Written by Tanner Stein
With the Green Lanterns making their big debut in the DCU with Lanterns, now is the perfect time to dive into the vast history of the Green Lantern Corps and see what makes these space cops so compelling.
Starting as a co-lead in Lanterns, many people think of Hal Jordan as the main Green Lantern. Although not the first, Hal Jordan has cemented his spot as one of the all-time great heroes in DC Comics.
Many fans jump into the Green Lantern stories with Green Lantern by Geoff Johns. This run lasts over 80 issues with plenty of different artists and acts as a great story for old and new Green Lantern fans alike.
Geoff Johns’ run picks up after the events of Emerald Twilight (#48-50). In this run, after being taken over by an entity known as Parallax, Hal wreaked havoc on the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps as a whole.
This three-issue run, written by Ron Marz with art by Darryl Banks, is one of the most important stories for Hal Jordan and would permanently change the character. This run leads into Kyle Rayner getting the ring and taking up the mantle of Green Lantern.
Kyle Rayner acts as a great follow-up to Hal, breathing new life into the Green Lantern title. Kyle is a younger guy who, after Hal Jordan goes mad, is chosen by the one remaining guardian to wear the final power ring.
Kyle’s origin and come-up are recounted in Green Lantern (#48-57) along with a few tie-in issues. Emerald Twilight and its aftermath are all recounted in Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner Vol.1, an excellent jump right into the space antics of the Corps.
In Lanterns (2026), alongside Hal is John Stewart, a very prominent member of both the Green Lantern Corps and the Justice League. John makes his debut in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #87 as a backup Lantern after Guy Gardner is taken out of commission. John is a great addition to the Lantern mythos and has been an iconic character within the comics.
In Green Lantern: War Journal, John Stewart believes his time as a Green Lantern has come to an end, but after a mysterious force with a connection to the planet Oa comes to Earth, it is up to John to put the ring back on and show why he is one of the best Lanterns to ever don the title.
With Lanterns (2026) taking place mostly on Earth, this is a great time to read one of the best team-up comics ever written: Green Lantern/Green Arrow (Green Lantern #76-82) by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams.
After the Guardians of the Universe forbid Hal Jordan from getting involved in a social issue, it is up to Green Arrow to intervene and change their minds. This leads to a cross-country road trip where Hal and Ollie show off the beauty of America while stopping crime along the way. O’Neil and Adams create an amazing story that brings up issues that still haunt the world today, while keeping the tone lighthearted and fun.
The mantle of Green Lantern has been changing for years, each time creating new histories and stories to add to the mythos. From intergalactic space cop to road trips through the Midwest, Green Lantern has a story for everyone, and there’s no better time to catch up than right now.
