Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the name of several characters in the DC Universe.
- This list does not include the various members of the Green Lantern Corps but only those that had become Earth's Green Lantern.
Contents |
Green Lantern (Golden Age)
- Main Article: Alan Scott
Pre-Crisis
Alan Scott
The engineer travelled aboard a train across the American Midwest when his train was derailed after a bomb exploded beneath the bridge. Everyone was killed in the resultant explosion except for Alan Scott. Alan awakens and finds a strange emerald lantern resting near the wreckage. The lantern begins glowing and an eerie voice begins to chant, "Three times shall I flame green! First - to bring death! Second - to bring life, and third - to bring power!" Known as the Green Flame of Life, the disembodied voice infuses Alan with visions of the past. It revealed that 2000 years ago, a green meteor came to Earth and landed in the provinces of China. An aging occultist named Chang discovered the meteor and listened to the same spectral promises of death, life, and power. Cutting away a portion of the alien rock, Chang fashioned it into a small lantern. The neighboring villagers distrusted the sorcerer and, before long, a mob gathered together and killed him. The Flame of Life fulfilled the first of its prophecies by flaming and killing Chang's murderers. The lamp traveled across the globe for centuries until it eventually fell into the hands of a mental patient named Billings. Billings remolded the lamp into the shape of a train conductor's lantern. The Green Flame of Life flared again and mystically restored Billings' sanity – granting him a new lease on life. As promised, the second of three prophecies has been fulfilled. Now the Green Flame of Life flares for a third time, granting the gift of power to Alan Scott. Following the lantern's instructions, he cuts away a small piece of the lamp and molds it into a ring. The Flame of Life instructs that, in order to effectively wield his power, he must charge his ring with energy from the lantern once every 24 hours. (All-American Comics v1 #16)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Green Lantern (Silver Age)
- Main Article: Hal Jordan
Harold Jordan
Many years later, a dying alien named Abin Sur who was a member of the Green Lantern Corps came to crash-landed his starship in the Californian desert. Having selected a replacement officer for his position, the power ring chose Hal Jordan for his ability to overcome great fear. The ring and its abilities were explained to him, and he inherited the mantle of Green Lantern. (Showcase v1 #22)
The Guardians of the Universe later summoned Jordan to their home world by creating an energy duplicate of him as they had learnt that Abin Sur had died and had only then received the news due to an ion-storm disrupting communications to Earth's region of space. After he recounted events, they determined he was a worth successor and allowed him to remain as Green Lantern where they erased his memory of the encounter as they deemed that they would wait until a proper time before they introduced themselves to him. (Green Lantern v2 #1) He later encountered the Weaponers of Qward when he met with a Qwardian named Telle-Teg who was one of a number of his people that sought to escape the evil rule of the Anti-Matter Universes rulers. (Green Lantern v2 #2)
Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)
- Main Article: Guy Gardner
Guy Gardner was born in Baltimore, Maryland to parents Roland and Peggy Gardner. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and frequently beat the young Guy while idolizing his older brother Mace. (Guy Gardner v1 #11)
Should anything ever happen to Hal, or should he be unable to fulfill his duties, Guy Gardner would be Earth's Green Lantern. After finding this out, Hal journeyed to Baltimore and joined the Men's Club where Guy practiced physical fitness. The two quickly became fast friends, although Jordan could not reveal his secret. (Green Lantern v2 #59) It was seven months later before Gardner recovered where one day he was encountered a carnival and met a fortune teller named Kari Limbo. She spoke that he had a great destiny in the future which he did not believe but he was attracted to Kari with the two briefly going out for a week. The pair fell in love with one another and when she moved with the carnival he drove out to meet her on weekends. Around this time, Gardner was approached by Hal Jordan who revealed his identity as being Green Lantern and that Guy was designated as a substitute. Jordan at this moment had to return to Oa and had given Guy a Power Ring in order to operate as Earth's Green Lantern in the mean time. (Secret Origins v2 #7) As Hal departed to repair his Power Ring, Guy substituted as the back-up Green Lantern and teamed up with the Green Arrow who he learnt was Oliver Queen. Together, they worked to fight a remote machine called the Eye that was being controlled by Professor Ojo. Guy succeeded and later went to recharge his ring from the Power Battery but was unaware that a fault existed in it causing it to explode seemingly killing Gardner before Jordan could save him. (Green Lantern v2 #116)
Green Lantern (John Stewart)
- Main Article: John Stewart
