Hal Jordan, known as Green Lantern, is one of DC Comics’ most iconic characters. He first appeared in Showcase #22 in 1959 and quickly became a fan-favorite. As a member of the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic peacekeeping force, Hal wields a powerful ring fueled by willpower. With his indomitable spirit and sense of justice, Hal has played a significant role in shaping the DC Universe and has become a symbol of heroism.
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Tired of stumbling upon unwanted spoilers while researching what to read? Look no further! These carefully curated reading guides are designed with new readers in mind, ensuring you receive top-notch recommendations without sacrificing the element of surprise. My central mission is to provide a spoiler-free experience, allowing you to embark on your reading journey with excitement and anticipation. Say goodbye to accidental reveals and embrace a guide that keeps the thrill of discovery intact!
NOTE: I do provide REVIEWS along the way that CONTAIN SPOILIERS, so proceed with caution.
This guide is by no means comprehensive. Instead it covers what I have read or plan to read, and I will continue to update as I continue on.
Pre-Crisis Reading Order:
During the Pre-Crisis era, Hal Jordan’s adventures as Green Lantern were characterized by colorful and imaginative cosmic storytelling. His journey took readers to far-off alien worlds and introduced them to a vast array of extraterrestrial characters. These stories expanded the scope of the DC Universe, cementing Hal’s status as a key figure within it.
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| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Green Lantern Silver Age vol.1 | First Appearance of Hal Jordan as Green Lantern | SHOWCASE #22-24 and Green Lantern vol. 2 #1-9 | 1959-1961 | John Broome/ Gil Kane | ⭐️⭐️ |
  Green Lantern/Green Arrow vol. 1 | Hard Traveling Heroes | Green Lantern vol. 2 #76-87 & #89, and stories from THE FLASH #217-219 & 226 | 1970-1972 | Dennis O’Neil/Neal Adams | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
  Green Lantern/Green Arrow vol. 2 | Space Traveling Heroes | Green Lantern vol. 2 #90-106 | 1976-1978 | Dennis O’Neil/Mike Grell | ⭐️⭐️ |
  Tales of the Green Lantern Corp vol. 1 | Exiled | Tales of the Green Lantern Corps (1981) #1 To #3, Corps Backups Stories From Green Lantern vol. 2 #148, #151-#154, #161-162 & #164-167 | 1982-1983 | Robin Snyder/Dave Gibbons | ⭐️ |
  Tales of the Green Lantern Corp vol. 2 | Exiled | Green Lantern vol. 2 #168-169, #171-#173, #177, #182-183, #185, #187-190, Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #1 | 1983-1984 | Jack Harris/Gil Kane | ⭐️ |
  Green Lantern: Sector 2814 Vol. 1 | Hal Retires | Green Lantern vol. 2 #172-176, #178-181 | 1984 | Len Wein/Dave Gibbons & Gil Kane | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
  Green Lantern: Sector 2814 Vol. 2 | as Hal | Green Lantern vol. 2 #182-183, #185-189 | 1984-1985 | Len Wein/Dave Gibbons | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
  Crisis on Infinite Earths Companion Deluxe Vol. 3 | Crisis Tie-ins | Green Lantern vol. 2 #194–198 | 1985 | Steve Englehart/Joe Statton & Bruce Patterson | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
Post-Crisis Reading Order:
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern underwent significant changes. He faced personal struggles, delving into his own fears and doubts while also dealing with formidable villains. This era brought a greater focus on character development, adding depth to Hal’s story. Notable storylines like “Emerald Twilight” had a lasting impact on the character and the Green Lantern mythos.
