- Jim Kingman, Back Issue (2003) #80
A Complete Timeline of Hal Jordan’s Hard Travelin’, Ramblin’ Days (1966 - 1992)
In December 1966, after a long mission in space, Hal Jordan came back to the realisation that life at home had moved on without him. An invitation to Barry Allen and Iris West’s wedding let him know he’d completely missed the event, a talk with Carol Ferris informed him that she’d moved on to another man in his absence. Hal quit his job as a test pilot, declared Coast City a “place of bitter memories” and left. He spent the next twenty-five years on the road.
Though the subject of road trips in relation to Hal often brings about the reminder of the seminal classic that’s Green Lantern/Green Arrow, Hal had spent several years drifting around the country long before Oliver had even lost his fortune and would continue long after their friendship would fall to the wayside. Here, we’re looking at the timeline.
Green Lantern (1960) #49, December 1966
The events discussed above. Heartbroken, Hal leaves Coast City for the first time.
Green Lantern (1960) #50, January 1967
“Drifting east-ward from Coast City”, Hal takes a job with Sky-Viewer Air Service flying tourists on sightseeing trips over Idaho and briefly lives at the Skyview Lodge. After a brief romance with the lodge owner’s daughter, Hal flees once more when he realises she’s a fan of Green Lantern rather than his real self. The backup feature notes he camps in-between Idaho and Montana for several days.
Green Lantern (1960) #51, March 1967
Still looking for another job, Hal stops briefly at a “midwestern motel” and questions his departure from Coast City. He reasons that he’ll only know that he’s looking for once he finds it.
Green Lantern (1960) #53, June 1967
In a “small city in northern Washington state”, Hal takes a job as an insurance claims adjuster at the Evergreen Insurance Company. He also writes home to Tom Kalmaku about it. In the backup feature, Hal speaks to his brother Jim and says he’s been on the road for six months – up to this point, he’s been more or less traveling in real time.
Green Lantern (1960) #54 - #68, July 1967 - April 1969
Hal remains an insurance claims adjuster and stays in the same small city in Washington, he also starts a romantic relationship with Eve Doremus – a local heiress. In #63, Hal once again talks to Jim & confirms it’s been a year since he left California. In #64, his career is briefly compromised after an attack from Hector Hammond but he gets hired again after the misunderstanding is resolved.
Green Lantern (1960) #69, June 1969
Depressed after several Green Lantern missions with casualties, the stress of his job at the Evergreen Insurance Company and a conversation with Carol Ferris that reminds him he’s yet to escape his feelings for her, Hal breaks up with Eve and quits his job.
Green Lantern (1960) #70 - 72, July 1969 - October 1969
Taking on a job as a traveling toy salesman with the Merlin Toy Company, Hal spends several months on the road. Issue #71 has one location as Solar City, Florida, and also marks his first meeting with Olivia Reynolds. Notably, for the duration of his time as a toy salesman, Hal has a company expense account that he takes full advantage of.
Green Lantern (1960) #73 - 74, December 1969 - January 1970
Still a traveling toy salesman, Hal returns to Coast City for the first time in three years. In his absence, Tom had married Tegra and opened a chain of gas stations. Hal is also surprised by Coast City electing its first black mayor, and the government approving oil drilling in the “Santa Clara channel”. He leaves once again after a disastrous encounter with Carol. The two-part story takes place over two days.
Green Lantern (1960) #75, March 1970
“In the western city of Pacifica”, Hal encounters the U-Mind controlling Olivia Reynolds for the first time.
Green Lantern/Green Arrow (1960) #76 - 89, April 1970 - May 1972
The famous ‘hard traveling heroes’ period. Hal and Oliver Queen, occasionally along with the Guardian Appa Ali Apsa or Dinah Lance, travel the US and combat injustice on a grounded, real-life scale.
The Flash (1959) #217 - 219, August 1972 - January 1973
After GL/GA’s sudden cancellation, the story would continue over a three-part arc in The Flash backups. The duo is hit by tragedy as Ollie accidentally takes a life for the very first time and retreats to an ashram. Notably, Hal is also shown looking for job ads in the newspaper after saying the savings he’d been living off so far have dried up.
The Flash (1959) #220 - #228, #230 - 231, #233 - #235, #237 - 238, #240 - 243, #245 - 246, March 1973 - August 1976
Back to drifting across the country on his own, Hal is left disillusioned by the abrupt end to his road trip with Ollie and finds himself quickly running out of money. On his way to Phoenix in #220, he states he’s down to his last $200. On several other occasions, Hal says he’s “one step from the poorhouse” (#221) and having difficulties cashing in his unemployment checks while on the road (#224).
