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Disingenuous John Stewart “Fans” + July 2014 Solicitations


on April 23, 2014

Backup

There’s an issue in Green Lantern fandom I’d like to address. It involves who is and isn’t a fan of Green Lantern John Stewart. I honestly don’t like saying who is and who isn’t a fan of something. People express their fandom in different ways and come into fandoms from different sources. I recognize that, and don’t disparage people over how or why they are a fan. However, I am going to break this rule of thumb in this instance, and question certain people’s fandom, because this is a special case.

Ever since I’ve been into Green Lantern, I’ve noticed people who claim they are fans of John Stewart, but they really aren’t. They are usually Hal Jordan fans. I would like you to keep that in mind while I take a relevant detour and turn our attention to former Green Lantern writer, Geoff Johns.

The above image -wonderfully drawn by Ivan Reis- is an example of why I criticize Geoff Johns so much. “Someone call for backup?” Really!?

Johns would love to keep John Stewart in the role he originally had in the 1970s; a “backup Lantern” who hardly ever showed up. An understudy who appeared during the rare instances Hal Jordan was unable to. Essentially, he was an infrequent supporting character in the wonderful world of Hal Jordan. Have a look at this other image from the Geoff Johns era of Green Lantern:

Exceed

You’ll notice that early into this scene, John Stewart identifies himself as “Hal Jordan’s partner.” In other words, his whole identity is pretty much what he is in relation to Hal Jordan. Saying, “Name’s John Stewart. I’m Hal Jordan’s partner,” would be okay if he was introducing himself out loud to some friend or acquaintance of Hal Jordan’s who did not know him. Yet, there John is, having an inner monologue identifying himself as what he is in relation to Hal Jordan.

This is an example of what Geoff Johns has done to John Stewart, which is downright insulting to his fans. He refused to acknowledge that John Stewart has legitimately and organically evolved out of that supporting character role. He liked to paint an image showing John Stewart as unimportant, a side character, and not noteworthy. Not just compared to Hal Jordan, but to all the Earth Green Lanterns. Geoff Johns was likely bitter over the fact that many people came to know John Stewart as Green Lantern. John was shining bright on the television sets of millions of people, being cemented in their minds as THE Green Lantern, while his favorite -Hal Jordan- was rotting in the grave. Johns is a fanboy who has been put in a position of power, and like a fanboy, he childishly took his revenge against a character he does not like. He probably heard people saying things like, “Oh yeah. I know Green Lantern. That cool Black superhero,” which burned him up similarly to people saying “Aquaman is the lamest superhero,” burns him up.

Geoff Johns often throws telling a great narrative aside to biasedly prove a point about his favorite and least favorite heroes. His playing of favorites is incredibly transparent and something many people across comic fandom have noted. What I’m pointing out with John Stewart is a very real example of him doing this. YES, Johns is an incredibly biased comic book fanboy! It is a well-established fact. He’s not entirely unlike the many you may see on the internet. Do you think those fanboys are above performing petty acts like that?
I certainly don’t.

As writer of Green Lantern, and undisputed creative mastermind of the franchise, Johns’ word was ‘law’ and canon. Thus his horrible disrespect of Green Lantern John Stewart, teamed with his burning passion for Hal Jordan, gave plenty of Geoff Johns’ toady fans fodder to denigrate John Stewart and proclaim the singular greatness of Hal Jordan, which I believe is essentially what Geoff Johns wanted to achieve.

He set up a perception where Hal Jordan was undoubtedly the “main Green Lantern,” and clearly superior to John Stewart, who was a frequently absent, boring background supporting character. This was Johns taking a massive passive aggressive dump on all the people who came to greatly respect the John Stewart character from the Justice League cartoons and identify him as being the Green Lantern. And, of course, we know this lasted for a very long time. After much patient waiting, it became apparent that so long as Geoff Johns was overseeing Green Lantern, John Stewart wasn’t going to get anywhere.

