Cops In Spaaaaaaace!
So I was just ruminating to myself, in my usual fashion, about just how completely fabulous the Green Lanterns are, and it suddenly hit me. I know they can be described as "Cops in Space", which is a mindbogglingly wonderful concept. But...exactly how does that work?
Can Hal, or Guy or John or Kyle arrest somebody on earth? Does Oan law supersede New York City? What about due process? What about the law and customs on Korugar, or other planets? And exactly just who put the Guardians in charge of everything anyway?
I would have to assume that the Guardians put themselves in charge. After all, they've been around for a VERY long time, and were probably there before any number of planets gained sentience and civilizations and so on. So...presumably, it has ALWAYS been that way. Still, it has to be something of a shock to planets who have only recently gained the ability to travel in Space...such as Earth...to realize that there is a whole other system of law and order...Out There.
Are there courts on Oa? Lawyers? Or do only the really BAD guys bet sent to the sciencecels? Or is it only intergalactic crimes that are punished? If you are a space pirate, presumably, the Green Lanterns can go after you. I would guess that Hal can grab some muggers and turn them over to the cops, with a little more authority than say...Blue Beetle or something. Or are GL's considered to be the same as the other super heroes/vigilantes?
I rather wish that some of the Green Lantern writers would incorporate this sort of thing into their stories...it could be interesting. It could also be interesting, if in the grand scheme of things, the Guardians get their eventual, and much-anticipated comeuppance.
Green Lanterns. You just have to love them.
posted by SallyP @ 12:07 PM
8 Comments:
I think "space" is the operative word here--they're there to enforce the law in outer space, not (usually) meddle in affairs planetside, unless there's an interplanetary threat that brings it into their jurisdiction. Plus, each Lantern has a home sector to patrol, which is a bit different from normal police procedure. Presumably they enforce the laws set down within that specific sector, but they don't need to involve HQ (Oa) with it.
My guess is GL is just another vigilante on Earth. He might get more leeway and respect because he's a Justice Leaguer, but I doubt Earth courts respect or worry about what the Guardians think.
If it's a threat to the Guardians, a GL would probably bring them back to Oa, but if it's a random supervillain, turning him over to the planet's (whether it's the planet the crook is on, or one they've committed crimes on) authorities is sufficient.
I guess, I'm just wondering what counts as a Green Lantern's jurisdiction. You could say that ALL of earth is part of their patrol, at least for their sector. But I really can't see the New York or Gotham Cops, being too thrilled with one of the boys trying to arrest muggers.
But I guess they could haul any aliens off to Oa?
I think it is a matter of threat level and location. However I believe to a GL Oan law supersedes local law.
If we take Earth there are holding facilities for metas, so the GLC might hunt them down but turn them over to the cops - of course they aren't too secure judging by the likes of The Joker. If there aren't then they might go to the sciencells.
However if it's a villain wanted by the Guardians they just take them with them to the sciencells.
Now in space the GLC IS the law imo. If they pick someone up there they definitely have the last word on what to do with it. Get it to the next planet for trial or the sciencells (again depending on threat level and maybe relations with the planets involved) or in rare cases use lethal force to make the above options redundant.
You bring up some interesting ideas because Geoff Johns wanted to return Green Lantern to the concept of being a 'space cop' (which is not at all far off from the idea of 'cops in space'...) but hasn't really touched on the issue of space cop, like, at all. Unless you count 'the usual suspects' Sinestro, cyborg, etc.
There's been very little patroling, very little 'respond to this threat there', but, arguably, a whole lot of 'calling all cars, calling all cars!'. (Although I would say those situations are more 'military' than police.
It's true, you don't usually see a GL just patrolling their sector...at least not Earth Lanterns. Of course most of the Earth Lanterns ARE Honor Guard, so I would suppose they are a bit higher up the ladder. Still, there HAVE been a lot of crises lately haven't there?
Whenever Geoff Johns isn't writing a crisis crossover event, he's writing setup for the next crisis crossover event. The man has a pathological fear of closure.
"The man has a pathological fear of closure."
Right, because it's not like he closed out the entire continuity of the old DC Universe or anything.
... hm ... actually ...
This confirms my suspicion that Flashpoint was just a bad dream. Thank goodness I was the only one having it.
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