John Stewart was an architect who was selected by the Guardians of the Universe as Hal Jordan's backup after Guy Gardner was seriously injured in a disaster. Although Jordan objected after seeing that Stewart had a belligerent attitude to authority figures, the Guardians stood by their selection. Jordan complied, recruited and equipped Stewart with the standard uniform and power ring. (Green Lantern v2 #87)
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)
Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)
- Main Article: Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner was a struggling-but-gifted freelance graphic artist. He lived and worked in Los Angeles initially. After Hal Jordan, grief-stricken over the destruction of his hometown of Coast City, went on a mad rampage, killing the entire Green Lantern Corps and most of the Guardians of the Universe who oversaw the Corps, Rayner was found by Ganthet, the last surviving Guardian, and given the last Green Lantern ring: the powerful weapon wielded by each Green Lantern, which allows them to conjure any form of matter or energy solely with their willpower. Ganthet's reasons for choosing Kyle to bear the ring have never been made completely apparent, aside from Rayner having been in the right place at the right time. (Green Lantern v3 #50)
Green Lantern (Simon Baz)
- Main Article: Simon Baz
Simon Baz
In his desperation to make money, Simon took up illegal street-racing, something he proved good at. Sadly, disaster struck during one race, and his brother in-law was severely injured and placed in a coma. Simon just barely escaped being arrested and sent to prison for his part. As a result of his growing guilt, Simon grew increasingly distant from his sister. Some time later, still financially desperate, Simon began stealing cars, to re-sell them for parts. One night, while stealing a van, Simon accidentally stole a van filled with explosives. A high-speed chase ensued, ending with Simon's arrest. As a result of his heritage, Simon was immediately suspected to be a terrorist and deported to Guantanamo Bay for further questioning. Despite the efforts of the more reasonable Agent Fed, Simon's attempt to claim he was innocent was ignored, and he was nearly subjected to torture. At that moment, a Green Lantern Ring burst into the room, and despite being badly defective found Simon a suitable candidate, removing him from the holding facility. (Green Lantern v5 #0) On one of his first assignments, he had detected presence of Parademons on Earth and was eliminating them but was unable to find the source of their attacks. Around this time, he encountered a faceless Spyral operative named Agent 37 who helped him in finding the source which was one of the Female Furies using a Father Box to bring in Parademons via Boom Tubes. Together, the two superheroes send the forces from Apokolips back through the Boom Tube and when Baz attempted to ask Agent 37 to be his partner he discovered the Spyral agent was gone with the Father Box. (Grayson Annual v1 #3)
Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz)
- Main Article: Jessica Cruz
Jessica Cruz
At her apartment, she came to be visited by the Power Ring of Volthoom who forcibly bonded to her against her will. The ring went berserk causing her to lash out at everyone in Portland, Oregon where it attacked the police at the scene. It was then that she was confronted by the Doom Patrol where the Chief sent them to take Cruz down. (Justice League v2 #31) During the fight, Element Woman came to realise that Cruz was not in control of her powers and that it was the ring. At the same time, the Justice League arrived where they were helping save civilians at the scene. Volthoom had wanted his wielder to set a fire that could be seen across the Multiverse which would serve as a beacon to draw a powerful being to this world. (Justice League v2 #32) During the fighting, she was rendered unconscious with Caulder looking to acquire her to be one of his experiments but was stopped by the intervention of Lex Luthor. The ring then woke her up and used constructs based on her past trauma to generate fear that it could use at the superhumans at the scene. Batman though managed to calm her down and deprive the ring of its power causing it to shutdown allowing Jessica to be taken to safety. (Justice League v2 #33)
She was later informed by her ring of a hostile alien presence on Earth where she encountered fellow Corpsmen Simon Baz with the two disputing the others status as Green Lantern. They were confronted by a robotic Manhunter where they were almost defeated but it was revealed that the robot was simply a training drone assembled by Hal Jordan. Jordan determined that the pair were not working as a team and decided to fuse their Power Battery together to force them to rely on each other as partners to work together to defend Earth. He then departed for space in order to find and restore the Green Lantern Corps. (Green Lanterns: Rebirth v2 #1) He along with Cruz were the Green Lantern's that worked alongside the Justice League. (Justice League: Rebirth v1 #1)
Overview
In appearance, the Green Lantern was a costumed superhero wearing a green uniform and wielded a power ring. (All-American Comics v1 #16).
