Thanks!
I have been thinking about some kind of more comprehensive, real-world publishing history, as well as in-universe flowcharts, although the footwork has largely been done already in the pages of this very thread. The linear progression of the designs and how they were spread amongst the various characters is fairly straightforward, and most of that has already been documented here. This is more about locking down how and why the designs evolved, and what the various artists were actually trying to depict, so as to create truly faithful models. I don’t see a need to get into nitty-gritty, page-by-page variants and discrepancies, although there are a number of interesting one-offs and variants yet to be discussed (such as Dave Cockrum’s very unique version from GL Vol. 2 # 128, reprinted in # 177).
Aside from, well,
defining the designs and their histories, my end goal is of course building accurate reproductions to scratch my own personal itch. Just how many and which designs remains to be seen, pending cost and difficulty. Just a nice little ring display for my own enjoyment (and I’ll eventually get back to working on that display base design I began many months ago), with duplicates for casual wear.
For the moment, my tentative choices are Abin Sur/SHOWCASE # 22, V1, V2, V3, EMERALD DAWN, and post-REBIRTH/modern. Those are what I consider the key designs which represent the key eras for Hal Jordan, in particular (aside, perhaps, from the one-off, Abin Sur original, but its inclusion is an more of an acknowledgement of the very first Silver Age design from that very first GL story).
Again, this is all flexible, pending cost and difficulty. I’d also be very keen to include the Mike Grell and Neal Adams, but I don’t consider them quite as essential, since they’re lesser-known variants of the more iconic designs.
I should also note—and I do hope not to break any hearts, here—that these designs will not be mass-produced or made publicly available, since:
A) Green Lantern is the property of DC Comics (...at least until the company crashes and burns completely, but that’s another conversation entirely), and selling replicas would be legally questionable, to say the least. Not the sort of game I want to play.
B) I’m just one hobbyist with limited time, money, and resources, and this is more about love of the hobby and the material than anything else. The research and learning of new skills has been lots of fun, and that’s what this hobby is all about. I’ve kept an eye on sellers like The Ring Foundry, and they seem to do a good job of making various designs (but not hyper-accurate ones) available for sale. Before this project began, I was tempted to pick up one of theirs,but for the lack of availability in my size and the lack of comic-accuracy.
That all being said, the trail has been blazed for anyone wishing to follow in my footsteps. And, if DC wants to work out some kind of licensing/work for hire deal, I wouldn’t be opposed...
Meanwhile, the first actual metal ring will likely be the Guy Gardner. I just need a little more time to tweak the design, then get another test print. If I’m finally happy with that, I may just get a polished brass version ordered from Shapeways (since it uses lost-wax casting and cast brass rather than machining, and this design also doesn’t need colored anodizing, unlike the GL rings). Still doing research. We’ll see. If that all goes well, then the modern Sinestro Corps ring would be the next logical choice. These two yellow rings are offshoots of the main project, and I’d also like them in metal.
I also need to continue researching material and methodology for molding and casting the gems, too.
