Even though the Green Lantern movie was a complete bust, sorry Ryan, people still love the corps and what they stand for. The Green Lantern Corps is an interstellar law enforcement agency that patrols the entire universe, with each Lantern protecting a certain sector, using a powerful ring that is governed by emotion and powered by the Green Lantern Battery. Although Alan Scott was the first to wear the ring (one he created himself), the character of Hal Jordan fully incorporates what the corps truly is. Now that DC has found a new home within HBO Max, writer/director/producer Greg Berlanti, has gone on record saying, "in what promises to be our biggest DC show ever made, we will be going to space with a Green Lantern television series, but I can’t reveal any more about that just yet.” As to which Lantern we will see is still up for debate, but personally, it should start with Hal Jordan. Hopefully, Berlanti's second try at the Green Lantern series will not repeat his first mistakes, but so far he has me salivating on what's to come!
Although GL (Green Lantern) is going straight to TV, there are also talks of it being incorporated into the movies down the line. This feels like a way to test the waters before dumping more money into a failed series. Then again, giving Berlanti $100 Mil to play with is no small potatoes, even for a huge company like HBO.
Below are the Green Lanterns we have come to love and will possibly be in the TV series. Although Alan Scott is currently the Earth-2 GL, I will not include him in the running. Originally Alan was not associated with the Guardians of the Universe or the Lantern Corps, having created the mantle and ring himself, but during the New 52 reboot, Alan finally received the full honors.
Silver Age Green Lantern
Hal Jordan
Hal is a fan favorite and one of the Green Lanterns that everyone knows, especially since Ryan Reynolds played him on the big screen. Even though the movie flopped, Hal is one of the most loved Lanterns. First appearing in Showcase #22 (Oct 1959), this GL was a founding member of the Justice League and an occasional leader of the Corps itself. In this issue, we meet and see the death of Abin Sur, the Lantern who died and whose ring chose Hal to replace. Hal has also been a villain called Parallax and afterward, was a wrathful agent of God named Spectre. Having him as a starting point in the series opens up the doors to many other story arcs that we would all love to see, from meeting Abin Sur to the transitions of others donning the ring-like our next GL.
Bronze Age Green Lanterns
Guy Gardner/ John Stewart
Guy Gardner, the backup Lantern to Hal Jordan was originally a troublemaker who constantly defied authority. In the New 52 reboot, Guy comes from a long line of police officers with him having been one as well, which in all DC wisdom was retconned back to having an abusive father. Guy made his debut in Green Lantern #59, and worked hand-in-hand with Hal Jordan as his back up (Booster Gold actually prevented Guy from getting the ring first, if you want to know more ask below!). John Stewart, first introduced in Green Lantern #87, is also the second appearance of Guy Gardner, which I see it as a double key book and worth getting. Stewart, originally an architect was retconned to be a veteran from the U.S. Marines, who became the backup Lantern to Hal after Guy was hurt saving a civilian. David Ramsey's character John Diggle from the show Arrow was supposed to end up being Green Lantern John Stewart, as assumed through some Easter eggs, but due to the show unfortunately ending will never see the light of day. Both books should get on your want list.
Modern Age Green Lanterns
Kyle Rayner/ Simon Baz/ Jessica Cruz
Kyle Rayner is one of our favorite Lanterns and a forerunner to who the TV series will be based on (I still say they should start with Jordan). His debut was in Green Lantern #48 but didn't don the mantle till issue #50 which is also the first appearance of Parallax, and deaths of Kilowog, Sinestro, and the Guardians of the Universe. So although his first appearance is #48 I would rather jump on #50 before anything just because of the number of events in it. Next is Simon Baz, a Lantern so good that Hal Jordan appointed him protector of his family. The first appearance was in The New 52 #1 (FCBD) but becomes the Green Lantern in Green Lantern #0 and is a dual national Lebanese-Arab American and Muslim, and currently resides in Dearborn, near Detroit. He is also credited for training our next and final Lantern, Jessica Cruz. Jessica Cruz was mentioned in Green Lantern #20 but first fully appeared in Justice League #31, while finally becoming a Lantern in issue #50. After Power Ring dies causing her to be cursed with his powers, she ends up being trained by the Justice League and Baz. She obtains her Lantern powers after sacrificing herself to stop Volthoom, thus becoming the first female Lantern ever.
I hope this helps to inform you on what's to come and what to grab. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to reach out to me.
Till next time, Happy Hunting!
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