Who's Who: The Guardians of Oa

Guardians
by Russell & Siskoid

Full title: Guardians of Oa (aka Guardians of the Universe)

Super-Power(s): add
Planet of Origin: Oa (formerly Maltus)

Relationship to Legion: Allies, behind the scenes support

Legion Log
The Guardians of the Universe are the male members of the Maltusian race. As their women evolved into a warrior race around the Star Sapphire, the men evolved into living power batteries around the emerald power battery. They moved to the centrally-located planet Oa and began to organize a group of foot soldiers to keep order in the universe. The Guardians, as they began to call themselves, created a group of robotic "police officers" and sent them out into space to maintain order.

Unfortunately, these robots became sentient and rebelled against what they considered "faulty" reasoning and control. The Guardians then established the fabled Green Lantern Corps, another "police force" but this time consisting of native species from each space sector, representing their stellar communities.

The Green Lantern Corps flourished for thousands of years, experiencing peaks and valleys as members brought fame or shame to the organization.

In the later half of the 30th Century, after the Time Institute was built on Earth, the Guardians stepped forward to forbid all efforts to see the "beginning of time." Their heavy-handed methods to prevent legitimate research brought them into conflict with the Legion of Super-Heroes, and then the Earth Government. The Guardians and their agents, the Green Lantern Corps, were banned from United Planets space. The Guardians, having witnessed the talents of the fledgling Legion of Super-Heroes up-close, agreed to hand over protection of the UP to them. Unbeknownst to the Legion, the Guardians did place a member of the Green Lantern Corps close to them to keep an eye on Earth for them.

A millennium after the fall of the Manhunters and the merging of the male and female Maltusians, one rogue "sleeper agent" of the Manhunters attempted to find and destroy any vestige of the so-called "chosen ones." Laurel Kent revealed herself to be an android foe of the Guardians of the Universe, and attempted to murder several members of the Legion of Super-Heroes in her vendetta against them.

The Guardians are not heard from during the Reboot or Threeboot.

After Infinite Crisis, the Guardians' original 30th-Century history has presumably been more or less restored. However, something happened to their once noble race, as by Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, Daxamite Green Lantern Sodam Yat, made immortal by the power of Ion, has become the last Guardian of the Universe, tasked with rebuilding the Corps. He eventually passes his ring on to Mon-El.

Important Guardian stories:

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #267

 

The Legion learns that the Guardians were responsible 
for their newest adversary, Kantuu

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #295
(reprinted in Legion: The Great Darkness Saga 
Deluxe Edition)

 

The Legion meets the Guardians

Legion of Super-Heroes (v3) #42

The Legion learns of the relationship between the Guardians and the Manhunters

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5

Sodam Yat is the last Guardian of the Universe

Legion of Super-Heroes (v6) #16

Sodam Yat passes the torch to Mon-El