It's been 15 years since Hal Jordan first found the fallen spacecraft of Abin Sur, and was given his Green Lantern Ring.

Hal visits the headquarters of Justice League of America to see if there is anything there that might inspire him to rejoin the team. When he arrives, it becomes clear that many of the League members would like him to replace their current Green Lantern, Guy Gardner. The playful antics of the League members, and more specifically, Guy Gardner's bad attitude, convince him that the League simply isn't the place for him. Truthfully, Hal feels that too much time spent around super-powered people has been wearing on him.

So, Hal embarks upon a journey to reconnect with himself, as a non-powered human. He recalls earlier years in his life, like his cross-country trip with his friend Green Arrow, fondly.

Meanwhile, John Stewart is suffering from a nervous breakdown due to his actions, which led to the destruction of the planet Xanshi. Unable to deal with his guilt any longer, he flies to the ruins of the planet Oa.

Hal's travels take him to the town of Hope Springs, West Virginia, which had been called Desolation when last he'd been there. He tracks down a woman he'd met there named Rose Lewis-Hardin. Rose had only met him as the Green Lantern, and therefore has no idea who Hal is. Even so, he offers to help her with the farm work for some room and board. In the meantime, he befriends Rose's young son, Toby. Hal senses a romantic tension between himself and Rose, but he is content to let nothing come of it.

Eventually, Guy Gardner shows up, and bullies Hal into competing with him once again, and the two engage in a ring-powered arm wrestling match. Unfortunately, Rose witnesses their argument, and despite Hal's assurances that he is just a man, she believes that he can never be anything but a super-hero. As such, she asks him to leave.

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