HBO’s “Lanterns” may be taking a grounded, slow-burn approach with shades of “True Detective,” but the series is also putting a fresh spotlight on one of DC’s most formidable forces: the Green Lantern Corps. By emphasizing the different abilities and limits of its ring-bearers, the show raises a familiar but fascinating question for DC fans — which Green Lantern is actually the most powerful? The Looper video above breaks down the biggest feats, abilities, and power levels across DC’s most notable Green Lanterns.
So far, the DC Universe has introduced four current or former Green Lanterns, each demonstrating a distinct relationship with the ring. Guy Gardner, played by Nathan Fillion, favors enormous and relatively straightforward constructs, using them to take on towering monsters and overwhelming enemy armies. In the premiere episode of “Lanterns,” Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan delivers a different kind of flex, showing remarkable precision by creating an incredibly realistic bank note. Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart is not yet a full-fledged Lantern, but he has already displayed a rare ability to generate life with the ring — something Hal strongly suggests is virtually unheard of. Then there is Ulrich Thomsen’s Thaal Sinestro, the fallen Lantern whose battle against the Green Lantern Corps was powerful enough to leave multiple Guardians of the Universe dead.
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A Green Lantern’s strength is tied to their willpower
John Johnson/HBO Max
The reason these Green Lanterns vary so widely in strength comes down to how their rings work. Although they typically wield the same type of weapon, a Green Lantern power ring is fueled by willpower, meaning it provides raw energy that depends heavily on the person using it. The stronger the wearer’s will, the more force they can channel. Just as importantly, the more imaginative and focused the Lantern is, the more sophisticated their constructs can become. That is why “Lanterns” places such emphasis on John Stewart’s emerald bird construct. Creating something so detailed, independent, and lifelike appears far more advanced than the massive but simpler shapes Guy Gardner conjures in “Superman.”
Because willpower, creativity, experience, and emotional control all factor into a Lantern’s effectiveness, ranking the Green Lanterns by raw power is not exactly simple. Still, the comparisons can be made. For a closer look at how DC’s major Green Lanterns measure up against one another, watch Looper’s video above.