Green Lantern The SCANDAL That Never Happened? 

Imagine the engagement level if the title of this episode was: “Sasha’s strangely passionate defense of threesomes.”

"If Rex really was such a lothario as is being claimed, why is he so impressed by something as vanilla as a threesome?" Because DC, that's why. Refer to the Neil Gaiman quote: “I wanted to put a reference to masturbation in one of the scripts for the Sandman. It was immediately cut by the editor [Karen Berger]. She told me, "There's no masturbation in the DC Universe." To which my reaction was, "Well, that explains a lot about the DC Universe.”

14:00 Wait a second. They claim that the 3some was just a delusion of Hal's drunken state but in the panel where it was first talked about Hal very clearly never told anyone about it. The only way this could have become justice league gossip in the first place is if the girls themselves talked about it.

I hate how puritanical some comic fans can get sometimes. The Huntress and Lady Blackbird having a threesome doesn't cheapen them or make either of them less of a woman.

Why would Black Canary tell Green Arrow about the event unless he had been suggesting that they introduce a third element into their relationship. Either that or she was trying to entice Ollie to try something new. In any case, the line is shocking and Lanterns reaction is priceless.

Enjoyed this, but now for an off-topic dissent. "For the planes I flew." This is actually very much a relevant part of Hal Jordan's persona and history, especially going back to his Silver Age origins (which, yes, I'm croaky and old enough to remember). Being a big deal test pilot was a major cultural touchstone and considered quite sexy back in the 60s. We're not in that space anymore, for better or worse, but America at the time considered test pilots, astronauts and the like as being not only symbols of American exceptionalism, which I will not defend in its worser examples, but as part of an optimistic and increasingly inclusive view of the future. The line is a bit corny today, I guess, but it is very much in keeping with his character.

Love this. It seems the outrage is linked to the idea that women’s sexuality, both being in a relationship or engaging in sexual for pleasure, somehow removes them of their own agency.

I love how everyone assumes that Lantern instigated the threesome and used drink to ply the two women and not the other way around. I mean heaven forbid it was the women who took advantage or that it was even consenual.

I'm pretty sure JLA Headquarters is like the Olympic Village. You dont get that many perfect people spending so much time in high pressure situations without them blowing off steam.

Fav cringe moment from this book: I'm Ray Palmer. Welcome to PAIN!

"Three whole people" and a power ring that can make anything he can think of... I mean, if you're going to get Hal plastered and hanging out with the ladies, even if they're just messing with him, run with it! Don't just drop a terrible couple of lines and walk away. Maybe Grappa is that one drink Hal can't handle. Everybody has a "never again" drink; if you're lucky you find out what it is when among friends. Buy yeah, that was horribly written.

As a woman who has been shamed for having a threesome (by other women no less whereas ironically, one of my best guy friends just gave me a high five when he found out) , thank you.

Wait a minute. This is the internet. You cannot take a balanced and nuanced stance! Where is the rage? The ignorance? The personal attacks? You keep this up, and I'll have to subscribe. (Oh, too late. I already did.)

People stop slut shaming Hal!

In a beautiful/ironic twist, the people that come with pitchforks to "defend" women in comics end up taking away their agency 😂

That panel with Hal not being particulary happy about the memory seems more like they got him drunk, but whatevs.

I like how it's bad for Hal and Ollie to 'gossip' but not for Blackhawk or Huntress. One of them spoke to Canary too. Also i think Rex was more 'impressed with' and less 'impressed by'. Like a threesome mightve not been much for him, but he can still be impressed with the straightlaced cop. Like he knows that's risqué for Hal.

Literally gasped when you remembered the time Carol thought Jordan was gonna propose. Jordan was at his lowest at the time, but damn, that was Gardner level of clueless.

Have you ever heard the tales that come out of Olympic Villages? The staggering number of condoms that they have available for the athletes that stay there? I would think that the rate of random hookups in the superhero community would be similar.

