DC’s Best Green Lantern Designs in History Take the Spotlight in Official Art

Green Lantern is one of the most diverse and varied legacies that DC has to offer — mostly 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 tons of Green Lanterns, and most of them shine in new official art.

Being a Green Lantern is much more like having a job as opposed to taking on a title. The Green Lanterns are unique from other heroes in the DC Universe in that they’re part of an actual organization. While no one gave Clark Kent the job of being Superman, the Green Lanterns are typically appointed by the Guardians of the Universe. Now, the greatest Green Lanterns of all time are spotlighted in a new variant cover by Nicola Scott for Green Lantern #15.

There have been countless Green Lanterns over the years who protect Earth, and often, there’s been more than one at a single time. The Green Lantern role has a long history, and with DC giving them an official spotlight in Scott’s cover art, fans will be reflecting on their legacy in the DC Universe.

Alan Scott Was DC’s First Green Lantern

First Appearance: All-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 to a great degree. In fact, Alan Scott predates the idea of the Green Lantern Corps as a whole. Alan was an engineer and was very nearly killed during a freak train wreck. He only survived due to a mysterious glowing green lantern that saved him. This Lantern would later be revealed to be the Starheart. After fashioning it into a ring, Alan Scott became the first ever Green Lantern. It wouldn’t be until years and years later that readers learned that Green Lanterns were actually universe-wide protectors.

Green Lantern lore changed forever — and embraced science fiction — in Showcase #22 by John Broome and Gil Kane. In this story, readers are introduced to Abin Sur, a Green Lantern who had been badly wounded and was on the verge of death. Wanting to pass his ring on before he died, Abin Sur instructed it to find the most fearless and worthy human in the general area. This instruction led the ring to Hal Jordan, and it chose him as the next Green Lantern. Over the years, Abin Sur’s backstory has been explored to a great degree — but not as much as Hal’s.

Hal’s First Appearance: Showcase #22 by John Broome and Gil Kane

After being given the ring by Abin Sur, Hal Jordan becomes one of the greatest Green Lanterns DC has ever seen. He is by far one of the most powerful Lanterns and is a shining example of what all Green Lanterns should strive to become. 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 retconned the events to absolve him of any villainous activity. To this day, Hal continues to be 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 to ever live, who first appeared in Green Lantern #7 by John Broome and Gil Kane. Hal Jordan and Sinestro became great friends as Sinestro trained Hal, but this friendship eventually fell apart after it was discovered that Sinestro had used the power of his ring to conquer his home planet, imposing his iron will on the people. Seeing this as an abuse of power, Hal helped the Guardians overthrow Sinestro and removed his ring.

Guy Gardner and John Stewart Expanded Earth’s Cast of Green Lanterns

And the Cast Has Only Continued Growing

The third Green Lantern is none other than Guy Gardner, possibly the most divisive Green Lantern so far. Guy first appeared in Green Lantern #59 by John Broome and Gil Kane, where 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 winning purely because he was closer. This twist led to Guy being labeled as Hal Jordan’s potential backup Green Lantern, which is how he eventually took on a ring.

While Guy Gardner was meant to be Hal Jordan’s replacement, this didn’t work out at first, as Guy was hit by a bus and had to spend time in a hospital. With Guy out of commission and a replacement Green Lantern needed for Hal, the Guardians choose John Stewart, who first appeared in Green Lantern #87 by Dennis O’Neil and Deal Adams. John was a former military man and an architect, which gave him both the discipline and imagination to be an excellent Green Lantern, though his dislike of authority figures worried 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 he was chosen almost entirely by chance. A graphic designer working in Los Angeles, Kyle was approached by Ganthet, the last living member of the Guardians of the Universe, who granted him the last Green Lantern Ring. After Hal Jordan went on 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 earned redemption and reformed the Green Lantern Corps, for a few years, Kyle was the only Lantern left.

Unfortunately, Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz don’t have nearly as long a history as Hal, Guy, John, and Kyle. First appearing in the New 52 era of DC Comics, Simon 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. Despite them both having compelling backstories — Simon being a Muslim who was ostracized after 9/11 and Jessica having intense anxiety and agoraphobia — the two haven’t been seen much outside of the New 52 except in group stories.

The Newest Green Lantern’s Are Still Finding Their Place in the DCU

Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, and Keli Quintela

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

Green Lantern #15 is available September 11th from DC Comics.