HBO’s new DC drama Lanterns has officially reimagined the origin story of superhero John Stewart, grounding his path toward becoming a Green Lantern in a complex childhood dynamic rather than an adult selection.
Written by Vanessa Baden Kelly, the third episode, titled "OutKast," expands on the tension established when the rogue former hero Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) warned Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) that his newly designated backup, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), is a dangerous threat. Hal had originally visited Sinestro to gather intelligence on the shapeshifting synthetic beings known as Manhunters. However, this third installment focuses on how John came into the fold, presenting a narrative that diverges significantly from his classic comic book history.
In the series, John’s history with the cosmic power ring starts when he is an infant. Hal explains that receiving his ring required passing a test regarding whether he harbored fear. John’s father was subjected to the same test earlier and failed, leaving him emotionally shattered. Attempting to make amends for the damage, a Guardian played by Laura Linney gives John's mother, Bernadette (Jasmine Cephas Jones), a valuable diamond, promising that if she raises her son to be entirely fearless, he could eventually replace Hal.
This is a major change from the character's 1972 comic debut in Green Lantern issue #87, created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams. In the comics, an adult John was picked by the Guardians after Earth's backup hero, Guy Gardner, was sidelined by an earthquake injury. Adams crafted John to be an unapologetic figure of Black empowerment who declined to wear a mask and confronted racial injustice directly, eventually taking over as the main Green Lantern in the 1980s.
Series co-creators Tom King and Damon Lindelof explained that the changes still align with the themes of the source material. King emphasized that Adams was a rebellious figure who used comics to address real-world social problems, inspiring the show's vision. Meanwhile, Lindelof noted that adjusting John's past allowed the writers to explore generational trauma and complex father-son relationships, comparing the narrative thematic structure to legendary superhero origins like Batman and Superman.
By framing both Hal and John through their difficult parental legacies—with Hal bound to his former mentor Sinestro and John burdened by his parents' intense sacrifices—the series gives both lead characters a deeper sense of connection despite their rivalry over the ring.
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