Alan Scott’s various breakdowns are by now relatively common knowledge in fan spaces but lately I’ve been reading a lot about one of my favourite JSA eras, their revival in All-Star Comics (1976), and I realised something that’s often forgotten is the fact that the consequences of what I’ve colloquially referred to as ‘the airport incident’ followed Alan around for very nearly a decade.
After GBC went bankrupt, Alan – encouraged by the Psycho Pirate – took his frustration out on the Gotham International Airport and landed himself & the JSA in some major trouble with the law (March 1978). After the loss of his livelihood, he proceeded to live in Jay Garrick’s guest room for almost a year until he was offered a job with Universal Broadcasting (November 1978). It would be another seven years until he’d run a broadcasting station again (December 1985), initially in LA and then once again in Gotham (of course, not without a couple other mishaps and rampages along the way, but that’s another story).
Here, I offer a quick illustrated history of that period.
I gave my best to this city – fought for its safety in all corners of the globe! And I was rewarded by being driven into bankruptcy while I was saving lives! // You don’t understand, do you? None of you understand! Don’t you see – they’ll take it all away from you too! Everything you’ve worked for – cared about – built! That’s the price they charge for being a hero– and it just isn’t fair! || All-Star Comics (1976) #68
That solves the world’s problem, Fate, but not mine! Now that you freed me from the Psycho Pirate’s controls, I’m taking my first clear look at myself in a while – and I don’t like what I see. There isn’t much future for a bankrupt broadcasting magnate… and I’m too old to go back to engineering. || All-Star Comics (1976) #69
With Gotham Broadcasting gone for good, Alan Scott needs a new job– and I don’t mind presuming on our old friendship to get one! // I’m through forgetting about my life! From now on, Green Lantern is taking a backseat to Alan Scott’s happiness! || All-Star Comics (1976) #70
You know, Jay, I think you saved my life by giving me this job. For the first time in months, I feel like a human being again – and not just a part of the power ring! || All-Star Comics (1976) #71
There he is… outside his prestigious research laboratory. And the man with him bears an extraordinary resemblance to Green Lantern! || Showcase (1956) #98
It was really great of Jay Garrick to get me that new job at his Keystone City lab… but I miss my old Gotham! I’ve lived here too long– know it too well… I just had to come back for a visit! // I haven’t really committed myself to finding a place of my own since Jay and Joan have been letting me use this guest room… || Green Lantern (1960) #108
Still haven’t gotten to open this letter from Universal Broadcasting… || Green Lantern (1960) #109
My confidence has been shaken since I lost my position at Gotham Broadcasting. Well, it’s time to put an end to that! I’ve been putting off opening this letter… knowing that it would force me into a decision– but now… whatever it is… I’m ready to face it! || Green Lantern (1960) #110
Enough suspense, it’s no secret I’ve been pretty low since I lost control of my Gotham City TV station a while back. Well, I’ve asked you all here tonight to celebrate my re-entry into the field of broadcasting! You see, yesterday I completed financial arrangements for the purchase of a new station – and what’s more, it’s located right here in the City of Angels! || Infinity Inc. (1984) Annual #1
the best way i can think to describe the experience of reading moby dick is you’re in line at the dmv and this guy behind you very loudly says “well who HASN’T had a gay experience” and then proceeds to tell you every detail about his life in between anecdotes about how great sperm is and how ropes work and sometimes he’ll say the most poetic shit you’ve ever heard in your life and them jump RIGHT back into explaining how a whale is a fish because 1) it swims in water and you’re still only like halfway through the dmv line