I have recently started to get into Green Lantern comics, and I have really taken an interest in Hal Jordan. I find the whole concept of a Green Lantern's powers awesome, but one thing I have noticed is they tend to be fairly inconsistent. A few stories I have read are:

Sinestro Corps War

Blackest Night

New 52 series

and various comics since his rebirth in 2004

The popular theme seems to be, the corps has an enemy that they can't stack up against, so they get a big power up. Such as Hal becoming a black lantern, or using the white light in Blackest Night. I'm just wondering what type of damage can Hal do at normal levels? How does that damage output compare to other characters?

Bump

@ndm5: To answer your question. Hal is the type of character who's power levels are underrated (He's Silver Surfer+), and anyone who reads his comics, would be aware that Hal is a herald+ character. Compared to people like Superman, he would literally just blast a hole through them. When he unleashes his power, he is capable of holding his own against abstracts, and he is so versatile that it isn't even funny.

I hope this is an exagerration. I haven't read all the GL books yet, and I love Hal but I am pretty sure this is inaccurate. Hal stood no chance against Orion in Godhead; if he can't handle a New God I'm pretty sure he is not Herald status like Surfer. And Hal most definitely cannot blow a hole through Superman.

Hal is a strong character overall but not on Superman's level.

@sagejonathan: Lanterns have and can give Superman level characters trouble.

@sagejonathan: Oh yeah, sorry. I forgot to mention that's how his Post Crisis version is. New 52 Hal's power levels is like a baby compared to the Post Crisis version.

@saint_sophie: The general consensus seems to be that four or five strong lanterns can handle superman. I agree that a single lantern can cause trouble for Superman, I just wouldn't go as far as to say that one could blow a hole through him or defeat him single handedly.

@captain_batman_ftw: I never knew Hal was that strong before Flashpoint; I've only read New 52 GL and up to Secret Origin so far in Johns pre new 52 run. I'm interested to see just how strong he gets then...

You can take a look at his respect thread if you haven't already.

@sagejonathan: Nah, New 52 Hal isn't going to make a change in power levels when characters like Superman are supposed to get portrayed more powerful than Hal, and N52 Superman isn't even planetary.

@captain_batman_ftw: How is N52 Superman not planetary?

He doesn't have the feats.

@captain_batman_ftw: Is lifting the planet for 5 days not planetary? Is moving Warworld not planetary? Is moving Brainiacs mothership that was many times the size of Earth(with help from Martian Manhunter) not planetary. Is being able to survive inside a black hole or in the heart of the sun not planetary? I could go on but I hope you see my point.

For more feats look here: http://www.comicvine.com/superman/4005-1807/forums/new-52-superman-capability-thread-1628483/#56

yes he does.

When did he move Warworld? Are you refering to the Batman/Superman series? If so, then I don't remember. Also, taking a feat out of context doesn't make your case look any better. He pushed Brainiac's mothership with the help of Martian Manhunter, and not to mention that he sucked in a lot of yellow sun energy. Yeah, he survived inside of a black hole, but he also got knocked out by a planet getting destroyed in Superman #38 or something like that.

@captain_batman_ftw: If you look closely at my comment you would see I said he pushed the ship with Martians help as for the solar energy most of that was used for that giant heat vision he used to power that device. As for the planet exploding knocking him out he had his eyes closed for one panel then immediately opened them again with no damage to his body. Anyway he still survived if a person surviving a planet exploding is not planetary level I don't know what is.

@captain_batman_ftw:

Your stupid lols Hal Jordan could beat superman if he had all 5 lantern rings then yes he would hold his own but givin that give superman 5 min in sun and lols gg

Pre new 52 Hal was very powerful, arguably more powerful than Superman. He has defeated Mongul, Blasted a hole through Amazo, killed Krona, defeated the JLA, etc.

Green Lanterns in general are among the most power heroes, John and Kilowog have beaten Superman, Kyle has contained a Sun and Ultraman for hours.

On the other hand new 52 Hal is much weaker. He seems to be below Superman, Wonder Woman, and Orion. His constructs are constantly being shattered

In recent years, Hal almost broke into the Speed Force and contained a bomb with enough power to destroy the universe. If this doesn't make him the best Green Lantern ever, I don't know what does.

Post-Crisis he was Planet to Planet +.