Why it is Fact NOT opinion that Hal Jordan is the main character in the Green lantern franchise

Hal Jordan has been the main star of Green Lantern Franchise for 42 years. There may be a few people who disagree with this article due to there attachment to a GL character but my goal is to inform why Hal Jordan is the definitive Green Lantern.

Editorial Opinion
By SuperiorMrGod - Jun 04, 2013 04:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Green Lantern

Some of you who read the teaser may wonder why I said 42 years instead of 54 years? I mean the character has been around since 1959 right? Well that's simple its because Hal has had replacements in the years following his first appearance. John Stewart filled in from issues #182 until #190 with frequent appearances by Hal Jordan. In 1994 the story Emerald Twilight commenced in hopes of revitalizing the Green Lantern franchise as it was in a bit of a decline. The story lasted from volume 3 issues #49 to #55. From that point onward Kyle Rayner was the main protagonist of the Green Lantern Franchise. This lasted for 10 years until the storyline "Rebirth" in which Hal Jordan comes back to life and reclaims his rightful position as the main protagonist. In that time John Stewart has appeared in the very successful Justice League cartoon. John and Kyle have both solidified themselves in comic goers minds and in the general public's eye. But unbeknownst to some of you Hal Jordan has made more appearances then all of the other green lanterns combined. Which I know has made him more well known. Out of all the Green Lantern he also has the Largest fan base which all together furthers his place as the definitive Green Lantern. So let me show you some examples of his dominance over other lanterns when it comes to media exposure.

Hal Jordan
TV;The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, The All-New Super Friends Hour, Challenge of the SuperFriends,t Super Friends, Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show,The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians,Duck Dodgers,Justice League Unlimited(cameo),The Batman,Batman: The Brave and the Bold,Young Justice(He appears alongside John Stewart), MAD, and most importantly the New Green Lantern: The Animated Series of which he is the main character.

Video Games; Justice League Heroes(Hal and Kyle are both skins for the John Stewart character), Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe,Wii version of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, DC Universe Online,Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters, Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes,Injustice: Gods Among Us,and in the upcoming Infinite Crisis.

Movies;Justice League: The New Frontier (Main character),Green Lantern: First Flight,Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths,Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, Justice League: Doom, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite, and as bad as it was Green Lantern(2011)

John Stewart; Justice League,JLU,Static Shock,Young Justice,Justice league Heroes, and DC Universe Online

Kyle Rayner; Superman TAS,JLU,and Justice League Heroes,DC Universe Online

Guy Gardner;Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Young Justice, Green Lantern: The Animated Series( 3 episodes),Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Video game,DC Universe Online


So collectively when you look through comics and and media he is the definitive Lantern. The main reason people feel that John Stewart is the more popular Lantern or should be the main one is because he has been exposed during the JLU cartoon which lasted from 2001 to 2006. That is 5 years of exposure but its not like he was the main character he was always accompanied by some other member. On the other hand Hal Jordan has had stared in the Green Lantern TAS which is mainly about his character and it lasted for 2 years.

Green Lantern(2011) was horrible but it did sell it made $219,851,172. Green Lantern First Flight and Emerald warriors also starred Hal Jordan and together made 8,972,645. A movie can more effectively influence the general public's eye than the JL cartoons which is why Hal is more well- known.

It is also said in the comics that he is the Greatest Green Lantern. Not only is he said to be the greatest Green lantern he is also the leader of the corps in the next issue of Green lantern( issue #21). In comic he is also a founding member of the Justice League which further establishes his importance in the DC universe. His importance in the comics out weighs the other lanterns because he has a larger role as the leader of the corps and a founding member of the Justice League.

So in conclusion he has been the main character of the comic longer than any other lantern and has more media exposure which has made him the first lantern to come to mind. Some people will argue that other lanterns are just as important because they star in their own books. That mentality is invalid because then you could say Nightwing or Batgirl are just as important in that Batman franchise because they have there own titles. The Last page of Issue #20 should make most fans understand this. "He was the spark....... that started the everlasting fire"

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TheSuperguy
TheSuperguy - 6/4/2013, 4:37 PM
Hal Jordan would definitely be my favorite Lantern out of the main four (Jordan, Stewart, Gardner, and Rayner). If I had to put them in order they would be:

1:Jordan
2: Rayner
3: Stewart
4: Gardner
GuardianDevil
GuardianDevil - 6/4/2013, 4:57 PM
Hal is my favorite Lantern.
TheSuperguy
TheSuperguy - 6/4/2013, 4:58 PM
Hal Jordan is as much Green Lantern as Clark Kent is Superman, Bruce Wayne is Batman, and Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Same goes for Barry Allen as the Flash, in my opinion.
Viltrumite
Viltrumite - 6/4/2013, 5:30 PM
Hal is indisputably the lead protagonist of the Green Lantern franchise, much as Barry Allen is of the Flash franchise.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/4/2013, 5:31 PM
Honestly a stupid comment by LEVITIKUZ mad me want to write this and get this out there. hope LEVITIKUZ reads this article I really want to put his John Stewart nonsense to rest.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/4/2013, 5:33 PM
Barry = Flash
Hal = Green Lantern
Bruce = Batman
Clark = Superman

And so on
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 6/4/2013, 6:09 PM
Well I feel honored you wrote this article because of me. Now let me begin because you've been attacking me in some comments.

As a kid, I didn't read comics. I did watch Batman & Superman & Justice League animated series. I mean I did buy some comics as a kid. I got some Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, Hulk, Batman/Superman, and others as a kid but I didn't keep up with the story arcs. I just got like 3-4 comics a year.

Now most of my love for comics did come from the DCAU. BTAS introduced me to Batman, Superman The Animated Series introduced me to Superman, & Justice League introduced me to Martian Manhunter & John Stewart. I loved those characters. While Hal may be the bigger Green Lantern, John became one of my favorites thanks to the show.

Now I understand if you love Hal. Around the time New 52 began I got into comics monthy when Snyder's Batman. I've read more and more from past stories and graphic novels from both Marvel & DC.

I know and understand the character of Hal. I like Hal. He's not a dick like Guy but he has heart. But no matter what to me John is Green Lantern and my favorite. While he doesn't have many great comics, he has great stories in the animated series.

That's my feeling. Meant no disrespect.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/4/2013, 6:40 PM
I'm honored that you would reply to my article.I understand if you feel John is great character because of a cartoon but if you would read my article you would see that comic wise and media exposure wise Hal's top dog no question. My point I'm really trying to get across here is that if they were to use John in a movie they would never stop using him and i feel that would be detrimental to the series. The sci-fi element to the series was added alongside Hal Jordan's character. Even when they introduced Kyle Rayner in the Superman TAS they used Hal's origin. All of the green lanterns are an extension of Hal Jordan's character as partners or fill-ins. None of them would would work in a movie and when you say anything conversive of that you spread that idea and it has a negative effect on the series. I have been reading your comments for a while because i love the site. I mean no disrespect. Even though we don't see eye to eye on this you do have a passion for the series and I respect that.
MoonDoggyX
MoonDoggyX - 6/4/2013, 7:24 PM
Hal is definitely the main lantern... But John is my favorite lantern, too...
kenjim152
kenjim152 - 6/4/2013, 7:46 PM
@Levi, I had noticed before u were not really in to comics, we just have to Pay attention to ur justice league movie idea of having either aquaman or brainiac pop /Themyscira, when every single comic book reader knows that is not possible since all make beings are forbiden there and not just by law, but it is a Magic thing. Now talking about JS as a green lantern, the first problem is which JS to use? JS the architect? JS the navy guy? JS Mr I Dont know what to do with my life? (which was just copying Hal Jordán any ways), the only reason JS was used on the animated series was because Hal JOrdan was dead, and to be honest he was dead for longer than anyone expected, but the point here is that JS is a really Boring character to be used on the big screen, same thing with that ugly idea of using Martian Manhunter for a solo movie!!! I hope u do not take this as a bad thing, but U usually are so over critical towards everybody that is Good that u confess u just got into comic books like 3 years ago :)
kenjim152
kenjim152 - 6/4/2013, 8:06 PM
John is stoic, were he stoic, he would have broken up with Hawk girl and would have never start dating vixen!!!!
AlternateNo4
AlternateNo4 - 6/4/2013, 8:15 PM
funny i just said this on that ring concept art page, but i was rude to john stewart. let me be more clear.

i don't think john is boring... i even loved the mosaic series!... but i do think it takes some work to get him, and i think he works best when contrasted against the norm. his thought process and—to borrow a word from firg—stoicism require far too much internal monologue to function effectively as a lead in a rock em sock em cbm... that's why he's better in glc where he's the yin to guy's yang.

plus, the weight of john's arc comes from the many tragic errors, which give him a sense of pained apprehension and gravitas that he has to battle every time he lifts his ring hand. but you can't make a movie about a guy that [frick]s everything up because there's no time to redeem him in a movie... it took years in the comics.

as for the cartoon john, well, he was just batman with a ring... a generic "speak softly/big stick" badass that they called "john stewart" simply because he was a black dude. but he bore no resemblance to the character.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/4/2013, 8:16 PM
I'm going to reiterate all of the green lanterns are an extension of Hal Jordan's character as partners or fill-ins. None of them would would work in a movie and when you say anything conversive of that you spread that idea and it has a negative effect on the series. Hal is green Lantern. And if there was a close second it would be Rayner not John Stewart.