The way I see it, when "fanfic" is used in the context of criticizing official writing, it's usually not as much about the writing quality itself, as it is about the respect for established canon. The fanfic genre is (in)famous for the broad range of liberties taken when it comes to canon, at least in my experience.

I only recently discovered your channel and for being called Casually Comics, I find each of your videos extremely well researched, presented, and edited. Nothing casual about them. Highly entertaining and a great source of comics history for hardcore and casual fans alike.

Batman is the only character who get to keep his kids even when their killed. 😂

Hold on a sec! The “fix” of the threesome, that was attempted by Gail Simone in ‘Birds of Prey’, really doesn’t work, because; if Hal Jordan simply got drunk, blacked out, and thought he had had a threesome with Lady Blackhawk, and Huntress, who told Black Canary about it in the first place, for her to be able to then pass it on to Ollie? In the original setup, it’s suggested that either Lady Blackhawk, Huntress, or both of them, mentioned it to someone- probably Black Canary, and that it got passed on from there; which isn’t a good look for Black Canary, and paints her as being some kind of gossipy teenager, but that at least fits with the “Out of Character-ness”, that Sasha mentioned being a problem all the way through that particular series. BUT, in the non-threesome, Hal blackout drunk, scenario, both Lady Blackhawk, and Huntress, already knew that the threesome didn’t happen, so they wouldn’t have told Black Canary that it did... ...and if neither Lady Blackhawk, or Huntress told Black Canary about it, who did? The only other person involved was Hal; but due to how shocked he was that Ollie knew about the threesome, it doesn’t seem likely that he’d been out bragging about it. Also, surely if Hal was going to divulge details about it to anyone, he would have been more likely to tell Ollie first- since they are best friends; he wouldn’t have told Black Canary- his best friend’s girlfriend, wife or whatever they were at that point...that would be really, REALLY creepy, and probably require Ollie having to have a bit of chat with Hal, about boundaries haha. I mean, only some kind of weirdo would go around telling the wife, girlfriend, partner, etc, of their best friend, details about their various sexual exploits; particularly without first informing said “supposed best friend” beforehand...that just seems wrong haha Plus, Hal was shocked that Ollie, and other people, had heard about the threesome at all; simply wanting to be remembered for the “planes he flew” instead- which made me laugh out loud for a looooong while, especially at Sasha’s reaction to good old train wreck Hal Jordan haha. So that only leaves Lady Blackhawk, and/or Huntress, as the people who could have originally spilled the details about the threesome- either directly to Black Canary, or to somebody else who then told her; makes their explanation, in the ‘Birds of Prey’ book: that Hal was blackout drunk, and just thought that they had had a threesome, not fit with the way it was described by Ollie, in the original scene. I haven’t read either of the comics this “controversy” was featured in, so I’m only going off the details in this video; but from watching ALL her other videos, I trust Sasha to explain things precisely, and, as far as I can tell, she hasn’t led me astray before. Not only that, but I haven’t seen anything in the comments, that suggests Sasha was wrong somehow; either in her description of what transpired in both books, or that she missed out some important details, which would explain away my problem with how it was supposedly fixed, by Gail Simone’s “Hal’s blackout drunk threesome hallucination”, and make it no longer an issue. So...yeah; a pointless, unnecessary throwaway joke about a threesome, that some people probably shouldn’t have cared about as much as they did (though that is subjective, as Sasha rightly points out), wasn’t actually “fixed”...until it was, by every comic book character’s greatest, most unconquerable foe; outside continuity rebooting shenanigans haha. I know I’m very late to the party on this; I’ve watched this video many times, but the issue I pointed out, in this comment, only just came to me now...for some unknown reason haha. ‘Casually Comics’ has quickly become one of my favourite RU-vid channels; not only does Sasha always makes me laugh, I love hearing her unique perspective on anything, and learning about all the crazy comic book controversies, I’ve often missed out on, over the years/decades. The comments on ‘Casually Comics’ videos are usually great, too, and I love reading them. It’s great to see people passionate about things, whether or not I am into them as much as they are, it doesn’t matter; I love learning new things about comic books, and their history: whether about artists, writers, characters, etc, I just find it all fascinating. Hope everyone that sees my comment, and the loved ones of those people, are keeping safe, and well- wherever you are in the world, during these crazy, scary times. 🤞😷🤞 It’s great to have channels, like ‘Casually Comics’, providing superb content; it helps you forget about the state of the world for a little while haha. Best wishes, everyone. 😷👍

