Lanterns Is Secretly Adapting the Most Hated Version of Hal Jordan

The Hal Jordan character played by Kyle Chandler in Lanterns is adapted from the most hated version of the character from the comics. Many comic fans have slammed the show for presenting an unrecognizable version of the first Green Lantern of Earth. However, the DCU‘s take on Hal Jordan truly is accurate to the comics, albeit a variant many readers would rather forget.

Hal Jordan is introduced in the first episode of Lanterns as a veteran member of the Green Lantern Corps. He’s been protecting Earth and his sector of space since 1986. However, he’s apparently being forced to retire and tasked with personally training his replacement, USMC sniper John Stewart (Aaron Pierre).

It readily becomes apparent that Jordan is not happy about this. However, it is unclear if he generally resents being replaced or if he resents Stewart specifically. In any case, Jordan’s cowboy cop mentality rankles the straight-laced Stewart, regardless of any other implications.

The criticism of this version of Hal Jordan increased after the second episode, “Trust Fall.” Here, Jordan was portrayed as a burned-out wreck. He went out of his way to annoy the authorities, even before breaking into a morgue and snatching alien corpses to test a theory. Jordan was also implied to have a drinking problem.

Former Green Lantern writer Grant Morrison was particularly vocal about not enjoying Lanterns’ adaptation of Hal Jordan. While praising Kyle Chandler’s performance, Morrison stated he “wasn’t any Hal Jordan I recognized. Willpower and booze don’t mix for a start.” This is ironic, however, given Morrison’s reputation for drawing deeply on comics lore in their writing. For there is one version of Hal Jordan in the comics that does resemble Kyle Chandler’s character. And it’s his most hated incarnation ever.

How Lanterns’ Hal Jordan fits comics’ canon

DC Comics famously merged their multiverse into a single reality following 1986’s Crisis on Infinite Earths. However, it would be several years before the history of the Green Lanterns was revamped to reflect the new reality. This occurred in two miniseries; 1989’s Emerald Dawn and 1991’s Emerald Dawn II.

Emerald Dawn details how Hal Jordan became the first Earthling to join the Green Lantern Corps. However, Jordan was no longer a fearless paragon of virtue. The miniseries opens with Jordan being fired from his test pilot job, shortly after being dumped by his girlfriend, Carol Ferris. This culminates in him driving under the influence and causing a car crash. Beyond that, Jordan tries to refuse the responsibility of being a Green Lantern out of fear.

Things take a darker turn in Emerald Dawn II, where Hal is sentenced to serve prison time for his DUI. Strangely, the Guardians (who established the Green Lanterns) still expect Hal to undergo basic training while serving time. Hal continues to be unsympathetic throughout, whining continuously about his problems.

Most Green Lantern fans did not enjoy this effort to put a dark spin on Hal Jordan. While some modern writers tried to break Jordan out of the stoic, square-jawed hero mold before this, they didn’t deny his heroism. Hal was instead portrayed as good-hearted, but bad at managing his time, money, and responsibilities.

In contrast, the Hal Jordan of Emerald Dawn is a barely-functional manchild. Whether by design or accident, Kyle Chandler’s Lanterns’ character seems cut from the same cloth. While it’s understandable why some might not like this version of Hal Jordan, it is unfair to say its inaccurate to the comics.