Did Green Lantern miss its chance to join the Trinity?

[Andrew NDB]

Meaning, before WW cemented herself as a heavy hitter not just the comics (as in around when BvS and the WW solo movie kicked in the door for her) it seemed there was a good 10, 20+ span when a good argument could be made that -- if not replacing WW on the Trinity outright -- Green Lantern deserved to be made a part of what might be considered the DC "Quartet." For a long time the idea of WW ever getting a movie seemed far-fetched and WW herself was barely hanging onto her solo series and even then, nobody was talking about it. She was temporarily a blip on the radar in the 90s when Artemis replaced her for a little bit, then she basically returned to "who cares" until maybe her Max Lord neck-snapping... which seemed design to get her headlines.

Now? WW is everywhere and the landscape of GL is a unmitigated mess after 500 Geoff Johns "end of the world" megavents, rainbow spectrums for rainbow spectrums, and what used to be a varied group of comic books on the stands (GL, GLC, New Guardians, Red Lanterns, etc.) is now just one really weird one starring Hal and nobody else. Green Lantern didn't even have a presence in the "Justice League" movie (no that little cameo of nobody doesn't count), losing out on what should have been his place as a founding member (instead that distinction goes to... uh, Teen Titans member Cyborg?).

[Space Cop]

As much as I would like it to be GL, I think the argument could just as easily (or more so) be made for Flash. That 4th spot is tough even now to say which is just under the Trin.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Space Cop

As much as I would like it to be GL, I think the argument could just as easily (or more so) be made for Flash.

You think? The Flash has never even had a second ongoing (unless you count, like, Impulse)... Green Lantern has had like 4 going at one time. Also Flash has never had a movie.

[Space Cop]

True, but he's had two live-action TV shows and was the center of a crisis that rebooted the DCU. I'm not saying he's a clear victor, but I imagine Flash is up there in the public conscious.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Space Cop

True, but he's had two live-action TV shows and was the center of a crisis that rebooted the DCU. I'm not saying he's a clear victor, but I imagine Flash is up there in the public conscious.

Green Lantern had a (cartoon) TV show as well. Which actually lasted 3 more episodes than the original Flash one.

And actually having a big budget Green Lantern movie (whether it was good or not is neither here nor there) seems bigger in the public eye than a low budget CW Canadian TV production that's seen pretty diminishing returns for a few seasons now.

[Trey Strain]

You'd have to have put the right person in charge of it. Like me. Nobody who has been in charge of it has seen known what to do with it.

[Ωmega Man]

Nobody wants GL to go no constructs.

Green Lantern had the best potential to become the next big franchise, following Batman, Superman, and the Justice League. Wonder Woman, while part of the Trinity, isn't as top tier as people would have others to believe. She's among the Trinity because of historical reasons just like the other two. Superman was what most consider the first superhuman hero, Batman being the first street level guy, and WW was the first female. For historical reasons if anyone would be included I'd agree with Alex Ross and make the 4th Shazam/Capt. Marvel.

I think Geoff's success with branching out the GL mythos had DC/WB believing GL could be what modern Iron Man is to the Marvel universe [a new cornerstone], however the movie bombing and animated series getting cancelled had TPTB losing faith in no time. Multiple spin-off titles got pushed but overall the expansion of the character's mythos barely effected the broader DCU. Red Lanterns crossed over with Supergirl, Sinestro crossed over with the surfer boi Lobo remake, New Guardians made use of all the spectrum nonsense, Larfleeze continued making the character a joke rather than a serious threat, and the multiple minis like Edge of Oblivion and Lost Army just kept the GLC busy until the DCU Rebirth era.

I think a 3 book formula focusing on GREEN Lanterns would be ideal. The best lineup we've ever had was GL, GLC, and Ion but Emerald Warriors was also enjoyable shortly before the New52 relaunch.

If there is ever a need for a third title, Kyle has the most long-term success and should have dibs. Or if it's decided sector partners are still a thing, do something similar to Rebirth's Green Lanterns and have Hal and Kyle co-star in the main title to keep sales up.

