The fashionable evolution of Green Lantern's New DCU look
The first view of Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner as Green Lantern in the forthcoming Superman movie is causing DC Universe aficionados to buzz! The costume has generated a lot of discussion since some people adore its original design while others doubt its practicality. How then does this new look stand against earlier Green Lantern adaptations?
Green Lantern for Superman: Different From Ryan Reynolds' Approach
Most people's first live-action Green Lantern is most likely Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan from the 2011 film. Though it wasn't exactly a critical darling, the film provided a graphic depiction of the recognizable green suit. But the Green Lantern costume in the film drew criticism for its computer-generated imagery; the mask was rather frightening and the suit was far too green. Still, Reynolds's appearance was rather accurate for Hal Jordan's comic book outfit overall.
On Superman, however, Fillion's Green Lantern outfit is approaching things quite differently. Guy Gardner has always had a fashionable streak, thus this outfit is absolutely playing that! Fillion rocks a stylish, mostly white jacket probably meant to fit in with Maxwell Lord's Lordtech team, rather than the usual hero suit. Though it's a far darker hue than Reynolds' brilliant green, the signature green appears in accents all around the garment.
Green Lantern by Nathan Fillion: Different from The Snyderverse Lanterns
Although Zack Snyder's Justice League did not specifically feature the Green Lanterns, we did see a few surprising iterations of the Lanterns in quick camebacks. Yalan Gur appears in the part on "History Lesson," and Kilowog's corpse surfaces in Cyborg's Knightmare vision. Given those appearances are so brief, it is difficult to truly appreciate their costumes. Yalan Gur stands out most for donning a cape, exactly as in the comics.
The Green Lantern outfits from Yalan Gur and Kilowog seem to be rather robust. While Kilowog's form-fitting suit seems more suited for mobility, Yalan Gur's looks to be made of highly armored material. Although certainly fashionable, Fillion's Green Lantern costume begs some questions regarding its battle endurance. Hey, though, heroes in superhero movies have had less to work with. Particularly considering Guy Gardner's reputation for attitude, a basic jacket might be more suited than a conventional super suit.
Other Green Lantern Adaptations Unlike those of Superman
Green Lantern has made a few other live-action appearances. Both 1979's Legends of the Superheroes and 1997's Justice League of America's early Green Lantern costumes are unquestionably products of their time, and their simplicity really reminds people of Fillion's costume. Still, Fillion's outfit seems more expertly crafted despite simplicity. Including Fillion's Guy Gardner, the Golden Age Green Lantern in the Stargirl series famously rocks a much more colorful suit than his Lantern colleagues.
Green Lantern also made a few quick camebacks on Arrow and Smallville. Like Fillion, Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern, gets arrested in Smallville sporting a stylish jacket. A nod to Hal Jordan, Arrow features a brief scene where a man strolls by sporting a green aviator jacket bearing the name "Jordan." Given the abundance of Green Lanterns available, every variant has an opportunity to look distinctive. Although Superman's Green Lantern costume may not be your usual superhero attire, Fillion's distinctive look complements the DCU's fresh approach.
