Green Lantern #86

Published by DC Comics in 1971, Green Lantern #86 stands as a landmark entry in the 'Green Lantern/Green Arrow' run written by Dennis O'Neil and illustrated by Neal Adams. This era, often referred to as the 'Hard-Traveling Heroes' period, was famous for departing from traditional space-faring superhero tropes to tackle socially conscious themes, including systemic racism, poverty, and drug abuse. This specific issue is particularly notable for featuring a story titled '...And Through Him Save a World,' which confronted the pervasive nature of heroin addiction in American youth culture.

The creative team, spearheaded by Neal Adams' distinctively realistic and cinematic visual style, aimed to ground the comic book medium in the gritty realities of contemporary life. By placing characters like Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen in situations that reflected the volatile socio-political climate of the early 1970s, O'Neil and Adams challenged the Comics Code Authority and broadened the boundaries of mainstream comic storytelling. The issue was received as a bold, if controversial, piece of social commentary that helped transform Green Lantern from a standard sci-fi hero into a vehicle for moral inquiry.