The Green Lantern name refers to multiple DC superheroes that all gained their powers from an alien ring.
The ring grants the wearer the ability to create whatever construct they can imagine in the form of light energy along with the power of flight and a protective aura.
As one of the oldest comic book series of all time, the Green Lantern has a rich and rather peculiar history.
It’s not just comics either, you’ll find Green Lantern video games, movies, and even online slot games on casinos listed on sites like Casino Countdown.
Here’s a list of 30 interesting facts about the Green Lantern.
The Green Lantern’s character debuted in 1940, making the Lantern’s first debut only two years after that of Superman’s.
The 1940 Alan Scott version of the Green Lantern was unable to use his abilities against wood.
After a decline in sales, DC Comics rebooted the Green Lantern series with Hal Jordan as the new Green Lantern in 1959.
Hal Jordan was unable to use his abilities against anything that was yellow.
Other weaknesses of the ring include drug use of the wearer, rage, and the battery life of the ring.
In the 2011 reboot of the DC fictional universe, Alan Scott’s Green Lantern was reimagined as a gay man in an effort to bring diversity into the DC universe.
Alan Scott forged his own power ring from a lantern that contained an extra-terrestrial mystical power, unlike the other Green Lantern Corps members who were chosen by their power rings.
The cosmic entity that gives the Green power rings’ their power is called the Starheart, an ancient artifact created by the Guardians of the Universe.
The Green Lantern isn’t so much a single person as it is a title for those who possess the power ring and belong to the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps.
There is a member of the Green Lantern Corps who is a sentient planet.
There is also a member of the Green Lantern Corps who is a sentient mathematical equation- Literally a mathematical equation so complex that it can express emotion.
Daffy Duck once possessed a Green power ring in the animated series Duck Dodgers.
There are 8 different lantern corps. Six of which harness different emotions to power their respective rings, whereas the White and Black Lantern Corps power their rings using the embodiments of life and death.
The 2011 Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds was originally intended to be a comedy starring Jack Black as the lead role.
Quentin Tarantino was offered the role of directing the Green Lantern movie but turned the offer down.
Kevin Smith was approached to script the Green Lantern movie but also turned the offer down.
Warner Bros. has announced plans to reboot the Green Lantern movie in 2020.
In the 2016 Deadpool movie, Ryan Reynolds’ character quotes “Please don’t make the super-suit green. Or animated!” This is a reference to Reynolds’ previous role as the Green Lantern and the criticism his character’s poorly animated suit received.
The Green Lantern had a number of bizarre sidekicks including a dog, a starfish, a cab driver, and an Eskimo named Pieface.
Hal Jordan’s arch-nemesis, Sinestro of the Sinestro Corps, was originally Hal Jordan’s mentor and a member of the Green Lantern Corps.
Rot Lop Fan is a member of the Green Lantern Corps, yet wears a bell insignia on his chest instead of a lantern. This is because Rot Lop Fan’s race is blind and has no concept of light, so instead sports a symbol that represents sound.
The oath Hal Jordan recites to charge his ring was written by famous sci-fi author Alfred Bester.
DC Comics almost sold publishing rights for the Green Lantern to their competitor, Marvel.
Marvel created a supervillain named Doctor Spectrum whose abilities mirror those of the Green Lantern. Most notably the ability to create light energy constructs which he projects from a gem on his hand.
The Green Lantern has appeared as a supporting and title character in various video games such as Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters on PS3 and also the Green Lantern Video Slot.
In 1997, Amalgam comics published a series titled Iron Lantern which combined Iron Man’s and the Green Lantern’s abilities.
Hal Jordan was only chosen by the ring because he was the nearest suitable candidate. Guy Gardner, a teacher, was the second nearest candidate to wear the ring but didn’t obtain Green Lantern Status until his debut in 1968.
There have been numerous Green Lanterns from Earth, however, none of them were ever female until 2013 with Jessica Cruz.
Despite the Green power ring’s seemingly limitless power, the most recent incarnation of the Green Lantern, Simon Baz, wields a handgun.
Simon Baz is Lebanese and has a tattoo on his forearm in Arabic that reads “courage”.