From a short Twitter discussion I had with the producer of Green Lantern: The Animated Series, I learned there were unrealized plans to bring John Stewart into the show. That sounds exciting, right?
No. Not really. Because I’m guessing if that happened, John Stewart would be a supporting character, just as I feel he would have been in some hypothetical Green Lantern film that would have happened if the 2011 Green Lantern movie was a success. There is great reason to believe John Stewart would have been some kind of stooge of Hal Jordan’s, while Hal Jordan would likely remain the lead hero.

That is why -I’m just going to say- the success of that cartoon show and the 2011 film was not in a John Stewart fan’s best interest, regardless of whether we’d get to see him in some capacity or not. What was in our best interest is exactly what happened. Now, John Stewart has a legitimate great chance of being THE Green Lantern next time Warner Bros. decides to use Green Lantern in a meaningful role in animation or film. Indeed, most people who address the current state of Green Lantern in those sectors of entertainment are telling Warner Bros. they want a reboot featuring John Stewart as the lead.

The people who I say are not true fans of John Stewart are people who support the structure Geoff Johns built, and who DO NOT want to see John Stewart headline the franchise. They are people who are okay with John Stewart being around, and who don’t openly blast the character (unlike the people who are overtly against him), but who are only okay with him so long as he doesn’t have a better role than Hal Jordan. To me, one cannot be a John Stewart fan yet still wish for his hindrance. To me, one cannot be a John Stewart fan depending only on his relation to another character. Green Lantern isn’t set up to work that way.

To explain that better, I’d like to momentarily consider the Sailor Moon franchise. I don’t think Sailor Mars fans typically want her to usurp Sailor Moon’s position, even though they may like Sailor Mars better, because of her personality, character design, character arc, and so on. Sailor Mars was never meant for that position, and she never organically grew into a role where it was plausible for her to be in that position. These Hal Jordan fans would like for John Stewart to be like Sailor Mars. They may think John Stewart is okay, just as many Sailor Moon fans like Sailor Mars. They may think he has a place, and they may think it’s cool if you like him best. However, in their minds, John Stewart is not meant to be THE Green Lantern, just as Sailor Mars is not meant to be the focus of the Sailor Moon franchise. To them, he is a “secondary character” and that is all he should be. There is a glass ceiling, and he cannot rise above it. To them, maybe if Hal Jordan is really successful, John can enjoy some of that and get a spin off.

Sailor Mars
Sailor Mars
Sailor Mars

But real John Stewart fans recognize the situation isn’t comparable. John Stewart is no Sailor Mars. Real John Stewart fans recognize that John Stewart is GREEN LANTERN. Real John Stewart fans recognize the character organically grew out of his role as a supporting character a long time ago, to the point where a lot of people think he’s THE Green Lantern. Real John Stewart fans recognize that his profile is higher than Hal Jordan’s, and it’s definitely more respected, seeing as the only thing Hal Jordan has done on any level compared to what John has, is star in a critically panned financial flop of a film.

So, those who like to hold John Stewart in that Sailor Mars category ARE NOT JOHN STEWART FANS, simply on grounds of them not genuinely having John Stewart’s or his fans’ best interests at heart. If John Stewart legitimately steps above Hal Jordan, and they are dissatisfied by that, THEY ARE NOT JOHN STEWART FANS.

Just to clarify, I’m not saying every Green Lantern fan has to be a zealot on one side or the other. I’m sure there are many people who would be welcoming to either Green Lantern, but the individuals in question are not those people. Do not be fooled by the so-called John Stewart fan who appears in an attempt to shut you up if you speak out against the character’s treatment while Geoff Johns was overseeing the franchise, and who then proceeds to tell you why Hal Jordan should be Green Lantern, despite financial bombs. No matter what they say, these individuals do not care about what is best for the John Stewart character, nor do they have the best interests of John Stewart fans in mind. If they were really fans, why would they be so against John Stewart’s advancement, be so blind or apathetic to his mistreatment during the Johns years, and take such offense when someone mentions it?


Oa, by the way

Solicitations for July 2014 are here. Accordingly, we get a look at the final cover of the “Uprising” storyline, and it sure is a beauty.

