Green Lantern, for those who don't know, is a DC Comics superhero who wields a ring that can manifest anything into green light. Which usually means boxing gloves. Unlike Batman or Superman, the mantle of Green Lantern is shared among many different characters and is not centered around a single character like Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent. Everyone has their own favorite Green Lantern, depending on what era of comics they read and how they were introduced to the character, and fans tend to be at least a little tribalistic about this.
The factions:
Hal Jordan is the most prominent Green Lantern comics-wise and is the closest to being the face of the franchise. He was the lead act of Green Lantern comics in the 60s up until the 90s, when DC decided to shake things up and turn him evil. This move was very unpopular with Hal fans, who started a "fan movement" (back before there was Twitter) to get the writers fired and Hal restored. This was undone in 2004, and Jordan returned as the star in Geoff Johns' bestselling Green Lantern comic run. Many fans on r/GreenLantern got into Green Lantern through Johns' run.
John Stewart (not The Daily Show host) is another prominent Green Lantern, first introduced in the 70s. He is one of DC's most well-known black superheroes. Unlike Jordan, he has very few solo lead comics of his own, relegated mostly to ensemble comics. He was, however, adapted into the very popular Justice League cartoon in the 2000s, and grew a large following from there.
Then there's Kyle Rayner, who was the only Green Lantern act in town in the 90s, when Hal was off being evil. The 90s run is seen by some as a low point in Green Lantern comics, best known for providing the name to the "Women in Refrigerators" trope, but Kyle does have his fans. When Hal came back, Kyle was pushed aside from the spotlight, usually getting put into ensemble books or leading secondary Green Lantern titles. If you read comics in the 90s, Kyle is your guy.
Those are the main three. There are several other human Green Lanterns (such as Guy Gardner, Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz), but most of them are less contentious than the three I mentioned. The newest Green Lantern, Jo Mullein was created by Hugo-winning sci-fi writer N.K. Jemisin is the highly acclaimed limited series Far Sector, and has ruffled a few feathers here and there.
In DC's main continuity, there are two ongoing titles: Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. The former currently stars Hal Jordan, but recent announcements suggest that Kyle Rayner will be taking over as lead. Neither title has sold particular well in the past two years. The alternate universe series Absolute Green Lantern, on the other hand, has been one of DC's top sellers, and features an ensemble cast with Jo, Hal, and John.
While Jordan is the most popular Green Lantern among comic readers, it's not uncommon for adaptations or alternate universe stories to use a different or original Green Lantern. The live action 2011 Green Lantern movie that starred Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan infamously flopped, and has been used as a punchline. The upcoming Lanterns television series on HBO will feature both Hal and John, with Hal being played by 60-year-old Kyle Chandler, which has Hal fans worried that he'll be passing the mantle to John, who will be played by 31-year-old Aaron Pierre.
Okay, that's a lot of backstory, so here's the drama:
Thread: "It seems like lanterns other than Hal get a lot of resistance in this sub. Why?"
John can’t carry a series on his own, and we have every reason to distrust them since DC doesn’t have a good track record—just look at what happened the last time they used John as the lead and made Hal the supporting character.
I mean, thanks for proving my point? Instead of being happy for another Lantern to take the lead, you're upset because Hal won't be the focus, despite him being one of the two leads. This Hal is one with decades of experience under his belt. They can show exactly why he's the greatest GL in a way that hasn't been done before. But because he's old, you're equating that with geriatric? And John can be an interesting, compelling, and good character when given writers who give a damn. Check out Green Lantern: War Journal for an example. This is a series by acclaimed writers and directors who have shown in 11 seconds of footage that they get Hal as a character, so I have faith that they'll be able to tell a good story with John.
He’s not “proving your point.” If you can’t handle cold, hard logic, just say it. I mean, feel free to prove him wrong and list an iconic John villain.
This hatred for Stewart is getting very weird. What are your thoughts on Mullein?
Hatred? I’m spitting facts. You just call it hate because you have no defense for the facts.
Bruh. Thoughts on Mullein?
If you refuse to apologize for labeling me and getting my gender wrong, I am under no obligation to answer your questions. You are being incredibly rude.
A lot of Hal fans (especially the ones obsessed with the Geoff Johns version of the character) can be oddly aggressive and competitive. I think they forget this is r/GreenLantern not r/HalJordan
*A lot of Green Lantern fans (especially the ones obsessed with the one run which carried its sales to the point it was selling more than batslop and superman) can be oddly defensive when met with whining 90s fans. Sadly for those people stuck 30 years ago, this is r/GreenLantern and Hal Jordan is THE Green Lantern.
corrected
Thanks for proving my point genius
mb for not noticing the flair, not worth arguing with a 90s drone
you just need to remember kyle’s sales were so bad that his time as gl lasted barely around 10 years till they panicked and brought hal back
That's like saying the Spider-Man sub isn't the Peter Parker sub LMAO
I didn’t miss the point. Comparing Spidey to GL doesn’t really make since because GL has historically been a successfully shared mantle for multiple decades, unlike Spider-Man. Plenty of people see characters other than Hal as “their” GL. And at the end of the day, it’s not a Peter Parker sub. There’s plenty of posts about other characters there
Only people who think that's the case are DCAU and 90s obsessed people (notice how the 2 people agreeing and Kyle Rayner and John flairs) they can't accept that their fav isn't as popular
Thread: "I’m honestly struggling to understand the editorial direction for Hal."
