The Green Lantern Myths and the Justice League: Exploring DC's Blunders

The Green Lantern is one of the most powerful entities in the DC Comics universe. However, the recent portrayal of John Stewart and Hal Jordan in the Justice League series has raised questions about how DC Comics has strayed from core mythos principles. This article delves into why this is a serious issue and how it affects the storyline and audience engagement.

The Power of Green Lanterns: A Mythical Analysis

Green Lanterns hold a unique role within the DC Comics universe. Thanks to their rings, they are almost invincible. The ring is described as the “MOST POWERFUL WEAPON IN THE UNIVERSE”, and the wearer is the only weakness.

When a Green Lantern loses their ring, they are effectively stripped of their power. This is particularly relevant when considering the fate of Hal Jordan. If John Stewart were to lose the ring, it would mean his death, and if he had made a duplicate, it would be easily detected by the Guardians or Mogo.

John Stewart and the Green Lantern's Origin

The Justice League series has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to faithful adaptation. John Stewart’s origin story is a prime example. While the concept of a crashed Green Lantern on Earth is intriguing, it doesn’t align with the core mythology. Here are some points that highlight the issues:

Immortality of Guardians: The Guardians are immortal, and a crash wouldn’t be fatal. John Stewart COULD have ghosted his body or arranged for a safer landing. Guardian’s Role: The Guardians are intangible, which means they COULD have helped Stewart with ghosting. Training and Mission: The Guardian’s training approach using Mr. Miyagi-like tactics is interesting but lacks depth in the DC universe context. A more detailed and established method would have been more believable. Human vs. Kryptonian: The Guardian mentions humans think alike, which is a generalization and lacks the nuance seen in the DC universe. John Stewart’s humanity should have been highlighted more.

Fills the Plot Holes: A Rational Approach

A significant issue in the series is the fight between good guys. Groups like the Justice League and the Red Lanterns fighting each other doesn’t make sense from a narrative perspective. Here are some rationalizations that could have been implemented:

Hal’s Ring: Hal Jordan could have given his ring to John Stewart. This would have provided a new conflict and allowed Hal to choose whether to embrace or overcome fear. Isolation and Threat: Hal and Sinestro could have been isolated during the fight, leaving John to face their combined threat. This would balance the power dynamics and add tension to the storyline. Red Lantern Encounter: The appearance of the Red Lantern patrol could have been used to introduce a new threat, such as the escape of Inferno, which would build toward the second installment.

The Multiverse and Beyond: Exploring DC's Potential

The Green Lanterns serve as a conduit to the universe and beyond in the DC comics. There is much potential for exploration involving anti-matter universes, the Presence, and the Spectre. Additionally, considering the impact of reality-warping magical beings like Lucifer and Michael could provide a rich narrative backdrop:

Lucifer and Michael: These entities have the greatest power over the human domain, which explains why they rarely battle other superpowered beings. Magic vs. Superpowers: The interaction between magic and superpowers could introduce fascinating new dimensions to the story, allowing for deeper exploration of DC Comics’ mythological universe. Guardians' Perspective: The Guardians' view on reality-warping magical beings should be explored to provide a more nuanced understanding of the universe.

Overall, the portrayal of Green Lanterns and their powers in the Justice League series leaves a lot to be desired. A more faithful adherence to the mythology, coupled with a richer narrative and well-thought-out plot points, would have greatly enhanced the storytelling and audience engagement.