Guy Gardner

Origin

===================

This character is Green Lantern Number One of the Oan Honor Guard

Guy Gardner was created by Gil Kane and John Broome in March, 1968. His first appearance was in Green Lantern #59.

Guy was born to parents Roland and Peggy Gardner in Baltimore, Maryland. He had a rough childhood, often being beaten by his abusive father. Gardner always struggled to please his father, who seemed to only appreciate the accomplishments of his older brother, Mace. His only escape were comic books that he collected, particularly those of General Glory. He even modelled his haircut after the General's kid sidekick.

Young Gardner tried to do many things to impress his father, including building a radio from scratch for a school project. Nothing seemed to be capable of impressing Rolly though, so Guy eventually grew tired of trying to please his father, and began a life of mischief and juvenile delinquency. He stole cars, got in fights, and got send to Juvenile Hall several times. Unfortunately, after Guy turned 18 years old, his behaviour finally caught up with him. The police caught him trying to steal a car, but instead of taking him to jail, they took him to his brother, Mace Gardner. Mace had become a Baltimore policeman, and enlisted his fellow officer's help in setting his brother straight. After smacking him around a bit, Mace gave Guy a big wad of money, and told him to start acting right. This hit Guy where it counted, and he went out and got a job. He got his G.E.D., and began an education at the University of Michigan.

He graduated alongside his good friend John Henry Irons, and left the school with a Bachelor's in Psychology and Education, along with much time spent learning about engineering and playing sports. When he came back home to his family though, things were not as he remembered. His brother had been kicked from the force for the extortion of several drug dealers, whom Mace had blackmailed. He drowned himself in a local river. This drove their father's alcoholism to new levels, and he too soon died.

Guy, now full of aggression that he couldn't get rid of, decided to follow a career helping others with the same problem. He became a social caseworker for prison inmates. One of these inmates was Hal Jordan, in a correctional facility for an alcohol problem. Eventually, during a huge prison riot, Guy lost his temper and attacked one of the inmates. Jordan was forced to pull him off. This led Guy to leave this career path, believing it to be a conduit for his aggressiveness. He opted then to become a Physical Education teacher. He was put in a class for special education children, which he loved to teach. The students regarded him as their favourite teacher.

Green Lantern

=====================

Unbeknownst to Guy, an alien by the name of Abin Sur crash landed on Earth. Abin Sur was a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, and was fatally wounded. In a last ditch effort to pass on the responsibility of defending his assigned sector of the Universe (sector 2814, which includes Earth), he used his Power Ring to scan the beings on the planet, searching for one that was honest and without fear. The ring's first choice was Guy Gardner, but he was too far away. The ring instead opted for a closer being, Hal Jordan, former inmate. Guy was put on reserve, in case of a situation calling for a replacement Lantern. Abin died, and the ring bonded itself with Hal, who became the world-renowned and infamous Green Lantern of Earth and Sector 2814.

Years later, while Guy was on a field trip with a class of his students to California, a destructive Earthquake rocked the bridge beneath them. The school bus careened toward the edge of the bridge, and almost tipped off. Everybody on the bus was returned to safety through the emergency exit in the rear of the bus, save for Guy and a young girl. As he tried to pull her out of the death-trap, the bus gave out, and the two plummeted toward certain doom. However, just in time to save them was none other than Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Earth. Hal recognized Gardner as the man who had worked with him in prison, and the man whom Abin Sur had originally chosen to receive his Power Ring, but chose to leave Gardner in the dark. The two were brought to solid ground, but the violent fall had broken Gardner's legs before Hal could reach him. For almost the next year, Guy was bedridden, or forced to use a cane or crutches to walk.

Soon enough though, Gardner healed enough to walk on his own, and was able to return to a normal life. However, because he was still racked with guilt over the near death of his entire class, Guy was unable to continue teaching. He began to travel the country, seeing places that he had always dreamed of visiting. On one of these ventures he met a woman named Kari Limbo at a state carnival. She professed to be something of a fortune teller, and during a reading of Guy's future, she informed him that he will inherit a part in a great tradition involving the color Green. Guy and Kari soon fell in love, and travelled the country together. Guy even proposed to her, and she accepted. Life didn't seem like it could get better for him.

Guy Gardner -- New Green Lantern of Sector 2814!

