A post I read:
Before we begin, it is important to identify which incarnations of the characters Green Lantern and Superman we will be discussing. Pro mentioned that he will be focusing on the classic Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern, including his susceptibility to the color yellow [1]. For consistency's sake, I will focus on the classic incarnation of Clark Kent as Superman [2].
From here, I will focus solely on my opponent's contentions, as doing will clearly exhibit Superman's superiority.
Powers & Abilities
Superman's powers make him a Class 17 entity on the Super Hero Database [3], just shy of cosmic-level characters. A full list of his abilities reads like an essay [2, see: Powers and Abilities], but there are a few outstanding characteristics to point out:
- Strength: Superman's strength is currently incalculable, though it is certain that he can lift in excess of 1 million tons. Note his ability to destroy entire moons [4] and planets [5] with his base hands.
- Speed: Superman can fly, run, and react at speeds far exceeding the speed of light. In addition to classic examples of catching bullets [6] and engaging enemies with super speed [7], he has shown the ability to escape black holes, which is capable of capturing light itself [8][9].
- Durability: Superman can easily withstand blows from god-like villains, blasts powerful enough to destroy solar systems, and the power of an exploding sun [2, see: Invulnerability].
Combine these with numerous other abilities (including, but not limited to, heat vision, ice breath, super human senses, and advanced healing) and Superman is easily one of the most powerful characters in any comic universe.
Hal Jordan, on the other hand, is only a Class 11 entity on the SHDB [10]. Without his power ring, he has the strength, speed, and durability of a fit human male [1]. With his ring, these attributes are heightened, but nowhere close to Superman's levels. For example, while the device does grant him flight, it does not improve his reflexes and there is no evidence of Hal exceeding light speed. Furthermore, the power ring has not often been seen lifting more than roughly 100 tons, let alone planetary objects. Thirdly, Hal's durability is nowhere near that of Superman and he has suffered numerous battle injuries, even while behind shielding [11][12].
These limitations are due entirely to the fact that the ring's abilities are based entirely on the will and imagination of the user. It can create innumerable objects and do great damage, but its capabilities are inherently and unavoidably limited to the mental weaknesses and ignorance of a human mind. Superman has no such limitation.
Battle
Pro believes that Green Lantern would hold an advantage over Superman in battle. This view is incorrect for three primary reasons.
First, as mentioned previously, Superman's physical and mental reaction time is superhuman to the point of nigh-instantaneous. Thus, at his discretion, Superman is able to formulate and execute battle plans before mortal combatants can form a thought, let alone counter-attack. For all of his ring's powers, Hal Jordan is human and his ring can only operate as quickly as human thought and will-power allow. During a standard combat scenario in which both characters wish to defeat the other, Superman would be able to disarm (i.e. remove Hal's ring), incapacitate, or simply destroy his mortal opponent before a single neuron has the opportunity to fire within Hal's brain.
Second, the ability to create kryptonite does not guarantee victory over Superman. If such was the case, the numerous kryptonite-clad villains in Superman's rogues gallery (e.g. Lex Luthor, Metallo, Titano) would have destroyed him long ago. Kryptonite may hurt Superman and reduce his powers, but he largely retains his invulnerability and general abilities [13, see: Green Kryptonite]. Given the extreme power difference between these two characters, Superman would remain more than a match for Green Lantern while in a weakened state.
Third, the incarnation of Hal Jordan presented by my opponent is weak against the color yellow. Considering Superman sports this color in his costume, he could effectively and harmlessly negate any ring attacks with a simple flick of his cape [14, see: Limitations]. Combined with his incredible reaction time, this built-in shielding against Green Lantern's attacks essentially eliminates Hal's chances for success.
Jurisdiction
I must admit that I do not understand this argument. To start, Superman has battled entities and saved countless planets throughout known space and across the multiverse [2]. Indeed, his record of lives saved dwarfs that of Hal Jordan, who eventually became a super villain and mass-murderer [1, see: Parallax]. Regardless of this fact, I am lost as to how the concept of "jurisdiction" indicates any sort of superiority. I ask my opponent to elaborate on this point.
Conclusion
My opponent has presented no evidence or argument which successfully proves Green Lantern superior to Superman in any way. Not only does Superman possess nearly all of the abilities Pro listed, but he also exhibits them to a far greater extent. The one primary draw for Green Lantern - his ability to use a power ring to create objects - is unimpressive when one considers that Superman can still match or exceed the actions of these constructs with ease. Green Lantern is an interesting and unique character, but in he end he is only a man, not a Man of Steel. Resources
1. http://dc.wikia.com...(Hal_Jordan)
2. http://dc.wikia.com...(Clark_Kent)
3. http://www.superherodb.com...
4. http://media.animevice.com...
5. http://i658.photobucket.com...
6. http://i658.photobucket.com...
7. http://i658.photobucket.com...
8. http://img367.imageshack.us...
9. http://img367.imageshack.us...
10. http://www.superherodb.com...
11. http://2.bp.blogspot.com...
12. http://1.bp.blogspot.com...
13. http://superman.wikia.com...
14. http://en.wikipedia.org...(DC_Comics)
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