Abin Sur’s name carries enormous weight in Lanterns, even though the character himself never appears in the present-day story. Episode 5 reveals through John Stewart and Zoe’s conversation that the Guardians created the Manhunters as instruments of justice before abandoning them because of their brutality. Zoe was the last survivor.

Decades earlier, Abin Sur brought her to Earth to hide her from the Guardians, hoping to give her another chance. Zoe feared he might change his mind, however, and ultimately killed him. His death becomes another crucial piece of the mystery surrounding Rushville.

But who exactly was Abin Sur?

Abin Sur is one of the most important figures in Green Lantern history because his death is what brings Hal Jordan into the Green Lantern Corps. The character made his comic book debut in Showcase #22 in 1959, created by John Broome and Gil Kane. According to DC, Abin Sur was a native of Ungara and served as the Green Lantern responsible for Sector 2814. 

His connection to Hal begins with tragedy. After being mortally wounded, Abin Sur crash-landed on Earth and used his ring to search for a successor. The ring ultimately selected Hal because of his extraordinary willpower and fearlessness, making him the first human inducted into the Green Lantern Corps.

Abin also appeared in the 2011 live-action film Green Lantern, played by Temuera Morrison. The movie opens with his spacecraft crashing on Earth after he is fatally injured, establishing the same basic passing-of-the-ring premise from the comics. DC also published an Abin Sur prequel one-shot alongside the movie.

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His importance to Lanterns now extends far beyond the familiar origin story, because the series has connected him directly to its darkest mystery.

In Lanterns, Abin Sur becomes a bridge between the Green Lantern Corps' forgotten history and the tragedy unfolding in Rushville. Episode 5 reveals that he encountered Zoe decades earlier and brought her to Earth, placing him directly inside the Manhunter mystery. His decision to hide her also suggests a complicated relationship with the Guardians and their former creations.

That version of Abin Sur differs significantly in function from his traditional comic-book role. The series uses his history to explore the consequences of the Guardians' decisions and the legacy left behind when their creations turned against them. Zoe's existence becomes evidence of a buried chapter in Lantern history, while Abin's death explains why the past continues haunting the present.

His relationship with Sinestro remains especially significant when viewed against the comics. Abin was Sinestro's mentor and friend, while Sinestro eventually became one of the Corps' greatest threats. DC has repeatedly explored the consequences of that bond, including stories in which Hal and Sinestro uncover secrets connected to Abin Sur.

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What do you think Abin Sur's history means for the remaining episodes of Lanterns? Let us know in the comments.