John Stewart (DC)
John Stewart is a male comic superhero who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
He had a younger brother by the name of Damon and a sister by the name of Rose. His father was said to had drunk and hit his mother with him attempting to instil in John a contempt for society before leaving them. After his parents away, they were cared for by their aunt Loretta. (Green Lantern v3 #147)
As a child, he was not focused and was average in school with him not applying himself and began to associate himself with the wrong crowds. At age 15, he took his aunt Loretta's car out for a joyride as he was hungry as he often used any excuse to go out with his younger brother Damon and younger sister Rose. During the drive, a drunk driver in a big truck ran a stop sign causing a crash with the vehicle that killed Rose. The event so scarred John that he blocked the memory out and instead came to believe that Rose was instead their puppy. His aunt later arrived with her being so angry and upset at the near death that it became a life-changing event for John. He began reading his books and developed a passion towards architecture with this resulting in him staying far away from trouble in his life. John succeeded in his studies to become an architect with his aunt becoming very proud of him. He later sought out regular work and was hired by a firm but was let go after eight months. (Green Lantern v3 #147)
He was later living in an urban ghetto and had not had architect work in weeks when he was approached by Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Jordan had been tasked by the Guardians of the Universe with making Stewart into the sectors substitute Green Lantern after Guy Gardner was rendered comatose for months. Hal then proceeded with introducing himself to John and began teaching him how to use a Power Ring. (Green Lantern v2 #87)
Green Lantern
For a time, Stewart would give up being a Green Lantern with the Guardians selecting Stewart to replace him and perform the role as a full-time duty. (Green Lantern v2 #185)
Seeing Stewart's hard time as a rookie Green Lantern, the Guardians assigned Katma Tui, the Green Lantern of the planet Korugar, to train him on Earth. (Green Lantern v2 #187)
When he returned to Earth, he went along the rest of the Corps on a mission to stop the newly-appointed Guy Gardner and his squad of villains attacking Qward's Moon. During that battle, Tomar-Re died, passing his ring to John, who passed the ring he was wearing to its original owner: Hal Jordan. (Green Lantern v2 #198)
After the Guardians retired from Oa along the Zamarons, John, Katma, and Hal led a branch of the Green Lantern Corps that settled on Earth. (Green Lantern Corps v1 #201)
John was later recruited by Darkseid and Highfather to prevent the Anti-Life Entity from consuming the universe. (Cosmic Odyssey v1 #1)
Aftermath
He was then approached by one of the Controllers who gave him the chance to join the ranks of the Darkstars. (Darkstars v1 #21)
John was badly injured during the fight between the Darkstars and Grayven, and returned to Earth to get medical attention, stepping out from the Darkstars. Merayn followed him to Earth, and Donna Troy also stepped out of the team after that battle. (Green Lantern v3 #75)
When Kyle decided he needed time away he decided to leave the Justice League with John Stewart replacing him as Green Lantern on the team. (JLA v1 #76) Mnemon, a synthetic lifeform that recorded history by draining the memories of others, landed on the moon and John Stewart and the Justice League investigated. Atom entered Mnemon, who was quick to start eating the memories of the Justice League. Mnemon’s actions always led to planetwide destruction, which it considered itself its own form of art. With Atom’s guidance Superman destroyed the magnetic field that kept it cohesive with his heat vision, but this freed the miniature black hole that powered Mnemon. Through great force of will Superman held Mnemon and the black hole in his hands long enough to fly into space and toss it into a wormhole. (JLA v1 #77) A large mass of Mirror Matter, previously thought to be only theoretical, was headed toward Earth, and John Stewart and the Justice League disposed of it by having Firestorm transform it into marshmallow fluff. The Justice League received an extraterrestrial video feed from Kylaq sent to them by Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, who was in deep space. The Peacemaker and his Paciforce deceed that Kylaq would join his forces or perish. The Justice League debated handling a political situation so far from Earth that they didn’t know all the details about. Wonder Woman said the League had a responsibility to nay innocents in danger, and Superman said that handling the Peacemaker was a pre-emptive measure, because he could eventually target Earth, so the League traveled to Kylaq. On Kylaq, the Justice League defeated the Paciforce and arranged peace talks between the Kylaq and the Peacemaker. The Kylaq introduced the Justice League to their minister of defense Kanjar Ro. Peace talks broke down and the JLA fended off another assault by the Paciforce, but the Justice League had to deal with the ruthless Kanjar Ro’s plan to enact a coup. They spread video footage of him torturing captured Paciforce members, and the Kylaq rejected his place in their government whereupon the League sent Kanjar off-world. (JLA v1 #79)
Green Lantern Corps
