It’s a well-established fact in the comic universe that each superhero has an Achilles’ heel – that one flaw or vulnerability that threatens to undo all their powers. One such vulnerability, and arguably one of the most peculiar, has always been the Green Lantern’s baffling weakness to the color yellow. But Harley Quinn, DC’s iconic antiheroine, believes it’s time for a revision.
Harley and Ivy’s Intriguing Heist
In the narrative “The Man of Steal!” from Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #1, Harley Quinn teams up with Poison Ivy for an audacious endeavor – burglarizing Superman’s renowned Fortress of Solitude. What could possibly go wrong? The fortress has swapped its famed giant lock and key for a modern keypad, yet Harley astutely cracks the access code, humorously deducing Superman’s password to be ‘H-O-P-E’.
Inside, the dastardly duo is momentarily flummoxed by the trove of unusual items in Superman’s collection. Among these artifacts, Ivy stumbles upon a gun capable of turning objects red. But its utility is dismissed by Ivy, who jokingly suggests even Sinestro wouldn’t desire such an oddity. Harley, always the maverick, counters that considering Green Lanterns’ supposed vulnerability to red, Sinestro might very well be interested. Ivy corrects her, citing the comic-lore that Lanterns are actually weak against yellow. But is Harley onto something here?
Reimagining the Green Lantern’s Vulnerability
The Green Lantern Corps’ inexplicable vulnerability to yellow has long puzzled fans. The comic canon attributed this flaw to the imprisonment of the fear entity Parallax within the Green Lantern Central Power Battery, a creature that drew strength from the Yellow Light of Fear.
But Harley, referencing basic color theory, argues that the actual nemesis of green should be red. And when considering the broader emotional spectrum within the DC universe, this makes sense. The Red Lanterns, embodiments of rage and anger, have showcased brutality that surpasses Sinestro’s Yellow Lanterns. Their Red Lantern Power Rings produce a corrosive substance potent enough to dissolve Green Lantern constructs. From this perspective, Harley’s assertion that red is the Green Lantern’s true counter seems accurate.
The Red Threat
Post the eviction of Parallax from Oa’s Central Power Battery, the color yellow lost its sting against the Green Lanterns. In contrast, the Red Lanterns, fueled by the Red Light of Rage, remain formidable adversaries. Their sheer aggression and capabilities arguably position them as a much graver threat than the Yellow Lanterns ever posed.
Comic aficionados can delve deeper into this interesting perspective of the Green Lantern mythos in Harley Quinn: Black + White + Redder #1, which is currently available for purchase.
Conclusion
Harley Quinn’s witty observations are not just for comic relief. They often provide a refreshing perspective on established norms. In challenging the Green Lantern’s long-standing vulnerability, she not only highlights the ludicrousness of the yellow weakness but also champions a more menacing and logical adversary in red. Perhaps it’s time the comic world takes a cue from Miss Quinn and re-evaluates some of its age-old conventions.
