Green Lantern #81

Green Lantern #81 (On Sale: October 15, 1970), has a cover by Neal Adams. For the first time, Black Canary is listed on the cover.

Continuing from last issue, we have "Death Be My Destiny" by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Black Canary are brought to Oa to act as character witnesses for the old-timer, the Guardian who has been traveling with the heroes on Earth. The other Guardians of the Universe blame the old-timer for choosing to save the life of Hal Jordan rather than act in the best interest of the greater good. Despite the objection of Hal and Ollie, the old-timer is stripped of his immortality by his fellow Guardians and exiled to the world Maltus, where the Guardians originated.

The old-timer is joined on the trip to Maltus by his three human friends. Although the planet was once sparsely populated, it now is host to an overpopulation problem. By consulting the archives, the heroes learn that when Maltus passed through a strange cloud of cosmic dust, the people lost the ability to have children. A scientist calling herself Mother Juna began cloning children from the cells of her fellow Maltusans. Although the people recovered their ability to reproduced, Mother Juna has not stopped creating more clones which has led to overpopulation.

While Green Arrow distracts the angry crowd of Maltusans, Green Lantern breaks into Mother Juna's laboratory. He and the others are then confronted by Juna's minions. As the battle between the two sides commences, the Maltusans enter the laboratory and begin destroying it. Mother Juna explains that she never recovered from the effects of the cosmic cloud and cloning was the only way for her to be a mother.  With her lab destroyed, she will no longer be able to create her clones and the overpopulation problem will no longer grow worse. The old-timer accepts his fate and remains on Maltus to help its residents. The heroes of Earth return home.

Not to suggest that these stories were popular, but this one was reprinted in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #16 (1981), Green Lantern/Green Arrow #3 (1983), Green Lantern/Green Arrow Collection Vol. 1 TPB (1992), Green Lantern/Green Arrow Collection HC (2001), Green Lantern/Green Arrow Vol. 1 TPB (2004), Showcase Presents: Green Lantern Vol. 5 TPB (2011), Green Lantern/Green Arrow TPB (2012) and Absolute Green Lantern/Green Arrow HC (2016).

Edited by Julius Schwartz.