At first glance, Green Lantern may appear to be one of most absurd and over the top comic book characters ever. It would seem that a comic book about an intergalactic space police force filled with cosmic battles and strange creatures is too outlandish to be appreciated and respected and that perhaps a hero who wields a magical power ring that grants him the ability to create an unlimited potential of constructs isn't the most universally relatable character in comics. However, upon closer inspection it is quite clear that there are many parallels between the concept of Green Lantern and the reality of the average man.
Green Lantern has always been my favorite DC character, regardless of who wields the ring, because of his unique and extraordinary abilities. When used properly the powers of the ring can even make Superman's exaggerated arsenal of powers seem limited in scope. The unrestricted potential of power was always what attracted me to the character and it is also the most appealing aspect of Green Lantern. After carefully thinking about the source of Green Lantern's power, I came to the conclusion that Green Lantern could possibly be the most dynamic representation of human potential in all of comics.
The power ring is the source of Green Lantern's powers and the ring itself is intrinsically linked to the imagination and willpower of the ring's bearer meaning that the ring is only as the strong as the will of the user and the ability of their mind to create. The ring only operates as a medium that harnesses the mental capacity of the person to exert their will. The Green Lantern is the artist and the ring is paint that he needs to translate his artistic vision into reality. In that regard, the ring is the perfect weapon and the perfect manifestation of the human mind.
Green Lantern is symbolic of the power that the human mind is capable of and it reminds us of how much control that we have over lives. We have the ability and the willpower to shape our lives into whatever we desire in the same way that Green Lanterns can use their willpower to shape energy into any construct that they desire. The greatest power in the universe lies deep within our minds, but it is only useful if we have the willpower to harness it.
The average human being can change a catastrophe into a breakthrough, adversity into triumph, and glass that is half empty into a glass that is half full. The only limitations of the ring lie deep within the thoughts of the person that wields it and for a person with big dreams and a strong will to succeed the sky is not even the limit. For it is at that point that the limit becomes infinite making it virtually nonexistent and then the irreversible hands of time become the only limit. Death is inescapable and as the sand drips slowly from your hourglass, the gulf between it and you gets smaller and smaller. It would be a waste to live your life without ever scratching the surface of what your mind is capable of. How sad would it be for you to have only created hills, when you could have constructed mountains??
ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.