TPTB should have the numbers to back up the obvious ways to work this franchise and the broader DCU as a whole. Characters with long-term monthly presence like the clone Superboy, Kyle Rayner, Impulse, Tim Drake, and Azrael all had title runs that lasted near 100 issues [with Kyle going around 130+] with some of them getting other shots down the road like with New Guardians and Red Robin. When's the last time ANY monthly title lasted even close to near 100 issues? Pre New52?

-Ω

[Trey Strain]

As I was saying before that interruption, the time has passed, unless the property is handed over to someone who will properly reboot it. You'd have to get rid of Baz and Cruz, put John in Justice League, put Kyle in Titans (no, Titans is NOT finished), have Alan in JSA (when in the HELL are they going to launch that title?), put Hal in an Earth-based title and put Guy in a space-based title.

Which makes too much sense for DC to actually do it.

And that person would have to know what to do with Guy, as apparently nobody at DC does.

So the time has almost certainly passed.

[jhpace1]

Yet we probably have 10,000 Green Lantern fans who could dictate a reboot/5-year plot season for DC better than half the writers out there. The trouble would come with crossovers (I have yet to see one done properly, even Blackest Night).

Heck, I'd volunteer and do it for minimum wage and even not create any new characters for the royalties if I was given just comic book editorial power.

[Trey Strain]

Originally Posted by jhpace1

Yet we probably have 10,000 Green Lantern fans who could dictate a reboot/5-year plot season for DC better than half the writers out there. The trouble would come with crossovers (I have yet to see one done properly, even Blackest Night).

Heck, I'd volunteer and do it for minimum wage and even not create any new characters for the royalties if I was given just comic book editorial power.

You'd have to throw out EVERYTHING Geoff Johns added to it, and few writers are bold enough to do that. Grant Morrison was, but he took the property down the wrong path.

Everybody thinks the way to fix this property is to add stuff. No, the way to fix is to get rid of stuff. But there are no royalties under that approach.

[jhpace1]

Which I believe is the crux of the matter - comic book writers are after the royalties, not the storylines. Sure, good stories sell comics. Royalties pay the bills long afterwards.

Decades ago, I accused Marvel of letting the artists write the stories just to make cool artwork. I didn't realize comics would go the way of moneyball.

[Trey Strain]

And not just characters. You'd need to get rid of everything that has ever made a Green Lantern look bad. Lord knows there's plenty of that.

If you wrote Star Trek, would you make the stars look bad? Hell no!

[Big Blue Lantern]

GL was never going to be top 3. Supes and Bats are two of the most well-known fictional characters in human history. Wonder Woman is the most famous female comic character ever, and that probably won't change.

GL could have cemented that name as #4, just outside of the Trinity, but that has gone to Flash. DC could have capitalized on the Johns popularity, but the movie seemingly made everyone at WB apprehensive.

[Space Cop]

Honestly, WW was put in the Trinity before she probably deserved it by popular recognition, but (as BBL said) she was the most important female cape (which is legit important when your character is over 80 and you’re trying to appeal to a female audience as well). Most other popular female superheroes (over all brands) are much newer (like Danvers Captain Marvel) or just never reached the same level as Diana (Supergirl).

At various points, I think GL, Flash and WW could hold 3rd or 4th spots.

Now, I think she has the popularity and her power set over the past 10+ years also puts her in the same field as Supes.

[Trey Strain]

Originally Posted by Space Cop

Honestly, WW was put in the Trinity before she probably deserved it by popular recognition, but (as BBL said) she was the most important female cape (which is legit important when your character is over 80 and you’re trying to appeal to a female audience as well). Most other popular female superheroes (over all brands) are much newer (like Danvers Captain Marvel) or just never reached the same level as Diana (Supergirl).

At various points, I think GL, Flash and WW could hold 3rd or 4th spots.

Now, I think she has the popularity and her power set over the past 10+ years also puts her in the same field as Supes.

Wonder Woman never sold many comics until recently. But she has sold merchandise fairly well for a long time. She was probably in third place there.