Hal Jordan got tag teamed by 2 consenting adult women. Get over it.

HAL and Ollie have known each other since the early days of the Justice League; THEY ARE BEST BUDS; they even drove across the country together in a pick-up truck; Hal is ex-military, and has a rep ACROSS SEVERAL GALAXIES, for being straight laced, and "following the rules"; Ollie, on the other hand, is known for making rash decisions, not keeping it in his pants...and for pushing Hal's buttons...so when he suddenly he finds out his uptight buddy, who regularly takes him to task for his behavior, went out and did EXACTLY what he probably would have done, with two gorgeous women, had he been in the same situation, what do you think he was gonna do?--pretend it never happened??...it may not have been STELLAR behavior, but, sorry, it was completely NOT out of character for those two guys... nor was it really out of character for LB or Huntress to get drunk, and want to have sex with an unattached guy WHO LOOKS LIKE RYAN REYNOLDS...one is a SKY PIRATE, and the other was a VIGILANTE HIT WOMAN...i'm pretty sure they've both gotten drunk and fncked a guy before...i also strongly suspect any man who presented either of them with an unwanted penis, would loose possession of that penis, with frightening speed...

You didn't know Black Canary has terrible judgement? She took The Ray's virginity just because she felt badly for him, comparing him to a lost puppy. She gave a naive teen superhero who'd spent his whole life in isolation a pity fnck. I think that's a pretty compelling case for poor judgement.

"Sasha: If they hate each other, then it's just hate sex!" Made me spit my drink out laughing didn't expect Sasha to say that. Well played.

Wait…but if Hal was black out drunk and only thought they did, then how did everyone find out, Hal was surprised Ollie knew meaning it’s not likely he told anyone, so Black Hawk and Huntress would have to be the ones who said it

Anger probably better focused on the death of Lian Harper imo

"I'd rather be known for the planes I flew..." Relax... you could be known for both.

Seriously, as far as Hal is concerned, does this 3some even approach the scandal of Hal and Arisia? No. I didn't think so.

Also on the lack of relationships with female characters, nobody ever says that about women in real life. So it amazes me that somehow anyone will attribute that as an attribute to a good female.

that commenter slammed the dinah/ollie relationship?! maybe just my growing up with the Timm-verse, but i love that relationship. I don't think Simone was mandated to include it.

20:41 "The man's a hot mess'....that wasn't always the case. They were larger than life aspirations for those needing to believe in something larger than life. Sadly that was many decades ago. Regardless those heroes and stories are endeared. I enjoy your commentaries and your love of the stories.

3:52 * gasp! * "Three whole people!" Still better than 2½ people - whichever way you slice it...

The readings had me laughing like a MADman at my desk at work. It's nice to know people were butt hurt over things in comics back then and not just now. Thanks Sasha

I've watched this video many and I mean MANY times. Today however; Sasha's cold dead reading of Hal's "I'd rather be remembered for the planes I flew" sent me into a fit of giggles. Love it

In the comic books, Green Lantern and Green Arrow have had a complex and controversial history together. I get the impression that Green Arrow was "pulling his chain". Ever since the "Green Lantern" movie, some think that Hal Jordan is an alcoholic/philanderer, because the scriptwriters made him that way, because they felt that the character was too boring. I felt that it was unfair to change the character's noble history. I hope that some DC writer will someday create a story involving Green Lantern, The Huntress, and Lady Blackhawk only, so that the air can be cleared, once and for all, and to redeem the reputations of all three characters.