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| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Green Lantern: Sector 2814, Vol. 3 | Hal tries to come back | Green Lantern vol. 2 #194-200 (Overlaps with Crisis) | 1985 | Steve Englehart/Joe Statton & Bruce Patterson | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
  Millenium | Millenium | Millenium #1-8, Green Lantern Corps #220-221 | 1988 | Steve Englehart/ Joe Staton | Skipped |
  Hal Jordan Vol.1 | Emerald Dawn I & Emerald Dawn II | Emerald Dawn I #1-6, Emerald Dawn II #1-6 | 1990-1991 | Gerard Jones & Keith Giffen/MD. Bright & Romeo Tanghal | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
  Green Lantern: The Road Back | The Road Back | Green Lantern vol. 3 #1-8 | 1990-1991 | Gerard Jones/Pat Broderick & Bruce Patterson | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
| DCU: Trinity | DCU: Trinity Tie-in | Green Lantern vol. 3 #44-45 | 1993 | Gerard Jones/José Luis García-López & Steve Mattsson | Skipped |
  Kyle Rayner Vol.1 | Emerald Twilight | Green Lantern vol.3 #48-50 | 1994 | Ron Marz/Darryl Banks | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
| Uncollected | Emerald Fallout | Guy Gardner: Warrior #18-21 | 1994 | Chuck Dixon & Beau Smith/Mitch Byrd & Dan Davis | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
Kyle Rayner Vol.1 | Zero Hour Tie-ins | Green Lantern vol. 3 #0 | 1994 | Ron Marz/Darryl Banks | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
Post-Zero Hour Reading Order:
During this period, Hal Jordan’s journey as Green Lantern became more complex and interconnected with the DC Universe. He faced major challenges, including the resurrection of his fellow Lanterns, the formation of the Spectre, and his own redemption. These events paved the way for the epic Infinite Crisis storyline, in which Hal played a pivotal role in restoring balance to the universe.
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Alternate Collections
- Geoff Johns Omnibus vol. 1
- Green Lantern Rebirth #1-6, Green Lantern Corps Recharge #1-5, Green Lantern vol. 4 #1-25, Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #14-18, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1, Green Lantern Secret Files 2005 #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman Prime #1 and Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files #1
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Kyle Rayner vol. 2 | Parallax View: The Resurrection of Hal Jordan | Green Lantern vol.3 #60-64 | 1995 | Ron Marz/Darryl Banks | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
  The Final Night | The Final Night | Parallax: Emerald Night #1, Final Night #3-4, Green Lantern vol. 3 #81 | 1996 | Karl Kesel/Stuart Immonen | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
  Green Lantern: Emerald Knights | Emerald Knights | Green Lantern vol.3 #99-106 | 1998 | Ron Marz & Chuck Dixon | ⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
  Day of Judgement | Day of Judgement | Day of Judgement #3-5, Day of Judgement Secret Files #1, JLA #35 | 1999 | Geoff Johns/Matt Smith | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Review) |
| Uncollected | Spectre | The Spectre vol. 4 #1-27 | 2001-2003 | J.M. DeMattis | Skipped |
  Identity Crisis | Identity Crisis | Identity Crisis #1-7 | 2004 | Brad Meltzer/Rags Morales | |
  Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Book One | Rebirth, NoFear, & Recharge | Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-6, Green Lantern vol. 4 #1-3, Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1-5 and Green Lantern Secret Files 2005 #1 | 2004 | Geoff Johns | |
  OMAC Project | The OMAC Project (Countdown to Infinite Crisis) | OMAC Project #1-6 | 2004 | Greg Rucka, Geoff Johns, and Judd Winick |
This is as far as I have read! Beyond this point is what I plan on reading. Stay tuned for Updates.
Post-Infinite Crisis Reading Order:
In the aftermath of Infinite Crisis, Hal Jordan’s role as a Green Lantern remained significant, but he faced new trials. He joined forces with other Lanterns to confront cosmic threats, participated in major crossover events, and was instrumental in rebuilding the Corps. This period featured standout stories like “Sinestro Corps War,” which received critical acclaim and solidified Hal’s place in DC lore.
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| Collection Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Book Two | Revenge of the Green Lanterns, Wanted Hal-Jordan | Green Lantern vol. 4 #4-20 | 2004-2007 | Geoff Johns/Ivan Ries & Doug Mahnke | |
  Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Book Three | Sinestro Corps War | Green Lantern vol. 4 #21-25, Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #14-18, Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman Prime #1 and Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps: Secret Files #1 | 2007-2008 | Geoff Johns/Ivan Ries & Doug Mahnke |
Post-Final Crisis Reading Order:
Following the cataclysmic events of Final Crisis, Hal Jordan continued his adventures as Green Lantern, tackling new challenges while navigating the changing landscape of the DC Universe. He faced the rise of the Black Lantern Corps and played a crucial role in the “War of Light” storyline. This period set the stage for the sweeping changes of the New 52 relaunch.
