Comic Book History: Green Lantern

"Green Lantern" starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular character opens today. Most people are aware that this film is based upon the DC comic of the same name, but did you know the character goes back to the 1940's? Read on and learn!

Golden Age

Green Lantern was first published in July on 1940 as a story in "All American Comics" published by All-American Publications - one of the three publications that eventually became DC Comics. (Publisher of some titles you may have heard of -- Superman, Batman -- )

At any rate, The first Green Lantern in the comics was a Railroad engineer named Alan Scott. After a train crash in which Scott was the sole survivor, he found a lantern that told him he would be given great powers if he took the lantern and crafted a ring. Every 24 hours he had to touch the ring to the lantern to recharge his powers. Scott became Green Lantern and a crime fighter. This comic series lasted until 1949, when public desire for superheroes declined after WWII.

Silver Age

In the 1950's DC comics began bring back superheroes, and came up with a re-imagined version of several Golden Age characters, including Green Lantern. (See you thought it only happened in the movies!)

Hal Jordan was a test pilot, who encountered a dying alien named Abin Sur, who gave him the power ring and lantern, ushering him into the Green Lantern Corps, which was a part of the Guardians of the Universe. (Sort of an Intergalactic Police Force if you will)

This incarnation of Green Lantern began in 1959.

Hal Jordan '" best known Green Lantern

Most comic fans of the Green Lantern story are more likely only familiar with Hal Jordan. Using a test pilot in the late 50's was a pretty smart and sexy move on the part of DC. Russia had already sent a man into space, and America was on the verge. As many of the American Astronauts came from test pilot stock '" the team behind Green Lantern had the right idea.

Green Lantern Today

The comic continues to this day. Green Lantern has undergone quite a few changes over the years. Hal Jordan has been supplanted as the Green Lantern for the intergalactic sector that includes earth. For a time he was even a villain, Parallex. The current Green Lantern is a freelance artist by the name of Kyle Rayner. Rayner was given the last known Ring of Power.

Green Lantern is famous for the oath he recites when he charges his ring. In the first incarnation from the 1940's Alan Scott would recite: " ...and I shall shed my light over dark evil.For the dark things cannot stand the light,The light of the Green Lantern!"

When DC brought back Green Lantern in the guise of Hal Jordan the oath became: ..."In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight, Let those who worship evil's might, Beware my power... Green Lantern's light!"