In the events of Brightest Day, John is seen on Oa, supervising the demolition of the buildings left in ruins after the Black Lanterns attack, and planning the reconstruction. Suddenly, he is called to the Guardians' chamber, where they order him to join Alpha Lantern Boodikka in a mission to robot planet Grenda, Stel's homeworld, where the communications ceased abruptly without explanation, and Lantern Stel and the population are missing. John agrees and departs with Boodikka. (Green Lantern Corps v2 #48) After arriving on the planet, the two confirmed the Guardians report: the entire population has mysteriously disappeared. John asks Boodikka if something of her older self remains despite being turned into an Alpha Lantern, after she asks him why he refused to join the Alpha Lanterns. Boodikka responds that her changes are only physical, and she still has her former personality; John doubts this affirmation. The two discover what seems to be a Green Lantern House Sector, that, according to Boodikka, is not registered. After entering inside, they discovered Green Lanterns Horoq Nnot and Stel; the last one tells John he must flee from the planet immediately. Suddenly, Boodikka turns against John and attacks him; John fights back, but he's surrounded by more rogue Alpha Lanterns and is defeated. It's revealed that the Alpha Lanterns have begun a revolt against the rest of the Corps, and have allied themselves with the Cyborg Superman now with an Alpha Lantern battery who then took control of Grenda to use the planet as their hidden base to turn Green Lanterns into Alpha Lanterns. John Stewart is last seen wounded and bleeding, being taken to Henshaw by Boodikka. Cyborg Superman then begins the cosmetic surgery to turn John into another Alpha Lantern. (Green Lantern Corps v2 #49) Before starting the operation, however, Henshaw connects Stewart's brain to his memories to see why he was turned into a cyborg. He also reveals to John, that, after being resurrected by the Manhunters after the Sinestro Corps War, he returned to Earth in the middle of the Blackest Night, and pleaded to the Black Lanterns among them were the former crew of his space shuttle and Nekron to killed him, only to discover that because he did not have a physical heart and thus was invisible to them. Angered for being ignored by death itself, the Cyborg Superman encountered the mysterious hooded stranger who abducted the entities of the Emotional Spectrum. He convinced him that Ganthet has the power and knowledge to turn Alpha Lanterns into normal beings again. John realizes that Henshaw organized the revolt of the Alpha Lanterns with the sole purpose to attract Ganthet to the planet Grenda and forced him to turn Henshaw into a mortal being again. Kyle and Soranik burst into the lab and manage to rescue John, but Ganthet was captured. (Green Lantern Corps v2 #50) They hide in a cave, where John informs them about the Cyborg Superman's true plan. They also discover the missing robot inhabitants of the planet, trapped in the depths of the cave by Henshaw. (Green Lantern Corps v2 #51) Mounting a defense, they battle against Henshaw and his forces, destroying the cyborg's body. Henshaw leaps into Boodikka's body, but her consciousness manages to defeat his, seemingly destroying him. (Green Lantern Corps v2 #52)
Corps Leader
This caused increasing hostilities whereby open conflict erupted between the Sinestro Corps and the Green Lantern Corps. To end the battle, Stewart initiated his secret plan and activated a program called Katma that caused all the attacking Sinestro Corpsmen's rings to deactivate with John referring to this as a 'green impurity' that was secretly added into the yellow Central Power Battery. He allowed Soranik and those Corpsmen loyal to her to leave but warned that they were to not to remain lawful otherwise the Green Lanterns would come for them. Afterwards, he inducted those Sinstro Corpsmen that sided with the Green Lanterns into the Corps and also granted Tomar-Tu's wish to continue his penance whilst his ring chose someone else from Xudar to be his replacement. (Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps v1 #25)
Whilst on assignment, he had apprehended a perpetrator that was operating near the ruptured Source Wall when he received a call from the Justice League. This was Batman who warned of a danger that emerged from the Source Wall known as the Totality and they wanted Stewart to join their incarnation of the Justice League so he could use his skills as an architect to help fix the crisis. During this time, his ship was attacked by Sinestro who had harnessed a new source of light from the Invisible Emotional Spectrum whereby he formed the Ultraviolet Lantern Corps and forcibly recruited John Stewart. Stewart was then dispatched to attack the Justice League on behalf of his new master. (Justice League v4 #2)
Overview
Personality and attributes
His friends referred to him as 'Square' John. As Green Lantern, he initially did not want to wear a mask as he believed he had nothing to hide. (Green Lantern v2 #87)
He felt that in his whole life that he had to measure himself against others. The first person being his own father who attempted to have him show a contempt for society that John felt he had never shaken. He came to realise that his father was not a good man and that a part of John wanted to be better than him. Despite changing his life, he felt that the hate had stayed with him over the years. (Green Lantern v3 #147)
