 | GREEN LANTERN POWER RINGS | BIOGRAPHY |
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TECHNICAL DATA
Name: Green Lantern Power Rings
DCU Creator(s): Guardians of the Universe
Height: 1.2" (average)
Weight: 5 oz.
First Appearance: Alan Scott's Power Ring: All-American Comics #16 (July 1940): "The Green Lantern"
Hal Jordan/Green Lantern Corps Power Ring: Showcase #22 (September-October 1959): "S.O.S. Green Lantern!"
Kyle Rayner's Power Ring: Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50 (March 1994): "Emerald Twilight Part Three: The Future"
HISTORY
Creation of the Power Ring
Following the rebellion of the Manhunters and the subsequent split of Oan society, the Guardians of the Universe explored other options to further their agenda for the cosmos. Intrigued by the success of the Halla's, a group of living agents working for the Guardians, the elders of Oa decided a new force for justice should be created. The perils in the vast reaches of space required a formidable weapon, so the Guardians created the power ring to aid their warriors in their quest against evil. - Justice League of America #140, Green Lantern Vol. 2 #90
The product of an alien super science, the fabled power ring has long been wielded by the heroic members of the Green Lantern Corps. Though the full story of its creation may never be known, observations can be made from the recorded experiences of those who wielded the emerald ring. From those examples, conclusions can be drawn regarding the ring's miraculous abilities.
The power rings were developed by Oan technicians and then psionically "carved" from the Central Power Battery. The actual composition of the power ring remains a mystery. There is evidence suggesting it is made of an alien metal or crystal, the origin of the construction material can be debated. - Secret Origins #23, Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1 #223
Power rings are said to be made of "Oaite," a compound found on Oa. Other compounds have been taken from worlds throughout the cosmos, at least five power rings were comprised of ore mined on Titan, a moon of Jupiter. - Flash #221
The individual personal power batteries are conduits to the Central Power Battery, and the power ring is a mind-keyed transmitter of that power. Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #3
The power itself, like all cosmic power, is an aspect of The Source. Any being with control over the Source can also control the ring's energies. - Takion #1- #2
The Green Lantern Corps
The first power ring was awarded to Rori Dag of Rojira. Dag was the model for all the ring wielders to come as the Green Lantern Corps was born. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #67
From each of the known inhabited worlds the Guardians chose a single champion. The Guardians deployed the Green Lantern Corps across space, dividing the universe into 3600 sectors, with Oa as the center. Each point met at Oa, defending the Guardians as well as the universe. For three billion years the Green Lantern Corps was unmatched in their quest to bring order to the universe. - Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale #1
SPECIFICATIONS
Form of the Power Ring
The power ring's form is incidental to its function. It has been suggested that the ring's shape was chosen because it will fit on almost any shape of alien. Indeed, this seems to be the case. Power rings have been worn on the fingers of humanoid species as well as more exotic, non humanoid species. - Playgrounds of the Mind by Larry Niven
On aliens without appropriate appendages to wear the ring, a form of band is used in place of the "ring". G'Nort and M'Dahna are two Green Lanterns who wielded this alternate form of the power ring. Eddore of Tront utilized the "power ring" in a different fashion; the "power globe" within his gaseous body acted as his ring.
In an unusual case, Rot Lop Fan of the Obsidian Deeps transformed his power ring into a bell, to create sound waves that he could shape into solid forms. - Green Lantern Corps Annual #3
The Guardians have continually redesigned the power rings. The Corps was usually called to Oa to receive updated power rings. One recent modification of the power ring allowed the wielder to alter its shape to that of other objects. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #90, #93
To hide his identity from an alien race, Green Lantern Hal Jordan disguised his power ring as a common pair of sunglasses. Once he learned of the aliens' scheme to force humans to rebuild and colonize a barren world, Jordan willed the sunglasses to return to ring form and was able to foil the alien plans. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #93
The power ring was designed to withstand the rigors of space travel. Its operational lifespan was three billion years before the relatively recent destruction of the Central Power Battery and Oa itself. It is assumed that this is still the case after the reconstruction of the Central Power Battery. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50, #0
Programming
The power ring has many systems, from energy constructs to life support. All the functions were programmed by the Guardians, the ring's strengths as well as limitations. The Guardians of the Universe can change the programming, though the average ring wielder could not.
Operating Procedures
The power ring is focused by the wielder's will power, enabling the control of green psychoplasmic energy. The energy does not give off heat, unless the ring wielder wills it to do so. It is soundless, unless willed otherwise. The emerald energy can be used in a variety of ways, usually it is shaped to form objects of varying degrees of complexity.
A basic understanding of the object being created is necessary to give the object form and substance. Thinking of an object is not enough, the wielder must will an object into being. The more complex the object, the harder the wielder must concentrate. A direct line of sight is not required to create an energy construct. When using the ring for other functions, a basic understanding and comprehension is again needed.
There are virtually no limits to the energy constructs the power ring can create, whether giant green boxing gloves or high tech robotic equipment. Some wielders choose a diversity of forms to create while others go for the tried and true. While there is a psychological advantage of creating an imposing energy construct to unnerve a foe, creativity can only go so far. A strong will is needed to back up that power. Distractions can cause a ring wielder to break concentration and weaken the energy construct. Fear is the greatest enemy of a Green Lantern. Control is needed to wield the power ring effectively.
The energy construct can attain great speed at the moment of its creation, allowing the construct to hit a target with great force.