Sometimes after really reading into the reason why some people like john I realize the only reason people have a strong liking to the character is because of the cartoon or because they can identify with a black character. If you really think about it Hal is more Popular and more main anyone who disputes that is a [frick]ing idiot.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/4/2013, 8:18 PM
* all of the human ones
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/4/2013, 8:38 PM
Not quite sure where this came from, but ok.
I would have concentrated on the time between Emerald Twilight and Rebirth.... because no one really cares about that time period.
AlternateNo4
AlternateNo4 - 6/4/2013, 9:09 PM
@dellamorte - hmmm you liked the old guy? good for you but not my cup of tea. i'm a 70s and 80s kid and i felt really let down when they brought guy back as a major character. i collected the warrior series because i accepted him more as an alien, but i never liked him as a human or as a gl.

it was like they tossed out all the years of rich characterization they'd done on the title, and all the nobility of the GL mythos, and replaced it with a drooling potty-mouth ape. it was part of that whole wave of thuggish goons like azrael & lobo: no brains, no honor... just dirty jokes, bad attitudes, vigilante violence and splosions. i think it was partly because of the surge in popularity of wolverine... but i also blame the shitty brawn-movie wave of schwarzenegger, van damme and lundgren.

they've toned the character down a bit and given him some weight and motivation with his blue-collar backstory, but i'll never have any nostalgia for the 80s version!
AlternateNo4
AlternateNo4 - 6/4/2013, 9:19 PM
MrGod - take it easy! your article has sparked some good chat, but we're smart people too and you can't just expect us to all immediately forget our own opinions and obey your word as law.

both firg and myself agree with you that hal is the best choice for a film, but you're wrong to dismiss stewart as useless, and foolish if you think his only appeal is race. he is a rich, nuanced character that took decades to develop and he carries a good deal of symbolic relevance as well. the cartoon version isn't much of anything, it's true, but the comics john is as deep as they come.

it's a good article, but you're losing your credibility by being so rude in the comments. why not listen to what firg and i have to say, and do a little back-issue reading yourself?
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/4/2013, 10:00 PM
@AlternateNo4
I am a consistent reader of GL corps and have read a few issues of Mosaic. I just feel like whats the point of taking an hour to express my opinion if someone's in the comments section is going to say something that is completely against what I have just written. I felt like some people just skimmed my article and took an entirely different meaning from it.

But I am not a close minded person and your right I have been a bit rude in the comment section, especially with the whole my word is law mentality of mine. This is my first article and I guess you could say I'm a bit to attached to my own opinions.

I apologize to you and FreakingIntelligentRobertGriffin for my rude comments. Again I got way out of hand I apologize.

SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/4/2013, 10:13 PM
Although I still maintain the belief that most of his popularity is attributed to his race. I'm half black and half white and i do feel there is a lack of black superheroes but when I see how popular the character is it just confuses me. I mean I loved him in the cartoon he was one of my favorite characters. I just feel in the comics and in most all other media outlets he doesn't have as much of a significant role.

When I read fan-casts for Justice League I also am completely perplexed as to why they would skip over guy Gardner and go straight to John. The only logical reason for that to me is his race.

Don't get me wrong I want more black superheros and I love the idea I just don't like that people would rather skip over characters.I mean if you look back to every origin for each GL every GL has something to do with Hal and if you skip that your not doing the series a justice.

jjk2814
jjk2814 - 6/4/2013, 10:55 PM
Hear, Hear, Mr God!

Although...

I was hoping that this editorial was more of an emotional exploration of the character and less of a sort of statistical approach.

For me, Hal Jordan is the main character of the Green Lantern mythos in the same way that Darth Vader is the main character of the Star Wars Saga.

Some may love Luke, some may love Han Solo, but regardless the Star Wars Saga, up to this point, it is about the redemption of Anakin Solo. Much as Luke was the prominent figure in Anakin Skywalker's redemption, so is John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Ganthet, and Kilowog essential in Hal Jordan's Rebirth.

Star Wars parallell aside, I appreciate your approach to a historical understanding of Hal Jordan's place in the mythos.

I think any rational comic fan would have to appreciate Geoff John's historic run on Green Lantern, as well as Bryan K Vaughn and more importantly Judd Winick's run telling the great stories of Kyle Rayner.

