Why I am a fan of the Green Lantern.
The Green Lantern. He
can’t lift a battleship, or control the weather. He isn't an alien from another planet,
blessed with countless superpowers and he doesn't have unbreakable bones. The
Green Lantern can’t stick to walls and doesn't have a personal fortune to
dedicate to crime fighting gadgets. He’s
essentially a normal human with an occupation as a space cop, patrolling his
beat with a ring.
That’s what makes the Green Lantern unique among all other
superheroes. Not to sound all ‘Kill Bill’, but you see unlike Spider-Man or
Superman, Aquaman or Thor, the Green Lantern’s superpower is willpower. He has to believe that his ring will act as a
conduit for his imagination and will or it’s useless. The more he focuses his willpower, the
greater the construct and range of abilities.
Superman can have his moments of doubt but as long as the sun burns
yellow, he is still Superman with all of his Kryptonian powers at his disposal. Even when Spiderman is frightened and his
web-shooters run dry of webbing, he can still stick to walls, sense danger and
lift a Buick. There’s never any fear that their powers will fail them even in
the worst of circumstances.
If the Green Lantern is afraid, his ring is powerless to
affect anything with the color yellow and if his willpower falters or he
questions his own ability, his constructs crumble and he’s defenseless. He has
to swear an oath and recharge his ring every 24 hours, reaffirming his loyalty
to the Corps and his resolve to fight evil. He’s the only superhero that HAS to
live up to his own ideals.
So here it is for a truthful Thursday. I like Green Lantern because he believes in
himself; he has to. No matter how tired he is or wounded or betrayed or spiritually depleted. He still believes. For my money, that’s what makes him the greatest of heroes.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