A Green Lantern's mental capacity also affects the workings of the ring. Green Lanterns Guy Gardner and Boodikka once battled the genocidal race of the Ophidians. When chasing the Ophidian star ship, neither of them could catch up to it, for neither of them could comprehend the speed at which it was going. The two Green Lanterns had to combine their wills to overcome the ship. - Guy Gardner #10
Additionally, the emerald energy can be used to animate otherwise inanimate objects, such as willing a statue to move. - [[Green Lantern Vol. 2 12 | Green Lantern Vol. 2 #12]
Combat Situations
Though it is preferable to find peaceful solutions to difficulties, the Guardians were aware this was not always possible. The power ring is one of the most powerful and versatile weapons in the known universe.
The effectiveness of the power ring in a combat situation can best be measured by the ingenuity of the ring wielder. Though it is not uncommon for Green Lanterns to learn in a trial by fire, most ring wielders are taken to Oa for training. - Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #4- #6, Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #1- #6
Strength of will is vital, as is concentration. It is in a combat situation that the phrase "without fear" is most important. A ring wielder who succumbs to fear or doubt breaks his/her/its concentration, leaving him/her/itself open to attack.
Though a Green Lantern wields vast power, he/she/it should not become overconfident. With the ring's ability to launch a long range attack, the possessor of a power ring may find a tactical advantage with some space between their foes and themselves. Distance can be used as a safety buffer, as some of the more hostile species in the universe are often the strongest. Staying out of "arm's length" can save the life of a ring wielder.
A combat maneuver theorized by Guardian Ganthet involves the retreat of a ring wielder at near light speed. At a distance of approximately one light minute (11,170,267 miles) a ring wielder can will a force beam to strike a target. The green beam functions as if it were a standing wave of light, and when the light source moves away from an observer at high speeds, the resulting red shift will change the green beam to yellow. Green Lantern Hal Jordan used this maneuver with great success against Doranchatok, destroying his enemy's power ring. - Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale #1
Psychic Backlash
Despite even the greatest of wills, sometimes a ring construct can be broken. It may seem a mere annoyance to a ring wielder, but in reality it could prove quite deadly. A ring wielder links his/her/itself to the power, a psychic backlash occurs immediately after the disruption of a ring generated construct. The backlash can be very painful and disorienting but leaves no permanent damage to the ring wielder. The real danger to the ring wielder is the split seconds of incapacitation, leaving him/her/it vulnerable to attack.
Protection from Mortal Harm
The power ring features an emergency energy reserve, to be utilized only when the wielder faces mortal injury. This power automatically activates to preserve the wearer's life and can be used only once during a twenty four hour period, unless the power ring is recharged at the power battery. The effect can then last up to an additional twenty four hours, to protect the ring possessor if energy runs out in the void of space. As always, the ring is susceptible to the color yellow, leaving the wielder helpless to an attack involving that color.
Kilowog of Bolovax Vik inadvertently used this feature to save his home world's population of sixteen billion. Bolovax Vik was destroyed by waves of antimatter during the Crisis, but Kilowog's power ring saved him from certain death. Kilowog's mental link with his fellow Bolovaxians, known as the "mass mind," was so strong that the power ring could not differentiate the thought patterns of the Green Lantern from the rest of the planetary population. Though it was beyond even the power ring's limits to save their physical forms, the ring was able to save their life forces.
Months later, a suitable world was chosen to be terraformed to the environmental conditions of Bolovax Vik. Kilowog could now free the life forces from his power ring, and could set to creating bodies for them. Unfortunately for the Bolovax Green Lantern, Sinestro and his ally Sector 3600 destroyed their new world. The power ring could not save the life forces twice. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1 #218- #219
Another Green Lantern, Driq of Criq, found that the power ring could not save him from mortal harm but would not let his life force escape his dead body. Driq was finally given rest when his power ring was disintegrated on Oa during the collapse of the Central Power Battery. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1 #217- #219, #223- #224
Protection of Life
The ring's programming forbids the taking of life, yet surprisingly this restriction can be removed on Oa. Ordinarily, the ring will issue a warning to the wielder and may even shut down, leaving the wielder vulnerable to attack. - Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #1, Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #6, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50
Space Travel and Force Field
Despite the many forms of transportation available by force manipulation, the majority of ring wielders choose unencumbered flight as their mode of transport. Travel through dense atmospheres as well as the vacuum of outer space is made possible by the power ring. Additionally, a ring wielder can dematerialize his/her/its form to phase through matter. As with all functions of the ring, the presence of the color yellow can hamper a wielder's progress.
With the cosmic scope of a Green Lantern's duties, it is only natural that the power ring is designed for operation in space. The ring creates a forcefield around the wearer, protecting him/her/it from the hazards of the void including filtration of stellar radiation and microscopic particulate matter which would ordinarily be fatal should the space debris strike the ring wielder at high speeds.
An atmosphere appropriate to the ring wielder's biology is created inside the forcefield, body temperature is maintained and waste products are removed. Gravitational stresses which could cause injury are stabilized for the ring wielder. Theoretically, a ring wielder could use the ring as his/her/its sole source of life support.
The forcefield seems to be created instantaneously, whether this is due to programming or an instinctive reaction from intensive training has not been established. It could be considered as a subroutine of the ring's automatic defensive system, but as of yet this theory has not been proven.
Flight is possible at velocities exceeding light speed. In atmospheres, air friction is not a hindrance, since heat is either absorbed or reflected by the ring's field.
