Comic Title: Green Lantern #81
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: December 1970
On Sale Date: October 15, 1970 Copyright Date October 15, 1970
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1970

Frequency: Monthly with the exception of Feb., May, Aug., and Nov.
Cover Price: $0.15
Page Count: 32
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "Death Be My Destiny"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan of Earth-1)
Green Arrow (of Earth-1)

Writer: Dennis J. O'Neil
Penciller: Neal Adams
Inker: Dick Giordano
Letterer: John Costanza

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)
Absolute Green Lantern/Green Arrow HC (2016)
Green Lantern/Green Arrow:Hard-Traveling Heroes Deluxe Edition HC (2018)

Feature Character(s)

• Green Lantern (last appearance in Green Lantern #80; next appearance in Justice League #87)
• Green Arrow (last appearance in Green Lantern #80; next appearance in Green Lantern #82)

Supporting Character(s)

• Black Canary (last appearance in Justice League of America #84; next appearance in Green Lantern #82)
• Appa Ali Apsa (last appearance in Green Lantern #80; next appearance in Brave & the Bold #174)
• Guardians of the Universe (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #199; next appearance in Green Lantern #87)

Villain(s)

• Mother Juna and her minions (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• A crowd of Maltusans (no further appearances)
• An assistant archivist (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Black Canary are brought to Oa to act as character witnesses for the old-timer, a Guardian who briefly spent time 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 the people of Maltus lost the ability to have children. A scientist calling herself Mother Juna began cloning children from the cells of her fellow Maltusans. She 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 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.