DC Just Redefined How Green Lanterns Work (And It’s Awesome)

by

Since the beginning of the modern Green Lantern Corps, its members have always been known for their incredible willpower. The Guardians choose Lanterns based on their courage in the face of fear and their strong moral compass. While they need training to master the power ring, they naturally possess the resilience to never give up. Green Lanterns are the heroes who keep fighting even when things seem hopeless, driven by their unwavering commitment to what they believe is right. But the recent changes to the universe have fundamentally altered that definition.

In this universe, the Green Lanterns aren’t chosen by power rings. Instead of a full emotional spectrum, it’s divided into four core concepts: black for impulsive action, red for holding back, green for doing what’s right, and gold for true understanding. Sojourner Mullein is the Green Lantern representing this universe, and a recent comic revealed she’s still far from achieving that understanding – which is actually a good thing for her development as a character.

A Woman Lost in Light

Issue #8 delves into Jo’s past, before the events at Evergreen. It opens with scenes highlighting her early experiences with different emotions. Jo moved to Evergreen with her father after her parents divorced, and she struggled to adjust. Her father constantly emphasized self-control and doing what’s right, influencing her decision to become a police officer. She developed a close relationship with fellow officer Renee Montoya, even sharing a kiss. However, Jo wasn’t ready to accept her feelings, so she distanced herself from Renee, who eventually moved away. Ultimately, Jo became disillusioned with the corruption of police chief Bill Hand and decided to leave town to start over.

I remember when Jo moved to Coast City and met Cameron Chase – they had an instant connection. But Cam was so focused on her work, she kept flaking on Jo, which was really tough. Just when Jo was about to give up, Cam proposed, and they rushed into a marriage that, sadly, didn’t fix things. That’s when Jo reconnected with Renee and started a secret affair. The guilt ate at her, and she finally confessed everything to Cam. It was a disaster – Cam accused Jo of only coming clean to relieve her own conscience. And then, unbelievably, during that same conversation, Jo found out her dad had passed away. She went back home to Evergreen, and well, you know the rest of the story. But what really struck me about Jo’s journey wasn’t just the drama, it was how each moment perfectly showed where she was at emotionally, you could really feel her place on the Emotional Spectrum.

The Start of a Journey Towards Enlightenment

Four key events in Jo’s life clearly demonstrate her emotional journey. Her friend Cam accusing her of self-serving confession represented a dark moment. Her father’s criticism about needing control showed anger. Jo’s desire to do what’s right highlighted a hopeful phase, and her admission of complete confusion symbolized a moment of clarity. Interestingly, Jo seemed most insightful as a child, recognizing the world’s complexities. As life became more challenging, her understanding deteriorated, moving away from optimism and towards impulsive behavior, like having an affair simply to feel something. Jo is far from finding peace, and that’s perfectly okay.

As a fan, I’m really loving Jo’s take on the Green Lantern story! Usually, Green Lanterns are chosen because they’re already prepared for the challenge, but Jo is… different. She’s pure energy and action, and honestly, a bit of a mess! She doesn’t quite get what the Guardians are looking for in a Lantern, and it’s awesome to see her having to figure things out. The way they’ve connected her personal journey to mastering her powers – specifically linking it to her emotional state – is brilliant. It makes perfect sense with her backstory and forces her to grow as a character while also becoming a more powerful Lantern. It’s a fantastic way to tie her into the bigger story!

Traditionally, Green Lanterns are chosen for what they can do, not for who they could become. They don’t necessarily need to change as people. However, the new ‘Absolute Green Lantern’ concept is different. These Lanterns must grow and improve as individuals, with meaningful character development being a core part of their journey. This creates opportunities for powerful and dramatic moments, and allows for exciting new takes on familiar characters as we see them evolve into the heroes they’re meant to be.

A common complaint about Absolute Green Lantern has been that the characters, particularly Hal Jordan, haven’t felt true to themselves. However, the latest issue (#8) makes it clear this change in Hal’s behavior is deliberate. He’s expected to accompany Jo on her path to self-discovery and ultimately become the hero fans recognize.

Absolute Green Lantern #8 is on sale now!

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/5-most-shocking-green-lantern-plot-twist/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-06 17:11