The power ring grants its wearer access to wormholes in space, enabling the ring wielder to rapidly cut time and distance needed for transport. The Guardians established at least one known wormhole to Oa, which required the use of a power ring to enter. This wormhole was opened by a group of hostile aliens in the Mosaic project on Oa. John Stewart's ring was used against his will to signal a number of worlds and lead their starships to Oa. - Green Lantern: Mosaic #16- #18
Black holes can be navigated by experienced ring wielders. During a battle with Sinestro and his ally, MadGod Sector 3600, members of the Green Lantern Corps of Earth and the Green Lantern Corps of the Klyminade travelled through a black hole to be deposited outside a white hole in Space Sector 872. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1 #217- #218
The power ring cannot generate a Boom Tube, as it needs a Mother Box and a sample of the highly unstable X-Element. There is no known way to duplicate either item, even with the power ring. Should a Green Lantern make his/her/its way to the other-dimensional worlds of Apokolips or New Genesis through a Boom Tube, the ring will function as it does in the rest of the universe. John Stewart encountered no ring related difficulties during his stay on New Genesis, despite the loss of the Central Power Battery. The ring wielder would still need a Boom Tube to return to his/her/it's dimension. - Cosmic Odyssey #1
Time travel is possible with the power ring, though the further forward in time a ring wielder travels, the more willpower it takes. As Green Lantern, Hal Jordan once explored as far as the 70th century. - Justice League International Vol. 2 #55
Jordan had also travelled to the 58th century as Pol Manning, a role later adopted by Salakk of Slyggia. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #51, Green Lantern Corps #214- #215
Residual Energy
The ring leaves a trace residue of green energy on objects it touches or in the immediate vicinity of its use. The residue lingers for a few hours and is detectable by those with heightened senses of awareness, or by sophisticated mechanical devices, such as the creature known as Legion or the robotic Fists of the Guardians. - Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #2- #6, Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II #4- #6
The energy residue itself can be absorbed and reused. The supervillain Black Hand discovered a way to utilize the energy residue in his many attacks on Green Lantern. Surprisingly, Black Hand's power rod could store the emerald energy far longer than twenty four hours, but still faced the same restriction against the color yellow. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #29
Sinestro circumvented this problem by absorbing the green energy to fuel his yellow power ring. As with Black Hand's power rod, the time limit was of no consequence, as power failure was based on the amount of energy expenditure. Sinestro's ring could be overloaded by absorbing too much green energy. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #9
Voice of the Power Ring
Upon request, the wielder can access the ring's database. The "voice" the ring wielder hears is in actuality his/her/its own unconscious mind, accessing the ring's database. The personality of the wielder dictates the voice of the power ring. The power ring by itself is flat, devoid of personality. It simply responds to interrogatives by accessing its vast database. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #128, Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #2
Sector Calibration
Each power ring is programmed to operate in its assigned space sector. When entering another sector, the ring calibrates itself by "downloading" operational information from the Central Power Battery.
Though the power ring can work in a different sector, the ring wielder will experience difficulty in utilizing the ring without the additional information from the Central Battery or a period of retraining. Hal Jordan experienced this problem when entering Space Sector 1634, several months after the Central Power Battery had been destroyed. Fortunately, Jordan was retrained by the former Green Lantern known as Priest. - Action Comics Weekly #622-#625
Universal Translator
Keeping in mind the myriad of worlds, life forms, and cultures throughout the cosmos, it is understandable why the Guardians added a translation system to the power ring. The power ring can translate virtually any language in the universe, facilitating diplomatic encounters rather than violent confrontations.
Complications arise when a frame of reference for translation is not available, as evidenced during Katma Tui's induction of Rot Lop Fan into the Green Lantern Corps. Katma Tui had the difficult assignment of explaining the concepts of "light" and "color" to the sightless Rot Lop Fan. She overcame this barrier by using sound rather than light as the basis of the ring's power. - Green Lantern Corps Annual #3
Some Green Lanterns, such as the planetform known as Mogo, have used the ring to create an intermediary "being" to expedite communication. - Mister Miracle Vol. 2 #13- #14
Invisibility and Light Refraction
A ring wielder can render him/her/itself invisible by willing the ring to bend light waves around his/her/its form, as well as that of the power ring. Presumably, a similar action allows an experienced ring wielder to create objects of colors other than green. As Hal Jordan's experience grew, he was able to create power ring illusions of people and objects. It can be assumed the ring wielder would not risk the extra time and effort to create other colors in a combat situation. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #2, Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #2, Green Lantern Vol. 2 #30
Full Environmental Playback
Upon request, the power ring can recreate a holographic environment based on data in its memory banks. The ring wielder can observe events in a ghostlike state, but the ring wielder cannot alter the outcome of the playback. All objects in the playback will appear in the full spectrum of colors, regardless of the wielder's level of expertise creating simulcrums. The power ring will automatically end the playback if outside interference warrants the ring wielder's undivided attention. - Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #3
Energy Twins
The power ring allows the wearer to create an "energy twin" of his/her/itself that can travel at far greater speeds than that of the ring wielder's physical form. While the energy twin is active the ring wielder remains motionless, his/her/its life force is needed to guide the energy twin. The energy twin can not alter its surroundings, and may only be perceived by the Guardians or another ring wielder as a green, ghostlike image. Any knowledge gained by the energy twin is transferred back to the ring wielder's physical form upon recontact with the body. The Guardians frequently used energy twins as a means of contacting a Green Lantern. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #1
As a rule, a ring wielder can not create actual, independent duplicates of him/her/itself, as the power ring cannot create life. On the world of Aku in Space Sector 2813, Green Lantern Hal Jordan proved the exception to this rule. Trapped by the manipulation of Aku's gravitational field, Jordan created duplicates of himself to help battle renegade thought images that sought to destroy their host bodies. It is important to note this feat could only be performed on the planet Aku, due to strange properties in Aku's gravitational fields. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #6
Mind Tampering
Though the ethics of mind tampering may be debatable, sometimes it is necessary. As the power ring relies on thought and will to operate, mind tampering is not impossible, the real difficulty lies in properly applying the power. There lies a risk of catastrophic damage to the mind should mistakes be made. A ring wielder can use the power ring to erase portions of an individual's memories. To protect his secret identity as Hal Jordan, Green Lantern created a mental block in the mind of Major Disaster. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #57
Green Lanterns have used mind techniques as part of training. New recruits may be subjected to mind scans by other Green Lanterns or the Guardians of the Universe. They are taught to build mental defenses to protect themselves from psionic attack.
