Warning: Spoilers for JSA #1Green Lanternstands proudly as a hero in the DC Universe, and his son Obsidian is no different - although his powers suggest otherwise. As a member of theJustice Society of America, Obsidian has used his powers on behalf of good countless times, but his most recent power feat sparks fear rather than hope. Obsidian’s new use of his powers calls his heroism into question as he undergoes a horrific transformation.
InJSA#1 byJeff Lemire, Diego Olortegui, Luis Guerrero, and Steve Wands, the younger heroes of the Justice Society are left to their own devices after the disappearance of their older mentor figures. While some of his teammates are content with standing by, Obsidian - the son ofAlan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern- decides to take action. In pursuit of Kobra, who’s thought to be behind the incident, Obsidian ambushes his men by manifesting his shadow powers into a form that would give anyone nightmares.
The skeletal form Obsidian takes when attacking Kobra’s men is his most disturbing power feat to date.He may be on the side of good as a Justice Society hero, but Obsidian’s abilities make him one of the scariest heroes in the DC Universe.
Obsidian Is Officially DC’s Most Terrifying Hero Thanks to His Shadow Powers
Green Lantern’s Son Manipulates Shadows to Torture His Enemies
Todd Rice, also known asthe hero Obsidian, is a major powerhouse in the Justice Society of America due to the shadow powers at his disposal.With his abilities, he’s able to control shadows at will by harnessing energy from the Shadowlands.He can turn himself into a three-dimensional shadow, or even flatten himself into a two-dimensional shadow to get a jump on opponents. Because of hismembership in the Justice Societyand Infinity Inc., Obsidian normally uses his powers for benevolent purposes, but his latest application of them alludes to darkness lurking beneath his surface.
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Not only does Obsidian induce fear within Kobra’s men, but he also takes his scare tactic a step further. After appearing before them in hisbody horror transformation, he channels his shadows into tendrils that he sends up one of their nostrils to poke at his brain. Obsidian’s anger against Kobra is justified after the harm he’s caused and the danger he poses to the world, but his actions defy what theJustice Society stands forto an inhumane degree. Interestingly enough, this doesn’t mark the only time that Obsidian’s powers have taken a dark turn in DC lore.
Obsidian’s Horrifying Powers Fueled His Corruption in the Past
While Obsidian’s sister, Jade, inherited their father’sGreen Lantern powers, he didn’t get quite so lucky. Todd’s abilities are a byproduct of Alan Scott’s exposure to shadow energy during a battle with Ian Karkull, which was passed down from father to son. In the “Darkness Falls” arc from the1999JSAseries, Obsidian’s emotional turmoil as a result of his connection to the Shadowlands reaches a breaking point, and Ian Karkull seizes the opportunity to manipulate him to his side. His tactics prevail, andObsidian’s corruption by Karkull leads to him unleashing the full dark potential of his shadow powers upon the Justice Society.
The full “Darkness Falls” arc from 1999’sJSAseries - written by David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns, with art by Stephen Sadowski - is available now digitally and in collected formats from DC Comics.
JSA(1999) #7 demonstrates thegod-level extent of Obsidian’s powersas he uses them against his teammates. An entire city is overrun with his monstrous shadows, and even the heroes comment on how he isn’t usually capable of such feats. His tendrils proceed to pick off the Justice Society heroes one by one and replace them with shadowed duplicates. This is the most overtly villainous that Obsidian has been in DC lore, as he betrays his team and allows his powers to run rampant. Now, he’s using his powers in this creepy fashion again, suggesting that history might be repeating itself.
Obsidian Takes a Shockingly Dark Turn in JSA’s New Era
Is Green Lantern’s Son Becoming a Villain?
Considering his past, Obsidian’s current actions could indicate another lapse into villainy. However, there’s more to this story than meets the eye. At the end ofJSA#1, it’s revealed thatJohnny Sorrow of the Injustice Societyhas been masquerading as Todd the whole time. This means thatObsidian isn’t the one using his powers in twisted ways, thus easing the minds of anyone who’s begun to question whether he’s been corrupted again. Regardless of what the Injustice Society is planning, Obsidian is not at fault for the dark deeds that have transpired.
Though Obsidian seems to be absolved of responsibility for torturing of Kobra’s men, the fact remains that his shadow powers grant him immense potential, evidenced by the haunting forms he’s taken. Obsidian has proven that he can defeat the JSA with his shadows, and he could easily do so again. Now that the frightening scope of Obsidian’s powers has been shown, there’s no doubt thatGreen Lantern’s son could be a serious threat if he ever did switch sides, so theJustice Society of Americahad better hope he stays a hero through and through.
JSA#1is available now from DC Comics.
Green Lantern
Green Lantern is the name given to multiple enforcers of intergalactic justice in the DC Universe. Green Lanterns can harness the cosmic energy of willpower, and create unique spectral objects to face off against their enemies. Though some Green Lanterns have assisted with the Justice League, they primarily belong to the Green Lantern Corps.
