Kaedyn Yonker
Sports Editor
In July 1940, All-American Comics published the first issue of “Green Lanterns” following the adventures of Alan Scott. All-American Comics merged with other comic book companies to form Detective Comics (DC). “Green Lanterns” evolved with it, becoming the story of Air Force pilot Hal Jordan and other characters like marine sniper and architect John Stewart and physical education teacher Guy Gardner.
Considering the comic’s history, it was only natural that director James Gunn would choose Green Lantern as one of the founding superheroes of his new DC continuity starting in 2024. Plans for a Green Lantern show date back years, but were ever-changing until it became the grounded superhero series we have today.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Lanterns.” The show is enjoyable for casual viewers and people looking at it with a more critical lens. I would recommend “Lanterns” to anyone, as it has several strong points. If you like superheroes, it has that, but it’s also a show that has more to say and comment on.
“Lanterns” is divided into eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. The series has already been renewed for a second season and is considered a success for DC.
What drew me to “Lanterns” was how well-written its characters are. That was easily my favorite part: characters feel alive and have human motivations. Hal Jordan, for example, is reimagined as a burnt-out celebrity who is constantly battling his family’s history of depression. Hal could easily be described with the saying “hurt people hurt people,” as he is constantly straining his relationships with those around him.
The main character of the series, John Stewart, has served as a critique of social norms since his debut in the 70s. He functions as a representation of the Black Power movement and is a complicated character who has been groomed for the ring his entire life and now is pushed into questioning if he really wants it.
Outside of the characters, the story excels through the use of music with a fantastic soundtrack. Every time I hear “Easy Lover” by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins, I can only think of “Lanterns.” I also enjoyed that the series was mostly filmed on a set in Rushville, Nebraska. We are living in an age where green screen and back lot filming locations are becoming the norm and I think it’s important to remind people that media and film are supposed to be a place that exposes people to new ways of life.
The main thing I didn’t enjoy about the series was the special effects. The constructs of the rings are barely used, and I feel like that is a disservice to the show. I understand the choice was most likely made to save budget and allow the characters to grow and develop, but I hope that in season two we can see more of the power of the rings. As in the comics, the way people use the rings is a big indicator of the type of person they are in “Lanterns,” and I would enjoy seeing more subtle character traits be revealed through that detail.
“Lanterns” is a show that is not scared to break the mold and change the canon of comic storytelling, which I think is the right direction for these types of projects. It is a show that sets up more in the future and I’m excited to see where it goes. If I had to give it a rating out of five stars, I would give it a four out of five stars. It does well in a lot of places and will hopefully be a show to remember.
