Superman was nearly selected as the successor to the Green Lantern Abin Sur, but a cosmic boundarry prevented him from joining the Corps. because he was born on Krypton, he was ineligible for the specific ring designated for Earth's sector.
The Sector 2813 Technicality that Sidelined Clark Kent
In the pages of Action Comics #642 from 1989, it was revealed that Clark Kent was among the potential candidates considered to inherit the power ring of Abin Sur. According to the report, the ring ultimately bypassed Superman because of a strict jurisdictional rule: the ring was intended for a resident of Sector 2814. While Superman had spent the vast majority of his life on Earth, his place of birth was Krypton, which was located in Sector 2813.
This technicality paved the way for Hal Jordan, a Ferris Air test pilot, to become the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps. The report notes that while Hal Jordan's tenure was later marked by the destruction of the Corps during his time as Parallax,he was the ring's chosen successor because he met the sector requirements that Clark Kent did not.
Jan-Al and the Perils of Early Kryptonian Lanterns
While Superman was disqualified,the history of the Green Lantern Corps does include a Kryptonian precedent. Millennia ago, the Guardians of the Universe recruited a Kryptonian named Jan-Al as their seventh member. This historical footnote serves as a cautionary tale regarding the evolution of the Corps' technology.
As reported, Jan-Al met a tragic end because the early iterations of the power rings lacked the safety protocols found in modern versions. She ultimately burned to death after overcharging her ring with her own willpower. This suggests that the combination of Kryptonian physiology and emerald energy was volatile long before Clark Kent ever entered the picture.
Sodam Yat and the Potential of a Kryptonian-Lantern Hybrid
Though Superman never officially joined the Green Lanterns, the power level of such a combination is evidenced by the character Sodam Yat. A native of the planet Daxam, Sodam Yat is a descendant of Kryptonian explorers and possesses similar abilities to Superman when exposed to yellow sunlight, though he is vulnerable to lead rather than Kryptonite.
The synergy between Daxamite strength and the willpower of a Green Lantern ring makes Sodam Yat one of the most formidable members of the Corps . This comparison implies that had the Sector 2813 technicality not existed, Superman would have likely become the most powerful entity in the Green Lantern Corps, potentially exceeding the capabilities of any other member.
From the Sinestro Corps to the White Lanterns
Despite missing out on the green ring, Clark Kent has wielded other energies from the emotional spectrum. During the New 52 era's Sinestro series, Superman briefly served as a member of the Sinestro Corps, utilizing the yellow energy of fear. This pattern continued in the Injustice comic series, where the alternate-universe version of Superman also utilized a Yellow Lantern ring.
Furthermore, during the Blackest Night event, Superman was inducted into the White Lantern Corps by the Life Entity. This occurred after he and several other resurrected heroes were brought back to life to fight against Nekron and Black Hand. while these experiences gave Superman a taste of Lantern power, they remain temporary deviations from his primary role as the Man of Steel.
The Mystery of the Memory Wipe
One significant detail left unresolved in the narrative is the erasure of Superman's memory regarding his near-induction into the Corps. While the report mentions that his memory of the encounter was eventually restored, it does not specify who ordered the memory wipe or why the Guardians of the Universe—or the ring itself—felt it necessary to hide this potential from him for so long.
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