In 1 Moment, Flash & Green Lantern Just Overtook Batman & Superman as DC’s Best Hero Friendship

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for ABSOLUTE POWER #4!Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Flash Barry Allen are one of the most iconic duos in the DC Universe, yet their bond is often overshadowed by Batman and Superman, who are widely seen as the DCU’s ultimate BFFs. However, a moment in the finale of the Absolute Power crisis event makes it clear that Hal and Barry share one of the best and most underrated hero friendships in all of comics.

One point in favor of the Lantern/Flash duo is the unwavering trust they’ve maintained—something Batman and Superman have struggled with.

In Absolute Power #4 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, Barry Allen races against time to shut down Amanda Waller’s transmatter machine, which she has used to forge alliances with villains across the multiverse, enlisting their help in defeating the heroes of Prime Earth.

Barry works to stop the impending flood of villains; however, several evil Flashes have already arrived on Earth-Prime and are making Barry’s task nearly impossible as they try to kill him. Meanwhile, Johnny Quick, the infamous Earth-3 Flash, activates the portal, opening the transmatter door for Waller’s multiversal army. Just when Barry is about to be overwhelmed, Green Lantern arrives in time to save the day.

Absolute Power #4 Gives Hal Jordan and Barry West One of Their Best Moments

“Barry Allen Is Never Alone, Pal. Not While I’m Around.” – Green Lantern in Absolute Power #4

Held back by the evil Thunderjolt of Earth-13, Barry continues to fight as villains emerge from the portal and mock his efforts. Owlman of Earth-3 taunts him, saying, “You are but one—dying alone and unmourned.” At that moment, Hal swoops in, pushing the villains back into the portal with a construct as he declares, “Barry Allen is never alone, pal. Not while I’m around.” This brief reprieve gives Barry the chance to electrocute Thunderjolt, freeing himself to focus on closing the portal while Green Lantern miraculously holds off the multiverse’s villains with his constructs.

The intensity quickly ramps up as Hal strains under the weight of holding back hundreds of enemies, urging Barry to hurry and shut the portal. Barry admits he’s trying his best but has never seen a machine like the transmatter portal before, struggling to figure it out. This leaves Barry and Hal standing as the only defense between the multiverse’s full villainous force and Earth-Prime. It’s one of the duo’s most high-stakes and intense moments together, making it exceptionally notable. Yet, it’s their unwavering loyalty and support that make this a standout moment in their bromance.

Hal and Barry Are ALWAYS There For Each Other, Even In the Blackest of Nights

“Oh Yeah. Nothing Better Than a Lantern/Flash Team-Up!” – Green Lantern in Absolute Power #4

Hal’s line, “Barry Allen is never alone, pal. Not while I’m around,” undoubtedly hit every lover of the Green Lantern/Flash friendship right in the feels. It’s an especially emotional and hard-hitting moment because it captures the essence of their bond—undying loyalty, trust, and always being there when the other needs it most. Throughout their comic history, Hal and Barry have been there for each other in their most critical and dire moments, consistently showcasing their deep bond. Some of the most notable storylines that highlight this unwavering loyalty and trust include Blackest Night (2009), Green Lantern: Rebirth (2004), and Flashpoint (2011).

Despite the moment’s seriousness in Absolute Power #4, it also highlights one of the key aspects that makes their friendship so iconic—their signature light-heartedness. Throughout the intense scene, Hal maintains his lighthearted and playful speaking. This is particularly notable when the other Flashes—Jay Garrick, Max Mercury, Bart Allen, and Wally West—lend Hal some willpower to reinforce his constructs. Hal responds with, “Oh yeah. Nothing better than a Lantern/Flash team-up!” This playful exclamation captures the lightheartedness of their relationship and reflects Hal’s love for his and Barry’s team-ups, extending that camaraderie to the rest of the Flash Family.

Best Green Lantern / Flash Friendship Moments in Comics

Blackest Night (2009), The Final Night (1996), and Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985) Take the Top Spots

This moment from Absolute Power #4 will undoubtedly go down as one of the best Flash and Green Lantern moments in comics. However, what made it so iconic is the foundation of their bond, which was built on a series of other legendary moments. Some of their most notable include the fan-favorite portrayal of their friendship in Blackest Night, where Hal and Barry face the overwhelming threat of the Black Lantern Corps. This storyline powerfully showcases their connection as they share multiple emotional moments, highlighting their deep trust in one another and Barry’s unwavering loyalty as he stands by Hal during one of his most grueling story arcs.

Two other storylines that demonstrate the duo’s unparalleled bond are The Final Night (1996) and Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985). These stories are exceptionally impactful as they feature the death of either Hal or Barry and the emotional toll it takes on the other. In The Final Night, Hal Jordan sacrifices himself to prevent Earth from being plunged into darkness. This marks a pivotal moment in Hal’s ongoing redemption arc following his crimes as Parallax in Emerald Twilight and Zero Hour: Crisis in Time. Hal’s death hits Barry hard, highlighting the speedster’s unwavering love and respect for his friend, despite Hal’s past misdeeds.

Similarly, Crisis on Infinite Earths sees Barry sacrifice his life to save the universe by ensuring the Anti-Monitor’s anti-matter cannon is destroyed. Just as Barry was emotionally affected by Hal’s death, Hal is deeply impacted by the loss of his friend. Barry’s death also marked the end of his original run as the Flash, leading to a major turning point as Wally West took up the Flash mantle. This added a layer of complexity to Hal’s grief, as someone else now wore his best friend’s symbol. These various stories helped develop the emotional depth of Hal and Barry’s friendship, making the moment in Absolute Power #4 hit even harder.

Superman/Batman vs. Green Lantern/Flash: Who’s the Better Duo?

Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent Need to Work on Their Trust Issues

While Hal and Barry share one of the most long-standing and emotionally deep friendships in the DC Universe, the question remains: does their bromance truly outrank Superman and Batman’s? While this depends on personal preference, one point in favor of the Lantern/Flash duo is the unwavering trust they’ve maintained—something Bruce and Clark have struggled with. A prime example is the Tower of Babel storyline, where Bruce secretly created contingency plans to take down every League member, including Superman. This betrayal fractured their bond, whereas Green Lantern and Flash’s trust in each other has remained more steadfast.

Absolute Power #4 is available now from DC Comics!