Warning: contains spoilers forGreen Lantern: Fractured Spectrum#1!
If you are judgingGuy Gardnerby his looks, then sorry–you are actually missing out on one of DC’s bestGreen Lanterns. Although Gardner has been part of the DC Universe for decades, mainstream audiences met him in the trailer for James Gunn’s forthcomingSupermanfilm.Fans laughed at his somewhat ridiculous appearance, but Gardner’s actions inGreen Lantern: Fractured Spectrum#1 should silence his many haters.
Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum#1 is written by Jeremy Adams and drawn by V. Ken Marion. The Sorrow Lantern, a newly createdaberration of the Emotional Spectrum, has stolen the Book of Oa for unknown reasons. The Green Lanterns despair over the situation,but Guy Gardner swoops in for the win, revealing that, over the course of years, he had been copying the Book of Oa. Gardner even went as far as to do this under Thaaros’ nose. Gardner’s actions have given the Green Lantern Corps time to defeat the Sorrow Lantern.
Guy Gardner’s Personality Underwent a Radical Shift
Today, fans know Guy Gardner as an obnoxious and ultra-macho Green Lantern, but this was not always the case.
Today, fans know Guy Gardner as an obnoxious and ultra-macho Green Lantern, but this was not always the case. Debuting in 1968’sGreen Lantern#59, Guy Gardner, a school teacher by trade, almost became Earth’s first Lantern: Abin Sur’s ring selected both Gardner and Jordan, with the latter ultimately chosen due to his closer proximity to Sur’s spaceship. In his one Silver Age appearance, Gardner became a Green Lantern, but was left comatose at the end of the issue. Gardner would not make another appearance until theCrisis on Infinite Earths.
Writer Steve Englehart later expressed regret over retooling Guy Gardner, as he may have deprived himself of huge royalty checks.
When Guy Gardner returned in the 1980s, his personality was different:the mouthy and petulant Gardner was a creation of writer Steve Englehart and artist Joe Staton. Englehart and Staton rebuilt the character from the ground up, and fans responded well to Gardner–enough to earn him a spot in the newly reformed Justice League, during the team’s “International” era. It was with the Justice League that Gardner came into his own. Guy Gardner interjected conflict and tension into the book, and fans could not get enough of this decidedly different Green Lantern.
Green Lantern Fans Loved to Hate Guy Gardner
Guy Gardner Certainly Deserved the Hate He Got
Whereas fans embraced Hal Jordan and John Stewart, many loved to hate Guy Gardner,and for good reason. Gardner was loud, opinionated and abrasive, and took great pride in being that way. He got into arguments and fights with his fellow Leaguers several times. Gardner’s attitude towards women, seen in his pursuit of Ice, leaves a lot to be desired as well. When Batman laid Guy Gardner out on the ground with one punch inJustice League#5, many felt it was a long time coming, and it remains one of his defining moments.
Gardner’s personality can be ugly sometimes, and his appearance reflects this.
Fans found something else to hate about Guy Gardner when theSupermantrailer dropped: his seemingly odd appearance. After seeing the trailer, some fans dismissed its interpretation, calling Gardner “ugly” or “funny looking.” While these fans may have a point, the film’s version of Guy Gardner, played by Nathan Fillion, is comic accurate. Gardner’s bowl cut, prominently displayed in the trailer, is one of his trademark visual flourishes. It makes Garnder look stupid, but that is the point.Gardner’s personality can be ugly sometimes, and his appearance reflects this. Plus, it gives fans another reason to make fun of him.
Fans Underestimate Guy Gardner as a Hero and a Green Lantern
Guy Proved Himself a Worthy Green Lantern
Taken all together, there is a lot to hate about Guy Gardner, and to be certain, some of it is justified–but it also sells him short as a hero and a Green Lantern. Although Gardner can come across as abrasive and brash, the fact is, he is also one of the best Green Lanterns in the Corps. Like all other Green Lanterns, Gardner had to overcome fear, and be of generally good character.Guy Gardner is not a role modelby any stretch, but a hero’s heart beats underneath his rough exterior.
Guy Gardner’s actions inGreen Lantern: Fractured Spectrum#1 reinforce why he is actually a great member of the Corps.Gardner copied the Book of Oa, a sacred text for Green Lanterns. While boredom seemed to be the initial motivator for Gardner’s project, it proved to be a boon for the Corps, as it not only gave them a duplicate after the Sorrow Lantern’s attack, but also new insight into the Book of Oa itself: that there exist six other editions, each for a color of the Emotional Spectrum.
I Think DC Has Forgotten How Green Lantern’s Powers Actually Work
I noticed an odd discrepancy in a recent comic concerning how Green Lantern’s powers typically work. Did DC truly forget about this core capability?
Fans, who were quick to dismissGuy Gardnerin the trailer because of his bowl cut and generally weird appearance, are in for a shock inGreen Lantern: Fractured Spectrum#1. In copying the Book of Oa, Gardner displayed a level of ambition never before seen. Swapping out his copy for the real deal, which was under guard, showed his bravery, and willingness to do whatever it took to help his friends and the Corps. These actions proveGuy Gardneris more than a goofy-looking character: they show him to be a good moral character.
Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum#1 is on sale now from DC Comics!