Green Lantern Corps #33

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #33
Written by VAN JENSEN
Art by BERNARD CHANG
Cover by FRANCIS PORTELA
BATMAN 75 variant cover
On sale JULY 9 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“UPRISING” part 6! All is fair in love and war – and both are likely to get John Stewart killed as the final battle of the uprising concludes! With the woman he loves in mortal danger, John will face the most difficult test of his career!

It’s great to see another Francis Portela cover. I’m glad DC has gotten him back for Green Lantern Corps. I wouldn’t mind seeing Portela doing covers whenever Bernard Chang can’t. His work compliments Chang’s wonderfully, unlike the J.G. Jones covers seen early in the Maiolo, Jensen, Chang run. Don’t get me wrong, J.G. Jones is a great artist, but seeing his work next to Chang’s gave me an impression of incongruity, not totally unlike looking at the western Mega Man 1 box art in relation to the way Mega Man is actually meant to be depicted.

I wrote in my review for Green Lantern Corps #30 that I was felt an event on the horizon for John and Yrra’s romance, and unsurprisingly, it looks like “Uprising” may include that event. Will John and Yrra stay together? Will Yrra make it through this war? If not, I would still welcome bringing the Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol) romance into the comics. It may be a pipe dream, though, seeing as DC Comics may feel it would diminish Hawkman in some way. But, if they can make Supergirl a Red Lantern, why not? The HG/GL romance is the most well-known and highest profile romance for both characters ever, which is very ironic for Hawkgirl, since, prior to Justice League, her whole deal was being Hawkman’s sidekick love interest.

Speaking of the Red Lanterns, Green Lantern John Stewart fans should also set their sights on Red Lanterns this July. That looks like John Stewart’s hand and arm on the cover, and the text is pretty telling, as well.

Red Lanterns #33

RED LANTERNS #33
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art by ALESSANDRO VITTI
Cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
On sale JULY 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
“Atrocities” kicks into gear – the epic that the last year of RED LANTERNS has been building to all along! It’s open war between Atrocitus and Guy Gardner – and there’s a powerful squadron of Red Lanterns on each side! But Guy Gardner could never have imagined what Atrocitus has been planning all this time… And he couldn’t imagine that one of his closest friends would refuse to stand by his side!

DC has also released advanced solicits for their Futures End tie-ins. It sounds like in the future, John Stewart is in need of redemption. Again. I wonder if he’s still worried about that planet that blew up.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS: FUTURES END #1
Advance solicit • On sale SEPTEMBER 10
32 pg, FC • RATED T
3-D Motion Edition: $3.99 US
2-D Standard Edition: $2.99 US
Orders due May 29 • Not offered on FOC
John Stewart makes a fateful decision – will he choose to take his last shot at redemption? Or will he pull the trigger and kill any chance of a life worth living, in the name of saving the Corps?

Bryan Q. Miller’s awesome Smallville Season 11: Lantern continues. Going by the excellent Cat Staggs cover, Superman has had enough of that Green Lantern business he’s been unwillingly caught in. Any Green Lantern John Stewart fan who is not reading Smallville: Lantern is seriously missing out.

Smallville Season 11: Lantern 4

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11: LANTERN #4
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by MARCIO TAKARA
Cover by CAT STAGGS
On sale JULY 9 • 40 pg, 4 of 4, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
Fighting a pitched battle against the strength of Parallax, John Stewart is able to regain his Green Lantern will. But will the change come in time to defeat Parallax’s minions?

There looks to be a lot of cool stuff ahead for us, John Stewart fans. Don’t let it pass you by.

Follow @deshderringer


  • Hudson Faber

    Yeah, there are a lot of people who pretend to be fans to undermine the character. My favorite is the kind that say he should change Corps, which is to say let Hal be the only GL. *rolls-eyes*

    John should really be the number 1 GL.

    • Desh Derringer

      UGH! I hear you, man. I don’t think many genuine John Stewart fans want to see John as a member of the Indigo Tribe, or something. We became fans of him because he is Green Lantern. John’s visibility and success in the role of Green Lantern have been too high to change him to something else. Too many people are used to seeing him as GL in cartoons, games, and so on.

