Monday, August 4, 2008

In brightest day...

Click on image to enlarge


I created this in Adobe Illustrator, adding an effect in Adobe Photoshop, using a couple images I found on the Internet for reference. I made up the poem, based on Green Lantern's oath. I created it in response to my friend Russ, who suggested we form a Green Lantern Corps against Blog Trolls, after he had some blog trolls leave comments on his site. He also has a Green Lantern Blog Troll Guardian image on his sites:
The Kingpin
Satire and Theology

I will post this on the right hand side of my blog site from now on, though you will have to scroll down a little ways to see it.

He and I both enjoy superheroes, as is evidenced on another of his sites:
Comic Book covers


(image found on Internet)

Green Lantern's oath begins with, "In brightest day, in blackest night,
no evil shall escape my sight."



(image found on Internet)

The Bible says about evil:
"All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'" (Mark 7;23)

"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." (John 3:20)

"But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." (Romans 2:8)



(image found on Internet)

Green Lantern uses the strength of his will to control his power ring. The Bible says that we must surrender our will to God and follow Him.
"I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:8)

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." (Psalm 143:10)

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)


God is the only One Who can create things out of nothing by the power of His will:
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11)

Green Lantern uses his power ring to create forms out of energy. The Christian uses his/her faith in reliance upon God, Who can accomplish even the seemingly impossible:
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)


(image found on Internet)

Green Lantern's oath continues with a warning to all who worship evil to beware.
"There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." (Isaiah 57:21)


(image found on Internet)

8 comments:

Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...

Good imagery and thanks for the links.

Russ:)

Jeff said...

You're welcome, Russ!

I just left a comment on a blog site that compares Green Lantern to Christianity, called Green Lantern: Rebirth

Jeff said...

There are definite allegorical or symbolic possibilities between the Green Lantern stories and the Bible.

Green Lantern uses a ring of power to do amazing things.
The Bible compares the Holy Spirit (the Third Person of the Trinity), Who indwells every born-again Christian, to an engagement ring.

Green Lantern's oath talks about light vs. darkness and good vs. evil, which the Bible also talks about.

"And I shall shed my light over dark evil,
For the dark things cannot stand the light;
The light of the Green Lantern!"
(Tomar-Re, Green Lantern of Xudar, Space Sector 2813)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path."
(Psalm 119:105)

"And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light."
(Genesis 1:3)

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Cor. 11:13-14)

"The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." (Matt. 4:16)

"To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." (Acts 26:18)

Great Googly Moogly! said...

Didn't the Green Lantern have a tv show like Batman and Robin? Whatever happened this superhero? Do you think he will have a movie out sometime? I think I've read some Green Lantern before; but since I don't remember for sure, he was either pretty boring or I, in fact, didn't read him at all.

My favorite superhero of all time is The Hulk, though the 1st movie was so bad I didn't bother to see the other one. I still remember the Hulk vs. the Wolverine! To even think the Wolverine had a shot against the Hulk is unbelievable--but then again, these are comic books, right? :-)

Jeff said...

Great Googly Moogly!,

Didn't the Green Lantern have a tv show like Batman and Robin?

No, not that I'm aware of.

Do you think he will have a movie out sometime?

Yes. Warner Bros. are planning a live-action adaptation of DC Comics' Green Lantern and have hired Greg Berlanti to co-write and direct, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter.

My favorite superhero of all time is The Hulk, though the 1st movie was so bad I didn't bother to see the other one.

The first one was the worst superhero movie I have ever seen. The second one was one of the best. You should definitely see the second one.

I still remember the Hulk vs. the Wolverine! To even think the Wolverine had a shot against the Hulk is unbelievable--but then again, these are comic books, right? :-)

I agree. That sounds like a totally ridiculous fight. However, besides Wolverine's claws being able to cut through anything (which really is no worse than fighting some guy with sharp knives), he can heal quickly, and his bones are unbreakable. Still, the Hulk could beat him up so badly that he would be left in a crumpled heap, trying to heal, while the Hulk leaped many miles away, on to another adventure. You don't have to break a guy's bones to knock him out, and one punch from the Hulk could easily knock Wolverine out, or even give him a concussion.

Many years ago, there was a comic where the Hulk fought the Sub-Mariner. To me, that was a more logical match. In the end, the Hulk unwittingly tossed the Sub-Mariner in the water (I think they were supposedly fighting on Miami Beach) and leapt after him, which was his downfall. Once in the water, the Sub-Mariner had the clear advantage.

Jeff said...

Great Googly Moogly!,

When I said that Green Lantern didn't have a TV show, I meant a live-action TV show. He has been on TV with the animated Justice League, for example, with the Justice League Unlimited. He has also made a guest appearance on the current animated Batman TV series.

There is a DVD out called Justice League The New Frontier which I think is good.

However, as far as live-action, there is this really bad Failed JLA TV Pilot.

Great Googly Moogly! said...

Yeah Jeff...that was pretty bad :-)

I was actually thinking of The Green Hornet and his sidekick Kato (introducing Bruce Lee). Man, if there ever was a time when a sidekick could "kick" some.... I mean, this was Bruce Lee!!

Anyway, I guess I'll give the second Hulk a try. I actually liked the Fantastic Four, so the second Hulk would probably be pretty good.

GGM

Jeff said...

Great Googly Moogly!,

I was actually thinking of The Green Hornet and his sidekick Kato (introducing Bruce Lee). Man, if there ever was a time when a sidekick could "kick" some.... I mean, this was Bruce Lee!!

Yes, Bruce Lee was the best. I actually have a video tape of a few episodes of that 1966 TV series, (which was originally a radio series). When I was young, Bruce Lee was my idol. I still think no one can compare to him in the martial arts movies. I remember the episode I saw many years ago, when Batman & Robin fought the Green Hornet and Kato. It was interesting, because Burt Ward, who played Robin, is a black belt in karate. Oh, and I just now found out, after looking it up on imdb.com, that Bruce Lee was a neighbor and close friend of Burt'a!

Anyway, I guess I'll give the second Hulk a try. I actually liked the Fantastic Four, so the second Hulk would probably be pretty good.

I really think you will like it.

I also thought that Iron Man was good, even though I originally didn't like who they chose to play the part.

My boss at work didn't like the Dark Knight movie, and he is even featured in a newspaper article, criticizing the movie (he's the Design & Graphics Editor at the city newspaper).