| Identity |Kyle Rayner
The (other/future) Green Lantern of Sector 2814
| Origin & Backstory |Kyle Rayner was born to Aaron and Mara Rayner, an agent of ARGUS and a recipient of Social Security respectively. Early on in Kyle's life, Aaron died on duty. But because of this, his mother's checks were padded beyond the standard payouts to those on the program. Though there is no mistaking he has no special non-civilian clearance, many high-ranking government officials recognize the Rayners for the family's sacrifices towards a better world.
Growing up in Los Angelos, Kyle managed to go through the severe LA gang wars relatively unscathed, having learned when to wear what colors and how to peacefully defuse conflicts. Even from elementary school though, he had been surrounded by the gangs at all times and had long been under pressure to join them. Over the years he has been panged by seeing his own friends attempt to kill each other because of who else they were friends with, the colors they'd worn, misinterpreted gestures, and even their own ethnicities.
Through it all Kyle had chosen to express himself through art, the pencil being his most reliable companion. His sketches have even won citywide contests and been nominated for national attention. Kyle is without a doubt a gifted art student with specialized skill in biological forms and still lifes. Most often his works are photorealistic, which has led to him being sought out by friends, despite quaking with fear ant time someone would peek over his shoulder.
Because of his gift with the pencil, he was sought out by a local gang. Afraid of being attacked if he rejected their request, he accepted. All in all, he was taught to use a tattoo gun and forced to portray the gang's logo on a fleshy canvas thirty-two times over. Now thoroughly affliated with the gang, Kyle told his mom. His mother, as one would expect, struggled for a solution. A panicking fit convinced her to pack their bags almost instantly, going from Los Angelos to New York City.
Once in New York City, he was enrolled in the nearest High School, Midtown, where he found himself socially isolated. It wasn't that he necessarily felt there was no one he could relate to, but there was no one he wanted to relate to. Against his own will, he was enrolled in the art club where he exchanged sketches, paintings, and ideas with his peers. Before long, he was drawn into the groundbreaking craze that was superheroes. He began to draw masks, costumes, and weapons in his free time before applying himself to studying history.
By investigating the exploits of the previous Justice Society, he gained a love of studying history and passionately nurtured a love for superheroics. A short while later, he created his own speculative fiction comic series that touched on the lives of the original Flash, Hourman, Green Lantern, and captured them all in stunning detail. His comics capturing the Golden Age of superheroes has since developed a cult following on the internet and has a popular Myspace page.
Having overcome the temptations of gang recruitment and avoided succumbing to a life of total dysphoria, he feels somewhat self-confident in his ability to follow through with his decisions and intends to make the world a better place by following his dreams.
| Attributes |Creativity
He recognizes that there is more than one way to skin a cat. This is useful when probing seemingly invincible enemies for a weakness. Even if his ring is, for some reason, ineffective he is prepared to perform environmental attacks, deception, or legitimate diplomacy if the need be.
Drawing
Kyle is capable of drawing highly realistic images with a pencil at (relatively) high speeds. For this reason, any constructs he makes are likely to have a large amount of nooks and crannies, assuming they're not simple geometrical shapes.
Green Lantern Ring
The flagship tool of the GLs allows the wearer to craft holographic, green masses out of concentrated light, directed by their own willpower. Auxilary functions include wireless communications, access to a comprehensive galactic encyclopedia, atmospheric synthesis, and a universal positioning device.
Indomitable Willpower
Necessary for all Green Lanterns is the ability to face their fears. Kyle is certainly capable of doing so, which the ring is able to detect despite his youthful naivety masking his bravery from other sentient life forms.
| Character Notes |Kyle suffers from Women in refrigerators syndrome. Listing people he cares about or is involved with would be bad news. But you can expect to see Lanterns, Guardians, various alien species, Soranik Natu, Amon Sur & Black Sun, and the Spider Guild. Kyle is highly unlikely to really be alone. I figured it would be beneficial for storytelling purposes to adapt his tendency to create construct companions from simple battle strategy to character development. So expect a decent amount of imaginary friends (see Circle of Fire for further elaboration of the concept).
| Character Goals |What is the nature of the story you want to tell?It's about great power and great responsibility. Optimism and realism. Freedom and security. But mostly its about feeling like everyone's counting on you, trying to live up to their expectations, filling giant shoes, and figuring things out on the fly. Kyle is steeped in idealism and a simple sense of justice, but doesn't always know how to make the best of his circumstances.
Is this just another Green Lantern?Yes, for once. He doesn't carry the entity Ion, he isn't the focus of an experiment, and he wasn't a vigilante beforehand. He's Kyle Rayner, an Earthling artist and millenial. But that's probably a welcome change. He'll be the equivalent of a Green Lantern Spider-Man, with his mom worrying about him and his responsibilities competing personally and epically.
How many other people's territory are you crossing into?That of
@Gowi and
@Morden Man. If there's any involvement with Relic, the Nova Corps, or the Black Lanterns, it isn't my idea. Instead, a focus of mine is going to be the many aliens out there who need the protection only a Green Lantern could offer. Naturally I'll dip my hand into Gowi's bowl of Manhunter action. But by and large, my plans are not a rehash of New Guardians, Blackest Night, or any recent GL "events". Despite wanting to focus on aliens for assignments, Kyle will be drawn back to Earth emotionally for visits whenever he can, whether he is reprimanded for spending time on the third rock from the sun can be decided by the Oans (worked out between myself and the other Lanterns).
What are your major influences?The rules of engagement in Green Lantern fiction have changed since Geoff Johns took over. Rather than ignoring his impressive body of work and contributions to DCs most unique superhero, I choose to acknowledge it and add it to all that has come before. Throughout the nineties, Kyle Rayner was the only Green Lantern. These are my greatest influences. Even though there are thousands of other Lanterns, Kyle will feel the weight of his sector on his shoulders and often there will be no one to lift it off. Despite the Oan army's numbers, there aren't exactly a lot of them to go around. And the story I want to tell is about the individual underqualified for a job that no one could ever hope to live up to.
Do you have any immediate plans?Yessiree Bob. First off, Kyle's life will be abruptly interrupted by a recruitment into the Corps with no explanation initially. He won't be aware who Carol Danvers was initially. After a few increasingly difficult training sessions, it's directly off to battle on Mars where he'll face hard contact against an oppressive bunch of White Martians. Spinning out of the chaotic battle is drama I won't elaborate on for the time being.
Alt any time throughout the training period I would be delighted for him to be met by Alan Scott, as I'd imagine them getting to know one another. In all honesty it would be really neat given they are completely different generations of Lantern.
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