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History
Early life
Guy Gardner was born into a family of cops in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in the shadows, never living up to the hopes of his parents. His brother Gerard was their first-born, and Gloria their princess. He was, as he described it, an "afterthought". Gerard was the star, at school and at sports, and Guy wasn't. The lack of love from his parents made it easier to cope with the death of his mother than the others. It definitely hurt Gerard, who started to take out his pent up anger on Guy. It went on for days, until Gloria intervened and Guy could beat his brother with a baseball bat. He let out all his anger on his brother, and it changed him. However, because he broke his brother's arm and ruled him out for the rest of the football season, his dad, Ebenezer, wasn't too happy with him. Gerard showed remorse.[1] Guy and his siblings joined in the family trade, even after their father, the city's most decorated officer, was forced into retirement after being shot. Ebenezer found solace in the bottle, listening to the police scanner all day.
As a young man, Guy joined the Baltimore Police Department, like the rest of his family. Three years into his career, Officer Gardner shot a suicide bomber before he could get on a plane; the resulting explosion killed ten bystanders. In the aftermath, Guy resigned from the force; this resulted in an even bigger rift between himself and his father.[2]
After his sister's graduation, Gerard tried to get Guy and their father to mend fences with Orioles tickets, but it only made things worse. After the fight, Guy overheard the scanner of Gerard's distress call. As it was just a few blocks out, Guy decided to help his brother, who was being attacked by a gang of drug dealers. Guy charged headlong into them, and somehow made it out alive. He extracted Gerard and his deceased partner, Marcus. Gerard was dying, and Guy, along with driving and shooting at the gang, had to comfort his brother, who felt sorry for being afraid, and for Marcus' young daughter. He made his way to the hospital, but not fast enough. He was found by a Green Lantern Ring, who detected his ability to overcome great fear, and safely dropped his brother off at the hospital.[3]
Green Lantern Corps
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With the most recent events of Hal Jordan being expelled after killing Krona in the War of the Green Lanterns, Kyle Rayner being a part of an independent group of ring bearers, and John being put on trial for killing another Lantern. It appeared that Guy was the only Green Lantern on Earth that Guardian of the Universe could rely on. However, the Guardians were secretly sabotaging Guy's career after building it up, ensuring there would no further resistance from earth.[3]
The Third Army
The Guardians began their plan when they promoted Gardner to the rank Sentinel Lantern and entrusted him with the mission of guarding a group of ambassadors travelling to a planet for a crucial conference. While Gardner was away from earth on his mission The Guardians would release Guy's old enemy Xar from the Science cells and create the impression that he is going after Guy's family on Earth. As they predicted Guy abandoned his duty and return to Earth to protect his loved ones. When he left Xar attacked the delegations and left no one alive, including the Corps members Guy left in place.[3]
Red Lantern Corps
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Guy Gardner as an agent of the Red Lantern Corps
Sometime after the battle against the Third Army, Guy Gardner was starting doubt himself and felt like he truly never belonged with the Green Lanterns. He was approached by Hal Jordan who asked him to go undercover and join the Red Lantern Corps. Once he gained entrance with Red Lanterns Guy challenged the leader of the Red Lanterns Atrocitus in combat.[4] During his time as the leader of the Red Lantern Gardner manages keep his rage in check, while successfully leading most of the Red Lanterns in keeping the galaxy safe from Atrocitus and his splinter group and allows new Red rings to cause murderous justice-based rampages to continue.
Lights Out
After joining with the Green Lanterns to defeat the cosmic terrorist Relic Hal promises to give the Red Lanterns a sector for them to watch over, unfortunately the sector in question was Sector 2814, where Earth resides, giving guardianship of Earth to the Red Lantern Corps .[5]. Guy would also declare that no Green Lantern can enter their sector. As an added term Hal requested that the newest Green Lantern recruit Simon Baz would be stationed on earth to keep an eye on the earth on behalf of Green Lanterns as their ambassador.[3]
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic)
- Indomitable Will
- Unstoppable Rage: Guy possessed enough rage to power a Red Lantern Ring and become the Corps' new leader.
- Occultism: During his time with the Red Lanterns Guy developed some knowledge of blood magic.
Weaknesses
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Weapons
- Green Lantern Ring
- Red Lantern Ring (Formerly)
Oath
"In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power...Green Lantern's light!"
Notes
- Guy Gardner was created by Gil Kane and John Broome, first appearing in Green Lantern (Volume 2) #59. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Guy Gardner first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Green Lantern Corps (Volume 3) #1 by Peter Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin.
Trivia
- Under the effects of a Red Lantern Ring, Guy's pupils became red.
Related
- 214 Appearances of Guy Gardner (Prime Earth)
- 135 Images featuring Guy Gardner (Prime Earth)
- 26 Quotations by or about Guy Gardner (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: Guy Gardner (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
  This character is or was a member of the Green Lantern Corps, chosen by the Guardians of the Universe to act as their sector's Green Lantern and to protect it from interstellar threats with a Power Ring. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Green Lantern Corps members category." |
  This character is or was a member of the Red Lantern Corps - a group of individuals whose capacity for rage is boundless, and who were equipped with a Power Ring. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Red Lantern Corps members category." |
 Darkstars member |
 This character is or was a member of the Justice League of America, or the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from both interstellar and domestic threats. |
