Abin Sur was a Green Lantern, but a different type of GL from all others. And he was on a mission different from the rest of the feared Green Lantern Corps. But it didn't look like he was going to succeed.

So near his goal, and yet so far, while his foes attacked him. Actually, they were not his foes, but they were under the thrall of an enemy, so there was little difference. The star-shaped creatures that adhered to their faces were dominating their wills. And each slave possessed staggering power, especially the silver man. He had a cosmic force that could devastate planets. The other two were not to be underestimated either.

Abin Sur was injured. If he was going to reach his goal, he needed a distraction. Amazingly enough, the universe delivered.

A large asteroid passing in the nearby asteroid belt caught the Green Lantern's eye. His ring sensed that it was made of solorite, which always made a big bang when it exploded. Abin Sur fired an energy burst at the asteroid. It exploded with devastating force. The blast and gravitational upheaval threw everyone around. Millions of pieces of rock debris sprayed across the void of space, pelting the three mind-controlled space assassins. Other, smaller asteroids were knocked out of the asteroid belt and came hurtling perilously close. It was cosmic chaos. And when it was over, and the three beings reoriented themselves . . . Abin Sur was gone!

A thousand miles away and falling fast, Abin Sur was using the momentum of the blast to propel him to Earth. He barely managed to hold onto his lantern. The massive explosion took a toll on his already injured frame and as he dealt with the heat of entry into Earth's atmosphere, he hoped he would be able to retard his speed enough to survive the impact with the green planet below.

Captain America and Batman sat at the large meeting table of the Justice League of Avengers. They were both men of such indomitable will and intelligence, that when they had a disagreement, it needed to be settled. J'Onn J'Onzz, Cap's co-leader on the team played mediator, with the assistance of the visiting Sentinel, a founding member of the JLA, who had known Cap since their days on the Justice Society.

"Sometimes I think you forget who the leader of this team is," Cap said. "I appreciate initiative but there is also such a thing as respect and as chain of command."

The dark knight was typically dispassionate. "My so-called initiative has saved this team on more than one occasion. Forgive me if I don't play the obedient soldier and wait for someone to tell me what to do. I prefer to think for myself."

Sentinel chimed in. "Cap isn't saying that we don't appreciate your input. You've been an invaluable asset to the League. But some of the others have complained about the way to give them orders. You talk down to them."

"In a crisis, I have no time to worry about bruised egos," Batman said. "Why should they care who comes up with the idea that saves the world, as long as we succeed? Are we here because of hurt feelings?"

"You're a good man, Batman," Cap said. "But you're not a team player."

J'Onn spoke up. "In Batman's defense, the team members often look to him for ideas in a crisis."

"I don't need defending," Batman said. "But while we're here, I think we should talk about Captain America's support of this ridiculous Fantastic Act! I am personally appalled by . . . "

The Troub-alert went off. "Discussion tabled for the time being," Cap said, answering the alert.

Cap learned that government satellite monitors had detected a suspicious landing in the Mid-west. Cap instructed J'Onn to remain at the hall as liaison. He and Batman, accompanied by the Sentinel who volunteered to transport them, went to investigate.

Hal Jordan pushed his jet as fast as it could go. He was testing an experimental trans-sonic drive. He had never flown so fast. It was exciting and dangerous and he loved every second of it! Only when he was flirting with death did Hal Jordan love life. Streaking through the clouds at many times the speed of sound, Hal was invigorated. What could be better than this?

Hal was ordered to return to airfield. With a reluctant acknowledgment, Hal turned his craft around and headed back to the Kansas airfield owned by Stark Industries, where Hal was temporarily assigned as a test pilot. He used to live in Vermont, but now had sort of a gypsy existence. He went where the action was. If he wasn't flying an experimental jet, he was racing cars or participating in extreme sporting events. He loved danger!

The jet descended toward the runway. Hal was handsome man with brown hair and a good physique. He smiled a boyish smile as he touched down. This had been fun. Now for some downtime with the local girls.

Just as the jet came to a stop, Hal was surprised by the green light that enveloped him. Others on the airfield saw it too. They rushed to the jet, threw open the dome . . . And found that Hal Jordan had vanished!

The strange man at the bottom of the pit was badly injured. His body was ruined and purple blood poured from him. He moaned slightly, keeping his grip on the lantern. Hal felt a surge of pity for him.

"Can you understand me?" Hal asked the alien.