      I agree about John Stewart being the number 1 Green Lantern. The thing about John is he never failed. ’80s era Green Lantern with him as lead didn’t fail, it succeeded! Mosaic did not fail. Justice League is one of the most beloved cartoons of all time, and John’s a huge part of it. Green Lantern Corps with John as lead has not failed. And yet, John Stewart has a history of being short changed.

      Hal Jordan has tanked everywhere but the comics (and even there, he has a history of cancellations and problems keeping sales afloat), but he had Geoff Johns’ help in comics. It’s really John Stewart’s time. This isn’t being selfish, it’s being reasonable. A different yet familiar face is needed to breath life back into this suffering franchise, and John Stewart fits the bill so well.

      • Corey A Lee

        Green Lantern: Mosaic was a very popular and profitable title. But despite that, it didn’t gel with “DC’s editorial vision” so it was axed super early. Seems like John has a jistory of getting screwed over.

        John being a Indigo lantern doesn’t fit. Guy Gardner makes sense as a Red Lantern. Hal Jordan makes sense and a Yellow Lantern but we all know DC won’t make him turn heel again. Kyle can keep doing whatever it is he is doing as a white lantern. It would make sense if John was the only one from Earth who was a Green Lantern. It would expand the universe, create new stories, and shake up the status quo. Doing something different and interesting.

  • anonsaga

    “If John Stewart legitimately steps above Hal Jordan, and [people] are dissatisfied by that, THEY ARE NOT JOHN STEWART FANS.”

    If such people are disingenuous John Stewart fans, then I must be a disingenuous Hal Jordan fan.

    John Stewart is my favorite Green Lantern. When I see him in media, I don’t want him depicted as ‘a’ Green Lantern but rather ‘the’ Green Lantern. Why? Because he deserves it. I want my favorite character to be represented in the best way possible. Most people do. And that includes most people who are fans of Hal Jordan.

    It’s unfortunate that writers who also happened to be Hal Jordan fans propped up their guy at the expense of John and the other Green Lanterns, but it happened, and as a consequence they ‘did’ succeed in making that the status quo for decades. To use the Sailor Moon analogy: if, one day, someone decided to make Sailor Mars the leader of the Sailor Scouts, it would undoubtedly upset those who were fans of the old status quo, regardless of how much they actually liked Sailor Mars. I think, for some of Hal Jordan’s fans, it’s the same way. In their mind, John is ‘not’ the leader, thus he cannot legitimately become the leader, regardless of how well he is written or how popular he’s become. However, I wouldn’t say those individuals are not real fans of John Stewart. It is my opinion that such individuals think that not making Hal Jordan the leader is in some way making him less than what he was. In short, it has nothing to do with John Stewart at all.

    Did you know that to this day, people still debate who the greatest Star Trek captain was? Some say Kirk, some say Picard, some say Sisko, and some say Janeway (but no one says Archer- he doesn’t count). My personal favorites are Picard and Sisko but I suppose that’s not the point. The point is that people are still able to debate this issue because the captains were treated equally and given their own space to develop and become the best captains they could be. For the most part, Kirk didn’t interfere with Picard’s adventures, Picard didn’t interfere with Sisko’s adventures, and Sisko didn’t interfere with Janeway’s adventures. That’s the way I’d like to see the GL universe. Fans should be able to decide who they like the most, not the writers. I, for one, think that they are all better than second-stringers. They shouldn’t be written into the kind of situations that happened in the past where one was elevated at the expense of the others.

    • Corey A Lee

      I believe I’m also a disingenuous Hal Jordan fan also. I wouldn’t have that much of a problem with the character if DC wasn’t riding his jock so much and if his “True” fans weren’t so annoying

      • anonsaga

        I didn’t want to interrupt the smooth way you interjected yourself between Clyde’s comments but wasn’t that short term during which Cyborg became a member of the Justice League the ‘Cry for Justice’ series? If so, I guess that does prove that he was a member before The New52. But I must say, when I look at that series I see a blueprint of how DC editorial decided to effectively eliminate the possibility of John Stewart as the Green Lantern while still maintaining diversity among the core membership.

