Let’s get it straight, the Green Lantern ring finds the person with the strongest will in its sector, so this isn’t saying Hal Jordan was unworthy, but, one time, Sinestro Boom-Tubed him so deep into outer space that he was effectively stranded, utterly defeated. It took a while, but eventually help came along just in time for him to rejoin the Justice League on one of their toughest battles yet.
Justice, the 12 issue maxi-series by Jim Kreuger and Alex Ross, is the scene of the crime. The Alex Ross art raises the stakes of the entire story, making even the wildest scenes feel closer to home. But the plot is one of the most diabolical Legion of Doom schemes ever written, systematically picking apart each League member. Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern faces off against Sinestro, and this time, the former Lantern got the better of him, shoving him through a Boom Tube to... nowhere.
Green Lanterns rarely run into problems that their power rings can’t solve, but Hal was on the very edge of space, outside of all star-maps known to the Guardians of Oa. If it weren’t such a desperate situation, it would be groundbreaking metaphysics. With no idea which direction to go, no ability to create a Boom Tube of his own, and only seven hours of ring battery left, Jordan has to transform himself into electrical energy that can be absorbed by the ring. While this conserves power, he doesn’t really have an exit strategy, and it’s now possible for someone else to take control of the ring, trapping him inside forever.
Fortunately, that’s avoided, but Jordan does get an opportunity to explore his own selfishness. He’s trapped with just about nothing to do in an energy world of his own construction. It’s not long at all until he realizes that, even though he’s a hot shot test pilot always driven to excel, in a world without any challenges... he’s pretty lonely. He fully realizes the error of his ways, rehashing one of his break-ups with Carol Ferris. When he admits to himself that being in that relationship compromises the “fearless” self-image he has, Hal Jordan finally understands his narcissism. He’s regressed all the way back to his childhood obsession to fly “faster and farther” than anyone ever has, when the Phantom Stranger comes to his aid.
Right around the same time in the series that GL is rescued, all of the other primary league members are shaking off their defeats as well. Once they’re back to full strength, it’s an old-fashioned showdown, but it took big performances from Shazam, Zatanna, and other reserves to repair the initial damage. In the early parts of the series, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Superman, are also laid low by their worst enemies hitting them with precision attacks, but like Green Lantern, each hero takes the opportunity to explore their powers and their character. Because they do, this story becomes one of the few that shows the drama and elegance of the Justice League, making a strong argument that they’re the best super-team.