"Yes," the injured being said, weakly. "My ring translates all languages. My name is Abin Sur. I am of the Green Lantern Corps. Or at least, I once was. I am a traitor to their ranks. I wanted to stop them. But it seems that I shall not live long enough to do so."

"Who are the Green Lanterns?" Hal asked, "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"When I die, take my ring," Abin Sur said, barely audible. "I sense a brave soul in you. Fearless. My ring sought you out. I need someone to carry on for me. You were in the right place at the right time, and you have the necessary courage. I need you to fulfill my purpose."

Hal Jordan was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Abin Sur could hardly speak. He was fading fast. "Someone has to stop them. I came to find help. I was freed of their control in an accident. Spatial gases killed the worm parasite. I came here to find the Cosmic Cube. Only it can stop the Master! We weren't meant to be like this. When the guardians formed the Corps, it wasn't supposed to be like this. It all went wrong! They were conquered. By him! Someone has to stop the master! Please, stop him! Stop them! Put on the ring and speak this oath."

Abin Sur managed to whisper the Green Lantern Oath to Hal Jordan. "Please . . . stop him. Put things right."

And with those final words, Abin Sur died. He released the Lantern finally. In his other palm, Hal spotted something that looked like a worm. Hal Jordan was confused and amazed. As much as he loved adventure, his was way too bizarre. What to do next?

Hal did as the alien asked and took his ring. Placing the ring on his finger, he touched it to the glowing lantern, as he had been instructed to. He spoke the oath.

"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let all those who worship evil's might, beware my power--the Green Lantern's light!"

Hal suddenly felt an unbelievable surge of power. It was indescribable! Magnificent! Hal's clothes suddenly changed, and he found himself wearing a tight green costume, with the Green Lantern emblem on the chest. He was a new man. Everything had changed!

What to do next? What to do first? Firstly, he should bury Abin Sur. After that, the world was in his hand. He felt like he could do anything. He needed to test himself!

Batman noticed the new grave. He pointed. "I would imagine that this is connected in some way."

Cap was reluctant to dig up a dead body. "Sentinel, what can you gather from that?"

The Sentinel scanned the grave. "There's an alien corpse in there. Someone buried him only minutes ago."

Cap rubbed his chin. "What on Earth is going on around here?"

Cap got a message on his communicator from J'Onn. There was a problem in Toronto, and J'Onn was taking a few of the JLA members to investigate. Cap acknowledged and turned his sharp mind back to the mystery at hand.

The three mind-controlled aliens had arrived on Earth. They were trying to find Abin Sur. They didn't seem to have a plan. They merely destroyed everything in sight. Like mindless drones, they hoped to ferret out their hidden quarry. They would ravage the planet to find the Green Lantern.

The Martian Manhunter arrived, leading a squad consisting of Wonder Woman, Thor, Captain Marvel, Icon, and Iron Man. J'Onn telepathically gave orders. {Iron Man, Icon, you two are on damage control. Help the civilians. The rest of you are with me. Let's stop these maniacs!}

Thor looked at the silver man, who road atop a vessel that looked like a surfboard. Despite the starfish creature on his face, Thor knew him. "The Silver Surfer!" Thor said, remembering a long ago battle royal consisting of himself, the Hulk and the Silver Surfer.*

*(Justice Society of America #20)

Thor, whose pride had been wounded in that decades old encounter, also loved a challenge. He launched himself at the Silver Surfer. The Surfer jolted him with a beam of cosmic energy. Thor was hurt, but recovered and reentered the fray.

The second alien, a powerful Daxamite, attacked Captain Marvel. Marvel defended himself, utilizing the Wisdom of Solomon to assess the situation. He realized that this was the same type of alien he had battled months ago, when Thanos came to Earth, minus the starfish.* He debated the best way to deal with this.

*(#22)

The third, a white Martian, homed in on J'Onn J'Onzz, but was intercepted by Wonder Woman. She grabbed him with her lasso. "What are those things on their faces?" she asked.

J'Onn tried to scan their minds. "They're under the control of some sort of powerful hive mind. The starfish creatures are the conduits of the thought control."

"Then we must eliminate them!" Wonder Woman said, and yanked the Martian closer. She held him in her mighty grip, while J'Onn used his Martian Vision to blast the starfish creature off his face. Nearby, Captain Marvel saw this and knew what he had to do. He feigned a frontal attack against the Daxamite but then maneuvered himself around the back and grabbed the Daxamite in a headlock. Reaching around and grabbing the starfish, he yanked it off the Daxamite's face.