The original Green Lanterns power was tied to the mysterious green meteor that long ago crashed to Earth and was fashioned into a ring. (All-American Comics v1 #16)
Upon being given the Power Ring, the user could achieve anything that he could will to happen though a yellow impurity meant that they initially could not affect objects that were coloured yellow. (Showcase v1 #22)
Power Rings resembled an ordinary ring but were in fact an advanced neural interface that were designed by hyperintelligent interdimensional beings and generated willpower-based hard light constructs. (Green Lanterns Annual v1 #1) It served as a portable battery and mind-key transmitter to the central power source. (Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn v1 #3) As such, they served as conduits to the main power source which was the Central Power Battery. (Green Lantern: Rebirth v1 #3) Within the ring was a jewel that contained a crystalline structure which maintained its functions. In some cases, the structure could develop a flaw leading to some unexpected side effects such as absorbing the electrical emanations of its wielder and amplifying their emotional responses causing them to act uncharacteristically. (Green Lantern v2 #58) They were constructed from a special kind of ore with these ring-gems being treated with willpower. (The Flash v1 #221)
Rings were dependent on the will and imagination of their wearer with only a tiny few capable of unlocking their potential. (Blue Beetle v8 #20) For green Power Rings, users forced their willpower into the ring and asked it to give their thoughts life. For an untrained user, the experience was exhausting and such individuals felt like they had not slept for days. (Green Lantern: Rebirth v1 #4) A ring could also be used to create a mental block over a spot thus preventing people from entering an area. Until the block was removed, people simply ignored it and did not realise a closed off section even existed. (Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame v1 #1) It was claimed that the rings had enough power within them to split a planet in half. (Superman/Batman v1 #29) Skilled users with enough concentration and combined with others were shown to be capable of affecting the weather on a planet. (Green Lanterns v1 #51)
Interstellar travel was achieved by the rings compensating for faster-than-light travel and countering the space-time effect of a journey as otherwise they user went through hundreds of years normally to go through space. (Justice League v3 #41) During travel, the ring could take charge and engage an automated flight path whilst leaving the wearer in hibernation mode until they reached the destination. However, regions of unknown space required the Lantern to travel manually as the rings were not programmed with a flight path in such areas. (Green Lantern v4 #11) A user was able to get the ring to cloak itself making it appear invisible when on the wielders limb unless they were giving an update to the individual by glowing. On command, the ring could remotely encase targets in green energy to fix them in place until the user arrived on the scene. (Green Lantern v2 #46) A ring could be set to protect the minds of the user and others from telepathic attacks. (Blue Beetle v8 #14)
The Power Batteries received their energy from the Master Power Battery that broadcast it via tachyon transmission that allowed a Power Ring to recharge 24 hours worth of energy. (Green Lantern v2 #87) Within the battery was psychoplasmic energy that could develop a fault which in turn affected the Power Ring's charge and lead to effects such as time distortions whereby future events manifested in the present. Any such flawed battery's were expected to be destroyed as the had the potential to be dangerous to operate. (Green Lantern v2 #116) The storage of personal charging units could be achieved by placing them in a confined pocket dimension with the Power Battery capable of being summoned at anytime by a Green Lantern. (Green Lantern v4 #34)
Notes
- The concept of the Green Lantern was created by John Broome, Gil Kane, Bill Finger, Martin Nodell and Gardner Fox where it made its first appearance in All-American Comics v1 #16 (July, 1940).
Alternate Versions
- In Justice League of America v1 #29 (1964), an alternate version of the Green Lantern was shown to exist in the reality designated as Earth-3 in the Multiverse. This version was a man that went by the name of Power Ring who wielded a ring that contained an entity known as Volthoom.
- In Tangent Comics: Green Lantern v1 (1997), an alternate version of the Green Lantern was shown to exist in Tangent Comics in the reality designated as Earth-9 in the Multiverse. This version was a mysterious woman whose origins were not truly known with multiple accounts on her identity. They were wielders of a mystical old-fashioned Chinese Lantern suspended from a hook that was the source of their power. A corona of green mist surrounds the lantern offset by the glowing, green light of the lantern itself. With it, she could temporarily resurrect the dead so that they may carry out any unfinished business before returning to the afterlife.
