Green Lantern is a series of fictional characters (superheroes) known from the comic book series published by DC Comics.
The first Green Lantern character (Alan Scott) was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell, and debuted in All-American Comics vol. 1 #16 on July 2, 1940. Alan Scott was originally designed as a combination of various traits from popular fictional characters. The character of Aladdin from One Thousand and One Nights was a significant influence, as he becomes the owner of a magic lamp inhabited by a powerful wish-granting genie. This is also reflected in the full name of the character, which is Alan Ladd Wellington Scott. The creators were also inspired by a motif from the musical drama by Richard Wagner, The Ring of the Nibelung (based on the medieval German heroic epic, The Song of the Nibelungs), as well as the image of lanterns used by the subway workers in New York City at the time.[3]
After World War II, when the sales of superhero adventure comics declined significantly, DC Comics decided to make a series of changes to the characters that appeared in their comics. In 1959, DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz assigned writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane to refresh the Green Lantern character, this time as an experimental test pilot, Hal Jordan (debuting in Showcase vol. 1 #22 in October 1959). The prototype for the new lantern bearer was a character from the classic space opera, written by American author E.E. “Doc” Smith, called the Lensman. This was a clear turn towards science fiction themes, which helped the character regain its popularity in the comic book world. Over time, additional characters based on this concept began to appear, including Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, and others.
Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and a power lantern that gives the user control over the physical world as long as the bearer has the willpower and strength to wield it. This ring is one of the most powerful weapons in the universe and can be very dangerous. The power ring of the Golden Age Green Lantern (Alan Scott) is magical, while the rings of the other Lanterns are technical devices of the Guardians of the Universe, who give them to worthy candidates. They form intergalactic law enforcement and peacekeeping organizations known as the Green Lantern Corps. Each of these characters was also a member of the basic group of DC superheroes: Alan Scott was a member of the Justice Society of America, while the others were members of the Justice League of America.
These characters are also known from numerous animated series and films, television series, and live-action films. In the 2011 film Green Lantern, actor Ryan Reynolds played the role of one of them, Hal Jordan.