Green Lantern
Origin and Publication History
Green Lantern is a name that has been used by many characters in the DC Comics universe, all of whom are characterized by a power ring and the ability to create solid constructs with the ring's energy. The ring is considered by some to be one of the most powerful weapons in the known universe.
The first Green Lantern character, Alan Scott, was created in 1940 during the initial popularity of superheroes. Alan Scott's Green Lantern history begins in the American mass media. The character's initial popularity waned during the post-World War II years and by the mid-1950s, the Green Lantern was absent from the regular DC lineup.
In 1959, to capitalize on the booming popularity of science fiction, the Green Lantern character was reinvented as Hal Jordan, an officer for an interstellar law enforcement agency known as the Green Lantern Corps. Additional members of this agency, all of whom call themselves Green Lanterns, were introduced over time. Prominent Green Lanterns who also have had starring roles in the books include Guy Gardner, John Stewart, and Kyle Rayner.
The Green Lanterns are among DC Comics' longer lasting sets of characters. They have been adapted to television, video games, and motion pictures.
Character Biography
Alan Scott
Alan Scott, the first Green Lantern, discovered a magic lantern that spoke to him and said it would bring power. From this, he crafted a magic ring which gave him a wide variety of powers. The limitations of the ring were that it had to be "charged" every 24 hours by touching it to the lantern for a time, and that it could not directly affect objects made of wood. Alan Scott fought mostly ordinary human villains, but he did have a few paranormal ones such as the immortal Vandal Savage and the zombie Solomon Grundy.
Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan, the second Green Lantern, was a second-generation test pilot, having followed in the footsteps of his father. He received his ring from a dying alien and was brought to the planet Oa, where he was inducted into the Green Lantern Corps. Each Green Lantern is given a sector of the universe to protect and it was here that Jordan learned that there were 3599 other Green Lanterns scattered across the universe.
Guy Gardner
Guy Gardner, the third Earthman to become a Green Lantern, was originally selected by the Guardians of the Universe to be Hal Jordan's backup after Jordan was incapacitated by a villain. Gardner is known for his brash attitude and machismo.
John Stewart
John Stewart, an architect from Detroit, Michigan, was selected by the Guardians of the Universe as Hal Jordan's backup after Guy Gardner was seriously injured. Besides his architectural work, Stewart had military experience.
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner, a freelance graphic artist, received his Power Ring from Ganthet, the last Guardian of the Universe, after the other Guardians were destroyed. Unlike his predecessors, Rayner had no backup and was forced to learn everything on his own.
Powers and Abilities
The Green Lanterns' power rings grant them the ability to create any construct they can imagine, as long as they have the willpower to make it. The rings also provide flight, force fields, and light generation, which gives the user the ability to project beams, form protective bubbles and force fields, and fire destructive blasts. The rings also allow for mind control, time travel, and can heal the user from physical injuries. It can also create fully functioning duplicates of the user, which are under the control of the user and can perform tasks the user is too busy or unwilling to do.
The power ring can also construct anything the user can imagine from hard-light energy, such as large boxing gloves or giant rifles. The size, complexity, and strength of these constructs is limited only by the Green Lantern's willpower; whatever they believe they can create, they can.
In Other Media
The Green Lanterns have been adapted to a number of films, television programs, and video games. The Alan Scott Green Lantern was the first to appear in media other than comic books. The Hal Jordan character has been the most used Green Lantern in media adaptations throughout the years.