- In Just Imagine: Green Lantern v1 (2002), an alternate version of the Green Lantern was shown to exist in the Just Imagine... reality that was designated as Earth-6 in the Multiverse. Bearers of the mantle were gifted their power by Yggdrasil the Tree of Life which protected all living beings on Earth. By the modern age, Professor Len Lewis was chosen to be the world's Green Lantern and thus served as a powerful elemental champion of mankind.
- In Justice League of America v2 #25 (2008), an alternate version of the character was shown whereby the Power Ring instead chose a man by the name of David Kim in a world created by Anansi. He was said to had been a man truly worthy of the Ring and he joined the ranks of that world's Justice League.
- In Earth 2 v1 #1 (2012), an alternate version of the Green Lantern appeared in the new Earth-2 reality set in the reborn Multiverse. The name was given to the protector of the Earth by the Green who transformed the bearer into an elemental avatar. Thus, the Green Lantern was a living conduit of nature and bound to the earth on a fundamental level. Alan Scott, media mogul, presented a documentary about Darkseid’s invasion of Earth 2, which raged for years and cost the lives of the Wonders of the World, Earth 2’s foremost protectors. Alan was on a flight to China and looked down from his flight as it passed over Italy, which was now a crater in the ground after the Darkseid War. Alan made a deal in Beijing to gain ownership of GBC’s satellites after negotiations with a client firm. He met his longterm boyfriend Sam Zhao in Hong Kong, and Zhao said he wanted to take him to the countryside, knowing that if Alan staid in the city he’d be continually distracted by business. Alan was pleased with the idea of a romantic excursion, and they left on a bullet train. Alan felt bad that their business ventures kept them apart for so long, and asked Zhao if he’d move his business to America so they could spend more time together. Alan produced a wedding ring and proposed, but at that moment the train was rocked by an explosion. Alan, burned and badly injured, crawled from the wreckage of the train when he was confronted by a green flame that spoke to him. The flame said he had been chosen, and healed his wounds, apologizing that it had been able to save him but not his lover Sam. The flame was the embodiment of Earth’s enemy and had chosen him as Earth’s champion because a threat was approaching that threatened the world’s survival. Alan asked why the Earth hadn’t chosen a champion when Apokolips invaded, and the flame replied that Superman was the suns champion, and the coming threat would make Darkseid and Apokolips look inconsequential. Alan Scott accepted the responsibility, and was empowered with the energy of the Green, becoming Green Lantern. The flame said he needed a personal object to focus his power, and Green Lantern chose the engagement ring he was about to give to Sam, which became the conduit of the Green. Green Lantern asked the flame about the champions that came before him, and the flame assured him he’d understand everything in time. Green Lantern’s first task was to uncover who caused the train crash that killed Sam, and the flame said its’ job was done, and he was now on his own. Lantern tended to the survivors and helped a rescue team bring them to safety. The dead were placed in bodybags, and Lantern knelt at Sam’s body, saying everything he did from that point on to help humanity would be to honor Sam’s memory.
In other media
Television
- In Justice League, John Stewart as Green Lantern appeared in the setting of the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe.
- In Batman Beyond, Green Lantern appeared in the setting of the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe during the episode "The Call, Part I". During the mid-21st century, a young boy named Kai-Ro was shown to be that era of Earth's Green Lantern who had joined the Justice League.
- In Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Green Lanterns featured in the setting of the animated television series.
Films
- In Green Lantern: First Flight, the Green Lanterns featured in the setting of the 2009 animated film.
- In Green Lantern, Hal Jordan appeared in the setting of the live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Ryan Reynolds.
- In Lego DC: Shazam!: Magic and Monsters, the Green Lantern Jessica Cruz appeared in the setting of the 2020 computer-animated superhero comedy film where she was voiced by actress Cristina Milizia.
Video games
- In Injustice: Gods Among Us, Hal Jordan as Green Lantern appeared as a playable character in the setting of the fighting video game.
- In Injustice 2, Hal Jordan as Green Lantern appeared as a playable character in the setting of the fighting video game.
Appearances
- All-American Comics v1: (1940)
- Green Lantern v1:
- Green Lantern v2
