In a different comic Aquaman still doesn’t fly.
Justice League Unlimited #6
DC Comics (April, 2005)
“In The Dimming Light”
WRITER: Adam Beecham
PENCILER: Carlo Barberi
INKER: Walden Wong
COLORING: Heroic Age
COVER ART: Ben Caldwell
LETTERER: Pat Brosseau
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Jeanine Schaefer
EDITOR: Tom Palmer, Jr
Green Lantern John Stewart, Fire, Green Arrow, and Red Tornado respond to a battle in Boston. They find an aged Green Lantern named Zibar fighting three bad aliens known as Triptych. The others can tell Zibar is a bit too old to continue but his revered status among the Lanterns blinds John to the obvious. Only after Zibar’s plan fails spectacularly does Zibar realize his time as a Lantern is up, but the wisdom he’s acquired as one of the first Lanterns would be best served by him becoming a teacher of younger Lanterns on Oa. It’s that wisdom, not his power, that helps John stop the villains.
What they got right: The old hero story can only go one of two ways. Either he should have retired years ago or he shows the younguns that he still has it. This tale goes for the former and does so well, by showing the years of service is still important even if his body can no longer use those skills. It also shows that hero worship can blind you to a legend’s faults as Zibar’s pride wouldn’t let him quit. It’s a good bit of character with some really good action as the Triptych make for a decent threat.
What they got wrong: Why did Zibar think the others were John’s servants? Seeing them in action later changes that assessment but it’s not an important factor in his character arc. The Lanterns do know what the Justice League is by this point.
Recommendation: This was a pretty good story. Worth looking into.