I always saw the line as Ollie screwing with his best bud. Gossip is just that, gossip, and Hal's line to me was him nonchalantly denying that anything happened. Hal's fairly straight laced, especially compared to Ollie, so Hal supposedly getting drunk and having a threesome is just kinda funny. As a side note, I do like the idea of Hal and Zinda having a thing for each other. They're both pilots, and I actually like the idea of Zinda getting Hal drunk in order to sleep with him. I dunno, I just didn't take it all that seriously at the time, and I still don't. To me it was just Ollie screwing with his best friend, and that's something I can appreciate. "Hey, I heard about the threesome you had with two of the hottest superheroes in town. What's that? You don't wanna talk about it? Then let's keep talking about it! So, Hal, how's your sex life?"

I remember CBR around that time had some writers that were rather strongly my-way-or-the-highway opinionated about women's issues, to the point of dismissing anyone who didn't agree with any perceived issue. You' could be hit with a "stop mansplaining" response if you dared give proof that a claim was wrong. Disagreeing would sometimes get you dismissed just for being a man. If said poster responded by saying they were a woman, then they might be criticized for "speaking like a man" on the issue.

I love this!! I had no idea any of this happened. People take certain things way too far.

your defense of Hal Jordans clumsyness always makes me happy XD also what was that about receipts aobut Ric Greyson, is there a rant vid coming about that mess? please tell me thats the case, I need the salt, I need someoen to release the salt about all that

I remember when this happened, it cause such a stupid drama between multiple fandoms... Some people were mad that it was Hal, saying they would believe it if was Guy or John (two people with no damn game at all)... so it split the GL fandom... Next people were outraged that a incredible devoted Catholic like Huntress would have a 3some... so those people were mad... And lastly those mad that they had no idea who the hell Lady Blackhawk was... (thats why they were mad, not that she was part of it LOL).

Threesome being "unheroic" is really funny and reminds me of the batman "heros dont give head" scandall

I want to add something. Maybe you didn't mention this because of the poor writing, poor characterization, or you didn't know but this happens. Two friends hanging out and one wants to talk about something and the other assumes it's about something else. That threesome conversation belonged in that comic. It shows their level of friendship, and Oliver clowning Hal about it cements the fact of their friendship. Holla back if I'm totally wrong on this Sasha.

Great breakdown, I never heard of this "scandal", funny how people project negativity and an entire storyline based on a handful of details lol

Good Lord you're reasonableness on youtube and rational conversation seems like a rare gem found in a stripped out gold mine!

One thing that bothered me in the Animal Man comics once was when he said that if he had the powers of a spider he would be a mediocre hero. I didn't like that line.

The way they worded it made me think that Hal got pegged.

My question is this, why do people assume women ( real or fictional)should be ashamed for their actions or bodily autonomy.

Gail Simone's biggest challenge these days is finding enough food for her characters to eat in each issue. Frankly, what Lady Blackhawk, Huntress, and Hal Jordan may or may not have done while destressing with a bottle of wine is nobody's business but their own. Sometimes a threesome is just a threesome. Look at it this way (and it's something they've noted in the military as well). When you have young(ish) people, in the best physical condition of their lives, and in stressful situations, with members of the opposite sex (90 odd percent of the time), things happen. It may not be something they planned, or something they're proud of afterwards, but it happens. Humans are sexual creatures, and it's not like Hal, Zinda or Helena are unattractive people.

My main memory of this comic is just Linkara saying: Together we can be justice!

This video solidifies my view that your judgement on comic storytelling and character development are profound.

Did they ever actually say that sex was involved? Maybe they just played spin the bottle.

