EMERALD DAWN II: The Trial of Sinestro

[starwolf_oakley]

So, how sympathetic should Thaal Sinestro be? Did he do all he could to protect his world and then got screwed over for it? Why did he take over Korugar in the first place?





Hal has a strange position in that cover. Anyway...



"They seemed to worship him."
What's Korugar's version of "Don't send me to the corn field"? Do they even have corn fields on Korugar?

The Guardians do expect to be called "Masters." Otherwise they decide emotions are bad and create a new army to protect the universe that goes horribly wrong.



"They needed me!" It usually comes down to that for Sinestro.



Maybe none of the Lanterns lived long enough to ever get accused of misusing their power to this degree.

"I understand Green Lanterns have a very short life expectancy, so your mistake will be short-lived."

Still, Sinestro can't be the only Green Lantern from a planet in tough shape or under threat from a more powerful alien race. Did they just save their planet without flags or whatnot?



sagrada said:
I miss this Katma Tui, the fiery freedom-fighter who, despite being a normal person, helped put an end to tyranny overseen by a man with the power of a god. No wonder John fell for her.



Sinestro is genuinely surprised Katma Tui hates him that much.





"So let me be evil" annoys me as a trope.

Tomar Re suggests Katma Tui should replace Sinestro as Green Lantern of that sector. Kilowog gripes a bit about putting a new Lantern through basic training and Hal is sent back to Earth.

And later, Katma Tui was killed by Star Sapphire. She shows up from time to time so John Stewart will feel bad about something.

So, does this make Sinestro more or less sympathetic? Are we judging him by the wrong standards? Did he use his power the best he could? Was it all about his ego?

Comments

[q99]

Hm, I can't decide if so much of their architecture being yellow does or doesn't make sense.

On the one hand, it's their home base and they can't affect it. On the other hand, that makes it safe from accidents and similar.

[locuatico]

i think it would make for something like this, the guardians making judgement on one of their lanterns. having it be yellow makes it so lanterns found guilty cannot retaliate...granted, the dialogue then goes to suggest that something like a rogue lantern is something unheard of so...i don't know.

[bruinsfan]

Remember that the Guardians have their own super-advanced technology and inherent psychic powers that don't depend on Green Lantern energy. They can probably affect their surroundings just fine should they wish to, but their space cops can't.

[skemono]

Yeah, this was back when the weakness to yellow was something the Guardians put in the rings to "keep the Lanterns humble" or however they put it. Their own powers did not have such a weakness.

[sagrada]

Interesting that this Thaal sees his villainhood as a stroke of cosmic destiny. It neatly excuses (to his mind) the impact of his misguided efforts to 'improve' his home world, the reactions of everyone who opposes him are now also just part of his fate, and anything he does or that happens to him was MEANT to be.

At least it follows pretty well with his "I did what I had to do!" spiel. Thaal is just one of those people who cannot conceive that what they do could be wrong.

Although...I'm still puzzled why they wouldn't just deliver him up to his own people, stripped of his ring. Which just goes to show I don't know what would make for a dramatic space opera, I suppose.

[starwolf_oakley]

Well, we know Korguar hated the Green Lanterns after Sinestro was deposed. They called his replacement "Katma Tui, the Lost."

It is rather depressing to think Korugar was a planet of misery before Sinestro took it over, an organized planet while he ruled it, a pit of misery again after he was disposed, and then it was destroyed by Valthoom.

Good lord, the head...

[glprime]

Is that Sinestro, or a displaced Red Leader?

[beardedjellybean]

His hairdo at this point was a crime if nothing else, even if he is an alien.

[bruinsfan]

Looks like someone was a big Kid 'n Play fan back in the eighties.

[silverhammerman]

Is Sinestro actually supposed to be giving the Guardians the bras d'honneur in that last page? Did he basically go out flipping double birds at everyone?