        You also said Cyborg was always suppose to be a member (since 2006). Again, I can’t help but notice the convenience of the timeline. The TV series began in 2001 and ended in 2006. In my opinion, the plans were already in motion to cut John Stewart out and replace him with Cyborg.

        • Desh Derringer

          If that’s the case, what that tells me -to be very frank- is that Green Lantern is too big, too important, and too cool for a black character to have, despite millions of people being totally fine with it. I’m just saying what it looks like, and if that’s the mindset, it’s extremely offensive.

          You would think DC would be celebrating the fact that a character who is depicted as a person of color was legitimately accepted as being put in one of their comic universe’s biggest roles, because that’s not an easy thing to do. But nope! The first thing they do is think of a way to get rid of him.

          • anonsaga

            I could be wrong, but it appears DC editorial is trying to run his face out of nearly everything. If John Stewart isn’t the Green Lantern for the DC cinematic universe, I will boycott as planned and I will bring as much attention to DC’s unjust behavior on as many forums as I can.

          • Desh Derringer

            If that happens, we’ll work together at getting something going, because it will have gotten to the blatantly racist level at that point. I don’t like to throw the R-word around haphazardly, but there is really only so much we can take. Seriously, Hal Jordan’s film loses in the ballpark of 90-100 million dollars, more people want to see John Stewart, and they (DC/WB) just give us Hal Jordan (the white one) again and expect us to be happy? Sorry, I can’t take that. That would be downright insulting. Not just to fans, but an entire freaking race of people.

        • Corey A Lee

          They already cut him out and replaced him with Hal Jordan. That move made no sense. This series came hot off the animated heels and they used Hal Jordan instead of John Stewart because of……….reasons, I guess. They couldn’t have more than 2 Black people on the team, especially not more than 1 Black male on the team. It really is the late Dwayne McDuffie’s Rule of 3. To certain people adding more than 2 Black people on a team would automatically make it a “Black” team. Seriously, if you replaced Hal with John, that team would be way more diverse and awesome. DC just has wayyy too much of an attachment to Hal Jordan to let him go.

  • Corey A Lee

    Not related to the topic but since they just confirmed CyborgVictor Stone in Batman vs. Superman, do you think DC will use John Stewart? I mean this IS the company that still uses tokenism in their comic lines. I hope WB will have some say and put John in there with Cyborg for Justice League.

    • Desh Derringer

      We can only hope and continue supporting John Stewart. I really have no idea what they’ll do. All I CAN say is that we’ve heard a lot of casting rumors about John Stewart being Green Lantern, and mentions of the character from the likes of Idris Elba and Chadwick Boseman, and we’ve heard nothing about Hal Jordan. I like to think that means SOMETHING. Yet, I have to admit that having Cyborg there isn’t the most encouraging news for John Stewart fans. It’s sad it’s that way, but that’s just the reality of the situation.

  • Salaak

    I kind of disagree with you on this Desh. I have yet to see “fake John Stewart fans”. I’ve seen people who either passionately support him or people who dislike/don’t care about him, but never a mix of the two.

  • crwzyone

    I think Hal has had more than enough chances. There are so many other characters in the GL universe why not use another. My choice would be John, but I’d be happy to see anyone but Hal.

    Also got give credit to the new creative teams… All of the GL comics are a solid read right now, I’m enjoying them all.

  • Clyde

    I’d like to first and foremost start off by giving a shout out to “Desh” for taking the time out of his life in writing these articles and being the main voice of the many John Stewart followers. I’d like to also give a shout out to “Van Jensen” for keeping the memory and adventures alive in the post Justice League animated series and in the current New 52 universe through John Stewart’s Green Lantern Corps. comics.

