The Fearmongering Parallax

As the embodiment of fear, Parallax is the power source for the Sinestro Corps and a dangerous foe of the Green Lantern Corps. The parasitic villain can induce fear in its victims, possess people, and produce solid energy constructs, among other frightening abilities.

Parallax debuted 30 years ago in Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50 (March 1994). It was originally conceived by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks, then the creature’s background was fine-tuned by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver.

The story began with the introduction of Kyle Rayner as the new Green Lantern, and Coast City being destroyed by Mongul. Hal Jordan succumbed to grief-driven madness and went on a rampage, killing Kilowog and all the other Guardians (except Ganthet), effectively decimating the Green Lantern Corps.

Hal became Parallax and tried to use the power of the rings from the Lanterns he had killed to rewrite history and save Coast City. He spent years as the villainous Parallax while Kyle served as the primary Green Lantern. Eventually, Hal sacrificed himself to reignite the sun and became the new Spectre to seek redemption for the evil he had done as Parallax.

The history of Parallax was fleshed out in the 2004 miniseries Green Lantern: Rebirth by Johns and Van Sciver. It was revealed that Parallax is the sentient embodiment of fear who ventured from one host to another, instigating the destruction of entire civilizations. The Guardians of the Universe captured Parallax and imprisoned it in the Central Power Battery on Oa.

Knowing its powers of fear, the Guardians sought only those with the strongest willpower to become Green Lanterns and possessors of power rings. But when Sinestro became a villain, he was imprisoned in the Power Battery and his yellow power ring woke Parallax.

Drawing on Sinestro’s hatred for Hal Jordon, Parallax chose to corrupt the hero. It spent years quietly influencing the Green Lantern by planting seeds of self-doubt. Then when Coast City was destroyed, Parallax used Hal’s pain to infect him to go on the murderous rampage and severely cripple the Green Lantern Corps.