Larfleeze
Larfleeze, also known as Agent Orange, is a supervillain appearing in comics published by DC Comics, usually as an antagonist in books featuring Green Lantern and the Green Lantern Corps. He is the primary wielder of the orange light of avarice, derived from the emotional spectrum of greed, and does not voluntarily allow others to wield it.
The character first appeared in Green Lantern vol 4 #25, and was created by writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver.
Publication history
Writer Geoff Johns developed Larfleeze as a key participant in the "Blackest Night" storyline, explaining at San Diego Comic-Con in 2009 that he came up with the name "Larfleeze" by combining the words "lard" and "sleaze". Johns also revealed that the Claim Jumper restaurant chain was his inspiration behind writing about greed. Johns states that Larfleeze is one of his favorite characters to write because of how "out of touch" the character is, adding that, other than greed, emotions have no value to him because they do not provide him with anything material. After his brief first appearance in DC Universe #0, the character went on to be shown in smaller teaser appearances within the Green Lantern series until his first extended appearance in Green Lantern #39. The issue leads into "Agent Orange", the storyline detailing the character's origin that also serves as a prelude to the "Blackest Night" storyline. Larfleeze's story includes an appearance in Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2. In the story Tales of the Orange Lanterns: Blume Godhead, he is shown "recruiting" one of his most recognizable Orange Lanterns.Larfleeze received a back-up in Threshold, written by Keith Giffen, with art by Scott Kolins. The back-up ran from Threshold #1 to #5. The plot focused on the apparent theft of Larfleeze's power battery, and his attempt to retrieve it. The back-up spins off into a self-titled ongoing series, Larfleeze. Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins continued as the creative team, with J. M. DeMatteis introduced as co-writer. In March 2014, DC announced that the Larfleeze series would end with issue 12.
Fictional character biography
Origin
Larfleeze is said to be over several billion years old. He was taken from his parents for reasons yet to be revealed and forced to work as a slave. His time as a slave deeply affected Larfleeze, who at some point began to "hear" the material possessions in the society of the people whom he served begging him to own them. Some time much later, Larfleeze escaped and became a wanted criminal.Larfleeze joined a small guild of thieves which stole a number of artifacts from the planet Maltus, including a mysterious box supposedly worth an entire star system to the right buyer. In retaliation, the Guardians of the Universe sent the Manhunters to pursue them. Those who escaped discovered a map belonging to the Guardian Krona that told of treasure. The guild followed the map to the planet Okaara, where they discovered a power battery containing the orange light of avarice. Feeling its power "speak" to them, the criminals fought amongst themselves for it.
The Guardians offered the two surviving guild members a deal: in exchange for the box, the Guardians would trade the orange light with two additional conditions. First, as long as the orange light remained within the Vega system, the Guardians would agree not to interfere with it. Then secondly, for the safety of others, only one of the two thieves would be allowed to keep the orange light for themselves. Larfleeze explained that the Guardians were desperate to get the box back because it contained the fear entity Parallax. Agreeing to these terms, the two guild members fought to the death for the right to own the orange light, and Larfleeze emerged victorious.
Agent Orange
The Controllers, seeking to obtain the orange light, attack an underground palace on Okaara and come across the Orange Lantern Power Battery. As soon as they try to take it, the Controllers are overcome and killed by Larfleeze's Orange Lanterns.Larfleeze is enraged at this perceived violation of the agreement he has with the Guardians, as he is unable to see a distinction between them and the Controllers. The Orange Lantern Blume later captures and seriously damages Stel, branding him with the symbol of the Orange Lantern Corps. When the Green Lanterns recover Stel and return him to Oa, a construct of Larfleeze appears from the brand and confronts the Guardians about the attempt to steal the orange battery. Although the Guardians point out that the Controllers are the source of his anger, Larfleeze refuses to listen. He declares the treaty is null and void, and that the Guardians will submit to his demands or face his wrath. In response, Scar destroys the projection and states that the Guardians do not negotiate with terrorists.
The Guardians allow the Green Lanterns to enter the Vega system and attack Okaara. Hal Jordan, a new recipient of a blue power ring created by Ganthet and Sayd, is included in the assault team. Upon arriving on Okaara, the Green Lanterns are attacked by Larfleeze's Orange Lantern constructs. During the fight, Jordan is separated from the group and encounters Larfleeze, who he manages to subdue with his blue ring.