Elsewhere, Hal Jordan began to have trouble charging his Power Ring. Assuming it was a problem stemming from the Oan Central Power Battery itself, Hal decided to venture there. He departed Earth, but before leaving he confronted Guy about his title as a reserve Lantern. After Gardner came to terms with it, Hal left him with a Power Ring, and his Lantern. However, little did Hal or Guy know that the problem Hal was having was actually inside his Lantern. As a result, when Guy first tried to charge his ring, his head was injured and his cranium damaged in a fatal explosion, and was somehow flung into the Phantom Zone. Guy spent some time there, learning to fend for himself. Much to his dismay though, he was able to actually look out into Earth from the Zone. From his vantage point, he witnessed Kari Limbo mourning his apparent death, and Hal consoling her. They eventually became lovers, and the longer Guy watched, the more deranged he became.

While residing in the Phantom Zone, Guy encountered a demon named Sapol. Sapol intended to escape from the Zone, and conquer the outside world. Luckily, with some of his remaining power, Guy was able to defeat him. This battle only served to damage Guy's psyche even further, and as he continued to watch Hal and Kari's life together, he nearly lost his mind. In one last ditch effort to contact the outside world, Guy tried to reach out to Kari's psychic abilities from the Zone. On the day Kari and Hal were to be wed, Guy pushed himself as hard as he could, and finally managed to touch her mind. She entered a trance, and drew a picture in the dirt of what she saw from the other dimension. Hal quickly recruited the help of Superman, but in their investigation, they were inadvertantly pulled into the Phantom Zone as well. Once there, Guy immediately and relentlessly began attacking the duo, feeling that Hal had in fact stolen Kari from him, and purposely tried to kill him with the faulty battery. Gardner's onslaught forced Superman and Jordan to retreat. After they left, Guy was pulled into the anti-matter universe known as Qward by the ex-Green Lantern Sinestro. He was used by Sinestro, who fueled his rage toward Hal Jordan. Superman and Hal finally defeated Sinestro, and returned Guy to his home. Unfortunately, once there, Guy was comatose. He could not be reached psychically by Kari, nor any other psychics.

While Guy laid in his hospital bed, a new reservist Lantern for sector 2814 was selected. He was another Earthman, by the name of John Stewart. Guy remained in his coma until he was finally and forcibly awakened by the Guardians Of The Universe during the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Crisis on Infinite Earths

==============================

The fate of the Universe is at stake when the Anti-Monitor strikes!

Guy Gardner, deep in his coma as he was, could still feel his connection with the vast Green Lantern Corps. He could see through his mind's eye their battles with Krona, and Nekron. Hal Jordan, after these experiences and a long career as a Green Lantern, and although he loved to protect those without protection, grew weary of the spacefaring and dangerous life of a member of the Corps. He resigned, leaving responsibility of Sector 2814 to John Stewart. Hal visited Gardner often in his hospital bed thereafter.

However, little to the knowledge of Earth's heroes, destructive forces were growing ever closer. The being known as the Anti-Monitor, comprised of anti-matter energy, was devouring entire Universes. The very fate of the entire Multiverse was at stake. The Guardians of the Universe, detecting this terrible and malevolent force, found themselves torn as to how they should act. Six of these Guardians felt that they should break their vow to not intervene in these matters, and take action. They formed their own Power Battery, and began assembling a small Green Lantern strike force. The first of these Green Lanterns, they decided, would be none other than Guy Gardner. During his short time as a Green Lantern, he exhibited brutal effiency, and a level of willpower previously unseen. They immediately and forcibly woke him from his lengthy coma. When Gardner awoke, he seemed to a wholly different person than he was before his accidental trip to the Phantom Zone. He was angrier, more violent, and his ego was off the charts. Feeling compelled to visit the crash site of Abin Sur, Guy left the hospital promptly. Once there, he was met by Hal Jordan. Hal was apparently there for his annual visit to the burial site. Before the two could talk though, they were met by one of the Guardian's in person. He told Guy that with the entire Universe on the brink of destruction, he was the one Green Lantern that the Guardian's felt could spearhead their assault on the Anti-Monitor. He teleported them to Oa after giving Guy a Power Ring, and at the main Citadel, he met the other five Guardians. They told him that his Ring and Battery would be fueled by their life force, now that the anti-matter wave had destroyed the energy within the original Central Battery. They bestowed upon him a new uniform, resembling that of their now-outdated Fists of the Guardians robots. Guy would be tasked with leading an assault force that he would assemble on the moon of Qward, birthplace of the Anti-Monitor.