Green Lanterns Boodikka and Kreon were forced to link and swap minds by John Stewart during their training on Oa. They discovered each other's fears and learned how to work together rather than fighting each other. - Green Lantern: Mosaic #6
The power ring can also be used to beam information from the ring wielder to another being. Green Lanterns have used this technique to share information regarding their enemies during combat situations. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 #201
Remote Control of the Power Ring
Direct contact with the power ring is not necessary to control its power. Presumably, this feature makes it possible for the more unusual members of the Green Lantern Corps to utilize the ring's power. An abstract lifeform, Flodo Span of Inner Tasnia, required the power ring to create a gaseous body for himself. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 #219, Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 #224
The power ring can be controlled from distances up to 100 yards, but closer contact can protect the power ring and its wielder from manipulation by another's willpower. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #18, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #3
A power ring can be willed to stay in a Green Lantern's possession. The command is indeed strong but can be broken by superior will power or overwhelming physical force. Separation of the ring from the Green Lantern's body by violent means has been shown effective in the unfortunate cases of Zharan Pel, Ash, and Jack T. Chance. For Jack T. Chance, the power ring was programmed by the Guardians to operate solely on the planet Garnet. After his battle with Lobo, Chance found the restriction was lifted as he was sent on a failed mission to defend Oa from the renegade Hal Jordan. - Doomsday Annual #1, Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #7- #8, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #49
The ring can stay in contact with its wielder, if preprogrammed, at distances of at least twenty light years. John Stewart ordered his ring to that distance when he contemplated suicide. The distraught Green Lantern believed the ring could not prevent self-inflicted mortal injury from that distance. Fortunately, he did not choose to prove his theory. Stewart ordered the ring to return to his finger. - Cosmic Oddyssey #4
Possession of Multiple Power Rings
Possession of more than one power ring does not increase a ring wielder's strength. While it may be a psychological advantage, increasing a ring wielder's confidence, this does not translate into more power.
A ring wielder can utilize the will power of other ring wielders, working in concert to a common goal. Hal Jordan was able to marshal the energy of his fallen comrades in a last ditch attack on Krona. The energy blast meant little to the renegade Guardian, but Krona was later defeated by Jordan's resourcefulness. - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2
Will power can also be added by another strong will joining with the ring wielder. On two separate occasions, Superman joined wills with the Green Lantern Corps of Earth and a pair of Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner. Action Comics #589, Adventures of Superman #473
Duplication of the Power Ring
An experienced ring wielder can create other power rings, duplicates of his/her/its own. These power rings are subject to the same limitations as their "original" copy, and will run out of power in twenty-four hours if not recharged.
Hal Jordan created a power ring for Tom "Pieface" Kalmaku which later fell into the hands of Hector Hammond. The villain used the power ring to create a death trap for Green Lantern, only to discover his power ring had run out of power. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #5
Months later, Jordan created dozens of power rings to sell on the streets of Coast City. At a dollar each, the power rings were fast sellers, citizens used the rings to experience the joys of flight. While Tom "Pieface" Kalmaku thought his super-hero friend had gone mad, it was really part of Jordan's plan to save the Earth from alien invasion. Green Lantern used the will power of the people of Coast City to help fight the alien Grolls. The rings were later returned. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #31
Physiological Effects of Power Ring Energy
The ring attunes itself to the wielder, measuring physical responses as it taps into the wielder's mind. In the three billion year history of the power ring, there have been limited records of physiological effects related to power ring usage.
During the Green Lantern Corps battle against Nekron, Lord of the Unliving, Guy Gardner and John Stewart could sense the danger in the air. A connection to the Corps was obviously there, but that seemed to be all. - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #3
Years later, John Stewart gained the power of a Guardian, though it was for a limited time. Stewart seemingly ate a power ring, but it can be assumed the ring was absorbed by his Guardian power. The destruction of the Central Power Battery brought Stewart back to human levels. - Green Lantern: Mosaic #18, Darkstars #21
In two other examples, Arisia of Graxos IV and Guy Gardner of Earth used the power ring to alter their bodies.
