The discussion about problems with superhero movies got me to thinking about the essence of some comic book characters. I would like to get as many comments as possible on what exactly comprises the definitive version of Green Lantern. Who is the real GL? Hal? John Stewart? Kyle? What is the greatest or definitive GL storyline? Definitive GL moment? Which creators had the best handle on how to handle him? Who drew him the best? Did he work better when paired with Green Arrow or is he better in a team setting. What were the biggest mistakes in regard to handling the character? Who is the definitive GL villain? Is he better as a spacefaring character or a more earth bound hero? Any and all opinions appreciated. I don' have a ton of thoughts myself as I only read the character in spurts but I am curious if there is any kind of consensus around the character. If this topic goes anywhere I may want to try it with some other characters. Thanks!

You need to be a member of Captain Comics to add comments!

Join Captain Comics

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Good question but you barely scratched the surface on Green Lanterns, you did not even mention Alan Scott or any of the other GL Corps Lanterns like Kilowog who probably have as much right as anyone to being the fan favorite GL.

    As a Silver Age guy Hal was my Green Lantern growing up, but DC has so mucked this character over the last few years that i don't even recognize this guy as even being Hal Jordan anymore.

    If someone put a gun to my head and demanded I pick one I would probably say Stewart but that is because he has been GL in all those great Bruce Timm JLA cartoons. Did not ever care much for Stewart's comic book stories.

    When you have literally 100's of characters running around with the same powers and pretty much the same costume, how can any of them ever became the "definitive"?

  • As I understand the question, it's not "who is the Green Lantern you want to see today" but who and what circumstances and time period do you like best.

    I personally liked the one I originally experienced, the Hal Jordan version from John Broome, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella, which at the time was mainly set on Earth. I think Green Lantern is more impressive when surrounded by ordinary humans and earth-originating supervillains. When he's with the Corps he's just one of many and no longer as impressive. He was a test pilot at the beginning of space exploration, as in The Right Stuff.

    After returning to comics I starting getting the Kyle Rayner version. I thought Kyle worked in that as an artist he imagined a lot of great ring constructs.

    My only exposure to John Stewart, since I was out of comics for ten years, was when he appeared in Kyle's series and his appearances in the cartoon shows. I was a little put off by his supposedly having destroyed an inhabited planet (doesn't everybody?).

  • Thanks for the responses guys. I tend to agree about the GL Corps. I could never understand why you would want an infinite number of characters with the exact same abilities running around. Sort of dilutes the concept a bit. Kind of on the same note, I always felt that the planet Daxam was problematic. A potential infinite number of people with the same powers as Superboy and Mon-El???

    As for Green Lantern, I guess I am wondering what you might say if I said, "hey, I'm making a GL movie and I need help with Hal's personality. who is he? What is he like? And aside from the ring, what sets GL apart from other heroes?" I seem to remember reading some stories wherein he was described as the greatest GL of them all but I don't know if it was ever explained why? I also have a vague memory that he was supposed to have superior will power to all other GLs. Is that something that would be considered canon for the character?
  • I think the terminology of Hal and the others being "without fear" is antiquated. Fear is necessary for self-preservation in any human or non-human. It is overcoming that fear when necessary that is the trick. The only people without fear are either dead or in rubber rooms.

  • Maybe I missed it, but I never heard an explanation of Hal being the greatest Green Lantern either. As far as I am aware, his abilities and willpower have never been described as better than the rest of the Corps. Not having heard an explanation, I fear it's because he's a Caucasian Earthman from the USA.

  • In one of his stories in Action Hal appears on Oprah's television show and gives "I am totally without fear" line and everyone laughs at him. Being totally without fear is a lot like saying totally without common sense which i think we can agree is not something to be admired. So I agree with Richard that is antiquated idea that has been downplayed in recent years.

    The irony of calling Hal the greatest GL of all has been pretty well made moot by his actions in recent years. It does look like being the GL of Earth and star of his own book seem to be the criteria that got him so chosen.A lot of the other Lanterns we have seen over the years have (to my mind anyway) shown just as well as Hal.

  • I've always been an Alan Scott guy, and I've always thought his story was more interesting than Hal Jordan's (of course, it's no secret on this board that I find Hal Jordan extraordinarily uninteresting).  I also think Alan's supporting cast is more interesting as well.

    That being said, my guess is that a GL movie centered around John Stewart would be quite good.  Either that or Ch'p and G'nort re-enacting the 'hard travelin' heroes' saga.

  • I’m with Richard. I like the John Broome, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella version best, for pretty much the same reasons he cited. I think the GLC works best as a backdrop and not a focus.

  • I've always thought the DC heroes were best when, other than the JLA and occasional team up stories, each operated in his own somewhat insulated world. As such, the Kane/Broome version fits the bill for me. If I am not mistaken, Murphy Anderson, Sid Greene and Kane himself inked the GL series in addition to Giella's run during this time period.

  • If you are talking about best looking GL then the early Kane era when Kane and the other mentioned artists were working on the book, no question.

    Another thought: The Silver Age GL never really had a great rogues gallery did he? This lead to Sinestro being way over used. But other GL foes like Shark, The Black Hand, Doctor Polaris, Sonar and especially the (UGH) Tattooed Man were really lame. Especially when compared to the Flash villains.

This reply was deleted.