Just as the meeting between Guy and the six remaining Guardians concluded, another destructive wave of anti-matter swept across Oa, and killed five of the Guardians. The final remaining Guardian gave Gardner his blessing, and sent him out to assemble his strike force. However, little did any of them know that Hal Jordan had actually hitched along for the ride when they were teleported to Oa. Jordan confronted the Guardian, offering his assistance as a veteran Green Lantern. The Guardian accepted, and granted him a Power Ring under the circumstance that he follow Gardner no matter what. Reluctantly, Hal Jordan agreed, and set off to find Guy. Back on Earth, as forces across the Universe attempted to stop the Anti-Monitor, Guy Gardner was hatching his plan to destroy the moon of Qward. He revived the Shark, an old villain of Hal Jordan's, and persuaded him to assist in his mission. Gardner also recruited Hector Hammond, Sonar, Throttle, Blindside, and Goldface. Just as the team had been finished, Green Lanterns John Stewart and Katma Tui got in their way. They planned on sending the majority of the team back to prison, and to arrest Gardner. Just before they could though, Hal Jordan intervened. He told the two that Gardner was handpicked to stop the Anti-Monitor, and that no one would be allowed to stop him. The team of 8 then left for Qward.

As John Stewart and Katma Tui were about to leave again, they were approached by Sinestro. He informed them that if Gardner's phalanx on the moon of Qward were to be successful, the Anti-Monitor would only grow in power. Stewart quickly departed in search for the team. Meanwhile, in the anti-matter universe, Gardner and his strike force encountered several enemies defending Qward. Gardner quickly cast Jordan out of the team when Hal refused to use lethal force, stranding him in the anti-matter world. Gardner's army approached Qward. Just before they could execute their final objective, John Stewart stepped in, and attacked Gardner. He informed Gardner of the error in the mission, but Guy refused to listen. Jordan, having been rescued by Stewart along the way, also tried to talk Gardner out of it, but without a ring he could not stop him. John felt that the only appropriate course of action would be to forcefully stop Gardner. The two fought for some time, but in the end, John left as the victor. He imprisoned Gardner, and sent his team back to Earth.

Elsewhere, the force of the Anti-Monitor was stopped by several heroes from the Multiverse, including Superman from Earth-2, Superboy from Earth-Prime, and Alexander Luthor from Earth-3. However, with the defeat of the Anti-Monitor, the remaining energy began to collapse into one, streamlined Universe. Having no where else to run, Luthor created a pocket Universe for them all to live in, along with Lois Lane of Earth-2.

The Justice League International

============================

When the Crisis was averted and the remaining Guardians freed from their anti-matter prison, Guy Gardner was to be held accountable for his actions. They had planned on leaving this dimension, and letting the Corps run itself. They told Gardner that if he were to remain a Green Lantern, he must train on their homeworld of Maltus, and help rebuild several worlds that were left in ruins during the Anti-Monitor's rampage. Although Guy felt this to be something of a punishment, he agreed to their demands.

After this, Guy served the Corps loyally for some time, gaining a reputation as an effective and powerful Lantern. Hal Jordan, now an official Green Lantern once more, was tasked with going on a Universe-wide recruiting mission for the Corps, and Guy was left as the representative Green Lantern of Sector 2814.

Guy Gardner at the JLI Embassy

Shortly after the events of the Legends miniseries, the world realized that it needed a new Justice League. One that would not only be restricted to its American roots, but one that would protect the Earth as a whole. Maxwell Lord heeded this call, and began recruiting members for his own new League. Invited members included Guy Gardner, Batman, Blue Beetle, Black Canary, Doctor Fate, Martian Manhunter, and Captain Marvel, among others. This marked the beginning of the Justice League International, and the beginning of a more fun-loving and happier time in the DC Universe.

Guy often clashed with most of the League, specifically Batman, but then, most of the League clashed with itself. Gardner fancied himself as leader of the team, although the title was never officially bestowed upon him, and half of the members answered to Batman or Martian Manhunter anyway. The other half answered to Max. At one point, Maxwell went to Hal Jordan and offered him a position on the team, but Jordan refused to join if Guy was a member, claiming that his presence is cancerous to the team's integrity. Max then withdrew his offer, saying that he didn't need the veteran Lantern's advice. Another rather famous moment in the JLI's time together was when Guy finally challenged Batman's leadership abilities. The argument got heated, and Gardner removed his Power Ring, saying that all he needed was his bare hands to take down the Batman. Guy was promptly knocked out with a single punch. After this, it seemed that Guy in fact had a split personality. This separate personality would emerge whenever Guy would get hit on the head. When would happen, Guy became the polar opposite of his everyday arrogant, sexist, violent and cruel self, and developed a humble, modest, sweet, pacifist side.

Tora Olafsdotter -- AKA, Ice!