Arisia's change was from a teenager to an adult. Over the course of a few weeks her body grew and her mind developed. Her change was part of a subconscious desire to make herself more attractive to fellow Green Lantern Hal Jordan. The forced maturation left Arisia mentally vulnerable to attack by Star Sapphire and Hector Hammond. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 #201- #213
Some time after she had lost her power ring, Arisia was accidentally struck in the head. Her memories were wiped away as her personality reverted back to that of a teenager. It was many weeks before her mind was fully restored. Though she identified herself with the identity of Green Lantern, the power ring had no part in her recovery. - Justice League America #33, Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #1, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #42
Guy Gardner used the power ring to keep his body young and strong. His latent Vuldarian genes may or may not have contributed to this decision. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #25
The effects of power ring energy on the human metagene has not been measured. The only possible subject of investigation would be Celeste Rockfish McCauley, a woman from an alternate 30th Century. - Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4 # 12
Subconsious Control of the Power Ring
A ring wielder with a strong enough will can project his/her/its subconscious thoughts through the power ring while remaining unaware of the action. Green Lantern Hal Jordan was knocked out when he created the creature known as "The Chiller-Diller Menace." Coast City was saved before too much damage was done. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #5
A few weeks later in an unrelated event, Jordan changed Tom Kalmaku into a pigeon. Jordan had been sleeping when the event occurred but later changed his friend back into human form. While the two events were humorous, Jordan took steps to make sure it did not happen again. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #7
Emergency Beacon
A Green Lantern in distress can use his/her/its power ring as an emergency beacon. The alert can be directed to a Green Lantern's neighboring sector, or it can be a Corps-wide alert. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #6, #124, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #23
Homing Beacon
A homing beacon in the power ring can lead one Green Lantern to another. This was one of the recent power ring upgrade features added by the Guardians of the Universe. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #90
The power ring can be ordered to disguise itself to elude power ring wielding trackers. Guy Gardner successfully escaped the Green Lantern Corps of Earth by willing the power ring to keep his location a secret. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #197
Most often ring wielders will allow the beacon to signal their location to others. The Green Lantern Corps of Earth found the remnants of the Green Lantern Corps of The Klyminade by tracking them through their power rings. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 #216- #217
Inside the Power Ring
Within the ring exists the possibility of an entire world. When Green Lantern Abin Sur of Ungara defeated the evil sorcerer Myrwhydden, he reduced the magician to submicroscopic size and imprisoned him inside the power ring, into a world created by the Green Lantern's will. A separate world was created for the conqueror known as Traitor. Neither villian knew of each other's existence within the ring.
This undefined space may be a tesseract or a virtual reality created by the power ring. Whether or not this area exists in all rings has yet to be proven. Years after Abin Sur's death, Myrwhydden's power grew, allowing him to alter his environment and escape to battle the next Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #26
The power ring's interior appeared as a barren wasteland, dotted with dead trees and sea shells which Myrwhydden used during an escape attempt. Mywhydden was later removed from the power ring to be sentenced to an Oan Sciencell. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #41, #164
Twenty-Four Hour Limit, Recharging
The power ring can carry a charge for twenty-four hours before it is depleted. Minutes before it runs out of energy, the power ring will flash on and off, indicating its need for recharge at a power battery. Recharging takes approximately ten seconds. Many consider that time to be a solemn moment, and choose to recite the Green Lantern Oath. The ring can also be charged at the Central Power Battery and can draw off a charge from other rings. - Showcase #22, Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1, Green Lantern Special #1
Additionally, the Guardians of the Universe can recharge the power ring at will, as their bodies are storehouses of the emerald energies. Power can be drawn off their projections as well. - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #3, Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale #1, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #48, Doomsday Annual #1
The garments of the ring wielder are transformed to that of the Green Lantern uniform. This is a controllable by-process of ring recharge. The uniform can be customized by the wielder and will become the "default setting" at the next ring charge. - Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #3
Defeating the Power Ring
Fear, represented by the color yellow on the emotional spectrum creates cracks in willpower. Rookie Green Lanterns, or those caught off guard, can be harmed by objects and/or energy of a yellow hue, such as those generated by the yellow power rings of the Sinestro Corps. The mere color as a weakness can be traced back to the millennia Parallax spent trapped within the Green Lantern Central Power Battery on Oa.
The orange light of avarice simply absorbs the green energy. Thus far, the only defense is for the green ring to be in the presence of a Blue Lantern power ring which will keep the green ring charged at 210.5% of capacity.
Anger or hatred if left unchecked distorts willpower, causing focus to be lost. The Red Lantern rings, more specifically the red plasma expelled by the Red Lanterns, can literally burn through and corrupt the emerald energy. Prolonged exposure will shut down the Green Lantern ring.
