If we made a drinking game about the use of invisble yellow, we would all be alcoholics by now.

  • Maniac Doc

    Clearly, The Shark can read minds as well, and knows that the ‘invisible yellow’ concept will instantly kill any effectiveness of the power ring. Of course, he’s making it all up as he goes along, but it still works, showing that Hal is just completely useless.

  • Maniac Doc

    ADDENDUM: Or, maybe he can’t read minds, but just heard Hal yapping about invisible yellow force fields. Way to telegraph your psychosomatic weakness, Hal.

  • Naryldor

    Is that the Hutchback of Nortre Damme wearing tights in panel 2?

  • sezaar

    I thought he was pulling up his socks.

  • Eric L. Sofer, the Silver Age Fogey

    Gods, I can’t STAND it anymore! Will someone PLEASE tell me why Hal never used the power ring on the one thing that was NEVER yellow in those stories – HIMSELF??? If used the ring to give himself Kryptonian speed, strength, and invulnerability, the Shark would have been sushi in five seconds!

    Or was Hal also invisibly yellow?

    I remain,
    Sincerely,
    Eric L. Sofer
    The Silver Age Fogey
    x<]:o){

  • madwoman

    Is that a slight crotch bulge on Hal in panel 1?

  • Naryldor

    Nah! Probably just an optical illusion becaouse of the yellow background.

  • http://bwmedia.wordpress.com ShadowWing Tronix

    So does that mean the Shark wanted to eat Hal? It’s the only reason sharks hunt, as far as I know.

  • sezaar

    “Shark’s killer instincts drive him to seek out prey that he can terrify. He eventually seeks out Green Lantern when he learns that the hero is without fear. Even though he uses his telepathy to discover Green Lantern’s vulnerability to yellow, the Shark is unable to overcome the Green Lantern’s will power. Green Lantern uses his ring to devolve the Shark back into his primitive form, then places him under guard at the Coast City aquarium.”

    Hal is not without fear, he’s just to dumb to see the dangers ahead…

  • Michael

    Oh, for God’s sake. At this point, Hal should just retire and let Pieface fight crime in Coast City. At least his wrench would fucking work on the villains more than half the time.

  • HellRazor

    Someone needs to tell DC that colors are part of the visible light spectrum.

  • sackett

    I wonder…if you knock a tooth out of The Shark’s head, will another replace it?

    obviously, I have nothing

  • Shiai

    See? If Hal wore a utility belt like Batman, he’d have a can of Bat Shark Repellent handy.

    Next up: The Shark takes a bite out of the Silver Surfer’s leg.

  • Dierna

    Invisible yellow? Uh… So basically the shark painted the room yellow (even the windows for like one panel) and then put up a force field that he probably stole from Wonder Woman….The yellow is clearly visible, it’s the force field that’s invisible!

  • sezaar

    Aren’t aura’s always invisible except for nutcases who not only believe in them but also can see them? And yes then they can be yellow:

    YELLOW AURA COLOR: Relates to the spleen and life energy. It is the color of awakening, inspiration, intelligence and action shared, creative, playful, optimistic, easy-going.

    Light or pale yellow: Emerging psychic and spiritual awareness; optimism and hopefulness; positive excitement about new ideas.

    Bright lemon-yellow: Struggling to maintain power and control in a personal or business relationship; fear of losing control, prestige, respect, and/or power.

    Clear gold metallic, shiny and bright: Spiritual energy and power activated and awakened; an inspired person.

    Dark brownish yellow or gold: A student, or one who is straining at studying; overly analitical to the point of feeling fatigued or stressed; trying to make up for “lost time” by learning everything all at once.

  • http://city-of-masks.blogspot.com MikeRM

    And here we see the rare sight of a hero being jumped by the Shark. Instead of the other way around.

    Or not.

  • HellRazor

    Hey, I just thought of something.

    Green Lantern is helpless against Urine.

  • Maniac Doc

    So are we going to see a villain called the Golden Shower any time soon?

    (Ye gods, that was horrible. I feel so ashamed.)

  • Dierna

    Hellrazor:

    Well technically he should be weak against sunlight too…*lol*

  • HellRazor

    Just shoot him with a yellow bullet, problem solved.

  • LittlePig

    “The Shark That Hunted Human Prey!”

    also known as “The Shark You See Every Other Day On CNN During The Summer”

  • http://www.jlroberson.org JLRoberson

    >>The Shark can read minds as well, and knows that the ‘invisible yellow’ concept will instantly kill any effectiveness of the power ring. Of course, he’s making it all up as he goes along, but it still works, showing that Hal is just completely useless.

    So one day, someone made Hal believe there was such a thing as invisible yellow, and forever after you only have to mention it to make Hal believe the ring can’t bother it.

    Fearless, honest, the Guardians like those. But smart, discerning, or logical?–obviously the Manhunters REALLY taught them a lesson.

  • Pingback: Batman Hates Goodbyes | Martyn Pedler