Hal fans have been complaining for 10 years straight
And Kyle Fans been complaining for 3 decades straight mate if it's a competition we're not the winning it
I think Kyle taking over the title is being overblown. He isn't kicking Hal off the book. Kyle will just be the focus for the A story this arc instead of the B story. I'm sure Hal will be back in the A story spot sooner than later.
Even if he’s still in the book, cutting his pages in half is a slap in the face to fans. It’s just a raw deal.
in the spotlight after years of ill treatment
Lol what do you mean? The last green Lantern series was entirely about Hal
It isn’t. Kyle has half of the pages since issue 18.
I don’t really understand this post. Hal has been front and centre in this entire run. But it’s always featured multiple GL’s. What’s wrong with Kyle getting a little shine now?
If you’d bothered to read the thread, you would have realized I've addressed this multiple times. KYLE CAN HAVE HIS OWN BOOK INSTEAD OF FEEDING OFF HAL’s.
The more Kyle the better. You want Hal stories, read the old shit.
You seem quite proud that Kyle doesn’t exactly earn his own book but seizes it from someone else's.
Thread: "I’m Disappointed (pic from Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #1)"
Hal fans when hes treated like an ensemble character (hes an ensemble character):
"Hal fans this Hal fans that"
Anyone else find it funny that the people who cry about Hal fans being Toxic are ALWAYS the one to throw the first stone and then play victim?
I mean they’re all great and they’re all wrong
The best green lanterns are the ones in any ensemble book because then you get more green lanterns per book which is objectively great
Honestly, this is the best take. They can all carry short solo stories, but they’re the most interesting when they’re paired up with each other. I can even enjoy Guy when he’s paired up with someone to play off of.
Hopefully a barber
Guy's arch nemesis, the Blind Barber!
When I saw that Guy had the bowlcut and Jimmy was an inexplicable rizz god, I knew we were in good hands for with the new movies.
Facts
Green lantern is just more fun when there is more of them
Also so I can see Kilowog
Kilowog is the fucking man. I forget the animated movie with him and the other green lanterns but holy fuck. Made me love the green lanterns when I was marvel fanboy.
I think that's Green Lantern: First Flight.
They should bring back the GLC Quarterly anthology, that book was great.
No. The best is Scott.
Everyone else is tied for second, though.
Honestly, totally valid to have Alan Scott as your favourite. Nothing wrong with that. Bit mean you're getting downvoted for it.
Isn't this what the guy who talks about how awesome it is to have Hal and John in the same show is saying?
This is drama that has been going since the birth of the internet as we know it.
The lack of respect for Jessica Cruz is saddening.
She’s a woc. Sadly, it’s not surprising
If DC won't respect her why should I?
Hal Jordan fans never beating the allegations, I see.
Good write-up, OP! Thought I was in r/HobbyDrama for a second. Nice to have the background explained for something like this.
Listen, we can all argue over who the best Lantern is (Kyle obviously), but I think we can all agree that it was funny when Guy got knocked out in one punch by Batman.
Gunn's decision to introduce the audience to his universe's GL Corp through Guy Gardner is the type of wild decision only somebody that really knows the comics can appreciate. I don't care who your favorite lantern is, Guy is far and way the most fun.
I can't wait for the head injury revelation, for it to be a big deal for him to be healed... And then he's exactly the same afterwards because it's just him, dwi. I love Guy.
Seriously, the fact that they chose Guy is what got me to perk up like "oh? Could this be an interesting movie?"
“One punch… One Punch!”
I would 100% go to the theater to watch a Guy Gardner & G'Nort buddy space cop movie.
Thank you op, as a long-lapsed comics reader who was one of those 90s Kyle fans! This is how I learned he's finally going to come back lol
They’re all wrong. Guy Gardner is the best green lantern, clearly. Followed by the OG Alan Scott
Alan Scott is so underrated. Bro is like if the Green Lantern had whimsy
I love when the golden age characters like Alan and Jay Garrick show up. It’s such a different vibe
Hey, I’m totally here for the MLM Alan Scott 🏳️🌈
True. Guy Gardner is currently the lynchpin of James Gunn’s DCU
As he should be.
Guy was only great when he was being a Red Lantern.
Any poozer who knows their Lantern lore knows that it’s a tie between Kilowog and Ch’p for the title of best Green Lantern though.
Strange way to spell Mogo
F-Sharp Bell erasure
Technically he’s not a Green Lantern, he’s the universe’s only F-Sharp Bell
His name is Rot Lop Fan.