A time null zone can render the ring powerless by freezing the flow of time around the helpless ring wielder. Likewise, the flow of time can be accelerated in the ring's vicintiy, causing the power ring's charge to be depleted in what may seem seconds to the ring wielder. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #102, Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #3
A weapon capable of firing a Xantha charge can kill a ring wielder. The crimson colored Xantha charge shifts to yellow upon contact with the ring's emerald energy. If the defending ring wielder is not careful, he/she/it will be killed. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #102
The emerald power itself can be diverted, whether at the level of the Central Power Battery or the ring wielder's vicinity. Numerous foes of the Guardians have been able to disrupt the ring's connection to the Central Power Battery. Maaldor was one enemy capable of temporarily cutting off the flow of emerald light. - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #1
The being known as Takion was capable of disrupting the ring's connection to the Source. Though Kyle Rayner's ring was not of the Green Lantern Corps, it can be assumed the outcome would remain the same, regardless of the ring's origin. - Takion #2
The emerald energy appears to be connected to the ring, regardless of the time period the power ring may reside in. Though he had time-travelled to the late 19th Century, John Stewart's power ring lost energy after the Anti-Monitor struck at the Central Power Battery in the late 20th Century. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #195
During Hal Jordan and Salakk's adventures as Pol Manning in the 58th century, their rings still functioned normally, despite the lack of a Central Power Battery in that time period. The power rings, arguably an extention of the Guardians, might have kept a frame of reference to their "original" time line. Sort of how Barry (Flash) Allen could "relax his internal vibrations" to return to his original time. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #8, Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 #214- #215
Some advanced technologies such as those of Qward or Apokolips have managed to develop nullification fields. The Weaponers of Qward had created such a field in one of their fortresses, while a rogue parademon from Apokolips had set up a null field around an Earth island. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #125, Total Justice #1- #3
The Guardians of the Universe also employed a nullification field against power rings. To study a possibly defective power ring, a field was set up on the deserted side of Oa. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #116
Yellow Impurity
Though experienced Green Lanterns can overcome the power ring's former ineffectiveness against the color yellow, for most of the Green Lantern Corps' history, the Guardians claimed the weakness was due to a necessary impurity, as a yellow crystal was needed to stabilize the energy admixture in the Central Power Battery. That the mix of the Guardians' blue energy with the yellow crystal created the power of the Green Lanterns. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1 #223
Some doubted the Guardians' reasons for the impurity, believing it to have been placed in the ring so a Green Lantern could not become all powerful or that it is a post hypnotic suggestion. They may believe the unbridled power of the ring would drive a mortal insane. In fact, the former Guardian Dawlakispokpok created a yellow wall in the time stream to prevent their servants and others from piercing through the illusion of the Guardians' origins, and protect the secrets of their ancient past. - Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale #1
On one occasion, the weakness was removed by the Guardians, as seen in the story of Green Lantern Yalan Gur of Space Sector 2814. After the yellow weakness was removed, Yalan Gur was corrupted by the virtually unlimited power in his grasp. His interference with the social and technological development of the human race was noticed by the Guardians and actions were taken against the Green Lantern. The Guardians punished Yalan Gur by imposing a new weakness on his ring, a vulnerability to wood.
Yalan Gur was mortally injured by those he sought to repress and, in his death throes, was merged with the power of the Starheart and his power battery. The remains were seen as a green meteor, which hundreds of years later became the power ring and battery of Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #19, Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #7
Apparently the intervention of the Guardians was not needed to overcome the yellow weakness. In the case of two ring wielders, Lord Malvolio and Priest, both had circumvented the limitation to gain greater power, rendering the power ring unnecessary. - Action Comics #624
There is one time on record that the power ring has been altered by someone other than the Guardians. A filter fitted over the power ring was created to alter the light waves of whatever the power beam touched. It worked by cancelling the yellow portion of the light spectrum.
Green Lantern told the Guardians of this new discovery but soon found it had backfired. He had difficulty concentrating and rapidly grew tired. After seven days had passed the vital yellow element in the power ring had dissolved. The ring was now useless.
Green Lantern soon discovered it was a plot by an alien pirate, Commander Calibax, who had disguised himself as a scientist in order to get close to the ring wielder. Jordan was forced to use his fists against Calibax, rather than the power ring. The Guardians repaired Jordan's ring after he had beaten his pirate adversary. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #68
Destruction of the Power Ring
As part of its programming, the power ring will not allow itself to be destroyed, even at the cost of the ring wielder's life. This should not be seen as callousness on the part of the Guardians. Any force strong enough to destroy a power ring would be more than a match for the native abilities of its possessor.
The first recorded destruction of a power ring was at the hands of a Guardian. Attempting to halt the Kryptonian Armageddon Creature, centuries later known as Doomsday, a lone Guardian melted the power ring the creature had torn from Zharan Pel, the ill fated Green Lantern of Space Sector 2813. The sudden release of the Guardian's power plunged the creature through a space warp. A new power ring would be created for that space sector, centuries later it would be worn by Tomar-Re of Xudar. - Doomsday Annual #1
On two occasions, Evil Star of Aoran managed to explode Hal Jordan's power ring. Each time the Guardians reissued an identical power ring to the Green Lantern of Earth. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #37, #44
Apparently, the new power ring was so precise a copy that Myrwhydden continued his imprisonment inside the new ring. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #41, #162- #164
During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, power rings were destroyed by the antimatter waves sweeping the universe. Even a power ring cannot survive the end of the universe. Entropy claims all at the end of time. - Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-#12, Green Lantern Vol. 2 #40, Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #0
After the death of Sinestro, the collapse and implosion of the Central Power Battery absorbed the majority of power rings throughout the universe. Hal Jordan stabilized the meltdown, sparing the power rings of a few emerald warriors, such as Ch'p and Guy Gardner. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 #223- #224
Lord Malvolio of the Green Flame succeeded in destroying Hal Jordan's power ring, forcing Jordan to take Malvolio's power ring to return to Earth. Jordan never knew Malvolio had actually staged everything, planning on Jordan taking his power ring. - Action Comics Weekly #634- #635
Many months later, Hal helped the Corps to rebuild. New power rings were created by the Guardians of the Universe as the Green Lanterns recruited new members to their ranks. Unfortunately, the rebirth of the Corps was cut short by Hal Jordan's attack on Oa. The Green Lantern of Earth absorbed the power of the Central Power Battery, becoming the being known as Parallax. In a flash of anger, Parallax crushed his discarded power ring under the heel of his boot. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #13, #50
A cascade reaction swept across space as Green Lanterns across the universe saw their power rings disintegrate. Many died in the void between the stars. Some, like Adara, were spared by circumstance. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #56
In an alternate timeline, the sorcerer Mordru rose to power in the 30th Century. The mystic forces at his command were more than enough to crush the power ring of Rond Vidar. - Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4 #3
Death and Succession
Numbered in order of decreasing likelihood, there are four thousand seven hundred sixty-five possible programmed responses for a power ring in the possession of a Green Lantern whose death is imminent. Most involve sudden loss in a combat situation. Some involve other members of the Corps. More than two thousand of them entail the direct involvement of the Guardians and several hundred are in the event of the demise of the Guardians and the Corps themselves. - Action Comics #642
The ring will sustain the life of a Green Lantern for as long as possible so that a worthy successor may be found. The ring energy encircles the planet, probing the population, and selects a number of worthy candidates, bringing the chosen successor to the fallen Green Lantern's side. - [Showcase 22 | Showcase #22]], Green Lantern Vol. 2 #59
In the case of Laham of Scylla in Space Sector 2814, the power ring did not choose one of his world. Rather, the energy shot across space, choosing Waverly Sayre of Earth as a successor. - Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #2
During the assault on Oa by the Tchk-Tchkii Legion creature, Green Lanterns Khen-To and Squagga were killed in battle. Their power rings sought out other Green Lanterns on Oa, presumably to stay out of their enemy's hands. - Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #5
At times, the power rings will be retrieved by the Guardians of the Universe. After the death of the Green Lantern of Sector 1014, the Guardians chose Ch'p of H'lven as that sectors's emerald warrior. - Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2 #203
Though not all responses are known, as seen by the sheer number of available responses, the succession of the power ring is not surprisingly one of the most important responsibilities of a Green Lantern's career.
