WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN #5 (2025)!
Green Lantern’s Hal Jordan has just revealed his most disturbing redesign yet, turning the once-great hero into a full-blown walking nightmare. This monstrous transformation doesn’t just affect his appearance; it signals a chilling shift in his mindset, too, officially launching him into his darkest and most terrifying villain era to date.
Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay’s Absolute Green Lantern #5 picks up right where the last issue left off, with the escalating confrontation between Hal and Green Lantern Sojourner “Jo” Mullein.
As fans of the series know, Jo recently became the Absolute Universe’s new Lantern, while Hal has been infected by what is essentially DC’s version of Marvel’s Venom symbiote. Now, readers finally get to see Hal’s full monster transformation, along with the long-awaited explanation of how he became infected with the “Black Hand.”
Hal Jordan’s “Black Hand” Transformation, Explained
Al Ewing’s Absolute Green Lantern #5 (2025) – Art by Jahnoy Lindsay
Absolute Green Lantern #5 finally reveals how Hal became infected with the Black Hand, shown in a flashback where he confronts the alien Abin Sur. After Jo seemingly steals Abin’s light spectrum powers and disappears, Hal is devastated. Believing Abin has killed her and wiped out everyone he knows, Hal’s grief quickly spirals into rage and desperation.
Overcome with loss, Hal fires golden-painted bullets (one of the few things that can pierce the green light spectrum) at Abin Sur. Before succumbing to his wounds, Abin passes judgment. Grabbing Hal’s hand with his own blackened, tar-like hand, he declares, “Judgment, Hal Jordan! The Black Hand!” marking the beginning of Hal’s monstrous transformation.
Fans watch as Abin Sur transfers the Black Hand to Hal, then melts into a black, tar-like mass. With his dying words, he warns, “Be with fear, Hal Jordan. Fear the Black Hand. And fear the Black Star.” The scene ends with Hal infected by an inky alien force, setting the stage for his full transformation in the panels that follow.
Hal Jordan’s “Black Hand” Transformation is an Eldritch Nightmare
Fast forward to the present, Hal Jordan goes full monster mode as the Black Hand infection completely overtakes him, transforming him into an eldritch horror of epic proportions. Fans now see more than just his blackened hand; they witness a full-body transformation that encases him in a grotesque, monstrous form unlike anything seen in a Green Lantern comic before.
Hal’s new form is inky black, with his upper body gripped by a massive black hand and his face and body covered in multiple blood-red eyes. The design is truly nightmarish, highlighting both horror and power. This terrifying transformation allows Hal to go head-to-head with Green Lantern Jo in a brutal showdown, with the two characters evenly matched in a clash of light and shadow.
ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN #5 is available now from DC Comics!
