| CHANG, LORD OF THE GREEN DRAGON TONG | BIOGRAPHY |
| Created by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell |
PERSONAL DATA
Occupation: Professional criminal, lamp maker
Status: Deceased
Marital Status: Married
Known Relatives: Lo-Lanke (wife)
Base of Operation: China; later Gotham City
Group Affiliation(s): None
Gender: Male
Eyes: Brown
Hair: None, black beard
First Appearance: All-American Comics #16 (July 1940): [The Origin of Green Lantern]
Creators: Bill Finger and Martin Nodell
HISTORY
A lamp maker by trade, Chang also dabbled in sorcery, a practice his neighbors were afraid of. Chang read ancient texts which foretold of a fiery green rock falling from the skies, which would bring great power. - All-American Comics #16
This green rock was the fallen remains of Yalan Gur of the Green Lantern Corps. The alien Green Lantern had been corrupted by the power at his disposal and as a lesson from the Guardians of the Universe, found his power ring had become ineffective against wood. Mortally wounded, Yalan Gur's spirit merged with his power battery due to the presence of the mystical Starheart. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #19, Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #7
The remains were found and considered a meteor. Chang heard a mental cry from Yalan's tortured spirit. "Three times shall I flame green!" it spoke, "First - to bring death!" it promised in rage, "Second - to bring life!" in its remorse, and "Third - to bring power!" in his desire to live again. - All-American Comics #16
Chang took part of the strange green meteor, frightening the people of the village. They had believed Chang and the fallen star were evil. Chang made a lamp of the molten metal, angering the villagers to the point of attacking him. They burned his books and it was believed they had killed him. In turn the villagers and Chang's servants were killed by green flame of the lamp. "First - to bring death!" - All-American Comics #16, Green Lantern Vol. 2 #108 - #110
Calling the green rock the power stone, Chang found it preserved him and his wife, Lo-Lanke, through the centuries. Over time, Chang became as one with the stone, though throughout the years he tried unsuccessfully to unleash the stone's full power.
The lamp taken by the villagers changed many hands over the centuries. It brought good luck and fortune to the good of heart. To the evil, though they might achieve mighty conquests, in the end it brought destruction. In 1939 the lamp, now forged as a green lantern, came into the possession of engineer Alan Scott. It was Scott that carved a power ring from part of the lantern and adopted the guise of the Green Lantern, one of the most powerful mystery-men of the Golden Age.
In the late 20th Century, Chang resurfaced in Gotham City as master of the Green Dragon Tong. He found something within the stone had broken, enabling him to dominate it and warp the power to his own evil desires. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #110
The change was the result of Alan Scott's eroding self confidence. Scott had suffered personal setbacks which weakened his will, enabling the Psycho-Pirate to gain control over him. Under the Psycho-Pirate's sway, the Green Lantern used the might of the power ring for evil until he and his villainous master were defeated by the Justice Society of America. -All-Star Comics #68
Scott, who was living with the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, was visiting the Chinatown section of Gotham City when a nearby building exploded. Curiously, none of the wood used to construct the building was damaged. Scott believed it was his doing, never realizing it was the work of Chang. Lo-Lanke watched the Champion of the Green Flame and reported back to Chang.
Investigating the next day, Scott found an aura of green energy which led to Chang's location. The Lord of the Green Dragon Tong had been testing the Green Lantern and expected his arrival. Though Green Lantern made fast work of Chang's minions, their master was more powerful. Chang was able to neutralize the hero. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #108
An over anxious member of the Tong, Chin-Loo, took the power ring for his own. When he slipped the ring on his finger, Chin-Loo was engulfed in emerald flames and instantly incinerated. The power ring could not be worn by someone whose purpose was consciously evil.
Green Lantern used the confusion to take back his ring and escape. The day afterwards, he returned to Chinatown as Alan Scott but was recognized by Lo-Lanke. Chang's wife told the Champion of the Green Flame the history of Chang and warned him away. The warning came too late as Chang arrived to continue his attack. Pressing his advantage, Chang undermined Scott's self confidence and the Green Lantern succumbed to Chang's will.
Lo-Lanke removed the power ring from the Green Lantern's hand while members of the Tong bound the fallen hero. Chang did not dare to use the ring, fearing the green flame would consume him as it had Chin-Loo. Creating a fiery pit with his power stone, Chang had Lo-Lanke push Green Lantern into the flames. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #109
Since Chang had bent the power-stone to his will, changing it to the dragon-stone, Chang could now use it to locate and then eventually channel all of the energy of the Green Lantern. In honor of his new power, Chang transformed his appearance to that of "the holy one himself -- the sacred Green Dragon."
Finding the power battery, Chang was surprised to see its owner, the Green Lantern, still lived. Unbeknownst to Chang, Lo-Lanke had betrayed him by giving the power ring to Scott before she pushed him into the flames. More, Alan Scott had changed sine their last fight. Scott had regained his confidence and easily turned the tables on Chang. The Lord of the Green Dragon Tong found the dragon illusion had been stripped away and he was backed up against a tree that had weakened in their battle. Scott warned Chang to move out of the way but in his arrogance, Chang believed he was powerful enough to stop the falling tree and was crushed by it. Lo-Lanke had never told her husband of the power's inability to effect wood.
The power of the Dragon Stone was not strong enough to bring Chang back to life. Lo-Lanke has not been seen since. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #110
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Chang, Lord of the Green Dragon Tong in chronological order click here
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