Green Lantern: Baptism of Fire

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Green Lantern: Baptism of Fire is a collection of Green Lantern stories, collecting issues #59, #66-67 & #70-75 (3rd series). It follows Kyle Rayner as he learns to accept being Green Lantern and all that entails.

[edit] Green Christmas

Kyle is spending his first Christmas in New York. Being the 'junior' member of the New Titans (despite the fact that he's physically older than some other members of the group), he has to do monitor duty while the others go their separate ways. After trying to amuse himself, Kyle drifts off to sleep. He's woken up by a green projection of Alex, who offers to decorate the Christmas tree with him. Feeling even more depressed, Kyle flies off, not noticing something happening on one of the monitors.

Kyle eventually stumbles on Dr. Polaris, who is causing damage around the Rockefeller Center area. Kyle manages to disable him, to the point where Dr. Polaris' 'normal' psyche comes to the fore, and basks for a few moments in the adoration of the crowd before flying off. Back at the monitors, he's surprised by Donna, who gives him his Christmas gift and kisses him.

[edit] Fast Friends

Sonar has broken loose and is causing damage in Keystone City, home of The Flash. After declaring that this was just a 'test run' for his powers, Sonar flies off to New York, with Flash in pursuit. Once in New York, Kyle attempts to take Sonar on himself, but quickly underestimates him and falls on his face in front of Flash. Flash pushes Kyle to the side, thinking that a 'real' hero should be the one to take Sonar down.

After a prolonged battle, where neither hero is able to take Sonar down by himself, they hit on a plan. Flash grabs Sonar and runs faster than the speed of sound, essentially nullifying Sonar's weapon. Kyle then knocks Sonar out and places him in a green coffin, to hold him until Flash can get Sonar to Slabside Prison. As a result, both men walk away with a beginning respect for each other.

[edit] Hero Quest

In issue #70, Kyle gets caught in a compromising position. A gorgeous neighbor comes over and poses for Kyle. Donna walks in, thinks the worst, and walks out on Kyle. Depressed, Kyle heads up tothe roof to have an earnest talk with John Stewart; in the background, an alien Berserker appears, grabs John by the throat and says he is going to kill him. Kyle easily defeats the Berserker; later on, John and Kyle converse about what it means to be a Green Lantern. Kyle then decides he needs some guidance on how to be a hero. He first flies to Gotham City to track down Batman and Robin. When he's quickly blown off by them, he winds up getting pointers from Sentinel, who uses Kyle's help in stopping a villain, Harlequin. Harlequin, it turns out, is Sentinel's wife Molly, and despite that she was corrupted by Neron, Alan would still do anything for her.

Kyle then heads to Fawcett City, where he encounters Captain Marvel. Kyle helps Captain Marvel defeat an ancient Egyptian spirit, and learns from him the meaning of patience over jumping in head first.

Kyle finally heads to Gateway City, where he spends time with Wonder Woman. Kyle learns the hard way not to underestimate a woman, as one of the aliens he and Wonder Woman were battling, a female alien, nearly escapes before being captured by Wonder Woman.

During these stories, a force has been decimating The Darkstars and making its way to a specific goal. Donna finds Kyle in Gateway City (she had been looking for Wonder Woman for help) and elists his help. Kyle and Donna make their way to the city of Ranager, where the force turns out to be Grayven and his troops. Grayven wants to use the Mega-Zeta Beam they have on the planet, so that he can directly confront Darkseid on Apokalips. After a fierce battle, where many Darkstars fall, Kyle manages to help get rid of Grayven (John Stewart activated the Mega-Zeta Beam and Kyle pushed him in the path of it, sending Grayven to parts unknown), then manages to save Ranager by landing it on the planet Rann. He then tows John, who had been paralyzed, back to Earth with Donna and Merayn, John's girlfriend, feeling more confident as a hero.