Is it really so difficult to believe that three exceptionally good looking people who are all pretty open with their sexuality and who have very small circles would get together? Also, Gail Simone's 'women in refrigerators' did more to objectify thr characters than thr stories she was railing against. She just lists characters and how they died without giving any context. She treated the characters as props to further her agenda rather than anything real.

I love your mindset. How you exploit bad writing, how you want to get to the bottom of things, how you invest time to find deeper meanings in the panels. All of it. Just love your videos. 👍

You're my favorite comic nerd. So eloquent, so thoughtful...and quite demonstrative. (The hands always get me going. Never change.)

The Huntress slept with The Question. I rest my case.

It dawned on me that Ollie and Hal never give a clear idea that it was a threesome in the first place... just that something happened XD

Only thing more fun than learning about a controversy is learning it years after it is relevant.

I've watched this video probably fifteen times over the last three years and it just makes me smile every time. How could Hal Jordan do this?

‘You need a foil” hallelujah “Canon isn’t forever” amen You’re preaching it in this one!

This was happening towards the tail end of when I was reading comics. Huntress was pretty damn sexually active, Lady Blackhawk was very much an alcoholic. Hal however is nothing more than a single scoop of vanilla ice cream. The real questionable thing is Hal agreeing to a 3-some. If sex actually happened. When Green Arrow first met Huntress, he thought about trying to get a piece of that and by the end of the issue was way too freaked out my her intensity! But Ollie has great history of useless gab with his buddies (See Kevin Smith run).

I did not know Roy’s daughter dies. Not mad about the spoiler, now I must read the arc and feel the feels. Thx dude. #RedArrowIsTheArrow

Love your videos. I must say though, I worked for civilian contractor who among other things made squadron scarves for the Air Force. Most every one done without exception had to feature the aircraft of that squadron all over the scarf. Spoke to many a pilot, and it was a point of personal pride. They truly loved their planes.

i love you sasha. nuanced discussion and genuine passion for comics. cant get enough. not just learning but getting insight as well.

I did enjoy it Sasha! Its rare for me to hear an ope, honest and thought provoking conversation about comic book stories. Thank you.

You are on a roll!! This channel shows just how mixed up comics can get. Love it!🤠👍

Its sad that I seem to only find honest thought out discourse on my favorite comics channel and can't seem to find it elsewhere. You do a great job at the lost art of "thinking" rather than reacting, and still stay entertaining. Kudos

13:05 "I don't like this and I don't imagine them doing this." Just sums up the past decade of culture wars over nerd culture.

As you’re reading the quotes I get the distinct impression that these people are missing certain types of life experiences that would help them understand how such moments occur.

How could you forget the in-between of Dad Roy and Trucker Hat Roy? Zombie Ghost Lian making him do "china cat" Roy!

Very, very late to the party here. RU-vid said "look at this" and it had Hal Jordan, so I said "Okay, then." 1. I have this book. I read this book. 2. I also entirely forgot about this book whatsoever until seeing this video. Impact? Meh. Not exactly Bane breaking Batman, Doomsday killing Superman, or even Captain America being shot or the Cap Hydra crap, is it? No. 3. It's not a throwaway page/panel/joke. The point was a brief shift in tone while playing on the friendship between GL and GA. GL: Serious tone, serious important secret to reveal. GA: Is it about X? Because I already know. GL: No, it's...you what? GA: Yeah. GL: Aww, shit. But, no, it's not. Back to serious tone dialog reflecting recent events. 4. That's all. Not a character assassination. Not a sexist trope. It's how friends talk. It humanizes them instead of it being 100% stilted serious talk. 5. People really need to stop this soap operafication of comics, especially superhero comics. This thing of "all life should conform to X and anything else requires my outrage" is bad enough in the everyday life of everything else. Comics are meant to be escapism, not heavy-handed social lectures.

