Summary

• Green Lantern is not just a title, but a job within an organization unique in the DC Universe.
• The Green Lanterns’ legacy is diverse, with Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner at the helm.
• New characters like Keli Quintela and Jo Mullein further expand the Green Lantern legacy.

Green Lantern is one of the most diverse and varied legacies DC has to offer — especially because so many different people have worn the ring. From well-known characters like Hal Jordan to lesser-known ones like Simon Baz, DC has plenty of Green Lanterns, and most of them shine in new official art.

Being a Green Lantern is much more like a job than a title. The Green Lanterns are different from other heroes in the DC Universe in that they are part of a real organization. While no one gave Clark Kent the job of being Superman, the Green Lanterns are usually appointed by the Guardians of the Universe. Now, the greatest Green Lanterns of all time are being put in the spotlight a new variant cover by Nicola Scott for Green Lantern #15.

Over the years, there have been countless Green Lanterns protecting the Earth, and often there were more than one at a time. The role of Green Lantern has a long historyand with DC officially giving them a spotlight on Scott’s cover, fans will be reflecting on their legacy in the DC Universe.

Alan Scott was DC’s first Green Lantern

First appearance: Purely American comics #16 by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell

Alan Scott was the original Green Lantern, and the scope of the role would later change greatly. In fact, Alan Scott existed before the idea of ​​the Green Lantern Corps as a whole. Alan was an engineer and almost died in a strange train accident. He only survived thanks to a mysterious glowing green lantern that saved him. This lantern later turned out to be Starheart. After shaping it into a ring, Alan Scott became the first Green Lantern. It was not until many years later that readers learned that the Green Lanterns were actually protectors of the entire universe.

New and old Alan Scott fans shouldn’t miss his first solo series in decades:
Alan Scott: The Green Lantern
by Tim Sheridan and Cian Tormey, which will be published in a collected edition by DC Comics on September 24, 2024.

Green Lantern lore has changed forever – and embraced science fiction – in Shop window #22 by John Broome and Gil Kane. In this story, readers are introduced to Abin Sur, a Green Lantern who was badly wounded and near death and wanted to pass on his ring before he died. Abin Sur commissioned him to find the most fearless and worthy person in the area. This instruction led the ring to Hal Jordan and chose him as the next Green Lantern. Over the years, Abin Sur’s backstory has been widely explored – but not as extensively as Hal’s.

Hal Jordan and Sinestro changed fans’ knowledge of Green Lantern lore

Hal’s first appearance: Shop window #22 by John Broome and Gil Kane

After Abin Sur gave him the ring, Hal Jordan becomes one of the greatest Green Lanterns DC has ever seen him. He is by far one of the most powerful Lanterns and a shining example of what all Green Lanterns should strive to be. Hal was a Green Lantern for several decades before taking a villainous turn as Parallax. Despite this, DC brought him back after his death and even retrospectively changed events to absolve him of any villainous activity. To this day, Hal continues to be a Green Lantern and is one of the first to respond when the world is in danger.

Since Hal needed training to become a Green Lantern, he ended up under the tutelage of Thaal Sinestro, the greatest Green Lantern of all timewhich was first published in Green Lantern #7 by John Broome and Gil Kane. Hal Jordan and Sinestro became good friends when Sinestro trained Hal, but this friendship eventually fell apart when it was discovered that Sinestro had used the power of his ring to conquer his home planet and impose his iron will on the people. Hal saw this as an abuse of power, helped the Guardians overthrow Sinestro, and took his ring from him.

Thaal Sinestro later becomes the leader of the fear-based Sinestro Corps and one of Hal Jordan’s greatest villains.

Guy Gardner and John Stewart have expanded the cast of “Green Lanterns” to “Earth”

And the cast has continued to grow

The third Green Lantern is none other than Guy Gardner, possibly the most controversial Green Lantern to date. Guy first appeared in Green Lantern #59 by John Broome and Gil Kanewhere it was revealed that Hal Jordan had been chosen as Earth’s Green Lantern purely by chance. When Abin Sur crashed on Earth, he instructed his ring to find the most worthy human. The two results were Hal Jordan and Guy Garnder, with Hal only winning because he was closer. This twist led to Guy being named as Hal Jordan’s potential replacement Green Lantern, which is how he finally got a ring.

Guy Gardner was supposed to replace Hal Jordan, but that didn’t work out at first because Guy was hit by a bus and had to go to the hospital. Since Guy is out of action and a replacement for Hal is needed, the Guardians decide on John Stewart, who first appeared in Green Lantern #87 by Dennis O’Neil and Deal Adams. John was a former soldier and architect, which gave him both the discipline and imagination to be an excellent Green Lantern, although his dislike of authority figures troubled Hal. To this day, John Stewart remains a fantastic Green Lantern and one of DC’s most powerful heroes of all time.

Kyle Rayner became the “last” Green Lantern

First appearance: Green Lantern #48 by Ron Marz, Bill Willingham and Darryl Banks

Kyle Rayner is possibly the most surprising Green Lanternbecause his choice was almost entirely due to chance. Kyle, a graphic designer working in Los Angeles, was approached by Ganthet, the last living member of the Guardians of the Universe, who gave him the final Green Lantern ring. After Hal Jordan began a murderous rampage against the Guardians of the Universe, Kyle was left as the last living Green Lantern in the universe and carried on the Lantern legacy for years. While Hal Jordan eventually found redemption and reformed the Green Lantern Corps, Kyle was the only Lantern left for a number of years.

Kyle is currently experiencing major upheavals in his powers, essentially
Green Lantern
Run that continues in
Green Lantern
#15.

Unfortunately, Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz do not have nearly as long a history as Hal, Guy, John and Kyle. Simon first appeared in the New 52 era of DC Comics and first appeared in The new 52: FCBD special edition by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke, and Jessica first appeared in Justice League #30 by Johns and Ivan Reis. Although they both have exciting backstories – Simon is a Muslim who was ostracized after 9/11, and Jessica suffers from severe anxiety and agoraphobia. The two have rarely been seen outside of the New 52, ​​except in group stories.

The newest Green Lanterns still find their place in the DCU

Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz and Keli Quintela

The newest Green Lantern additions include the Teen Lantern, 11-year-old Keli Quintela, who used her genius to reprogram a glove and hack into the Oan power battery without the Green Lanterns knowing, essentially hijacking her powers. The other newest Green Lantern is Jo Mullein, who unfortunately wasn’t featured on this cover. Jo spent her life trying to find a way to make a difference, moving from the military to police officer before finally settling down as a Green Lantern. That makes Green Lantern such an enduring legacy: anyone can be a significant Lantern, which is what Scott’s cover showcases so beautifully.

Green Lantern #15 will be available from DC Comics on September 11th.