Green Lantern hasn't had the biggest success in live action. That could change with the upcoming Green Lantern HBO Max series. The concept of the Green Lantern Corps solidified in the 1980s, and some of the best comic book issues featuring the character could serve as inspiration for the new streaming series.
The focus of Green Lantern expanded beyond Hal Jordan in the 1980s, shifting the mantle to other significant Green Lanterns such as John Stewart and Guy Gardner. The world of the comics and the DC Universe in general expanded also, making this era a key blueprint for both the streaming series and future movies to follow.
Green Lantern #195-198
Green Lantern #195-198 is a great story arc from the '80s for not only having a lot of action and stakes — the entire universe is at risk — but it also puts the burden of saving the universe entirely on the shoulders of a new Green Lantern. Guy Gardner is one of the most powerful people to wear the Power Ring, but he's also one of the most egotistical and self-absorbed. Tasked with trying to stop the Anti-Monitor from destroying the universe in the 1985 Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover event, Guy goes through a baptism of fire that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Crisis On Infinite Earths #8
Crisis On Infinite Earths was a landmark storyline in DC Comics history, and it was also a great showcase for John Stewart as Green Lantern. Issue #8 is one of the most significant issues in the run for the death of Barry Allen, aka the Flash, but it also features John Stewart fighting alongside numerous heroes including Superman in an epic battle for the survival of the universe. Fantastic art by George Lopez keys in on the desperate struggle of John Stewart, whose ring does not work on the shadow minions of the Anti-Monitor.
Cosmic Odyssey #1
Cosmic Odyessy #1 is a somewhat overlooked comic book miniseries from 1988 that features an all-time great creative team in writer Jim Starlin and artist Mike Mignola. Mignola's distinctive artwork sets a dark tone for a hugely cosmic showdown between the forces of Darkseid, the ruler of Apokalips, and the superheroes of Earth including John Stewart as Green Lantern. The action goes from the streets of Gotham to the ruins of Apokalips, and it's a huge cosmic story that is not only a lot of fun but could inspire future movies as well.
Green Lantern #172
Green Lantern #172 tells the story of Hal Jordan's desperate attempts to return home to Earth after a year-long campaign in Sector 2814. The issue is a good focus on the value of Jordan's character and integrity at a time when the comic was seeking to focus on other wearers of the Power Ring.
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The book gets a new status quo when Jordan is able to convince the Guardians of Oa to return home, but it's not exactly what he left behind a year before. Life has changed considerably for Jordan and would continue to as the storyline continues to issue #186.
Tales Of The Green Lantern Corps #1-3
The Green Lantern Corps begins to get fleshed out in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1-3 from 1981, making this series key to the history of the organization. This exciting, three-issue miniseries features the supervillain Krona launching an attack against the Guardians of the Universe, forcing them to muster the entire Green Lantern Corps from across the universe. This is the first major assembly of the cosmic legion of heroes, making this series a lot of fun and the first appearance of numerous alien Lanterns who would become familiar to fans in time.
Green Lantern Corps #201
Green Lantern Corps #201 begins a major storyline for fans and the history of the title as it's where the shift occurs from Hal Jordan to the broader rank and file in the main title. The title of the book changes from Green Lantern to Green Lantern Corps, and it's the first appearance of a number of significant characters, including Kilowog. Many great, alien Lanterns appear here, and everyone gets a costume change, with the exception of Hal Jordan himself. Hal maintains his previous costume and is the nominal focus of the book, but things would never be the same for Green Lantern comics after this issue.
Tales Of The Green Lantern Corps Annual #2
A major piece of Green Lantern mythology that has had a huge impact on the DC Universe originates from "Tygers," a backup story in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2. This essential story was written by Alan Moore, the writer of Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and other seminal comics works. The story flashes back to former Lantern Abin Sur and introduces concepts like the prophecy of the Blackest Night from the Book of Oa, which would prove pivotal in the huge Blackest Night storyline from 2009, one of the wildest DC Comics crossovers ever.
Tales Of The Green Lantern Corps Annual #3
Another major Alan Moore contribution to the Green Lantern mythos comes from "In Blackest Night," from Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #3. In this brief story, Lantern Katma Tui creates essentially the core tenant of the entire Green Lantern Corps when she is sent to a part of space where there are no stars and no light.
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The introduction of Rot Lap Fan, a blind Lantern in a universe of darkness, and Katma's changing the name of the Green Lantern to a musical sound — the F-sharp bell — would also prove key to the eventual cosmic events of the Blackest Night saga.
Green Lantern #188
Another major character Alan Moore introduced during this period was Mogo, who turns out to be an alien planet. His first appearance, in Green Lantern #188 in the story "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" by Moore and his Watchmen partner Dave Gibbons, is a great read for the twist. Lantern Tomar Re recounts a story of a supervillain traveling to an alien planet to confront a Green Lantern, only to discover the entire planet is the Lantern he's seeking. The story is fun, cosmic, and an example of the inversions that Moore would employ throughout his other major comics work.
Justice League International #5
Justice League International #5 is not a shining example in the history of Green Lantern during the '80s, but it is one of the period's most significant moments for Guy Gardner. And it's one of the best, as Batman punches him out cold in what is also easily one of the best Batman comics of the 1980s. After the overconfident Garnder challenges Batman over the leadership of the newly formed Justice League International, the Dark Knight settles things with one punch. It's one of the most memorable sequences in '80s comics.