Of all the characters in DC's stable the Green Lantern title stand as the most consistently good over the past twenty years. The only rival is perhaps Batman, but Grant Morrison's overly cerebral approach over the last five or so years has turned some fans off. However, you can read Emerald Dawn,The Death of Superman, Emerald Twilight,The Final Night,Judd Winick's run to the very last issue of Geoff John's run and enjoy an intact epic storyline of the Green Lantern Corp's story. If you read all that you see an irrefutable story of the rise and fall, and Rebirth of Hal Jordan.

In my humble opinion no one has an excuse to say otherwise unless they have read these books.

So, as I stated before simply pointing out the amount of issues Hal Jordan has been in barely touches the surface of the debate. Never-the-less, I agree whole-heartedly with your summation.

Hal Jordan is the spark that started the green flame of never-ending Will Power in the Universe!
jjk2814
jjk2814 - 6/5/2013, 12:02 AM
oops! Anakin Skywalker, i mean!
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/5/2013, 1:13 AM
@jjk2814 Wait so you agree that he is the main Gl right?
LeaderVladimir
LeaderVladimir - 6/5/2013, 7:24 AM
Don't try to put the Silver Age against another comic book movie because the Silver Age will always win.
jjk2814
jjk2814 - 6/5/2013, 10:51 AM
Oh yes, of course.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 6/5/2013, 2:56 PM
I will admit Hal may be the main GL but I don't think calling him THE Green Lantern is right. I say this because the Green Lantern Corps consists of many Green Lanterns. We have so many Green Lanterns at once. Now Bruce Wayne is THE Batman but there are others that we only see when Bruce is dead or old. There are other Flashs but we don't see them until Barry died.

The point I'm making is we see so many GLs at once, I'm not sure we can call Hal THE Green Lantern.

I don't feel John ever got proper treatment due to (not being racist), white writers writing black characters. I mean in some of the early John Stewart, he's quoting LL Cool J. They way they've treated John is like a Robin. They tried too hard writing a black character. If you watch Part 1 of the Justice League episode In Brightest Day, they do use John's race but they don't go overboard with it. The way John was written was nearly like Batman. In that 2 part series, John was tried for blowing up a planet. He didnt try to fight the crime because he thought he was guiltiy. One thing he said is the reason he didnt fight the charges is because we have too much power and we need to be accountable. It was something like that.

Anyways I think if John was given the same respect and treatment in comics as he did in the cartoons, it would only benefit him. I mean with all these Green Lanterns, we should have 2 big ones instead of focus on Hal and one of the others should be John. No to Baz even though I like him, I like Guy but we like him because he's a dick, and Kyle hasn't been popular for a decade.

kenjim152

Here's the thing with Themyscira and Atlantis. Brainiac has no rules and no laws. Before he arrived on Earth, he scanned it for any hidden worlds. Brainiac is an all known being. He can find a way.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/5/2013, 5:59 PM
@LEVITIKUZ
My point exactly. John is poorly written, end of story. I hope the new GL corps does the character a justice like Bruce Timm and his writers have.

At the same time Hal has had some crappy writers. One crappy writer in particular who thought it would be neat to destroy the corps, blow up cost city,and turn Hal into a villain.

I just don't see the point of expanding on John's character considering we have so many GL's. And to say Hal is the Green Lantern isn't exactly right, your right about that, but he certainly is the main one that has been made very clear countless times. I feel the reason John has such a strong fan base in the first place is his race( not being racist). Hal is the star of the comic "Green Lantern" and the star of the cartoons and Green Lantern movies.

