The DC Animated Universe is generally hailed as one of the better adaptations of superhero comics. While it was the definitive version of characters like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, some characters suffered a lot throughout the shows, and fans felt that they were slighted in their depictions. When there are so many characters to focus on, some end up falling by the wayside.
While the Trinity and the characters that are close to them often got the lion’s share of character and narrative development, there were a few characters that failed to get their day in the spotlight in these shows. One such character was Green Lantern, be it Hal Jordan or Jon Stewart. Both Lanterns were instrumental parts of the teams they were on, but fans are pretty sure that they could have done better with these characters.
Fans believe the Lanterns received the shorter end of the stick
While the shows that were in the DCAU had a lot to juggle with the myriad of characters and plotlines, it did characters like Batman, Hawkgirl, Zatana, Wonder Woman, and Superman pretty well. Fans agree that, however, Green Lanterns were often given less to do on the show. While it popularized Jon Stewart to a new fandom, it failed to do much else for the Justice League’s resident space cops.
“Yeah, they did it pretty poorly. Doesn’t help that John pretty rarely used his ring for more than lasers and shields,” says Reddit user u/Dry-Donut3811, rightly pointing out how nerfed the Lanterns were on the shows.
Another user, u/KR5shin8Stark, says “DC on general doesn’t do Green Lantern justice”, pointing out the number of times DC has fumbled good Green Lantern content. Be it live-action films, animated series, or even video games.
Others had more to say about the distinct lack of good Lantern stories in DC’s animated canon. User u/Emrald-Enthusiast correctly says “This is true. As much as I appreciate John’s inclusion and the outstanding voice work Phil LaMarr, the Green Lantern mythos really wasn’t explored like it should have been”, despite having Sinestro be a part of the Universe, his fall to Fear on the Emotional Spectrum is never explored, nor is he ever made the Yellow Lantern that he is supposed to be.
Another criticism, brought forward by user u/Slow-Chemical1991, says “The DCAU’s depictions of Green Lantern are the reason why normies think Green Lantern makes basic constructs or shoots lasers.”
Green Lantern needs a better adaptation and a rebrand for the mainstream ASAP
Green Lantern was short-serviced in the animation department. While his run with the animated films faired slightly better, the failed live-action adaptation of the character, with Hal Jordan played by Ryan Reynolds, ended up doing more harm to the IP than good. Not only did it kill the movie prospects of the character, but it also shut down Green Lantern: The Animated Series, a CG animated show that was the one good adaptation of the character.
The character hasn’t faired very well in video games either. After the disrespect the character received in Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League and Injustice video games, it is about time that Green Lantern stories are adapted by those who see the character for what he is, the opportunity to tell a nuanced space opera story, akin to Star Trek, but with the mystery and pathos of Star Wars.
DC is sleeping on this giant of an IP, and here is hoping they decide to make it with the DCU, under James Gunn. Perhaps the Lanterns show will probably put some respect to Hal Jordan’s name.
