Are They an Archivist?: Tomar-Re and Tomar-Tu
Author's Note: As much as I am a comic book/superhero enthusiast/nerd, I haven't read ALL of the Green Lantern books or seen every piece of Green Lantern media. My findings are based on the research I could do outside of work and family stuff as well as recollections of media I've previously seen. There will be gaps, but feel free to direct me to the comic issue or media that might shed some light on my ponderings.
Like a lot of people, I've had Green Lantern on the brain since Lanterns aired on HBO. However, prior to the show ever being in the works, when I was compiling my list of properties featuring archives and archivists, Tomar-Re of the Green Lantern Corps was noted as an archivist for the Corps. I put it on the backburner mostly because I knew it would take some digging to confirm one way or the other, but now that we're in the endgame of Lanterns' first season, I thought I'd look into whether or not Tomar-Re and his son, Tomar-Tu, are actually archivists based on the claims of articles, fan websites, and toy descriptions.
Quick Green Lantern Refresher: The Green Lantern Corps was created by the Guardians, harnessing the power of the green energy of the emotional spectrum that favors willpower (bravery, courage, stubbornness) and uses it to overcome fear. The emotional spectrum was eventually expanded to include a literal rainbow of corps, but we're mostly focusing on the Green Lanterns. The Corps is made up of aliens from across the galaxy with each sector having one Green Lantern patrolling as part of a vast police network. Earth is the exception in that, as of writing this article, it has eight Green Lanterns because reasons. Green Lanterns wield the power ring, a weapon of immense creativity and destruction that draws on the central battery located on the planet Oa, which allows them to make constructs of literally anything they can imagine. If a Green Lantern dies or is mortally wounded, the ring will then choose its successor. This has also changed depending on whose writing the book and the publishing era. Sometimes the ring finds someone in close proximity, other times it goes to the sector of the previous wearer, and sometimes the Guardians pick someone based on vibes. The only major weakness of the power ring, depending on the writer or editorial mandate, is the color yellow, the color of fear. And probably bullets.
Tomar-Re was first introduced in Green Lantern Volume 2, Issue 6 in 1961, the creation of writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane for DC Comics. Tomar-Re is a Xudarian, a bird-like alien, whose people are described as peaceful and knowledge-seeking. Tomar-Re was a scientist before receiving his ring and throughout the comics, and other pieces of media, he's often utilized a trainer for new recruits. More specifically, Tomar-Re is the Lantern you go to when you want to know more about the history of the Corps which usually results in getting a peek at the Book of Oa.
The Book of Oa is a tome that stores not just the history of the Green Lantern Corps but the history of the Guardians, Oa, and holds various prophesies and a bunch of REDACTED information only accessible to the Guardians and select keepers of the book. While not consistent across different media, Tomar-Re is typically known as a Keeper of the Book of Oa, appointed by the Guardians due to his studiousness and curiosity. Within the Green Lantern books, whenever the writers need someone to act as historian for the corps to pass along exposition, the pairing of Tomar-Re with the Book of Oa is frequently used. The "Mogo doesn't socialize" line originates from Green Lantern #188 (1985), written by Alan Moore, wherein Tomar-Re educates new recruit Arisia Rrab on the variety of aliens in the Corps while using the Book, which is its first appearance in DC Comics continuity, as a framing device.
So, what does it mean to be a Keeper of the Book of Oa? Well, as far as my research has shown, the Keeper is responsible for guarding the book and "filing" the reports transmitted from all the power rings. The Book's appearance has changed since the 80s where it first appeared as a regular-looking book amongst other books available to the Corps. It's been reimagined as an imposing book-construct, but the most recent issues of Green Lantern have depicted it as, once again, a regular book one might find in a Special Collection. Access to the Book and what can be added, erased, or redacted changes about as often as Batman recruits Robins, so the integrity of information found in the Book of Oa is questionable, at best.
With that being said, there are definitely archival aspects to the Book of Oa and its designated Keepers. One would have to consider the Keeper a digital archivist as they process the intake of new reports from each Green Lantern, sorting them appropriately to maintain a timeline of chronological events, cross-referencing reports with previous missions, and updating records as needed. However, I imagine much of that is already automated within the Book's programming because this is science fiction. As far as I can tell, there hasn't been any Green Lantern material that explicitly shows Tomar-Re performing his active duties as Keeper nor is he ever referenced as Keeper. The assigned title seems to be a byproduct of his long-standing association with the Book rather than anything the audience has been shown. And if being in close proximity to an all-knowing book makes you an archivist, then I'll eat my Masters degree and take up fortune-telling for all the good it's done me.
Again, if anyone has an issue of the comic or any other materials that prove otherwise about Tomar-Re's position on Oa, please let me know. I'll gladly update the article!
It stands to reason, then, that Tomar-Re became the de facto archivist for the Corps when the 2011 movie went into production. Promotional materials and toy descriptions for anything created around the movie's release all refer to Tomar-Re (played by Geoffrey Rush) as an archivist even though he never refers to himself as an archivist nor does anyone else in the film. He's only there to patiently welcome Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) to the Corps and teach him how to use his ring. I don't know if there were plans for expanding the roles of supporting characters like Tomar-Re and Kilowog if the movie performed well, but it's a hell of a called shot for a character with only ten minutes of screen time.
Then again, Tomar-Re never gets a lot of screen time no matter what version of the Green Lantern story is told. Dude gets killed a lot. Even in the comics, Tomar-Re didn't last long. The poor bird-alien died in Green Lantern #198 (1986) with his ring ending up with his son, Tomar-Tu. However, following his induction into the Green Lantern Corps, Tomar-Tu's role is not unlike his father in its inconsistencies. In the current continuity, he appears to have joined the Darkstars - another intergalactic police force - but he's also noted as the Archivist Superior in the Hall of Great Service on Oa.
First of all, I want that title for my business cards. Second, when did Tomar-Tu take on that role? Which issue? Cite your sources, fan-made website!
Based on the evidence I've been able to gather, my conclusion is that neither Tomar-Re nor Tomar-Tu are archivists. Even within the media in which they originated, it doesn't appear they were ever officially given the role despite what readers and other creators might've inferred from the comics. The fact that Tomar-Re was only associated with the role in promotional materials for the 2011 film has no bearing when it's never referenced or showcased on screen.
It's a shame, too, because there have been a lot of stories that include the Book of Oa and the Guardians' penchant for revisionist history that would benefit from having an official archivist within the ranks. The closest we might have is the budding amateur historian/archivist Guy Gardner turned into during the Fractured Spectrum arc, but I don't see any possibility of him fulfilling that role in the current James Gunn DCU. Although, that would be hilarious.
Assuming Tomar-Re is even on the radar in the DCU, the closest we might get to having him in a potential archivist role - also assuming they stick with the Book of Oa association - would be the forthcoming animated series My Adventures with Green Lantern with Jessica Cruz as the main Green Lantern. I can't imagine Lanterns throwing fully rendered aliens into the mix any time soon. If anything, they'll save it for the finale.
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