HBO’s Lanterns has delivered a bold and unsettling reimagining of Green Lantern lore, particularly when it comes to the character of John Stewart. Forget your typical origin story tropes; this version dives deep into trauma and manipulation, raising some serious questions about heroism and parental influence. This article delves into the showrunner’s vision for John Stewart’s backstory and how it connects to the larger narrative surrounding the Manhunters.
A Twisted Path to Green Lantern
This week’s episode, “OutKast,” pulls no punches in revealing the deeply flawed foundation upon which John Stewart’s journey to becoming a Green Lantern is built. While many superhero origin stories involve loss or tragedy, Lanterns presents a far more insidious form of conditioning. John Sr. and Bernadette, played by J. Alphonse Nicholson and Jasmine Cephas Jones respectively, are not simply grieving parents; they are architects of their son’s destiny, driven by the fear that he might succumb to the same anxieties that prevented them from embracing power.
The decision by John Stewart’s parents to forgo the Green Lantern ring, coupled with Hal Jordan’s acceptance of it, sets in motion a chain of events that shapes young John into a weapon against fear. This isn’t just about overcoming personal anxieties; it’s about fulfilling a predetermined path laid out by his parents, a path paved with relentless pressure and emotional manipulation.
I spoke with Lanterns showrunner Chris Mundy to understand the genesis of this unconventional origin story and how it evolved into the intense conditioning John Stewart endures. “We hit on that pretty early,” Mundy explained. “We didn’t hit on the entire framework of the storytelling in Episode 3 [right away], but we did on the thing that John’s dad could have been Hal, and how many others there were. We would always just refer to it as he was bubbled – that John Sr. was bubbled.”
The introduction of the Manhunters adds another layer of complexity. These emotionless beings, programmed to solve problems with cold logic, were deemed too dangerous by the Guardians and ultimately terminated. This raises a crucial question: what’s the difference between being programmed and being parented so intensely? “And then we were like, ‘Well, what’s the difference between being programmed and being parented so hard?’ And the conversations just started converging and it felt really natural.”
The iconic image of John Jr. shooting an apple off his mother’s head wasn’t a last-minute addition; it was conceived early in the development process. “Obviously shooting the apple off his head was in the pilot,” Mundy revealed. “Vanessa [Baden Kelly], who ended up writing Episode 3, John’s origin episode, is like, ‘Well, I’d like to see a scene where he shoots it off his mom’s head.’ And we’re like, ‘Oh, that’s great. We don’t know how it fits.’ But it was literally day one.”
This reimagining of John Stewart’s origin story raises profound questions about the nature of heroism and the potential for manipulation within families. It also highlights the show’s broader themes of colonization, identity, and the complexities of power. “The things I like best are talking about a lot of that kind of stuff without being pedantic or without preaching about any of it,” Mundy said. “Putting people in situations and they’re talking about some things, but they’re not preaching.”
What do you think of John Stewart’s new origin story? Let’s discuss in the comments, and be sure to check back next week for more on Lanterns.
Talk to Scott Collura @scottcollura.bsky.social, or listen to his Star Trek podcast, Transporter Room 3. Or do both!
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