Meanwhile, Thor summoned down a bolt of lightning that struck the starfish creature, killing it. The three aliens were free. The White Martian looked at J'Onn J'Onzz suspiciously. There was bad blood between the two races. "What is happening?" the White Martian asked. "What treachery is this, green slime?"

"Calm down and trust me," Martian Manhunter said. "We should talk about . . . "

"I trust you not!" the White Martian said. "I don't know what kind of trap this is, but I'll not fall into it!"

The White Martian fled Earth. The Daxamite was confused and disoriented. "Where I am? What . . . ?"

"Hush. Be calm," Wonder Woman said, as J'Onn telepathically translated. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Her soothing voice and beauty helped calm him. Meanwhile, the others observed the Silver Surfer.

"I remember you," the Surfer said to Thor.

"Aye, we have met," Thor said. "What hath befallen thee since last we didst do battle?"

"The Star conqueror!" The Surfer said. "The foul beast did this to me! I will make him suffer for this!"

The Surfer suddenly jetted away at light speed, seeking revenge on the mysterious Star Conqueror. He did, however, make note of this planet, so teeming with life, for later use by his own Lord and Master.

Meanwhile, Wonder Woman got some information from the Daxamite. Later, Thor helped him get home by creating a rift.

This is great, he thought. All he had to do was think and the ring responded to his wishes. This was even better than flying a jet. He wondered how fast he could go. But before he could test his speed, he sensed something. His ring was trying to tell him something. Was it a warning or was someone trying to communicate with him? He willed his ring to trace the source of the ominous feeling. He flew back toward the site where he had buried Abin Sur.

"We need to exhume the body and examine it," Batman said. "And we should get Iron Man here to see what he can detect about this energy the Sentinel say's he is detecting."

"I want to know who buried him," Cap said. "Whoever did that may have some of the answers we need."

Sentinel sensed something. "Someone's coming. He's close. He . . . "

A burst of green energy struck the ground, throwing the threesome off their feet. They looked up and saw who their attacker was. He was a thin man, with a high forehead and purple skin. He had black hair and a thin mustache. He wore the outfit of a Green Lantern, except for some darker colors, making him look for menacing. His ring glowed with green energy. He grinned sadistically down at the three heroes.

"My name is Sinestro! I'm looking for one of my fellow Green Lanterns," he said. "You will tell me what you know or I will get unpleasant."

Captain America and the Sentinel looked at each other, remembering a long-ago encounter.*

*(JSA Annual #1)

"A Green Lantern!" Cap said, tense.

"Like Dobj Xio!" Sentinel added, recalling his nearly fatal battle with the last GL he met.

Batman knew what they were talking about. He had read all the Justice Society files. Dr. Mid-Nite had kept meticulous records of their adventures. Batman read the story of the JSA's battle with Dobj Xio, who had defeated the whole Justice Society single handedly. Batman had also heard about Spider-Man fighting a Green Lantern a few months ago. He didn't fare any better.

"My name is Captain America," Cap said. "I know about you Green Lanterns. Whatever you want, don't bring your stupid games to Earth! Turn around and go back where you came from or we'll kick you off our world!"

Sinestro laughed, "My, my. Such bravado! Such stupidity! Did you think I would fear you? No one has ever defeated a Green Lantern! I know that your little planet has been visited by one of us before. You lost! And that particular Green Lantern, Dobj Xio, was a veritable pacifist compared to me! I am the best of the Green Lanterns! I will destroy you if you challenge me!"

Batman decided that the best thing to do was to put off this Green Lantern until they could get reinforcements. "We don't know where this Abin Sur is. We were looking for him too. Perhaps if we go back to our headquarters. We have equipment there that . . . "

"Silence!" Sinestro shouted, "If I want your opinion I'll torture it out of you. As a matter of fact, that's a good idea."

Sinestro caught Captain America and Batman in an orb of green energy. The Sentinel, with a sense of deja vu, launched himself at the evil Green Lantern. He hoped he could handle this. The last Green Lantern he fought almost killed him. And he was young then. Now he was getting old. And this Green Lantern was supposedly tougher than Dobj Xio. Was this a suicidal fight? But what choice did he have? He had to save Cap and Batman. He blasted Sinestro with the power of the Starheart.

Sinestro blocked the ray. He cocked an eyebrow. "Well, well. A fellow ring wielder. But not a Green Lantern? Interesting. I must dissect you after I've killed you. I'll keep that ring, too."

"Over my cold, dead body!" Sentinel growled.

Sinestro grinned. "I accept your proposal."

The two ringed warriors locked up in mortal combat!