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| Stel | |
|---|---|
 Stel, fromGreen Lantern Corps: Recharge #2 (December 2005), art byPatrick Gleason. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Green Lantern (vol. 2) #11 (March 1962) |
| Created by | John Broome Gil Kane |
| In-story information | |
| Place of origin | Grenda |
| Team affiliations | Green Lantern Corps |
| Abilities | Power Ring |
Stel is asuperhero appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of theGreen Lantern Corps for space sector 3009. He first appeared inDC Comics'Green Lantern (vol. 2) #11 (March 1962), and was created by writerJohn Broome and artistGil Kane.[1]
Stel was trained by the villainSinestro before he becameHal Jordan's greatest foe. Stel serves the Green Lantern Corps through many of its battles, including a breakout from the Prison Planet of the Guardians of the Universe, an invasion byQwardians, an attack by the alliance ofNekron, Lord of the Unliving, and the rogue GuardianKrona. It is during this confrontation that Krona kills Stel, tearing him to pieces before he is found by his fellow Lanterns. Stel gives the Lanterns a vital clue with his last breath. Later he is taken back to Grenda to be given a hero's burial.[2]
During Stel's funeral the Krydos, enemy of the Grendans, attack. Stel's successor as Green Lantern arrives to help deal with the Krydos, but is himself attacked by a Grendan named Yron. Yron believes that Stel has failed as a Green Lantern due to the repeated Krydos attacks that Grenda suffers. Forcing the Green Lantern to take him to Oa, Yron protests to the Guardians that he would be a suitable choice to defend his planet and sector. The Guardians agree and gave Yron his own power ring. Yron's efforts to defend and then attack the Krydos prove to be disastrous, as his tactics end up killing many Grendans. Dying from an attack, Yron realizes that Stel was the better Lantern, acknowledging that Stel's lack of offensive action against the Krydos was because he recognized when not to take action rather than just because he was afraid, and with one last push of willpower, Yron brings Stel back to life. Stel routs the Krydos threat and is hailed as a hero while the dead Yron is vilified. The resurrected Stel, however, pronounces Yron a hero and wants to hear of his action while others fled and cowered, rather than of his failure.[3]
Stel served with the Corps during theCrisis on Infinite Earths, through Hal Jordan's descent into madness and the loss of the power rings. With the Green Lantern Corps reinstated after the surviving Green Lanterns defeatParallax on Earth, Stel joins again and is partnered with theGreen Man. Stel helps a group of overwhelmed Lanterns, which includeSoranik Natu,Kyle Rayner,Kilowog,Guy Gardner and two other Lantern rookies,Isamot Kol and Vath Sarn. The entire group, many with low power levels, then face Spider Guild forces.
Stel was thought annihilated by an anti-matter explosion caused by a mind-controlled Green Man. Against all odds, he manages to survive the blast. A repentant Green Man finds Stel, and the two head toMogo to repair themselves. Stel uses his ring's energy to compensate for his missing parts. On arriving the two find themselves, and Mogo, under attack by theSinestro Corps. Despite having no chance of surviving, even with the addition of a fourth Lantern, all involved are determined to stay. Reinforcements arrive just in time, though in the ensuing battles many Lanterns are killed.
Stel is later seen trying to divert space debris to continue rebuilding himself. An unavoidable recall to Oa stops this. Stel and other Lanterns are then sent deep into the forbidden Okarran system in order to root out Sinestro Corps members. Stel is seen pursuing a Sinestro Corps member into the Vega system, where both are attacked by an Orange Lantern. Stel is badly wounded and sent back to Oa with the Orange Lantern's symbol burned onto his chest as a message to the Guardians from Larfleeze.[4]
Stel is on Oa during "Blackest Night" storyline, when deceased Green Lanterns return in an attempt to harvest hearts. Following these events, Kilowog chose Stel as his replacement as the drill instructor for all Green Lantern recruits.
Hal Jordan defies the Guardians by working with their enemies to corral powerful entities. Stel is part of a Green Lantern force sent to arrest Hal. He works withSalakk,B'Dg,Turytt, Norchavius, Meadlux, and Lok Neboora. Hal attempts to recruit them to aid in his quest and Stel argues for the group to listen. At that moment, malicious intervention with the Green Lantern power battery causes the group to go mad and attempt to kill Hal.[5] This situation erupts into theWar of the Green Lanterns.
Stel is later seen assisting Green Lanterns against the brainwashing menace ofStarro.[6]