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Alternate Collections
- Geoff Johns Omnibus vol. 2
- Green Lantern vol.4 #26-52, Blackest Night #0-7, DC Universe #0, Untold Tales of Blackest Night #1-2, Blackest Night Tales of the Corps #1-2
- Geoff Johns Omnibus vol. 3
- Green Lantern vol.4 #53-60, Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special #1, Green Lantern vol. 5 #1-20, Green Lantern Annual #1, Green Lantern Corps #58-60, and Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #8-10
| Title | Story | Issues/Year | Collected | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Book Four | Rage of the Red Lanterns | Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1, Green Lantern vol.4 #26-38 | 2008-2009 | Geoff Johns/Ivan Ries & Doug Mahnke | |
  Green Lantern: Agent Orange | Agent Orange | Green Lantern vol.4 #39-42 | 2009 | Geoff Johns/Philip Tan | |
  Blackest Night Omnibus | Blackest Night | Green Lantern vol.4 #43-52, Blackest Night #1-8 | 2009-2010 | Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi/Ivan Ries & Doug Mahnke | |
  Brightest Day Omnibus, Brightest Day GL | Brightest Day | Brightest Day #1-24 | 2010-2011 | Geoff Johns/Peter J. Tomasi | |
  Green Lantern: Brightest Day | Brightest Day Green Lantern Tie-ins | Green Lantern vol.4 #53-62 | 2010-2011 | Geoff Johns/Doug Mahnke | |
  Green Lantern: War of the Green Lanterns | War of the Green Lanterns | Green Lantern vol.4 #63-68 | 2011 | Geoff Johns/Ivan Ries & Doug Mahnke | |
  Green Lantern: War of the Green Lanterns Aftermath | War of Green Lanterns Aftermath | War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath, Part One & Part Two | 2011 | Tony Bedard & Peter J.Tomasi | |
  Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern | Flashpoint Tie-ins | Hal Jordan #1–3, Abin Sur – The Green Lantern #1–3, Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1–3, Green Arrow Industries #1 | 2016 | Various |
New 52 Reading Order
With the launch of the New 52, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern experienced a fresh start and a renewed focus. He faced threats on a cosmic scale, including the Third Army and the First Lantern, as the DC Universe underwent a significant reboot. While some fans embraced the changes, others expressed mixed reactions to the alterations made to Hal’s history and relationships.
Related Event Guides
- Rise of the Third Army
- Wrath of the First Lantern
- Lights Out
- The Uprising
- Godhead
- Convergence
- DC Rebirth
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Alternate Collections
- Rise of the Third Army
- Green Lantern Annual vol. 5 #1, Green Lantern vol. 5 #13–16, Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 #13–16, Green Lantern: New Guardians #13–16, Red Lanterns #13–16, Green Lantern Corps Annual vol. 3 #1
- Wrath of the First Lantern
- Green Lantern vol. 5 #17–20, Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 #17–20, Green Lantern: New Guardians #17–20, Red Lanterns #17–20
- Lights Out
- Green Lantern vol. 5 #24, Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 #24, Green Lantern: New Guardians #23-24, Red Lanterns #24, Green Lantern Annual #2, Green Lantern #23.1: Relic
- Godhead
- Green Lantern/New Gods: Godhead #1, Green Lantern vol. 5 #35-37, Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 #35-37, Green Lantern: New Guardians #35-37, Red Lanterns #35-37, Sinestro #6-8 and Green Lantern vol. 5 Annual #3
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Green Lantern vol. 1: Sinestro | Sinestro | Green Lantern vol. 5 #1-6 | 2011-2012 | Geoff Johns/Doug Manke | |
  Green Lantern vol. 2: The Revenge of the Black Hand | The Revenge of the Black Hand | Green Lantern vol. 5 #7-12, Green Lantern vol. 5. Annual #1 | 2012 | Geoff Johns/Doug Manke | |
  Green Lantern vol. 3: The End | Rise of the Third Army Tie-in, Wrath of the First Lantern Tie-in | Green Lantern vol. 5 #13-20, 0 | 2012-2013 | Geoff Johns/Doug Manke | |
  Green Lantern vol. 4: Dark Days | Dark Days, Lights Out Tie-in | Green Lantern vol. 5 #21-26, #23.1: Relic, Green Lantern vol. 5 Annual #2 | 2013-2014 | Robert Venditti/Bill Tan | |
  Green Lantern vol. 5: Test of Wills | Test of Wills, The Uprising Tie-in | Green Lantern vol. 5 #27-34 and Green Lantern Corps #31-33 | 2014 | Robert Venditti/Bill Tan | |
