Issue 166 - Atrocitus Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling

THIS EPISODE SEETHES WITH RAGE AS WE DISCUSS ATROCITUS! FEEL THE ANGER THROUGH YOUR SPEAKERS AND INTO YOUR HEART




Intro Green Lantern watch party THIS SATURDAY NIGHT 8:30 PM Eastern



Background (2:35) Atrocitus created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver in Green Lantern #25 (Dec 2007)

The Manhunters were created by the Guardians of the Universe to protect the universe, but they went rogue and obliterated all life in Sector 666 - Atros was one of only five survivors in the entire sector

He renamed himself Atrocitus, and he and the other four survivors called themselves the Five Inversions - they performed a ritual and discovered the prophecy of the Blackest Night, which foretold the destruction of the universe at the hands of the Guardians - after attempting to defeat the Guardians, he and the Inversions were imprisoned on Ysmault

Abin Sur traveled there and began questioning Atrocitus about the prophecy - he freed Atrocitus from his prison to help guide Abin to Earth, but Atrocitus broke free and attacked Abin, retconning why Abin Sur’s ship crashed to Earth

He then created a divining rod that led him to William Hand, aka Black Hand, but before he could kill Hand, Sinestro & Hal Jordan intervened - Hand escaped with the rod (also a retcon), and Atrocitus was returned to his prison on Ysmault

While in prison, his rage helped him create the red power battery, which he used to murder his fellow Inversions, creating rings and a central battery - he used these rings and batteries to create the Red Lantern Corps, who would assault Sinestro and anyone responsible for the destruction of Sector 666

During Blackest Night, the other corps leaders bring him to his home planet, and he has a moment of grief for the loss of his family - he temporarily allies with the other spectrum corps 

Made a deal with Guy and Ganthet that once Krona was defeated, Atrocitus would take possession to enact justice - although Krona was killed, Ganthet gave Atrocitus the corpse to do what he wanted with it

Loses his ring to Guy Gardner, who joins the Red Lanterns as an undercover mole for Hal Jordan

DC Rebirth - creates a Hell Tower on Earth to plant the Rage Seed that will birth a new Rage Entity - the tower is destroyed by Simon Baz & Jessica Cruz, but Dex-Starr managed to deliver the seed before the tower was destroyed




Issues - Theme is the pain & rage cycle (9:36) Ruby - why would a psychologist go straight to rage?

Ruby - Rage in dealing with loss (16:04)

Really the only Red Lantern capable of thought - how does that affect his rage, and does it mean it’s capable of being tamed? (23:11)



Break (29:53) Plugs for Geek Peak, Bedknobs & Broomflicks, and Jordan Blum



Treatment (31:11) In-universe - Attempt hemodialysis on Atrocitus

Out of universe - Minus the powers, he’s a very angry man raging at the world because of his loss (33:15)



Skit (39:19) Hello Atros, I’m Dr - ATROCITUS AND YOU ARE NO DOCTOR

*Gulp* Hello Atrocitus, I’m Dr - I SAID YOU ARE NO DOCTOR TO ME. I do not recognize your title, only the title of MASTER OF RAGE HOLDS ANY MEANING TO THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE TO the power it provides.

*pause* Um…I mean, I can’t lie, man. I’m here as an…um…professional…to -YOU ARE WASTING TIME, Doctor Issues. 

*Rapid* I’m here to make sure you don’t destroy all of existence because you are so powerful and mad and I don’t want to offend you but I need to do my job so please just let me…Atrocitus…sir -I HATE WHINERS. WHINING is the provenance of those too incompetent to comprehend the veracity of the world and TOO WEAK TO COMPEL THE CHANGE REQUIRED to bring JUSTICE to those who would cause DESTRUCTION AND PAIN TO THE INNOCENT.

*exasperated* OH COME ON! I’m doing my best here. Just tell me why you’re so angry. -*seething* EEEEEEEVVVVVVVERRRRRYTHII