Blackest Night
During the Blackest Night storyline, black power rings invade Larfleeze's chamber and reanimate the bodies of those whose identities he has stolen to create his constructs. Larfleeze and Atrocitus are saved by Saint Walker, Hal Jordan, Carol Ferris, Indigo-1, and Sinestro, who recruit them to assist in destroying the Black Central Power Battery. To secure Larfleeze's compliance, Sayd agrees to be his personal Guardian if he cooperates. Larfleeze agrees and ultimately accompanies the group to Earth.Ganthet duplicates Larfleeze's ring to bolster the ranks of the light-wielders against Nekron's forces. The duplicate orange power ring is able to choose someone to become a deputy Orange Lantern for a 24-hour period. Though Larfleeze protests against anyone else's wielding of the orange light, the duplicate ring chooses Lex Luthor as its wearer. In the final issue of Blackest Night, Luthor is stripped of his power. As promised, Sayd becomes Larfleeze's personal Guardian when he demands payment for participating in their plan.
Brightest Day
Larfleeze is shown to have taken up residence in a small, upper midwestern town. He sends his Orange Lanterns into town to steal things for him. When Hal Jordan confronts him and tells him to leave the town alone, Larfleeze tells him that he will not need to ransack the town anymore because he has learned of the legend of Santa Claus. Larfleeze intends to make lists of all the things he wants and send them to Santa Claus. Jordan reveals that he has come to Larfleeze to find out how he was able to trap the orange entity in his lantern, so that they can trap the other entities to keep them out of the hands of the one trying to collect them. Before Larfleeze can tell him, Hector Hammond arrives. After struggling with Larfleeze and Jordan for the battery, Hammond ends up swallowing the battery and is possessed by Ophidian, the Orange Lantern entity.Larfleeze is later taken to Zamaron by the Star Sapphires along with Hal, Carol, the Predator, and its host Abraham Pointe. Larfleeze is present when Carol is named queen of the Star Sapphires, and states that he wants to be queen as wel. While watching over Pointe, Larfleeze is shaken to discover that Pointe knows of his past through the Predator and discloses that Larfleeze is not his real name. Larfleeze almost kills Pointe to keep him from speaking his name before returning to Earth.
Larfleeze Christmas Special
On Christmas Day, Larfleeze is outraged to discover that Santa Claus hasn't brought him anything that he asked for. He attacks every costumed Santa in the nearby town, and tries to melt the North Pole, only to be stopped by Hal Jordan. Jordan tells Larfleeze of Christmas spirit, and how it comes from giving. On Hal's suggestion, Larfleeze gives away every item in his mountain of possessions, but afterwards declares that he doesn't like Christmas spirit. Jordan then suggests that he look over his Christmas list and see if he actually needed anything there. That night, Larfleeze stares at a part of his list, on which he had written "my family".War of the Green Lanterns
When Krona's attack traps the other six New Guardians in the Book of the Black, Hal Jordan is able to escape with their rings. Although he initially discouraged John Stewart from using the ring due to its psychological effects, Hal later uses Larfleeze's orange ring in conjunction with Sinestro's ring to hold off the attacking brainwashed Green Lanterns long enough for Guy Gardner to break Parallax out of the Central Power Battery and restore their comrades to normal. While trapped inside the Book of the Black, Larfleeze is forced to relive a childhood memory of slavery. Larfleeze is later freed from the book by Kyle Rayner. When his orange ring returns to him, Larfleeze is initially fearful, saying "Keep it away from me!" Once the ring is on his finger, however, he returns to his usual mindset.The New 52
In The New 52 continuity reboot, Kyle Rayner becomes a magnet to the other Lantern Corps rings, which forces him to face off with the second-in-commands of the Lantern Corps. Kyle is approached by an orange ring, which is later revealed to be a disguised Glomulus.When Kyle Rayner learns that he needs to master all aspects of the emotional spectrum to defeat the Third Army, he approaches Larfleeze for aid. Larfleeze only consents to give Kyle access to his power if Kyle can get past him in a fight and recharge from his orange battery. Kyle manages to do so while Larfleeze is occupied battling the Third Army. Larfleeze is later captured by Volthoom, who attempts to trap Larfleeze in various illusionary realities granting his greatest wish - including a world where Larfleeze never fell victim to the orange light. However, these illusions fail due to the extent of the orange ring's influence on Larfleeze.