Why is Kyle Rayner so SPECIAL?!

[Chiasm]

Because for the 4-5 years leading up to new 52 Green Lantern was the #1 franchise in comics. The main GL title was usually the top selling non event monthly and the other two were usually top 25. Flash on the other hand was suffering sales wise until the Barry Allen return. Its sales are on upswing since new 52 so maybe the market could support two Flash books right now but it couldn't before.

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

Because for the 4-5 years leading up to new 52 Green Lantern was the #1 franchise in comics. The main GL title was usually the top selling non event monthly and the other two were usually top 25. Flash on the other hand was suffering sales wise until the Barry Allen return. Its sales are on upswing since new 52 so maybe the market could support two Flash books right now but it couldn't before.

Flash sales could have been better had DC had their creative ducks lined up for the book. I mean you can't keep making dumb creative choices and then blame the character involved, which is kind of what I feel they did with Wally.

[MajorHoy]

What do you mean none of his ex-girlfriends have appeared?

Attachment 94274

There's one.

That was cold.

[ropeburn39]

All of Kyle Rayner's girlfriends have yet to appear in the DCnU (they might not ever appear) AND most of the legacy characters of his generation are missing; Wally West, Donna Troy, Garth, etc. Why is Kyle Rayner still around when everything around him is gone? It seems like the only reason he is alive is incase Geoff Johns wants to use him for another Blackest Night.
(BTW if you hadn't noticed, this is a complain thread)

I have zero idea why Kyle is special. He should have been killed ages ago. Well, honestly he should never have been created. Kyle getting a ring by a guardian who says "you'll do" was just silly (and the Guardians obsession with Earth in general). Just because Marz couldn't write an interesting Green Lantern book means they should have just found a better writer instead of resorting to the gimmick of killing and replacing him like so many bad writers of the 90's.

And please don't group Kyle with Wally, Donna and Garth. They were around for decades before Kyle showed up. They actually trained with their mentor. Kyle was never Kid Lantern; instead he was given a stronger ring than any other Green Lantern and still can't hold a title. He's from the same era as Kon-El, Bart, Conner and Cassie. Those exciting people you can group him with.

[Mr. Holmes]

Kyle Rayner was as dull and cliche as it gets. The most artificial attempt to create a Spiderman-esque everyman. IMO, instead of getting a genuine character to connect to, we got basically a 90s stereotype.

[hypkin]

yes, indeed a very 2 dimensional charakter.

still better than the non-dimensional hal jordan :D

[Will.S]

I have zero idea why Kyle is special. He should have been killed ages ago. Well, honestly he should never have been created. Kyle getting a ring by a guardian who says "you'll do" was just silly (and the Guardians obsession with Earth in general). Just because Marz couldn't write an interesting Green Lantern book means they should have just found a better writer instead of resorting to the gimmick of killing and replacing him like so many bad writers of the 90's.

And please don't group Kyle with Wally, Donna and Garth. They were around for decades before Kyle showed up. They actually trained with their mentor. Kyle was never Kid Lantern; instead he was given a stronger ring than any other Green Lantern and still can't hold a title. He's from the same era as Kon-El, Bart, Conner and Cassie. Those exciting people you can group him with.

Kyle WAS interesting during the time Ron wrote him, at least to me and other Kyle fans and he was pretty darn cool in Morrison's JLA. You may not have liked the circumstances that made him a GL but that doesn't mean that he should be discarded just because you don't like him. Also with your back handed comment aside, I don't find Kon-El, Connor, or Cassie to be any less interesting than Wally, Donna, or Garth since they all carry their own bit of interesting history and character traits.

Kyle Rayner was as dull and cliche as it gets. The most artificial attempt to create a Spiderman-esque everyman. IMO, instead of getting a genuine character to connect to, we got basically a 90s stereotype.

In the world of Green Lantern there's always room for a guy like Kyle.

