Green Lantern I & The Harlequin
Created by Bill Finger & Martin Nodell
+ History
Unlike others who bear the name "Green Lantern," Alan Scott's power does not come from the Guardians of the Universe, but from the Starheart, an magical entity once imprisoned by the Guardians. The Starheart found its way to Earth where, in 1939, in the shape of a lantern, it saved Alan from a train wreck. At the lantern's mental direction, Alan fashioned a ring from it that allowed him to tap the Starheart's great power. Perhaps influenced subconsciously by the Starheart's history, Alan adopted the identity of Green Lantern (the name of the great Corps administered by the Guardians). (All-American #16, Secret Origins #18)
Alan was a founding member of the Justice Society and was instrumental in many wartime battles. After the war, as a broadcast executive in the late forties, Alan Scott had a flirtatious relationship with the costumed villainess the Harlequin (who unbeknownst to Alan, was secretly his secretary, Molly Maynne). (All-American #89) Molly even admitted that her career as a "criminal" was just a ruse to get close to Green Lantern. (All-Star Comics #41) The Harlequin eventually turned over a new leaf, becoming an undercover agent for the FBI. (Green Lantern v.1 #34) She left Alan's life without confessing her true identity or her real feelings.
Alan subsequently met and quickly married a young woman named Alyx Florin. He was unaware that she was actually Rose Canton (a.k.a. The Thorn), a schizophrenic but reformed enemy of the Flash (Flash #89). Alyx disappeared on their wedding night, starting a fire that led Alan to believe she had died. In fact, she survived and discovered that she was pregnant with twins. The children were born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised separately by adoptive families as Jennifer-Lynn Hayden and Todd Rice. (Infinity, Inc. #5-6) Alyx was taken to the Amazons' Reformation Island. (Lois Lane #113)
Jennie-Lynn and Todd, who developed superhuman powers as a result of their father's connection to the mystic Starheart, did not meet until adolescence, and set out to uncover the identities of their real parents. They adopted the costumed identities of Jade and Obsidian and confronted Alan about their parentage. And truly, Alan had no clue. Also during this time, he renewed his acquaintance with Molly and discovered her past as the Harlequin; the pair finally gave in to their longtime attraction. But Rose Canton also resurfaced. Just before her death, she revealed the circumstances of Jennie and Todd's births. Alan and Molly were married, (Infinity Inc. Annual #1, #21) but soon separated by the JSA's banishment to Limbo. (Last Days of the JSA) They were reunited two years later when the Justice Society returned to Earth. (Armageddon: Inferno #3-4)
Recently,
the Starheart made Alan appear much younger (GL Corps
Quarterly #5), and he took the new name and costume, Sentinel
(Showcase '95 #1). He encountered a mysterious
new Harlequin (IV),
who may have been a manifestation of the Starheart, which became malevolent.
The Starheart was apparently destroyed and Alan's powers were diminished
and he returned to his original uniform. Jade also lost her powers during
this incident. (GL/Sentinel:
Hearts of Darkness)
When the Justice Society reformed, Alan was there as always to anchor the team. One of their first major cases pitted Sentinel against his son, Obsidian, who had been seduced by dark forces. Alan was forced to beat Todd into retreat. (#7-9) It soon became obvious (and was confirmed by Dr. Mid-Nite) that Alan had become the living embodiment of the Starheart. Any changes to his age or powers are merely psychosomatic. (JSA #26) Obsidian returned in alliance with Mordru and Eclipso. This time, Alan set things right and banished Todd's dark powers, perhaps for good. After this, Alan reclaimed the name Green Lantern. (#46-50) Todd was taken into D.E.O. custody and vowed to atone for his actions. (#52) The recent events involving his son have made Alan somewhat overbearing and overprotective of the JSA's other "children."