  Green Lantern vol. 6: The Life Equation | The Life Equation, Godhead Tie-in | Green Lantern vol. 5 #35-40 and Green Lantern vol. 5 Annual #3 | 2014-2015 | Robert Venditti/Bill Tan | |
  Green Lantern vol. 7: Renegade | Renegade | Green Lantern Sneak Peek #1, Green Lantern vol. 5 #41-46, and Green Lantern vol. 5 Annual #4 | 2015 | Robert Venditti/Bill Tan | |
  Green Lantern vol. 8: Reflections | Reflections | Green Lantern vol. 5 #47-52 | 2016 | Robert Venditti/Bill Tan | |
  Convergence: Zero Hour Book Two | Convergence Tie-ins | Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax #1–2 | 2015 | Ron Marz/Mike Manley | |
  Convergence: Crisis Book One | Convergence Tie-ins | Convergence: Green Lantern Corps #1–2 | 2015 | Fabian Nicieza/Criscross | |
  DC Rebirth | DC Rebirth | DC Rebirth | 2016 | Geoff Johns/Ethan Van Sciver, Gary Frank, Phil Jimenez |
DC Rebirth Reading Order:
In the DC Rebirth era, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern returned with a blend of classic elements and new developments. He embarked on daring missions, battled old foes, and forged new alliances. Rebirth aimed to honor the character’s rich history while charting a course for exciting new stories, appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers.
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| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps vol. 1 | Sinestro’s Law | Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps: Rebirth #1 and Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps #1-6 | 2016 | Robert Venditti/Rafa Sandoval & Ethan Van Sciver | |
  Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 | Bottled Light | Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps #7-12 | 2016-2017 | Robert Venditti/Rafa Sandoval, Ethan Van Sciver & Jordi Tarragoda | |
  Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 | Quest for Hope | Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #14 to #21 | 2017 | Robert Venditti/Rafa Sandoval, Ethan Van Sciver & Jordi Tarragoda | |
  Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps vol. 4 | Fracture | Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #22-29 | 2017 | Robert Venditti/Rafa Sandoval, Ethan Van Sciver & Jordi Tarragoda | |
  Dark Days | Dark Days | Dark Days: The Forge #1 and Dark Days: The Casting #1 | 2017 | Scott Snyder, James Tynion, John Romata Jr, Jim Lee, & Andy Hubert | |
  Dark Nights: Metal | Dark Nights: Metal | Dark Nights: Metal #1-6, Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #32 | 2017-2018 | Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion | |
  Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps vol. 5 | Twilight of the Guardians | Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #30-31, #33-36 | 2017-2018 | Robert Venditti/Patrick Zircher & Jack Herbert | |
  Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps vol. 6 | Zod’s Will | Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #37-41 | 2018 | Robert Venditti/Rafa Sandoval | |
  Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps vol. 7 | Darkstars Rising | Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #42-50 | 2018 | Robert Venditti/Rafa Sandoval, Ethan Van Sciver, Fernando Pasarin & Jordi Tarragoda | |
  Green Lanterns vol. 9 | Evils Might | Green Lanterns #50-57 | 2018 | Tim Seeley/Mike Perkins | |
  The Green Lantern Vol. 1 | Intergalactic Lawmen | The Green Lantern #1-6 | 2018-2019 | Grant Morrison/Liam Sharp | |
  The Green Lantern Vol. 2 | The Day the Stars Fell | The Green Lantern #7-12 | 2019 | Grant Morrison/Liam Sharp | |
  The Green Lantern: The Blackstars | The Blackstars | The Green Lantern: Blackstars #1 – #3 | 2019-2020 | Grant Morrison/Liam Sharp | |
  The Green Lantern Season Two Vol. 1 | Season Two Vol. 1 | The Green Lantern Season Two #1-6 | 2020 | Grant Morrison/Liam Sharp | |
  The Green Lantern Season Two Vol. 2 | Season Two Vol. 2 | The Green Lantern Season Two #7-12 | 2020-2021 | Grant Morrison/Liam Sharp |
Infinite Frontier Reading Order
Infinite Frontier is the latest reboot of the DC Universe and will be updated in the future
References:
Feature Image Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II 2003 collection cover art by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer
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