[Space Cop]

Originally Posted by Trey Strain

Wonder Woman never sold many comics until recently. But she has sold merchandise fairly well for a long time. She was probably in third place there.

And the '77 show did put her in the popular consciousness with non-comic readers.

[Big Blue Lantern]

Originally Posted by Space Cop

And the '77 show did put her in the popular consciousness with non-comic readers.

As dated as it looks now, that show was a runaway hit back then. It was obvious from her WW84 cameo that Carter's version is still in the public consciousness. I'd love for any live-action version of any Green Lantern to leave this kind of pop culture impression, but I can't quite imagine it right now.

[TazzMission]

Originally Posted by Big Blue Lantern

GL was never going to be top 3. Supes and Bats are two of the most well-known fictional characters in human history. Wonder Woman is the most famous female comic character ever, and that probably won't change.

GL could have cemented that name as #4, just outside of the Trinity, but that has gone to Flash. DC could have capitalized on the Johns popularity, but the movie seemingly made everyone at WB apprehensive.

Honestly after johns reinvented gl with green lantern rebirth he would of been the next big hero but i also think the 2011 film really killed green lanterns momentum. I admit i lost Interest in it after the film and i really wanted to believe it was good you can even find old posts of mine trying to defend it. But instead of buying the books Ill poke around to see whats happening via YouTube reviews and yea sounds like trash. Isnt there like Violet lantern now? Plus i have no interest in bas, cruz, and riri 2.O. They have a chance to redeem themselves with the hbo show but with berlanti behind it hard pass. Call me homophobic call me old fashioned racist sexist whatever but nothing he touches keeps me interested and thats coming from someone who defended supergirl until it got political in season 3 if i recall. I know this is random but i need to say it. People shit on man of steel by zack snyder and i who never really cared for superman loved the meaning behind man of steel a child of 2 worlds trying to find his way and viewed as a Christ like figure and the discussion about humanity. I loved it.I want more superhero films to be that story driven and have a connection with.

[Big Blue Lantern]

Originally Posted by TazzMission

Honestly after johns reinvented gl with green lantern rebirth he would of been the next big hero but i also think the 2011 film really killed green lanterns momentum. I admit i lost Interest in it after the film and i really wanted to believe it was good you can even find old posts of mine trying to defend it. .

Green Lantern fell prey to the heart of WB's problem: the parent company always struggled to adapt their comic properties. Sure, they've had some more recent successes like the Arrowverse, but WB was always slow and unsteady with their projects. I still believe that the film is underrated, but it could have been better in terms of narrative and it could have been marketed much better.

[Space Cop]

Originally Posted by Big Blue Lantern

...I still believe that the film is underrated, but it could have been better in terms of narrative and it could have been marketed much better.

I still like (not love) it. It’s really a mid-level comic movie, not the disaster it was portrayed as. It’s just that the budget was so big and public that the financial side got wrapped up in its rep. If nothing else, the movie got my stepdad to say he finally understood why I was so into GL.

[Star-Lantern]

I don't think Green Lantern would be on the level of the trinity because who is Green Lantern? It's a different man or woman or kid or whatever depending on who you ask and who is behind the scenes in production. People sometimes act like that's a strength, but I don't think so. I think it makes for a confused and confusing brand. It might be more of a strength if the brand was set up to be like that, but it clearly never had that foundation. Alan Scott was a single man who was Green Lantern and also the main character. Same with Hal Jordan. I think you can get away with two or three characters like Hal, John, and Guy, but now the brand is watered down beyond belief and there's too much contention as to who and what the focus of it is. Even the people behind the scenes can't agree on that.

So, no...I don't think Green Lantern would ever be on the level of Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman. I think the brand is too much of a confused shit show for that, and there's too much infighting among the fans (and also among creators) about the most basic and foundational of things about it.

[Parrylakks]

I agree that it's way too convoluted to properly hold the same appeal as the Trinity. Honestly, the more insane it gets over the years, the more I look back on the 90's with an understanding that destroying the Corps was the best thing for the characters involved. It made them all unique, and that's not something any Lantern can ever dream of being considered these days.