RORI DAG | BIOGRAPHY | |
Created by Gardner Fox and Sid Greene |
PERSONAL DATA
Occupation: Green Lantern
Status: Deceased
Homeworld: Rojira
Space Sector: 1234
Race: Jirenn
Group Affiliation(s): Green Lantern Corps
Gender: Male
Hair: Brown
First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol. 2 #67/2 (March 1969): "The First Green Lantern!"
Creators: Gardner Fox and Sid Greene
HISTORY
Three billion years ago, Rojira had been the home of two races. One, the Rulanns, was a race warlike creatures resembling Earth's starfish. The other race, the Jirenn, was a peaceful humanoid race. The two races were separated by a barrier of volcanic disruption.
The red-hued Rulanns fought among themselves, except during their dormant period. The creatures would suddenly freeze, turning yellow-hued while they rejuvenated their energies. The Rulanns would quickly regenerate lost limbs, or a new body if necessary. Though they were warlike, they could never know true defeat, or victory.
One day, a Rulann named Korad had found a way through the volcano field. Emerging on the other side, he discovered the Jirenn. Lashing out at the humanoids, he killed one of them. Surprised by his discovery, he telepathically summoned other Rulanns.
The Jirenn had never fought, and were helpless against the Rulann. Rori Dag, one of the Jirenn, stepped out to lead his people. As much as they tried to fight Korad, it was too much for them. The Rulann picked up a rock to crush Rori Dag. Suddenly, Korad turned yellow and motionless. Then a small blue man appeared with a power ring and battery.
He was one of the Guardians of the Universe. The Guardians decided to use living agents as their intermediaries, to overcome the forces of evil and injustice. To this end, they created the Green Lantern Corps. Each Guardian was to select one species to have a Green Lantern as a representative.
Rori Dag had been selected by the Guardians to be the first Green Lantern. If he was successful, there would be others. The Guardian explained the workings of the ring, and its limitations. He instructed Rori Dag that the ring was never to be used to kill.
When the Rulann woke, it renewed its attack on the Jirenn. Rori Dag used the ring to create tools to defeat the invader. He then constructed a catapult to hurl Korad over the volcano field, and then closed the pathway through the field.
The Guardian awarded the power battery insignia, as a symbol of the Green Lantern Corps to Rori Dag, Green Lantern of Rojira. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #67
Rori Dag was memorialized in the Crypts of the Green Lantern Corps on Oa.
BLACK LANTERN: RORI DAG |
POWERS AND WEAPONS
As a Green Lantern, Rori Dag possessed a power ring and power battery.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Rori Dag in chronological order click here
GLCWP NOTE
Well, that's the story of the first Green Lantern.
In the story, the outfit Rori Dag was wearing (Hal's without the insignia and mask) was adopted as the uniform of the Corps. I'd like to debate this. Considering all of the other humanoid Jirenn wore loose fitting sleeveless outfits with shorts or skirts, I find it unlikely Rori Dag would be dressed so differently. I'll give the Guardians credit as coming up with the uniform from scratch.
Another interesting thing to note is how quickly Rori Dag constructed the catapult to send Korad back to his land. The highest form of technology on Rojira was gardening equipment.
In and of itself, that's no big deal... but it seems to me, the Guardians were interested in speeding up some races' advancements (sometimes they would isolate races, too). Maybe they recognized Rojira as a planet with potential.
Three billion years later, there would be another Green Lantern of Rojira. Rori Stroh came from Rojira, a planet with "one of the most futuristic, super-scientific, and aged civilizations in existence".
If you've read this far, here's my last "conspiracy theory": maybe the Rulanns were Starro the Conquerors' race?