    And now please allow me to throw in my two cents. As a fan of the DC universe and I consider myself on team DC and not team Marvel, I am very much disappointed. I respect the fact that Warner Bros/DC entertainment has chosen Henry Cavill as Superman to build its future around. Superman is the face of the DC universe and the face of the Justice League. Batman was then the next league member to be cast followed by Wonder Woman. They are the big three the way that James, Wade & Bosh is to the Miami Heat. However we all know that after Wonder Woman, the next member is Green Lantern followed by the Flash. Together they are your starting five on a basketball team and the last two founding members of the League has been rotated in/out for awhile now. Whether it be Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Hawkman, Cyborg, Shazam, or any other filler character; but to announce that they have cast “Cyborg” as the next League member in the 2016 movie before Flash and GL, is like casting Quick Silver and Scarlet Witch as a part of Avengers 2 before Thor and Cap. Cyborg historically was never a part of the League, he was on the next tier of heroes known as the Teen Titans led by Robin.

    It speaks volumes to me because it translates to my brain the following message: {America we’re going to give you your afro-american hero, so here he is…”Cyborg”. And now that we’ve given you your afro-american token, please leave us alone because we’re maintaining the status quo of constantly shoving Hal Jordan down your throats. Although you may not want him, we do, because we’re the multi billion dollar company that calls all the shots and you little people just don’t matter and neither do your opinions. We don’t care if you sign a petition or revolt against us, because we’re gonna continue to put yet another caucasian in a superhero lead role. Yes, John Stewart may be the champion Lantern of the people, but Wall St. the bankers, the main stream media and the major corporations have to have Hal Jordan no matter what, because we all collectively have too much invested in him being the face of the Green Lantern franchise and he’s the only Lantern that really matters anyway. So John Stewart and all of you pathetic ants needs to stand down and allow the awesome power of Warner Bros. / DC Universe to give you what we think is best for you and not what’s best for business}.

    • Corey A Lee

      Really nice rant and I hate to undermine your point but Cyborg WAS a member of the Justice League before the new 52. He was on the team with Batman(Dick Grayson) Donna Troy, Red Arrow, and Doctor Light. This happened for a little while though, but then Flashpoint happened. Before that, he was was always suppose to be a member. Batman and Superman nominated him when they put together in 2006 but change of writers happened. Hal should not have been in that lineup because it was fresh off the heels of JLU because of the inclusion of Hawkgirl and Vixen. That aside I do agree with everything else you said. Please continue.

  • Clyde

    My previous note was just me getting started, I have more to say. For Warner Bros. to make a blockbuster move like they did, means that they have no intention on putting John Stewart in a Justice League live action film or animated film because they already fulfilled its minority quota by signing on Cyborg into the fray. They plan on using Hal Jordan come hell or high water. They made that concept so very clear when they put out the Justice League War animated movie. The DC Universe New 52 has Hal Jordan’s imprint all over it and they want the public to make sure they accept that reality. We all know how threatened the establishment was at the rise of John Stewart’s popularity when they tried to kill him off in the New 52 universe. So they figured that they would give us some 2nd tier hero in Cyborg to shut us up. Well Warner Bros. / DC Entertainment, all you’ve done is piss me off, you’ve got my attention and now you are gonna have hell to pay, I will do everything in my power to ruin your little Hal Jordan love fest. Your blatant racism will not go unnoticed. If you want to go to war with the people, then let’s go and we’ll see how well you turn out against Marvel. Because now I’m jumping ship. I’m on team Marvel now. I will always love John Stewart and will always support his claim and right to wear the crown of the Lantern of all Lanterns, but this act of disrespect led by Geoff Johns will not go unnoticed any longer.
    For the record I don’t dislike or hate Hal Jordan, there’s plenty of room for many Lanterns in the corps. to have a story, but to continuously throw Hal at the public when we demand John to take the mantle is a slap in our face. I’m tired of the big establishment corporations looking at the people and John Stewart as lower forms of life whose opinion and needs doesn’t matter. I’m tired of the lies, deception, manipulation and the all out disrespect of us. If I said it once I’ll say it again, keep messing with the people Warner Bros. / DC entertainment and especially you Geoff Johns and see what happens when you release you films and they bomb because the people have gone to war with you.

    • Desh Derringer

      Thanks for the shout out, Clyde.

