u/BiggerUlf

▲ 51 r/LanternsTVSeries+2 crossposts

Unpopular (?) opinion: I like John Stewart, but the animated version is the most boring GL you can imagine as the DC Cinematic U's "Face of the Franchise"

Old GL fan here. My dad bought me Showcase #22 for a buck in the mid-70s (the dealer thought it was GL #1).

I remember reading John Stewart's first appearance in GL/GA by O'Neill/Adams when I was around 8 or 9 (as I was collecting older comics with my dad, see above).

THAT version of John Stewart was great. Architect, coming from difficult background, against the system, wanting to help his community, not a universe.

The Cosmic Odyssey JS kind of had him in neutral for a while, but (Despite the brutal goings-on of the writer), MOSAIC was really interesting and for me was the last time something cool was done with the character.

When JL/JLU came on screen, turning John Stewart into a tough-as-nails marine who just zapped people with a beam was...well, I could see it useful for an animated show. The by-the-book guy (Stewart), the wacky guy (somehow Wally West became a wisecracker), the hope (Superman)...etc.

But then taking that superficial one-note version of Stewart and making him that in the comics has REALLY screwed over his character. Just like Johns did when he turned Kilowog from a Communist-sympathizing peacenik who liked creating medical devices into a drill sergeant for the GLC (how novel - big tough looking guy acts like big tough looking guy - exactly the stereotype Englehart was trying to avoid when he created him).

So I can live with John Stewart as the face of the franchise in the DCU as he seems to be. It really sucks that they're putting Hal out to pasture, as on the page he's the much more compelling character.

But if they ran JS like the character he was initially created as, that would be really interesting. Sadly we're back to Marine crap.

Anyone else?

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u/BiggerUlf — 10 days ago