John's father

[Levy]

I have a question, as I am shamefully ignorant about Jong Stewart.

What do we know about his father and the relationship he had with him?

All the other Earth Lanterns seem to have a difficult relationship with their father, I wonder how John's doing with that.

(Alan too, maybe, even though he is a father on his own so it's slightly different...)

[Mister Ed]

I don't recall ever hearing anything about his father (though if we did, it was probably in Mosaic). I remember we saw his mom during the Millennium crossover (and he was an only child), and later it was retconned that he was raised by his aunt, and had a gay brother, and a sister that died when he got in an accident joyriding, and he blocked out her memory for years. So his family background is kind of inconsistent. I'm sure if the writer wanted to, they would simply retcon in an abusive father.

[W.West]

I'd settle for a strict militant father. General Sam Lane like...

[JohnnyV]

or how about breaking the mold, and make him have a good, strong father to look up to. And guess what, he isn't dead!

[W.West]

Oh you mean like Barry Al.....

[Mycroft]

Spoilers.... Nooooooooooooo!

[JohnnyV]

Originally Posted by W.West

Oh you mean like Barry Al.....

but he's secretly an alien...bum bum bum!!!

[Sylent_Asassin]

Originally Posted by Mister Ed

I'm sure if the writer wanted to, they would simply retcon in an abusive father.

More than likely, they would retcon that he was raised in a single-Parent household. That formula is pretty much on par as far as minorities are concerned.

[JohnnyV]

Originally Posted by sylent_asassin

More than likely, they would retcon that he was raised in a single-Parent household. That formula is pretty much on par as far as minorities are concerned.

exactly, which is why it shouldn't be that way. Let's make him come from a wealthy family, with a completely understanding and loving father. And have him work in textiles.

[Sylent_Asassin]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV

exactly, which is why it shouldn't be that way. Let's make him come from a wealthy family, with a completely understanding and loving father. And have him work in textiles.

I would actually like to see him come from a well-off, higher middle class family raised with both parents instead of the typical 'raised in the ghetto' under harsh living conditions environment. I like the idea of his Father being in the military so it appears that he followed in his Father's footsteps. That would give a smidge of background information as to why John joined the service and to why he's so stern.

[JohnnyV]

I would agree with that; the only problem being is that you're treading into Hal Jordan territory by having him join the military based on his father doing it.

Maybe have him join as a means to rebel against his dad.

I guess that's the one great thing about John's backstory, is that it's so open to interpretation any good writer could pump out something solid.

[Sylent_Asassin]

Either way, what will happen with his Architect background? Retcon it away just like everything else? I really hope they do something interesting with him on the GLC book.

[Big Daddy Dave]

I think they should leave it vague until the day comes when it's time to give him his own ongoing series again. Let it be that writer who gets the fun out of writing John a decent backstory. What little that has been done with John's family over the last 40 years even needs to be canon. The writers ignored each other anyway.

[redjirachi]

John Stewart's mom could be a widow.That or it's Alan Scott

[Levy]

Mh, so nothing really is there in canon! Thanks everyone for answering.

I agree it would be nice to give John a good relationship with his father because it would fit the gradient this way

Positive relationship
|
John: Present/Inspiring figure
Hal: Inspiring figure/Absent
Kyle: Absent/Un-inspiring figure
Guy: Un-inspiring figure/Present
|
Negative Relationship

[Mister Ed]

Originally Posted by sylent_asassin

More than likely, they would retcon that he was raised in a single-Parent household. That formula is pretty much on par as far as minorities are concerned.

I'm not sure that would qualify as a retcon, since originally we only saw a mother for him.

As to why he joined the military, I kind of thought (and even think I saw an interview once that implied this) that he joined the military as a means to pay for that Architecture degree he wanted.

[W.West]

Originally Posted by Mister Ed

As to why he joined the military, I kind of thought (and even think I saw an interview once that implied this) that he joined the military as a means to pay for that Architecture degree he wanted.

That's what I always thought. And Geoff/Tony did say that him and architecture came AFTER the military. I'd prefer to think that John didn't join the armed forces just for the money as many often do. I'd rather think he joined out of some since of duty to fulfill. Maybe his father was always there, but he now has PTSD.

[Mister Ed]

Originally Posted by W.West

I'd prefer to think that John didn't join the armed forces just for the money as many often do. I'd rather think he joined out of some since of duty to fulfill.

I'd be fine with him signing up primarily for the money, but DEVELOPING that sense of duty while he was in. I'm kind of interested, though, to know how he got out. We all know now why Hal left the Air Force, but do we know why John isn't a Marine any more? His joining primarily as a means to get a college education would explain that to some extent.

[Lantern2814.20850]

I would've thought his dad was a Baptist Minister given that we don't see him much today it might be due to his having died. not in any great tragic way, just as a matter of he lived a long life. He got to see his son grow up into a fine man, a marine, an architect and a GL.

[W.West]

Originally Posted by Mister Ed

I'd be fine with him signing up primarily for the money, but DEVELOPING that sense of duty while he was in. I'm kind of interested, though, to know how he got out. We all know now why Hal left the Air Force, but do we know why John isn't a Marine any more? His joining primarily as a means to get a college education would explain that to some extent.

(the following is considered over-analyzing)

Well its what, a 4 year minimum commitment to the Marines. We saw what he did overseas, so it'd be understandable if he didn't want to re-enlist for another term. And as Geoff said at SDCC, John spent so much time shooting people down that his work as an architect, building things up, just makes sense. So I'd like to say that John always had the intention of being a Architect, but its not too far out there to say that he just chose something to do...