When the woman named Tora Olafsdotter, otherwise known as Ice, joined the team, Guy found himself infatuated. Unfortunately for him, most of his advances were shot down immediately. Guy persisted though, and eventually got her say yes to a single date. Unfortunately for Mr. Gardner though, he fumbled when she found out they were going to a Rooster Fight, and he said that Tora had "cottage cheese thighs". She refused to even speak with Guy for a very long time, and his actions infuriated teammate Beatriz DaCosta, also known as Fire, who was Tora's best friend. Bea often berated Guy, who grew quite a level of contempt for her. Finally though, one more time, Guy conviced Tora to give him one more chance. She agreed on the stipulation that they go wherever she wanted, and that he act like a perfect gentleman. Guy agreed, and the two went to to see the Ice Capists. It was all going well until Blue Beetle decided that he needed to play a prank on the unsuspecting Green Lantern. He recruited the help of Kilowog to build a giant-sized bobble-head Guy Gardner to skate on the ice. When the robot came out, the entire audience laughed and jeered at Gardner, but he managed to control himself. Because of this, Ice felt that she got more of an insight into who Guy really is, and how dedicated he is to her. Unfortunately though, and much to the terrible dismay of her fellow Justice League teammates, and most notably Guy Gardner, Ice later died at the hands of the Overmaster.

The Justice League International went through many such trials and tribulations, the most prevalent of which was the 15-issue crossover Breakdowns. The League, now with branches in Europe and America, faced the massive threats of the Dreamslayer and Despero. Dreamslayer possessed Maxwell Lord, and used him to manipulate the League to his ends. He later ended up murdering several people, and could only be defeated by the Silver Sorceress. Meanwhile, in space, Despero managed to escape from the mothership of Lord Manga, and attacked Earth. The fight was long and tumultuous, but only the combined effort of the likes of Guy Gardner, Martian Manhunter, Captain Atom, the Flash and more could hope to stop Despero's onslaught. Eventually, with the help of Booster Gold's Conglomerate team, Despero was finally apprehended.

These events though, and the resulting devastation, eventually lead to the disbandment of the Justice League International.

The Yellow Power Ring and the Battle with Parallax

===========================

Guy Gardner: Reborn

Guy Gardner and Lobo journey to find the Yellow Power Ring

Some time after Guy's tenure with the League, he was back in his regular role as alternate Green Lantern of Sector 2814. However, when Guy provoked Hal Jordan one too many times, his time as a Green Lantern came to an end. In a fit of rage, Jordan destroyed Gardner's Power Ring. Jordan was punished, but Guy was not allowed another Power Ring due to his reckless fights with fellow Lanterns. This left an enormous void in Gardner's life, and he felt that he needed to have power. That he was meant for it. With his need for power now fuelling him, he began hatching a plan to gain another power ring. To be specific, the Yellow Qwardian Ring of former Green Lantern Sinestro. He had heard legend of its location before, inside of a Crypt created by the Guardians of the Universe. Using his old Justice League connections, Guy contacted the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo. The two had often clashed in the past, mostly due to such similar and harsh personalities. However, Lobo agreed to help Gardner, and took him into space with him. The two eventually found the Crypt, and Guy discovered exactly what he came for -- Sinestro's legendary Yellow Power Ring. Unfortunately, when Gardner first donned the Ring, he discovered that it was drained of power. It didn't have a Lantern, and as far as he knew, there was no such battery that it could draw power from. Another flaw was that the Ring's inherent language was Korugarian, the native language of Sinestro's people.

In space, on their way back to Earth, Lobo and Guy found themselves attacked by a member of the Green Lantern Corps. Gardner thought himself doomed, but the more the Green Lantern attacked him, the more he realized that his new Ring was gaining power. He began to fight back, and it grew even more powerful. Guy won the fight, and from that point on, the only way he know how to recharge his Ring was to battle against other Green Lanterns.

It was during this time in Gardner's life that his previously-deceased older brother Mace seemed to reappear. He now called himself Militia, and fought against Gardner with a group called the Quorum. He seemed to be insane now, working as a mercenary and secret operative for the Quorum. Militia survived their encounter though, and went on to plague the lives of the Birds Of Prey, and later fought Guy once more. However, Guy's life took yet another dramatic turn, along with the lives of Green Lanterns everywhere, when Hal Jordan lost his mind.

Guy Gardner attacks Parallax head-on!

Jordan's home town of Coast City had been destroyed, and when the Guardian's forbade him from trying to revive its former inhabitants, Jordan assaulted the Corps itself. As he ventured through space, cutting down all the Green Lanterns in his path, he collected more and more rings. Finally, when reaching Oa, he absorbed all the energy of the remaining Lanterns, and killed them. The Guardians, in a last ditch effort to stop Hal, released Sinestro from his prison within the Central Power Battery. Hal snapped his neck, and burned Kilowog to ashes. The Guardians then transferred all of their power to one of their own, Ganthet, who used the power to travel to Earth. Hal then entered himself into the Battery, and emerged infused with all of its power. His name was now Parallax, and did not intend on letting anything stop him from making things right.