Stewart considered himself to be a liberal by inclination. (JLA Classified v1 #38)
John developed a short-lived relationship with reporter Tawny Young, which ended when she, responding to her news-woman instincts, revealed John Stewart's identity on national television. (DC Retroactive: Green Lantern - The '80s v1 #1)
As Darkstar director, John found comfort in Merayn Dethalis who helped him cope with his past mistakes and loses with the two soon developing a romantic relationship. (Darkstars v1 #37)
Stewart kept with himself a Blue Moebius rose that was a plant from the destroyed world of Xanshi which was said to give a calming influence on its owner. (Justice League v4 #2)
Powers and abilities
He came to be trained in being a Green Lantern by veteran Corpswoman Katma Tui. (Green Lantern v2 #187)
The training he made with his ring gave him a strong amount of willpower that allowed him to fight back against mental suggestions made by those with the ability to compel others to follow their telepathic commands. (JLA v1 #95) John was said to be meticulous and patient with him making a plan where he waited until the best moment to strike. As such, his willpower was always about restraint and holding back until the right moment. (Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps v1 #21) He had talent as a Green Lantern as he quickly mastered the ability to fly after getting a Power Ring. (Green Lantern v2 #87) As a Green Lantern, his constructs were built from the inside out with every nut or bolt making them work which was why nothing he created was hollow. (Green Lantern: Rebirth v1 #6)
According to Lonar, John's body absorbs almost all ambient cosmic energies in the universe, fueling his power. (Green Lantern v6 #9)
For a time, he owned a company called Shining Light Architects. (JSA v1 #5)
Notes
- John Stewart was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams where he made his first appearance in Green Lantern v2 #87 (December, 1971).
Alternate Versions
- In Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance v1 #2 (2011), John Stewart appeared in the altered timeline event known as Flashpoint. He was shown as being a member of Team 7 that were an elite unit of soldiers led by Grifter. He and many of his team mates were killed during an botched operation on a Jihadist training camp.
- In Smallville: Lantern v1 #2 (2014), an alternate version of John Stewart was shown in the Smallville Season 11 tie-in comics set after the events of the television show. This version was part of the police force in New York City where he was a detective and secretly the Green Lantern of Sector 2814 that included Earth. He was the third Human Green Lantern with him being selected after Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner with Stewart stationed on Earth.
- In Nightwing: The New Order v1 (2017), an alternate version of John Stewart was shown in this world. In this future, Metahumans were illegal and arrested by the Crusaders that were formed by Dick Grayson who by 2028 managed to neutralise 90% of the worlds super-powered population. Stewart remained as Green Lantern where he was closely working with the Crusaders on assignments with Kate Kane dispatching him to apprehend the renegade Dick Grayson.
In other media
Television
- In Justice League, John Stewart had a major role in the animated series set in the DC Animated Universe where he was voiced by actor Phil LaMarr. An alternate reality version of John Stewart was shown as being a member of the Justice Lords.
- In Young Justice, John Stewart made a number of appearances in the animated series where he was voiced by actor Kevin Michael Richardson. In "Happy New Year", he briefed the Justice League on the Kroloteans after one was discovered on Earth.
- In Green Lantern: The Animated Series, John Stewart was mentioned as the Green Lantern chosen to replace Guy Gardner as Earth's protector following Gardners appointment to the Honor Guard.
Films
- In Justice League Dark, John Stewart as a Green Lantern appeared in the animated film where he was voiced by actor Roger R. Cross. He was stated to be filling in for Hal Jordan on the Justice League where he was present when Earth was being beset by a mystical disturbance causing citizens to see monsters and attack other people.
Video games
- In Justice League Heroes, John Stewart featured as a playable character in the video game where he was voiced by actor Michael Jai White.
- In Injustice: Gods Among Us, John Stewart was an alternate skin available for Green Lantern in the fighting video game where he was voiced by actor Phil LaMarr.
- In Injustice 2, John Stewart appeared as an alternate skin available for Green Lantern in the fighting video game sequel where he was voiced once again by actor Phil LaMarr. The character was also referenced on a number of gear items available for Green Lantern.
- In Young Justice: Legacy, John Stewart as a Green Lantern appeared as a non-playable supporting character in the video game where he was voiced by actor Kevin Michael Richardson.
- In DC Comics Legends, Green Lantern John Stewart appeared as a playable character in the iOS video game.
Appearances
- Green Lantern v1: (1971)
- Green Lantern Corps:
- Darkstars:
- Green Lantern:
- JLA:
- Green Lantern:
- Green Lantern Corps:
- Green Lantern: Lost Army:
- Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps v1:
- Justice League v4:
External Links
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