      It’s really an honor to work on the site. It’s fun, I love the character, I appreciate that people actually come here because they care about what I have to say, and I think after the years of neglect and disrespect, John Stewart fans deserve something nice for a change. Something FOR THEM. And I think they deserve a voice and platform. That’s not to say I speak for ALL JS fans, because I don’t, but I like allowing them the opportunity to say what’s REALLY on their minds. I know that we hold back from that sometimes, because we don’t feel like getting into figurative blood baths with other fans, but I think it’s time we speak up, and that people should know that we’re here and what we really think about the state of Green Lantern/comics/and so on, whether they like it or not. I don’t think some people realized what John Stewart means to some of us, and I think it’s time that they learn that.

      I essential feel the same way you do about all this stuff. but for now, I’m going to be patient. They haven’t come out and said John Stewart won’t be Green Lantern yet. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. We still have good reason to think WB has been looking to cast him, from all the rumors of The Rock, Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, Chadwick Boseman, and so on. There’s really been no suggestion of Hal Jordan whatsoever. Don’t forget, that characters last movie lost a ton of cash.

      Thanks for posting, and I greatly appreciate the kind words!

    • anonsaga

      To be fair, I don’t think Marvel is doing much better with the representation of African-Americans in their cinematic universe. In the X-Men franchise, Storm seemed more like Wolverine’s sidekick than an equal (in sharp contrast to the 90’s animated series and Evolution). And Falcon from The Winter Soldier spent most of his scenes contemplating his inadequacy (the same way John Stewart used to in the comics). He wasn’t even allowed to defeat one of the secondary villains in the film. All other black characters in Marvel’s cinematic universe have either been made into villains or given secondary/tertiary roles. This includes Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, whose role is still a secondary one, no matter how prominent it may be. In short, we have yet to see a black superhero on equal footing with the other superheroes saving the day on the big screen.

      • Desh Derringer

        I agree with you here. I’m not necessarily impressed with what Marvel has done, either.

      • Corey A Lee

        Let’s not forget the impotence of my 2nd favorite character, War Machine. Marvel keeps dragging their feet about a Black Panther movie.

  • Clyde

    Sorry, people if I lost my cool. I just can’t stand the injustice of it all. And speaking of “Injustice” I guess that’s what the establishment truly is…the Injustice Gods! “Anonsaga” & “Corey A. Lee” you both made some really good points…thank you for elaborating further as well as adding to the overall insight. Its so sad, over in the East across the Atlantic the people are willing to accept minorities in leading roles. After hundreds of years of all caucasian presidents we finally have a minority in the White House, and what’s amazing is that there is so much money to be made globally, and all the “Injustice Gods” have to do is give the people what they want. More hispanic representation, asian, black, native american, hybrids, women and much more, but sadly in their warped sense of reality, they feel it justified to offer us token representation whose job is to be seen and not heard as nothing more than background atmosphere to their status quo stars. And whether it be DC / Warner Bros, Marvel / Disney or any other big name establishment. They will always stand for the real life video game version of “Injustice gods among us”. I guess the only thing that minorities truly have a fair chance at is the world of sports. I would love if one day one of us had the opportunity to attend a televised event where we could put one of the creators of The Green Lanterns on the spot and ask him why he feels it justified to discriminate against John Stewart and try to even kill him off and to top it off continue to promote Hal Jordan. Don’t they realize that they could never make a sequel or reboot of GL with Hal as the character? If they do they might as well commit suicide now before they lose millions of more dollars. And that my friends is the true definition of insanity. They would much rather close the doors on DC comics forever than to ever give up Hal for John. So what do you all say to that notion?

    • Desh Derringer

      I get the frustration, believe me. For now, I think we should just be patient. Some people with inside contacts have said they’re going with John Stewart, and so far, everything else they’ve said has been true (they also said Cyborg would be there). Keep an eye on the comics for an idea on the films will do. I think a lot of answers can be found there. Hal Jordan is no longer in the Justice League in the comics, and he was suspiciously left out of the Target exclusive JLA DTV movie that released around the same time as War. We’ll see what happens between John and Hal Jordan with “Uprising.” Jensen and Venditti will be closing up some plot threads, and I think there may be some hints as to which GL WB will push..

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