I understand if John is your favorite though.
Baf
Baf - 6/5/2013, 9:49 PM
It was mentioned earlier. Mosaic was a solo Stewart title that critics hated. I thought it was awesome. It showed Stewart's great depth of character. Hal will always be my favorite, but that Mosaic title was some powerful stuff. If you are a John Stewart fan, I strongly suggest digging for it in back issues. Especially if you feel there is racial bias in the comic world. The whole series is themed toward racial balance and explains how Stewart uses his human experiences as a black man to fuel his will power. Great under-rated read.
As for Hal, writers are ruining his character by turning him into this Tony Stark-y/Peter Parker-y cocky character. Sure he was always a risk taker, but he was a much more serious/grounded character than the current incarnation. Hollywood has had a negative effect on the character and what he stands for. I actually like Ryan Reynolds...as Wally West, not Hal Jordan. Bradley Cooper would have been a much better choice. Maybe not have saved the franchise, but given a better characterization of Hal Jordan, the way he was written.
kenjim152
kenjim152 - 6/5/2013, 11:40 PM
@Levi u still get it wrong Themyscira is a magical place where male beings are not allowed not by law, but by Magic!!! By a god's will, brainiac does not have anything to do against that, u r right about Atlantis, he just needs to scan the earth and he will find it , but not Themyscira, because of its magical protection, same thing with aquaman Arthur cannot just arrive on Themyscira swiming because HE IS A MAN!!!, the only way to get there is by Hypolita allowing it no other way, Now the mother boxes can take u there, but that is because they were mainly made by gods so a mítical power or ability is implied. So no matter how hard Brainiac tríes He will never be able to find the island.
kenjim152
kenjim152 - 6/6/2013, 9:19 AM
@Batmaniac, that is my point Brainiac has Magic devices that helped changued the world and creatures around him, so it is implied that he has been using Magic to get acces to the island, and that is exactly what I mean, nobody can just show up on the island just because the island is there. There has to be at least a magical reason behind it therefore using WW' home island to set or justify Brainiac's presence in a possible JL movie is nonsense, since all that mitólogy had to be explained before hand and the magical device which brainiac would use had to be explained as well and it would end up being a wonder woman movie not a Justice league one.
kenjim152
kenjim152 - 6/6/2013, 9:21 AM
Sorry I forgot even if brainiac is not a man, he is not a woman either so his prescence on the island is not allowed any ways.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 6/6/2013, 11:21 AM
@Baf
Bradley Copper as Hal Jordan would have been amazing. I wish they casted him and a different director. maybe then the movie would have been able to explore the vast mythology. Hopefully next time they cast Hal they do the character a justice.

And think his Justice league portrayal is a bit of a douche sometimes but in Green Lantern he is still the same awesome character.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 6/7/2013, 6:56 AM
kenjim152

No offense but I'm calling bullshit with the magic enterance of Themyscira. If Steve Trevor can crash land on the island, I see no reason why Aquaman can't enter.

Also Brainiac is a genius. He knows stuff about the universe nobody will ever know. He CAN find a way.
kenjim152
kenjim152 - 6/7/2013, 10:09 PM
@Levi sorry one more time, but how did Steve Trevir land on the Island? If u Dont know the story line simple watch the WW animated movie and you will see that he was allowed on the Island, and that is my point u are already calling comics mitos and comics facts bullshit when u are not familiar with the topic!!!!!! Funny right? Watch the movie and tell me what u think, but one more time sorry to tell u, but neither aquaman nor brainiac can just show up on paradise Island if they are not allowed.
kenjim152
kenjim152 - 6/7/2013, 10:11 PM
@Levi I forgot brainiac knows about facts, infoation, History, technology, but not Magic!!!!!!!! If He knew about Magic he would have already killed Supwrman long time ago!!!!!
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 6/9/2013, 7:48 AM
What if I have Aquaman kind of knocked out an Amazon girl went out for a swim and brings him into the Island and ashore? Could that work?
CeltiC527
CeltiC527 - 6/11/2013, 8:39 PM
I agree 100%!!!!! Hal Jordan is more than just the best Green Lantern, he is
"THE GREEN LANTERN."
Darksider555
Darksider555 - 6/12/2013, 3:06 PM
@LEVITIKUZ
Levi,what is your opinion on Kyle Rayner? Hes my favorite GL with John second. I like Hal as much as John but John deserves more time since Hal had his fair share of time in the sun.
+ I recommend you pick up Green Lanter Corp 21. From now on its Johns book.
MADMAX1
MADMAX1 - 6/13/2013, 6:10 PM
Alan Scott should have been revamped as the definitive Green Lantern in the DC reboot. What DC has done was practically character rape in order to raise some fvcking eyebrows.

Its quite irritating and throws off DC comics true potential with there dickless moves and ideas to sell comics
humbleme
humbleme - 6/17/2013, 12:25 PM
John Stewart, as a tragic hero, is more interesting than the hotshot who generally has everything go his way. People like the hotshot, because that's who they want to be, but as far as depth, I'm not seeing it, neither am I seeing much difference from a younger brasher Superman.

As for the original post, Stewart has still logged more hours in front of the masses, even if most of them were on JLU.

And saying Hal Jordan = Green Lantern is like saying Superman = Justice League. I get what you're trying to say, but the actual statement is patently wrong, and there's about 3599 reasons why. Hal's a good character, and right up many people's alley, but every time he's elevated to the detriment of his peers, it cheapens him, and highlights what's wrong with the character. This post is no exception.
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