Comics

Green Genes: The Green Lantern and The Green Hornet

Contemporary audiences may currently associate the Green-Lantern with hunky Ryan Reynolds and the Green Hornet with curly-topped Seth Rogan, but both of these superheroes have their origins in comic books and radio series. So you don’t get them confused with each other, here’s a look at each that will not only offer up a little background, but ensure that you won’t confuse one with the other. (And yes, there is also a Green Arrow)

The Green Lantern

First off, there actually isn’t “one” Green-Lantern; a person is transformed into a Green-Lantern with the assistance of a power ring (Ring of the Golden Age) and a power lantern. The ring gave the wearer tremendous strength and power, but only if the wearer DC Comics introduced the Green-Lantern in July 1940. Writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell first Green Lantern, Alan Scott, had a ring that was magical, but the rings that were given to later Green-Lanterns (who are part of an intergalactic police force called The Green Lantern Corps) were made by the Guardians of the Universe.

 DC basically put The Green-Lantern on ice for almost 15 years and when he was reintroduced, he was now a test pilot named Hal Jordan, who subsequently was one of the founders of the Justice League of America. By 1970, The Green Lantern was buddy-ed up with The Green Arrow, to great success. Throughout the years, different guys were The Green Lantern and to distinguish between them, they were dubbed The Golden Age Green Lantern, The Silver Age Green Lantern, The Bronze Age Green Lantern and The Modern Age Green Lantern – all were close friends with the men who were The Flash.

 Powers: The Green-Lantern’s ring gives the wearer a variety of powers and strength that are generated by the level of wearer’s willpower and imagination. Meaning, the more willpower they have, the stronger they become, the more powerful the ring. The ring has a “weakness” and that is yellow, but if The Green Lantern acknowledges the fear of the yellow and overcomes the fear, they can overcome the yellow.

The Green-Lantern can use green “solid-energy,” which comes in a wide range of sizes to fight villains, as it can attack, create a defense or grab items. The “solid-energy” also can provide a “Force Field Generation” to protect the wearer The Green Lantern can fly, transport across the universe, teleport and time travel (the latter with the force of several rings). The rings are also like the internet, full of information and solutions. They can translate just about any language and ring wearers can communicate with each other wherever they are. They can become invisible, heal wounds, protect from diseases, reattach limbs, shapeshift, move themselves into their ring and reside in their own world, see in X-ray, hypnotize, create and emit radiation, put humans in suspended animation, move through solid objects, among other things.

The Green Lanterns have an oath they take while they “charge” their rings and it has varied throughout the years. One of the most popular was the second Green Lantern’s (Hal Jordan’s):

In brightest day, in blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight

Let those who worship evil’s might,

Beware my power… Green Lantern’s light!

About the Author

Sammi is an avid gardener and has a large flower and vegetable garden. She gets her gardening supplies online at Garden Harvest Supply. They have everything from seed planters to strawberry plants for sale.

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