Green Lantern: Rebirth # 1 2004 NM-

Green Lantern: Rebirth #1 (2004) begins the process of restoring Hal Jordan to his heroic mantle after years of being the villain Parallax and then the host of the Spectre, while laying the groundwork for a massive overhaul of the entire Green Lantern mythos. 

Main Plot

The issue sets the stage for a universe without a strong Green Lantern Corps, as it follows the different Earth Lanterns and other heroes encountering strange phenomena related to the color yellow and Hal Jordan's past. Hal Jordan's soul, which had been bound to the Spectre (the spirit of vengeance), struggles against its control, searching for redemption, which may not be the same thing as the Spectre's justice. 

Key events include:

• Kyle Rayner, the current sole Green Lantern at the time, crash-lands on Earth in a spaceship bearing a mysterious casket.
• Strange events occur on Earth, such as Guy Gardner's body reacting violently to an unknown force, and Coast City inexplicably being rebuilt piece by piece, an act tied to Hal Jordan's lingering presence.
• Various heroes across the DC Universe, including Batman, Superman, and Green Arrow, investigate these phenomena and debate Hal Jordan's true intentions. Batman remains skeptical of Hal's redemption, while John Stewart defends him, leading to tension within the hero community.
• The issue ends with Hal Jordan physically returning to life, greeting Carol Ferris at the miraculously restored Ferris Aircraft, ready to reclaim his true calling as a Green Lantern. 

Key Details

• Creative Team: The miniseries was written by fan-favorite writer Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver, a team that would define the Green Lantern franchise for years to come.
• Retcons and World-building: The series famously retconned Hal Jordan's turn to villainy during "Emerald Twilight" by revealing that the cosmic entity Parallax (the physical embodiment of fear) had possessed him, a change that revived elements of the classic mythos and introduced new concepts like the emotional spectrum.
• Impact: Green Lantern: Rebirth was a foundational event that brought back the entire Green Lantern Corps, the Guardians of the Universe, and the villain Sinestro, setting the stage for major storylines like the "Sinestro Corps War" and "Blackest Night".