JUSTICE FOR SORANIK. SHE'S BEEN DONE DIRTY SINCE FOREVER.
B'ox
I have no shame, I first started caring about the Green Lantern with the 2000s Justice League cartoon (The JLA cartoon from the 60s never got me particularly interested in Green Lantern to be honest) and so John Stewart will always be my favorite. Calm, collected, occasionally sarcastic, always badass.
He's literally who I picture when someone says "Green Lantern."
Be serious. Your guy has had the spotlight for basically 25 years running, God forbid another lantern gets the A title for a couple months
I remember knowing so little about the green lantern that I genuinely thought the Ryan reynolds movie race swapped him. That backstory multiplied my knowledge by at least 10x
Unrelated to the drama, absolutely stellar write up summarizing the main Green Lanterns and history.
10/10 for that!
And in the meanwhile, I’m just here for Carol Ferris …
Currently in the Justice League as Star Sapphire
Hal was "the" Lantern until Emerald Twilight, then it was Kyle.
Then it was John Stewart, for those of us who grew up with the animated Justice League.
Then it was Hal again when he came back to life and DC resurrected the Corps.
Then there stopped really being a singular Lantern as the Corps' mythos became part of label-wide crossover events. Hal took precedence as the oldest, but really they tended to be interchangeable.
Then for a brief period there was Simon Baz, but he got shunted aside pretty quick as Jessica Cruz took precedence.
Then Jo Mullein was the focus of Far Sector and is the main character of Absolute Green Lantern, which came after a few years.
Guy Gardner has never really been "the" Lantern, but he's gotten pushed at times, usually contrasting other Lanterns and heroes in general as an asshole.
Hal is the default, but periodically takes a backseat when somebody wants to make another Lantern "the" Lantern. In stories focusing on the Corps as a whole, they try to play up the differences between individual Lanterns, which works or doesn't. I don't see how anyone can get this pissed off over something that seems to happen twice a decade. Though I also think trying to consciously pass the torch is stupid. I mean, really, has it ever worked in comics?
As a Sojourner Mullein fan, I don't think I want to go to that sub lol.
i hope hal jordan fans know the anissa jokes are a karmic punishment
Anissa is from Invincible. The GL character is Arisia.
fuck
Guy Gardner erasure
Hal Jordan fans are so pathetic. Theyve been having this same arguement for decades
I'm 47 years old and there has never been a time in my adult life people weren't arguing about this
Kyle fans finally got a W, but they destroyed by boy's drip. Seriously his new costume is really ugly
Guy Gardner clears them all tho.
Who cares, I just hope there's plenty of Ch'p, and B'ox, and Mogo The Living Planet.
I miss New Guardians and Kyle getting to do stuff.
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That was one writer in the '80s (at least 2 reboots ago), and it was quickly forgotten after Hal was written doing a lot of other cosmic Armageddon shit (it was a whole thing). If we're going to hold every character to every single thing some shitty writer has done to them in the last 80 years of comics, we'll be here all day. Have you seen the shit silver age Superman got up to??
Besides, Hal got drag-me-back-from-hell'd and shackled to the spirit of god's vengeance as quasi-attornment and we can probably assume "that time you fucked that 14-year-old-in-an-adult-body" was silently added to the list.
Unfortunately, Johns just had to bring it up https://www.reddit.com/r/DCcomics/comments/1dvzahz/comic_excerpt_shes_actually_240_years_old_green/
🤓👆
The 12yo stuff is disgusting and was by an awful human being of a writer, and has been retconned. Making it sound like all Hal fans are pedophile-supporters is extremely disingenuous.
I’m a very casual fan myself. And I would say that one of my favourite DC characters is Hal Jordan, largely because I loved Emerald Twilight.
Why is Guy still around after he got popular in the 80s where sexual assault/Harrasment was treated as a joke and he did it way too often?
Why is Daredevil and Reed Richard’s still around with how incredibly Misogynistic they were in the 70s?
One bad run doesn’t make a character, and if the character is popular enough, people tend to just pretend it didn’t exist ( like nobody ever mentions Meredith Finches WW run)
And if you wanna judge a character for what they did during the 70s in a comic where people had a very different look on what was acceptable and not. I don’t think any comic character is coming out looking clean.
And this is coming from someone who think Hal Jordan is a frustratingly boring protagonist btw :p
This is probably the thing that makes me most confused in online comics circles. I'll read things like "I just can't forgive Kitty Pryde for using a slur." Like, she's not real. She can't apologize. Modern writers aren't saying "let's make sure that we write this character consistent with their prior stuff that has aged very badly or was genuinely awful at the time" except with a few very particular characters.
Damn imagine being this upset defending a made up white guy who’s also a pedophile and a cop
90s comic book fans really are the worst. Specially wally west fans
Wally did nothing wrong.
Wally is neat. His fans suck