Following a Green Lantern's death, the power ring can be accessed for the ring wielder's memories using a "post mortem device" created by the Guardians. Hal Jordan learned of Guy Gardner's possible induction into the Green Lantern Corps from the last thoughts of Abin Sur. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #59
Alan Scott's Power Ring
Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern wore a magical power ring for over fifty years. This power ring was carved from a mystic power battery, which was the result of the fusion of a standard power battery, the soul of fallen Green Lantern Yalan Gur, and a fragment of the mystical Starheart. Scott's ring needed to be charged every twenty four hours, but unlike the Corps' power rings, the magical power ring was ineffectual against wood. - All-Star Comics #16, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #19, Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #7
For a few hours Alan Scott's power ring was duplicated by the incredible mental force of Krona, the renegade Guardian. Krona duplicated Scott's ring to escape the end of the universe, but his plan was foiled by Jordan and Scott. The second mystical power ring was presumably destroyed. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #40
Over the decades, the nature of the emerald power altered Scott as well as his children. Alan's body was suddenly restored one recent night to that of a twenty-five year old's. So far, the youthful effect has not worn off. Daughter Jennie-Lynn Hayden and son Todd Rice gained super powers and became the super-heroes Jade and Obsidian. - Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #5, Showcase '95 #1, Infinity, Inc. Vol. 1 #1
After the brutal deaths of members of the legendary Justice Society, it appeared Alan Scott's time as a hero had come to an end. He passed his power ring to Kyle Rayner, the newest and last Green Lantern. Rayner later lost the ring and it was crushed by Hal Jordan. Scott would find little time away from his responsibilities, when his power resurfaced within him and he became known as Sentinel. - Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #2, Showcase '95 #1
Some months later, Alan Scott reclaimed the name Green Lantern and restored his power ring.
Sinestro Corps Power Rings
As stated above, former Green Lantern Sinestro of Korugar used his expertise with power rings to create a yellow power ring. Over the years, Sinestro had a number of power rings to replace those taken or destroyed in battle with the Green Lanterns. Each ring was crafted from a rare substance called Qwardamite and was psychically attuned to the Korugarian. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #9, #125
After Sinestro's death it was worn by Guy Gardner. The ring spoke only in Korugarian and was dependent on a Green Lantern's ring energy for its power. The yellow ring was finally destroyed by Parallax, the ex-Green Lantern Hal Jordan, by overloading it with energy. - Guy Gardner Reborn #1, Guy Gardner #2, Guy Gardner: Warrior #21
A member of the Crime Syndicate of Qward, ironically named Power Ring, wielded a mystical ring given to him by the sorcerer Volthoom. The weaknesses of the ring remain unknown. Power Ring and his ring were apparently destroyed by antimatter during the so-called Crisis on Infinite Earths. - Justice League of America Vol. 1 #29-#30, Secret Society of Super-Villains #14-#15, Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
Anti-Green Lantern Corps Power Rings
The Weaponers of Qward had limited success with the Anti-Green Lantern Corps. Armed with power rings that were charged with a black light, the Anti-Green Lanterns faced inevitable death from the improperly attuned rings. The beam from the ring brought death to its target, and may have been able to disrupt the Green Lantern power ring's automatic defense feature. The Anti-Green Lantern Corps were defeated with the destruction of their main power battery on Qward. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #150
In a psychodrama engineered by the Guardians to test Hal Jordan, three "advanced power rings" were created. These rings were stronger than the originals and did not have a weakness to yellow. As seen in the psychodrama, the rings had a deadly side effect on Galius Zed, Kaylark, and Eddore. The advanced power rings turned their deepest fears against them while driving them power mad. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #165- #169
The Qwardians' most next attempt at creating power rings was more successful, yet equally ill-conceived. Anti-Oan energy powered the rings of G'Nort and the Poglachian Green Lantern Corps in a failed effort to discredit the Guardians of the Universe. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #11- #12
Another version of the power ring was created for the children of Guardian Dawlakispokpok and his Zamaron mate, Thwarcharchura. These power rings were used as a focus for their children's natural power. Doranchatok's power ring was destroyed by Hal Jordan but his sister Darthartheen remains at large. - Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale
Kyle Rayner's Power Ring
After the destruction of the Central Power Battery, the remanents of Hal Jordan's ring were fused together by Ganthet, the last of the Guardians. Ganthet gave this last power ring to Kyle Rayner of Earth, a young man chosen totally at random by the Guardian. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50
When Rayner received the power ring, it married itself to his genetic template, therefore only he could use its power. Events have shown, though, that Rayner can will the power ring to others. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #0, #91
Jordan's ability to use the new power ring may be related to his prior use of the ring, his greater experience, or as a side result of his absorption of the Guardians' energy. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50, #63- #64
Rayner's power ring differed in a number of ways from the standard power ring. First and foremost, the ring's vulnerability to yellow was removed, as well as the twenty four hour charge limit. While the ring still needed to be occasionally recharged, it was not based upon a mandatory time limit, rather a maximum usage, akin to a gas tank. Oa was a focal point for a much larger source of the ring's power. With Oa's destruction, the ring still accessed the same source. The ring would then take longer to recharge, approximately three minutes. It appears the ring was capable of containing more power than ever before. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #53, #91
The power ring energy itself can be transferred to another as well. Kyle Rayner thought he was doing a good deed by granting some of the power to Paul Christian, a disabled man who soon wanted more power as Purgatory. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #66- #69
Others could add their willpower to Rayner's, as seen during the Justice League of America's battle with the Lord of Time. Presumably, Rayner must be receptive to the added willpower and work in concert with it. - JLA/WildC.A.T.S.