Huntress had two relationships during Gail's first BoP run. There was a random guy she briefly dated and hooked up with just because she felt like it and later Catman. In both cases they were not choices she was particularly proud of. So, her having a random threesome isn't really out of character. Then again, Lady Blackhawk is related to Catman, so she would be an odd choice. I agree it's bad writing, but that argument against it is a bit silly.

I can definitely see Zinda and Helena doing this for fun and immediately wanting to tell Dinah since she knows Hal from way back and would appreciate the story. Whether she’d gossip to Ollie idk but that much I think I buy

I’m really enjoying your videos, and in particular, this one. It is really fun to follow along with your analysis. I’m a comic fan, but haven’t been a comic reader really, for a couple of decades. Your videos bring me right back into the mythos.

One of the greatest videos you have done yet Sasha. I have never heard such an impassioned defense of threesomes.

This video is 100% wisdom. As legit critique as it needs and a dip into subjects best expressed in longer form. Glad to subscribe!

Well said! 👍 Hal always struck me as someone who always knew how to superhero, but not person.

Didnt know about this. I did hear about Roy Harper's daughter. I'm more upset about that.

I saw the title and thought it was going to be about Arisa's age...

The sad thing is, it didn't have to be referring to a threesome. SOmeone could have written a story where Hal was getting ready for a date with someone else, and she only like Grappa, for some reason. But oh no! there is a shortage because some villain has stolen all the Grappa! Queue Hal and co going on a hilarious mission where he gets taken out by some minor D rank villain and had to be rescued, yet somehow turned it into a very successful date. It could have turned into an interesting character bit for all three by someone responding. Hell, it could have been a Poker game where the prize was the Grappa, and Hal cheated so he could win it for charity. There are a lot of ways this could have gone that would have been fine.Feeling the need on either side to turn it into a character hit was just unnecessary based on that one panel throwaway.

OMG I love the level of sociological introspection you bring to the genre and the fandom.

Great video! One I somehow managed to overlook based on a comic page I wasn't aware of about something that never happened.

I love how you look at this from all angles! You talk about some serious relevant topics but also poke fun at the hilarity of it all

Random thoughts: Yeah, in a story that convoluted, Robinson wasting an entire page on this gag adds to my theory that he wrote 'Cry for' after a serious head injury. OOC syndrome really doesn't apply to the guys, as both Greens were written as thoughtless jerk horndogs for several decades. So, them acting like this sucks, but it's not OOC Impressed that sasha didn't just make this video a joke-video but had a conversation, about the ideas presented in this story.

I always thought Hal Jordan was written as a playboy here and there so I would think this was in character. Ollie and Hal were friends so it would be in character for Ollie as well

I agree with you. Thank you for this great video.

You're reporting is A plus Great pacing and editing. AWESOME JOB

I would have used the opportunity to give all of the characters agency. Could explore prudishness and also respecting people's privacy. Hal, Blackhawk and Huntress could respond with justifiable frustration at people blowing if out of proportion.

I like that your logic at the end can be applied to other aspects in comics. I think a lot of people just get outraged for the sake of it and don't stop to think, why this particular thing made them upset.

This was an awesome video. I am glad you didn't Wham this Wonderfully Whimsical "Whatever-This-Was." This type of video is why I enjoy your channel more than people like Comicstorian and ComicsExplained, and I seriously enjoy those guys.

Another delightful video!!

I love your channel. You're videos are always super entertaining. Keep it up!!

I'm new to the channel and just have to say, I'm a huge fan of these behind the scene dissections. A favourite page of mine (before CBR went to hell) used to be "Comicbook Legends Revealed", so I'm loving this type of content.

Moral of the story, people can’t take a joke.

Great content! This video was just what I needed before what I Imagine to be a long Father’s Day shift.

Wow, so many thoughtful thoughts. Well and passionately presented.

To be fair, “keep these women away from Hal Jordan” is a pretty good argument after he dated a 14 year old in an 18 year old body...

Oliver Queen is somewhere in the background laughing his head off! The real question is why would Oliver Queen say this?!?!