![]() Given their recent history at this point in time (The Joker is only the biggest name to have broken into their team fortress) the League is a bit stunned to find a different Green Lantern in their midst.Ĭheck out that third panel again. Of course, things get a bit more complicated when it’s revealed that Hal’s mission isn’t a Green Lantern solo mission, but in fact an emergency call from the Justice League of America. Though, in his earliest years, John’s calls-to-arms were admittedly limited, he never failed in his duty, even when Hal Jordan was incapacitated not by monsters, aliens or Sinestro, but by his own Ed Grimley style shenanigans… In his career as alternate, John’s smarts and resourcefulness repeatedly come in handy, even when the primary Lantern falls short… John slaps his hand away, and drops some knowledge on Hal, curtly telling him, “You’re gonna have your OWN lesson, teacher!”Įven in his very first mission, John Stewart proves that he has what it takes, standing up to the man who GAVE him his power ring rather than accept an injustice. Amazingly, when things get tense, it’s Hal who makes the first move, grabbing John by the shirt and accusing him of being a disgrace to the Green Lantern uniform. John doesn’t trust the (obviously pretty racist) establishment goon, while Hal doesn’t like John’s methods. John’s quick learning curve allows him to master the power ring enough to act on his own as they try to ferret out an assassin targeting a presidential candidate. John’s induction into the GLC is accompanied by the first of several definitive uniform choices on his part. Confronted with a superhero who is also an intergalactic police officer, told that he’s been chosen to join their ranks, and he’s all “Thass coool, baby.” He even manages to throw in a joke about Black Lanterns that is much harsher in the context of recent stories, both in-universe and out. You have to respect John’s cool demeanor here. The Guardian informs him that this is his new backup, but Jordan isn’t sure he likes the idea of a Green Lantern who back-sasses the law… Though Hal’s quick intervention kept the situation from being fatal for “Mister Gardner,” his injuries are quite severe…Īs established in an earlier issue, every Green Lantern has a designated backup in case he or she is injured or incapacitated, and with Guy out of action, Hal is sent to Detroit where he witnesses a confrontation between an angry young man and a police officer. (That sound you heard was young Spoilerites around the world going “Whuuuuuuut?”) Guy, aside from being a bland-and-pleasant school teacher and the kind of schlemiel who can actually run himself over with his own bus, is also the backup Green Lantern of sector 2814. Luckily, she is being saved by her teacher… While doing his standard-issue damage control, GL finds a school bus full of innocent kids trapped at the edge of a collapsing bridge, with one little girl in grave danger on the edge of the broken pavement. On patrol one fateful afternoon, Hal “Green Lantern” Jordan’s attention is drawn to a slight earth-tremor. This, then, is your Major Spoilers Hero History of John Stewart of Earth, the third man from his world to patrol sector 2814 as Earth’s Green Lantern!Īs with most things, the history of John Stewart starts with a seemingly unrelated series of events. Indeed, his heroic example eventually led the immortal Guardians of the Universe (not known for changing their minds) to alter their “one Lantern per sector” rule for the first time in eons, and overcame one of the greatest tragedies that any superhero has ever had to bear. Chosen for his strength of will, his fearlessness, his honesty and character, he also brought a new attitude to the role of Earth’s protector, and never failed to do the right thing, regardless of what anyone thought of his methods. Though today’s Hero History entrant wasn’t the first black superhero (that place is held by The Black Panther, circa 1966) nor the first African-American character to headline his own book (that honor goes to Dell Comics’ Lobo, a cowboy type who will probably make for a fine Retro Review soon enough), but John Stewart predates either Luke Cage or Black Lightning, and his backstory is considerably less embarrassing than that of The Falcon. In a way, it’s kind of astonishing that in an industry that started in the mid-1930s, there were virtually no superheroes of color until the 1970s. Or – “It Takes A Real Man To Be A Superhero AND Host The Daily Show!”
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