Despite the obvious advantages of these changes, Kyle Rayner's power ring had apparently lost abilities as well. The ring's automatic defense feature had been removed, as well as the ring's artificial intelligence. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50
Rayner's mental control over the power ring could be broken, as shown when Superman used his energy powers to disrupt the electromagnetic impulses in Rayner's nervous system. The ring constructs lost cohesion and disolved. The evil god of torture, Desaad, was also able to cut off Kyle's mental signals to the ring. - JLA Secret Files #1, Green Lantern Vol. 3 #91
A power ring created by Ganthet and offered to Hal Jordan before his presumed death during the "Final Night" incident. Jordan did not take the power ring, and Ganthet departed with it. That ring's capabilities and whereabouts remain unknown. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #62- #64, Parallax: Emerald Night #1
During this period, Kyle Rayner attempted to restart the Green Lantern Corps with a copy of Hal Jordan's power ring. The plan did not succeed, and the "original" ring was ultimately destroyed.
The expulsion of Parallax from Hal Jordan, the return of the Guardians of the Universe and the restoration of Oa saw the rebirth of the Green Lantern Corps and the creation of new power rings.
Some legends foretell the rise and fall of other Green Lanterns, such as Rak Arranya, Taa, El'Qa Sqa Zreenah, and Perdoo. It is presumed one power ring was passed through the ages, a ring that regained the artificial intelligence feature of the original Oan power ring. - Green Lantern Annual Vol. 3 #5
Attempts to Create Power Rings
The Dominators have long attempted to gain possession of an Oan power ring. To this end, they hired the mercenary known as the Weapons Master to take the power ring of Green Lantern Guy Gardner. Though the Weapons Master was successful, he turned on the Dominators to keep the ring for himself. Guy Gardner was ultimately able to take his ring back. -JUSTICE LEAGUE 2nd series # ????
Some time after this failure, the Dominators captured a band of brutal alien hunters on a Dominator controlled moon. The Dominators cloned and modified the DNA of the vicious predators and gave them super-human powers similar to those of the Justice League. The "Green Lantern" Meta-Predator utilized a form of yellow energy, but it is not known if the energy powers were genetically added to the Predator or if it was from a technological device. -JLA Versus Predator
Surprisingly, one of the most successful duplications of the Oan power ring was not by magic, extra-terrestrial or other-dimensional forces. The villainous Professor Ivo created the android known as Amazo to replicate the powers of the Justice League. Amazo wore a "power ring" which appeared to wield the same emerald energies as Green Lantern. Over the years, Amazo would make numerous attacks on the heroes of the Justice League. -The BRAVE AND THE BOLD # 30
Thomas Oscar (T. O.) Morrow, a criminal ally and rival of Professor Ivo, was able to create three duplicate Green Lanterns which possessed the same powers as the true Green Lantern. These "fake Green Lanterns" were later destroyed by the real Green Lantern and the Flash. -Flash #143
Professor Ivo later found a way to infuse the powers a few of the Justice League members into his own body. By using a duplicate of the Flash's aura energy, he also changed his appearance to match that of the particular Leaguer he was copying, but this would also cause the Flash to change as well, becoming a "one man Justice League." -Flash #158
Finally, the Chinese government had attempted to create their own superhumans, modeled after the Justice League. These "Sino-Supermen" featured a number of operatives, including two "Green Lanterns." The "Sino-Green Lanterns" featured an energy emitter mounted on his forearm. A single cable connected the emitter to a power pack on the belt. The emerald light emitted by the weapon was a type of force beam. Unlike the power ring energy of the true Green Lanterns, this force beam could not create energy constructs. Furthermore, the Sino-Green Lanterns did not appear to suffer the same weakness to yellow, like the power ring energy of Hal Jordan and the rest of the Green Lantern Corps or the weakness to wood, like the power ring wielded by the Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott. BATMAN FAMILY # 19, DETECTIVE COMICS # 481
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Green Lantern Power Rings in chronological order click here
PROFILE REFERENCES
Green Lantern Secret Files #2 (September 1999)
Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files #1 (February 2008)