Ganthet, now on Earth, began a desperate search for somebody worthy enough to become the last Green Lantern. He first approached Guy Gardner, but Guy refused. The closest being he could then find before Parallax reached Earth was artist Kyle Rayner. Kyle was reluctant, but accepted, and was then given a reconstructed Power Ring. Ganthet then went returned to Oa, leaving Kyle to fend for himself.

Guy, upon learning of Hal Jordan's transformation, leads a team of his former comrades to stop him on Oa. The fight ends quickly though, with Guy holding out the longest. He stands his ground for as long as possible, staving off Parallax's zeal with all the willpower he has left. Unfortunately, Jordan destroys his Yellow Ring, takes one of his eyes, and leaves Gardner for dead. Fortunately, Ganthet is able to teleport him safely back to Earth.

Warrior

===========================

Parallax was eventually defeated by Earth's heroes, without the help of Guy Gardner. Guy, left without the power he so craved once more, began travelling again. He found himself embedded in the Amazon, deep within the Nabba Jungle. Upon exploring an ancient temple, Guy discovered a chalice filled with a strange liquid. Although logic told him otherwise, he felt drawn to it. Compelled to drink from it. Gardner succumbed to his urges, and took a sip from the goblet. It was then that Guy Gardner underwent yet another radical transformation. He was first hit with a wealth of knowledge. He learned that hundreds of years ago, a dying race of humanoids called the Vuldarians came to Earth. They were a proud race of warriors, with amazing shape-shifting abilities, but their numbers were dwindling. They came here to start anew. Upon arrival, they discovered that the ruling species of the planet, Humans, were compatible with their own Vuldarian DNA. They began procreating with local tribes, in a desperate attempt to preserve their heritage. Unfortunately, their unique DNA would take years to integrate with a human's completely. The last colony of Vuldarians died, but their genes continued to swim through our own pool for some time. Finally, hundreds of years later, the integration was successful. In Baltimore, Maryland, the last of the Vuldarian Warriors was born. His name was Guy Gardner.

When Guy learned all of this, he was blown away. He then realized, quite abruptly, that the waters from the chalice had activated his dormant Vuldarian powers. His eye regrew, and he could suddenly, and painfully, change his body into a myriad of weapons. As he transformed, he grew to a massive seven-feet, and became covered in some sort of ritualistic Vuldarian tattoos. For some time, Guy was unable to transform back unless he was given ample time to focus. He also took a long time to learn how to use his new powers to create more powerful weapons. With time though, he gained complete control over his body, and even had the skill required to heal wounds.

After Guy finally got the hang of his new abilties, he once again got back into his superhero groove. He took the name Warrior, and used his abilties to fight foes like the Dementor and Militia. Eventually Guy opened a bar called "Warriors" which served as his own base of operations, a superhero hangout, and a Green Lantern museum.

Guy's Warrior solo series lasted for several years, and enjoyed much success. However, when the DC editors wanted to take the Universe in a new direction, Gardner was almost killed in the "Our Worlds At War" storyline. He ended up trapped in a small part of General Zod's country of Pokolistan, and when he escaped, his new goal was to take on more seedy tasks that more upstanding heroes wouldn't take part in. His series didn't last long after this.

The Superbuddies

===========================

The Superbuddies discover their new neighboor: Guy Gardner!

Several years after the cancellation of the Warrior series, Gardner appeared in several DC titles with his Vuldarian abiltiies, but only in guest spots. Finally, in April of 2005, Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire reunited to write the sequel to their hit miniseries "Formerly Known As the Justice League". The arc took place in JLA: Classified, and was entitled "I Can't Believe it's not the Justice League". The Superbuddies, reunited members of the Justice League International finally move into their new base of operations: a strip mall in Queens, New York. However, on moving day, they discover who's going to be working next door: Guy Gardner! Guy is opening a bar called "The Dark Side" with reformed super-villain Dick Hertz, aka Blackguard. The Superbuddies are none-too-pleased to find that their former and presumed unstable teammate is going to be their neighboor, and make it quite clear to him. Guy doesn't help himself when he fondles Mary Marvel, and is almost killed for it. He apologizes later on, admitting that it was inappropriate. The team is surprised, but forgive him. Mostly.

Guy reveals that he still posesses Sinestro's Yellow Ring