HBO’s recently launched superhero drama, "Lanterns," has garnered attention and criticism from some audience members who contend that the series has significantly altered a beloved character’s origin narrative to emphasize modern discussions surrounding racial dynamics and privilege.
"Lanterns" Rekindles "Woke" Debate
The third episode of the series, titled "OutKast," reimagines the franchise's traditional emphasis on "fearlessness" by exploring it through the unique experiences of a Black man in America. This creative choice has led some commentators to suggest the show prioritizes social justice commentary over the established lore of the comic books.
In the established DC Comics mythology, Green Lanterns are cosmic peacekeepers chosen by alien power rings. These rings are drawn to individuals who possess an innate capacity to conquer fear. However, in "Lanterns," this fundamental criterion is reframed, presented as an unjust burden when applied to the character of John Stewart.
"Do you know the differences in race on Earth?" Stewart's mother, Bernadette, asks an alien Guardian of the Universe who has taken the form of an older White woman. "Do you understand how unfair it is to ask a Black man in America if he’s afraid? We are terrified daily of persecution and still show up, sometimes better than everyone around us. Even in space, y’all don’t consider us."
Unlike the traditional narrative where Stewart is chosen as an adult for his ability to overcome fear, "Lanterns" portrays him as being conditioned by his parents from infancy to precisely wield the ring through rigorous perfection. This depiction has prompted some viewers to accuse the series of replacing the hero’s classic focus on individual willpower with a narrative centered on racial privilege.
Damon Lindelof, a co-creator of "Lanterns," previously co-created HBO’s 2019 superhero series "Watchmen," which similarly faced scrutiny for its thematic exploration of American racial politics.
Historical Context and Creative Intent
Despite the criticism, not everyone online has expressed objection to these narrative shifts. Steven DeKnight, a filmmaker and comic book writer known for his work on "Daredevil," voiced his support for the show on social media.
"Lanterns is fantastic. And for those inevitably crying that they ruined GL by going ‘woke,’ you obviously never read O’Neil & Adams’ Green Lantern/Green Arrow run," DeKnight wrote on X.
The character John Stewart made his debut in 1971, marking one of DC Comics' pioneering Black superheroes. He was originally depicted as a vocal civil rights advocate who challenged authority figures in Detroit and as a resolute leader whose sheer willpower earned him the Green Lantern ring.
Critics of the new series argue that "Lanterns" alters this foundational characterization by making Stewart’s childhood conditioning, rather than his intrinsic willpower, the primary reason for his selection by the ring.
Vanessa Baden Kelly, a writer and co-executive producer for "Lanterns," addressed the character’s comic book origins and the accusations of the show being "woke" during an interview. She noted encountering online comments that referenced panels from 1970s John Stewart comics.
"I stumbled across some people calling the show ‘woke,’ and there were people putting panels in the reactions and the comments, and they were panels from the 1970s John Stewart," Baden Kelly stated. "Him calling people ‘Whitey’ or him opposing wars, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ I read a bunch, but I couldn’t read all of it, and you’re just like, that’s right, just keep it in the front of your mind — that this is who John Stewart’s always been."
In the same interview, J. Alphonse Nicholson, who portrays John Stewart Sr., the hero's father in flashback sequences, commented on the series’ exploration of racial dynamics.
"I’m just grateful that the writing room put this into the script," Nicholson remarked. "How can you expect this African American man in this world … to be fearless? It really raises a lot of questions on who has the privilege to move through life without thinking about those things, even in the fictional world."
Connecting Fiction to Current Events
Nicholson also drew a connection between the show’s themes and the 2024 presidential election during an appearance on a podcast hosted by pop culture creator Fantastic Frankey. He suggested that the country is currently experiencing repercussions from "not trusting a Black woman."
"Could you imagine where we would be right now if Kamala got up in there, dog? Could you imagine how we would’ve been? It’d be a lot different, right? So we’re experiencing the consequences of not trusting a Black woman," Nicholson said in a clip, linking the show’s heroic themes to Vice President Harris’s political standing. "And now we have this show in a way that can [kind of] tell you how great it could be. How great of a superhero we can create and have if you trust a Black woman."
Critical Reception and Audience Engagement
Christian Toto, an entertainment critic, has argued that the creative decisions seen in "Lanterns" are indicative of a broader pattern within contemporary entertainment. Toto suggested that the show’s dialogue risks alienating portions of its audience, even though he acknowledged its "strong ratings."
"That's precisely what's happening with the show so far. Make no mistake. This is overtly woke in nature. The scribes are jamming social justice arguments into the dialogue in ways that feel inauthentic to the time period in question. Even worse? The on-the-nose dialogue takes us out of the story," Toto commented. "The pushback was inevitable. Audiences sense this kind of clunky woke storytelling a mile away. And many are exhausted by it. Yet the series is getting strong ratings to date, so general audiences are so interested in the comic book characters they'll often look past the woke detours. At least for now."