During the great Crisis created by Alexander Luthor and Superboy Prime, Alan and Jade followed Donna Troy into space to investigate a cosmic rift. When Luthor was defeated, the rift began collapsing and Jennie-Lynn was caught in one of the shock waves. Alan was on Thanagar when she lost her life. He learned afterwards that as she died, she returned the power once given to her by Kyle Rayner. Thus in a way, she continues to live on within Rayner. (Rann-Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special)
When the rift collapsed for good, Alan and the remaining heroes were sent reeling through space and time. He and several others reemerged a week later on Earth. Alan was among the lucky ones, having only lost an eye. (52 #4) The JSA had also become a spectre of its former self, and its members became disillusioned about the team's effectiveness. This was underscored by the advent of Lex Luthor's Everyman technology, which awarded powers to a girl who adopted Jade's codename. Alan had to restrain Obsidian from accosting the girl. (#29)
Soon Alan was approached by the spy organization Checkmate, which was reorganizing under U.N. control. They invited Alan to become their White King, which he accepted. (52 #46, Checkmate v.2 #1) His time with Checkmate was brief. On a mission to China, he chose to do the right thing over the official thing and his commission as White King was not renewed. (#4) Another JSA member, Mr. Terrific, succeeded him in the post. (#5)
Meanwhile, Alan was urged by the Justice League to re-establish the JSA as an organization that cares for the legacy of its heroes. When his time with Checkmate came to an end, Alan resumed an active role in the JSA. (JSofA v.3 #1)
Alan and Molly have no children of their own.
Harlequins
The second person to take the name "Harlequin" is the sometime-villain
Duela Dent. Dent has taken many names, including Two-Face's
Daughter and Joker's Daughter (claiming such parentage each time). (Batman
Family #6) Duela confounded the original Robin many times before
actually becoming a Teen Titan herself. (Teen Titans
#46) She has since
flopped back-and-forth between crime and heroism.
The third Harlequin was Marcie Cooper, granddaughter of the original Manhunter, Dan Richards. (Infinity, Inc. #14) As a youth Marcie Cooper was recruited by the Grandmaster to join the Manhunters, an alien band of androids originally created by the Guardians of the Universe. Her grandfather, not knowing about the Manhunters' new nefarious plan to invade Earth, also encouraged her to join the group as he had years ago. The Manhunters gave her a job working at KGLX radio in Gotham City, alongside Molly Maynne Scott, who was a former agent called Harlequin. Marcie began dating Northwind, and later Obsidian, both of Infinity, Inc., infiltrating the superteam from within.
When the Manhunters began their strike on Earth, Marcie stole Molly's illusion-casting spectacles, becoming Harlequin III. (#46) She failed to recruit Obsidian to the Manhunters, but she did kill her grandfather after he betrayed the Manhunters. Single-minded in her attempt to destroy Infinity, Inc., she joined Injustice, Unlimited and masterminded the assassination of Skyman. She used Solomon Grundy as her pawn in killing Skyman, but when the sometimes-kind Gruyndy realized what he had done, he savagely beat Marcie. She has not been heard from since.
Alan's constant sidekick, Doiby Dickles, first appeared in All-American #27 (June 1941); Streak the Wonder Dog in Green Lantern v.1 #30 (post-war).
Geoff Johns Says: Like Jay, he’s a mainstay in the DC Universe. He’ll be taking center stage in the last half of the year of Justice Society of America as he comes face-to-face with a new member he sees a lot of himself in Hawkman. (from Newsarama)
+ Powers
Alan controls the mystical power of the Starheart, an ancient artifact created by the Guardians of the Universe. (Green Lantern v.2 #111-112) The Starheart is now fashioned into a ring and lantern that Scott uses to create hard light constructs and project fire-like plasma blasts.
The artifacts mystical properties also imbue Scott with seemingly eternal youth. It has been discovered that Alan's body is composed entirely of green flame. His appearance of aging is only a magical manifestation of his will. (JSA #26)
As the Harlequin, both Molly and Marcie wore special glasses that allowed them to hypnotize people and to create realistic illusions. Marcie also wielded a mandolin with an extending handle that could be used as a weapon.
Appearances + References
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