Each earth GL has a contrasting element to them that sets them apart from Hal and that's perfectly fine in my book. Personally I like all the GL's to various degrees but Kyle speaks to me more than the other GL's and of course other GL fans have their favorites that speak to them more as well but I think the everyman element and the legacy angle were among the reasons why Kyle and Wally were able to relate to each other so much.

[ropeburn39]

Kyle WAS interesting during the time Ron wrote him, at least to me and other Kyle fans and he was pretty darn cool in Morrison's JLA.

It's not like i didn't give the new guy a chance. I continued buying the book for a year after he was given the ring (and again when Paul pelletier was drawing it). The fact that artists were drawing his power ring throwing out better things than a boxing glove was a good start (like mechanical hands and robot minions). Unfortunately, it didn't stop Kyle from being dull.

And it's funny you mention Morrison's run on JLA since I thought he wrote the perfect Kyle scene. In the One-shot Issue where the JLA goes to Earth-two (where the Crime Syndicate rule), Kyle tries to stop a guy that is kicking a puppy. When the guy is about to punch Kyle, Kyle has to use his ring to defend himself and blows the JLA's cover. He's basically nothing without the ring. And you have Morrison to thank for that little tidbit.

[glennsim]

And it's funny you mention Morrison's run on JLA since I thought he wrote the perfect Kyle scene. In the One-shot Issue where the JLA goes to Earth-two (where the Crime Syndicate rule), Kyle tries to stop a guy that is kicking a puppy. When the guy is about to punch Kyle, Kyle has to use his ring to defend himself and blows the JLA's cover. He's basically nothing without the ring. And you have Morrison to thank for that little tidbit.

I'm not necessarily that big a Kyle fan over other GLs, but I think it's fair to say that that is exactly what people liked about Kyle. Hal doesn't really need the ring to be a hero - he's a big tough fighter pilot. Kyle is a regular guy, and I think lots of people were better able to identify with that.

[Rud]

Answer is simple.... every other Iconic Superhero mantle operates under the highlander like policy of "there can only be one". There cant be more than one Flash or more than one Kid Flash, or more than one Wonder Girl or Wonder Woman, as like highlander there can only be one. The Green Lantern Francise have avoided "Highlander syndrome" by making teh Green Lanterns space cops, so there can be many.

The Bat Boys got around this by creating 2 other identities, aka Nightwing and Red Robin... so those extra legacy characters can still be around while Damian takes over as Robin.

Unfortunately, as long as the Flash and Wonder Woman mantles work like highlander does.... their legacy characters are doomed, DOOOOOMMMMEEEDDD!!!!

[Namtab]

Isn't John Stewart a GL in the New 52, too?

[Bob Fett]

He does seem to be the conscience of the GLC.DC jerked him around some more with him apparently never dating Donna,and Jade.Where are they??

[Jadenewt]

Isn't John Stewart a GL in the New 52, too?

Yes Earth Prime has four GLs Hal Jordan, Guy Gardener, John Stewart, and Kyle Rayner. The OP is just asking why Kyle is about the only one of his generation of heroes that survived the whole Reboot pretty much unscathed While all the other legacy Superheroes are either missing or have been totally rebooted.

[Will.S]

I'm not necessarily that big a Kyle fan over other GLs, but I think it's fair to say that that is exactly what people liked about Kyle. Hal doesn't really need the ring to be a hero - he's a big tough fighter pilot. Kyle is a regular guy, and I think lots of people were better able to identify with that.

Yes, exactly.

The guy is a talented artist that's supposed to be just like one of us. Plus Kyle is still a young'ish character so there's room for growth as well.

[Guicho]

Answer is simple.... every other Iconic Superhero mantle operates under the highlander like policy of "there can only be one"....... by making teh Green Lanterns space cops, so there can be many.

I can see why Kyle fans think he's special, as told he's the one who kept it all alive (for them)
I can see why his detractors don't care for him, from their pov, promoting Kyle as the "only one" was what kept the concept of the many they loved dead for so long.

Now it's all back and bigger than ever!