Green Lantern Vol 2 89

"And Through Him, Save A World"

Cover

And Through Him, Save A World

The Impossible Mr. Paradox!

Editors

Julius Schwartz

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Never! No deals! How can I compromise with death? Shall we have half-deaths--Shall we have half-disease--Shall we pollute half the population--Shall we have one child die instead of two? No, Green Arrow...You too are guilty...

— Isaac

Green Lantern (Volume 2) #89 is an issue of the series Green Lantern (Volume 2) with a cover date of April, 1972. It was published on February 22, 1972.

Synopsis for "And Through Him, Save A World"

Oliver Queen is amused by a newspaper story about an eco-activist called Isaac, who uses the pretense of a house-painter to paint a Ferris Aircraft office with a combination of industrial waste and sewer refuse. Green Lantern, however, has misgivings about Isaac's methods. Still, GL offers Oliver a ride to Isaac's base of operations, considering that he has to bring Carol Ferris to the same place, to deal with the vandalism. Ollie accepts, wanting to practice his archery after recovering from an arrow wound he incurred weeks earlier.

When Ollie begins practising his archery, a security guard sics an attack dog on him. After incapacitating both the dog and the guard, Oliver reveals that he is a guest of Carol Ferris', forcing the guard to apologise. The apology seems suspicious to Oliver, but soon after the guard has left, Isaac appears.

While visiting the Ferris Aircraft complex, Carol reveals that her company has been developing a cheaper fuel in order to save themselves from bankruptcy. Green Lantern has doubts about the environmental impact of this fuel, but suddenly, a drainage rig collapses, nearly crushing Carol if not for GL's quick ring-slinging. Carol is grateful, but further investigation reveals that it was no accident. He sets off in search of Green Arrow, to help in the detective work.

Meanwhile, Isaac dresses Oliver's shoulder wound, and reveals that he had previously been a scientist but soon found that he would die as a result of inhaling too much polluted air, prompting him to take a stand. Oliver agrees to join Isaac in his fight, but Green Lantern arrives, warning that there is more to Isaac than there seems. Isaac admits to tampering with the machines, but confesses that he was unaware that there might be consequences to humans. While Green Lantern attempts to apprehend Isaac, Green Arrow intervenes leading to an altercation. Green Arrow fires a sleeping-gas arrow, which - while subduing Green Lantern - enrages Isaac, who claims that the gas is a form of pollutant.

Soon, the guard from earlier returns with two friends, and they attack and capture both Green Lantern and Green Arrow. The guards drag them back to the Ferris test-site, where they discover that Isaac has crucified himself in front of a test-plane, locking testing. Rather than simply cutting him down and arresting him, the Ferris employees decide to teach him a lesson by leaving him there for days. Oliver escapes his bonds and calls on the Ferris employees to abandon their project, and find a compromise. However, Isaac refuses to compromise. The Ferris foreman washes his hands of the matter, and both heroes are strung up beside Isaac.

Later, Isaac confesses that he will likely die of his disease by morning. Unfortunately, Green Lantern's ring has been taken, so Oliver uses his bowman's strength to break the chains on his wrist. However, even as Oliver has freed himself, Isaac succumbs to his illness and dies. Carol arrives, explaining that one of her security force had been drunk and stolen the Green Lantern Ring. When the foreman says that Isaac was crazy, Green Lantern is filled with rage, and uses his ring to destroy a nine million dollar aircraft. He quips "Send me a bill!"

Appearing in "And Through Him, Save A World"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Carol Ferris

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Isaac (Single appearance; dies)
Barbi Dole (Single appearance)
Barnaby Catts (Single appearance)
Mr. Tyrone (Single appearance)

Locations:

California
- Star City
- Coast City
  - Ferris Aircraft Company

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Impossible Mr. Paradox!"

This story is reprinted from Green Lantern #38.

Alan Scott's asked to cancel the Clay Chalmers program at WXYZ. He attempts to get businessman C.K. Nevins to sponsor the program, but he declines after watching Chalmers broadcast an episode where he tells a brainteaser about Achilles trying to beat a turtle in a footrace and losing anyway. Alan Scott regretfully informs Chalmers that his show wasn't picked up, but has Doiby follow the despairing Chalmers so he doesn't do anything to hurt himself. Chalmers is soon seen wandering into the Nevins Manufacturing company. He's followed inside by Dolby, who he finds everyone in the building asleep even while standing. Dolby then runs into a new villains calling himself Mr. Paradox, who is busy breaking into the company safe. Paradox's flunkies tie up Doiby in his cab, but he manages to set off a signal flare to call Green Lantern. The hero flies over in response, but is perplexed that the faster he tries to fly after Paradox, the slower he goes, like Achilles in Chalmers' puzzle earlier, allowing the villain to escape.

Lantern suspects that Mr Paradox is secretly Chalmers, who is seeking revenge on Nivens for not sponsoring his program. The hero arrives at the Chalmers residence and finds the Paradox gang in the house. Lantern and Doiby immediately go on the attack, but they are subdued when Paradox sprays them with knockout gas from his wand. They're placed in a bubble trap, but GL breaks through by asserting his titanic willpower. Green Lantern then follows Paradox's automobile tracks to a freight yard where they catch the villain and minions in act of robbing a shipment meant for Nivens' company. This time Lantern shields his eyes with a blindfold mask to protect himself against the hypnotic effects of Paradox's wand. He subdues Paradox and unmasks him, confirming GL's suspicions that Paradox is really C.K. Nevins, who was secretly bankrupt and stealing from his own company for insurance purposes. The real Clay Chalmers had actually traveled home to Indiana, and is happy back there.

Appearing in "The Impossible Mr. Paradox!"