Hero Profile: GL John Stewart

The Green Lantern Corps is all about diversity, obviously, they have over a thousand different alien species working together for the greater good. Now, after three white Green Lanterns artist Neal Adams thought that a black Green Lantern “just makes sense.” Which is true, mathematically speaking. This is a planet of seven billion people, mostly of Asian descent. The fact we’ve had a total of three White guys, one Black, one Hispanic and one Middle Easterner man and no Asian or women Lanterns is a little insane. But enough of racial talk, let’s get to John Stewart, not to be confused with Jon Stewart of the Daily Show. Let’s get to it.

He's scary when mad.

John Stewart is an architect and U.S. Marine Veteran. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. After Guy Gardner was injured in the aforementioned Earthquake, the Guardians chose John to be the “back-up Lantern.” Hal was initially against this, due in part to his friendship with Guy, and his belief that John’s contempt for authority was so great that he had “a chip on his shoulder bigger than the rock of Gibraltar.” The Guardians felt that there might be a racial component to Hal’s dislike for John.

In their first mission together Hal and John were tasked with protecting a racist politician. An assassin takes a shot on the Politician, and Hal is the only one of the two to intervene and protect the politician. Hal initially believes that John might have been involved. As it turns out, John was outside the event the politician was running protecting a police officer from a gunman. John had also figured out that the politician had staged the attack as part of a crazy attempt to boost his political clout. After this, Hal changed his mind about John and stated that he’d be an excellent recruit.

The GL big three, Guy, Hal and John. It's a good group.

He filled in for Hal on several occasions, and after Hal’s “retirement” from the Lantern Corps he was chosen to be the full time GL for Sector 2814. For a number of years, John’s life was going fine, he helped fight against the Anti-Monitor during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, trained alongside and married fellow GL Katma Tui, and became known as one of the greatest GL’s of all time, comparable to Abin Sur, Hal Jordan, and Sinestro (before he went nuts). Then, things went bad. Sinestro had figured out a complex plan to temporarily de-power John’s ring, and during this time his wife, Katma, was murdered by at the time insane Star Sapphire. Afterwards John was accused of killing Carol Ferris, the woman behind Star Sapphire’s mask. And after that, he was accused of theft in South Nambia (fictional South Africa) and imprisoned. He was tortured for weeks before Hal figured out how to repower John’s GL ring. John then broke himself and two other prisoners, both of whom he thought were falsely imprisoned like him. Hal come and confronts John, the two start fighting over John’s recent actions, though they get things back under control when he discovers that the two “revolutionaries” he’d freed were planning mass murder. Since then, John has been on countless adventures as both a Green Lantern and a Darkstar, another intergalactic police force. There’s a lot of them, apparently. 

Like Hal and Guy, all of John’s powers are tied to the Green Lantern ring that he wears. So he has all the same powers; the ability to create protective force fields, flight, translates any known language, and create hard light constructs.  One unique aspect of John’s constructs is that they’re all very solid and architecturally sound. Basically, the guy could create a perfect carbon copy of a French Castle. That’s skill. He’s also has extensive military experience after his time in the Marines and is an expert sniper. Another more unique aspect of John is that his Willpower actually exceeds the abilities of his ring. Remember how I said that a Green Lantern tried to remake a planet? Yeah, that was John.

Doesn't say much, but does a lot. Good way
to describe John.

John Steward is a rather popular Green Lantern, I’d say tying for first place with Hal.

His biggest claim to fame was in the Justice League and JL: Unlimited era. In it, he’s depicted as a veteran of not only the Marines but also of the GL Corps, having been one for over fifteen years. One of the most obvious differences between this John and the comic version is that while wearing his ring his eyes glow with green light. It’s was explained that the glow is a side effect of using his ring for so long. Also unlike his early comic interpretations John is a very strict, military man in both his professional and personal life. This is a somewhat jarring difference from the Flash, whom is shown to be a close friend of John. It’s a tradition of Lanterns and Flashes to be close, a fun fact for those just joining us. His first big episode was the two parter “In Blackest Night” where John is accused of destroying a planet. The Flash serves as his lawyer, which meant that he’d suffer the same fate as John, while the rest of the League investigate the plot. It’s discovered that the key witness Kanjar Ro was working with the Manhunters to frame John to get the Guardians out of the way so the Manhunters could break into Oa and steal the energy of the Central Power Battery. Complex plot, no?

John also had a relationship with Hawkgirl of this universe, a relationship that grows in JL, and is slowly repaired over the course of JLU. After her betrayal on behalf of the Thanagarian invasion. Apparently things work out, since it’s discovered in a time hoping episode entitled “The Once and Future Thing,” where he meets their son Rex, also known as Warhawk.  

Like most of the Injustice guys, John is really intense
This time around.

The animated John Stewart also appears in a few episodes of Static Shock, where he’s depicted as the titular charter Static’s favorite hero. The biggest personal episode for John was entitled “Fallen Hero,” where Jon Stewart is seen attacking Static’s home of Dakota. Static is obviously shaken from John’s apparent fall from grace, that is until it’s discovered that it isn’t actually John’s doing. The villain Sinestro had stolen John’s ring and power battery after pretending to be an injured space traveler. He was able to mimic John’s look while using John’s ring. John was stuck on Earth in a dirty trench coat and was left powerless. After regaining Static’s confidence the two take Sinestro out, reclaiming John’s ring.

John is a background character in Young Justice. He helps rebuild a few things, vocally objects to Guy being made a Justice Leaguer, and is among the JLA brainwashed by the Light in the season one finale. He is one of six Leaguers sent off world as part of the Light’s plans, a group that consists of the main Leaguers from Justice League, Batman, Hawkwoman, Martian Manhunter, Superman and Wonder Woman. A nice little nod. He has to go with these other five, plus Hawkman, to try to plead their case to Rimbor (Planet they attacked) high council. This also played into the hands of the Light’s hands as well as their alien backers.

He’s referenced in the episode “Ranx” in Green Lantern: The Animated Series, when Hal asks who the Lantern of Sector 2814 after Guy’s promotion to Honor Guard. To which Hal responds “The fake news guy?” Jon Stewart as a Green Lantern… I could see it. He’d definitely add a little humor to the group.
        Also, there has been fan speculation that Arrows John Diggle may in fact be the shows version of Green Lantern. Show execs neither confirm or deny this. From what I've seen of Diggle, this wouldn't be too much of a stretch, given his military background, his strong sense of duty, and his friendship with both Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) and Barry Allen (The Flash). A cool rumor/idea if nothing else.

I say John is tied with Hal in terms of Lantern popularity, and for good reason. He’s a strong character with an interesting background and motivations. My understanding of the character is mostly tied to the DC Animate Universe, by the way. He’s a military man but with a sense of humor too. I especially liked his connection to his old neighborhood. In an episode where many Leaguers are forced to face their greatest fears, John’s is arriving back home to find no one understands him when he speaks and treat him with general fear and disdain. Talk about someone that appreciates his roots. He’s the Strong, Stern, Sincere, Green Lantern John Stewart. I was running out of S words to alliterate on. Next time, the Green Lantern Messiah, Kyle Rayner. 

 http://dcanimated.wikia.com/wiki/John_Stewart

 http://imgkid.com/john-stewart-green-lantern-comic.shtml

 http://youngjustice.wikia.com/wiki/John_Stewart

 http://injusticegodsamongus.wikia.com/wiki/Green_Lantern_%28John_Stewart%29