The launch of the new DC Universe (DCU) has been surprisingly well-received, with fans embracing the changes. Several projects are in development, but many DC fans are particularly excited about Lanterns, a show that will introduce the Green Lantern universe to a global audience. The series will center on John Stewart and his colleague and mentor, Hal Jordan, blending superhero action with a sci-fi police procedural format. While many excellent versions of these characters and stories exist, the show could greatly benefit from drawing inspiration from Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp’s The Green Lantern and The Green Lantern: Season Two.
I really loved these two 12-issue series because they moved Green Lantern away from huge, universe-saving events and back to its roots as intergalactic law enforcement. It felt like a refreshing change, exploring some really strange corners of the DC Universe. And honestly, that’s exactly what I hope this new Lanterns series does – it should take inspiration from this run and focus on the Green Lanterns as cops first, heroes second. It’s a perfect model for where this series should be going!
Morrison/Sharp’s The Green Lantern Went Old School
Geoff Johns’s work on Green Lantern made it the most popular solo DC comic of the 2000s. He revitalized the series by bringing back Hal Jordan, rebuilding the Green Lantern Corps, and giving Sinestro a significant role. He also introduced a whole new spectrum of Lanterns. While the run was grand in scope and full of sci-fi action, it lacked emotional depth. Over time, Hal Jordan became somewhat one-dimensional, consistently portrayed as simply the greatest Green Lantern without much character growth. This limited portrayal continued after Johns left the book, and ultimately hindered the character’s development.
Morrison’s take on DC’s Green Lantern really explores the character’s history, creating a Hal Jordan unlike previous versions. While still a fantastic Green Lantern, this Hal is more unpredictable and untamed. He’s singularly focused on being a Lantern, finding everyday life on Earth dull and preferring the excitement of space. He can be reckless, but he always succeeds. The Guardians rely on him for their toughest assignments, recognizing that his unconventional approach allows him to solve problems others can’t.
As you’d expect from Morrison, this Green Lantern story is incredibly imaginative and takes Hal on a stunning journey. He faces off against the Blackstars – a sinister force similar to the Lantern Corps, but intent on universal domination – and encounters corrupted alien superheroes, the Anti-Matter Lanterns. The story features team-ups with the Flash and Green Arrow, personal trials like being trapped inside his own ring, and visits to fantastical planets straight out of a role-playing game. From the epic Ultrawar to other cosmic DC adventures, it’s a whirlwind of creativity. Sharp’s artwork perfectly captures Morrison’s unique vision, giving the book a beautiful and fitting style. Together, they created a complete and unforgettable run, cementing it as one of the best Green Lantern stories ever told.
Grant Morrison and Julian Sharp revitalized Green Lantern by focusing on its core concept: a human trying to make a difference in a vast universe. The series had become repetitive, but they successfully broke away from that cycle. Their take emphasized the Green Lanterns as an intergalactic police force and featured a Hal Jordan perfectly suited for adventures in outer space. It was a fantastic return to form for the character, and it’s precisely the kind of approach DC should embrace with its Lanterns stories.
Lanterns Needs to Get as Wild as the Morrison/Sharp’s Green Lantern
Let’s be honest, the 2011 Green Lantern movie just didn’t click with anyone, not even those of us who loved the comics. So, with this new take, Lanterns, DC really has a chance to do something different. Most people aren’t expecting a sci-fi cop show with superheroes, and that’s a good thing! It gives them room to get really creative and a little strange. Thankfully, they have a great roadmap: the Green Lantern run by Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp. It’s a bold, imaginative story, and I’m hoping they lean into that spirit.
This new book clearly draws from the detective and science fiction elements of Green Lantern’s history, much like previous stories have. It will center on John Stewart, but there’s still room for a compelling Hal Jordan who embodies the more unconventional traits Grant Morrison introduced. Ideally, the book will showcase the strangest and most imaginative possibilities within the Green Lantern universe, and I hope the show’s creators were familiar with Morrison and Sharp’s work.
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2025-10-27 01:16