Green Lantern Corps: Why an older Hal Jordan makes sense for the DCEU

3. John Stewart’s the more popular Green Lantern 

Hal Jordan being old automatically means he’ll pass the torch to John Stewart. Some may argue he’s the more popular Green Lantern anyway. Some us born in the 80s and 90s grew up thinking John Stewart was “the” Green Lantern. After all, it was his character that jumped off the screen in Justice League, Cartoon Network animated series. Phill LaMarr voiced John Stewart and help to propel the hero who was dismissed by Gerard Jones in the comics, to new heights. Still, it wasn’t just the cartoon that made John Stewart the main Green Lantern, it was DC Comics — his origin story was. 

Created by writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams, John Stewart was one of the first comic book superheroes of color in the 1970s. He was also one of the few heroes with a military background and the first Black hero to not had Black in his names John Stewart was an activist and architect who went from Marine sniper to the wielder of the Green Lantern. DC Comics recognized the uniqueness of their hero and gave him. 

In 1992 DC Comics gave him an 18 issue run that painted him as the alpha to Hal Jordan as far as intellect and leadership. Although the series was prematurely canceled, his comic book run was critical success and fans loved it too. Moreover, John Stewart as the first human to join the Guardians of the Universe as Master Builder. In DC Rebirth he’s the leader of the Green Lantern Corps. In fact, it’s John Stewart, not Hal Jordan is highly sought after by the Justice League to help them fight against The Totality.

John Stewart’s popularity far exceeds Hal Jordan’s and it’s likely why he’ll get his origin told in the Green Lantern Corps film. And older Hal Jordan also leaves the door open for other Green Lanterns as well.