Hot Take: Guy Gardner Has Had the Most Development of Any Green Lantern

Guy Gardner isn't exactly a very likable Green Lantern, but he has a lot of depth and has changed over the years from his most obnoxious incarnations.


The Green Lantern Corps is made up of selfless, heroic and valiant individuals who answer the call to fight evil via the power of their willpower. Among the Corps' ranks are some of the most level-headed and undaunted heroes in the galaxy - as well as Guy Gardner. The brusque and uncouth GLC member isn't always the nicest person, but he's far more than just a bad attitude and a worse haircut.


Guy Gardner has had tremendous character development throughout the years, with his most abrasive incarnation now being mostly a thing of the past. He's also changed the color of his ring quite a bit, with his backstory seeing similar adjustments. This has afforded Guy a wealth of growth that isn't seen in some of the other Green Lanterns, making him much more than a one-note character.


Guy Gardner Began as Hal Jordan With a Different Hair Color


John Broome and Gil Kane created Guy Gardner, who debuted in Green Lantern #59. He was revealed to have been Abin Sur's first choice to replace him as the Lantern of Sector 2814, but Hal Jordan was closer. His original persona wasn't too dissimilar from Jordan's, as this was the norm for Silver Age DC characters. That era didn't afford many of its heroes depth, with the main differentiating factor being their divergent powers and origin stories. For a long while, Guy even wore the exact same uniform as the rest of the Green Lantern Corps, with his main point of difference being his red "chili bowl" hair.


Gardner was eventually given a more unique jacket-based costume, and after Crisis on Infinite Earths his personality changed as well. Beforehand, he was rendered comatose after being hit by a bus, and another mishap saw him trapped in the Phantom Zone with a legion of evil Kryptonian criminals. These events changed his nature entirely, with the new Guy Gardner being a much gruffer, tougher and rougher customer. Arrogant and obnoxious, he constantly clashed with his teammates on the Justice League International team. Ironically, he developed a romance with his shy teammate Ice, although her best friend Fire certainly didn't approve.


Guy Gardner Has Had Different Tragic Backstories


Guy Gardner's first origin story made him into an abuse victim, as his drunk father Roland constantly beat him as a child. He looked up to his idolized older brother, taking his advice and making something of himself. His own trauma inspired Guy to study psychology and work with prison inmates. Although he eventually quit this job due to it conjuring up too much from his tragic past, he took his skills into his most helpful career: a special education teacher. It's not the kind of vocation that most would associate with the brash character, but it reflects how he's not a bad person beneath the surface. His overbearing arrogance and standoffish nature is most likely a mask for the hurt inflicted on him as a child, with this personality actually being a dark mirror of his father. In reality, he's the one human Green Lantern whose backstory directly involves helping other people.


The New 52 reboot briefly gave him a new origin story where he was a former police officer. There, he and his father (now named Ebenezer) were still distant from each other. This stemmed from an event that forced his father onto disability and led to Guy being dismissed from the police force. Although this backstory was later overturned in favor of the old one, it showcased how Guy's upbringing was never the happiest. Guy eventually ended up turning to comic books for heroic inspiration, although he is still far less of a gentleman compared to the overly noble heroes he looked up to.


Guy Gardner Has Worn More Colors Than Green


After losing a duel against fellow Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner quit the Green Lantern Corps due to his wounded pride. Still wanting to have both power and be a hero, however, he took a yellow power ring and operated under his own name before finally christening himself "Warrior." Later, it was revealed that he had latent alien DNA, and he could activate these dormant genetics. This turned him into a tattooed fighter with the ability to create weapons from his body in a way that was very similar to a power ring. The later introduction of the other Lantern Corps' had Guy become a rage-fueled Red Lantern, which better matched his fiery hair and personality.


These many changes and developments are unique to Gardner, with none of the other Green Lanterns having the same level of fluidity. Despite his attitude and tendency to change colors and identities, Guy maintains a strong sense of duty and heroism, never afraid to face evil head on, regardless of how insurmountable the odds may be. The same goes for any challenge, especially authority, which contributes to his bad reputation. This is actually a relatable character flaw that helps to distinguish him from the more square-jawed, straight-laced heroes that he works alongside.


Guy Gardner may not be very amicable at times, but this flaw and the tragedy that inspired it makes him more understandable than the other Green Lanterns of Earth. If anything, he was a precursor to the anxiety-ridden Jessica Cruz, but with the added caveat that he's usually not instantly likable in the same way that she is. However, Guy is much more well-rounded as a character, and while he may not be everyone's favorite Green Lantern, he is certainly one of the most interesting.

Popular posts from this blog

Sofía Vergara Is the Cocaine Godmother in First Griselda Photos

Netflix shares a sneak peek of the miniseries Griselda, created by the team behind Narcos & starring Sofía Vergara as Miami drug lord Griselda Blanco. Netflix gives viewers their first look at the upcoming miniseries Griselda, produced by and starring Sofía Vergara. First shared by Entertainment Weekly, the preview images show Vergara in the title role as Griselda Blanco, a Colombian immigrant who became involved in America's burgeoning cocaine business in the 1970s and a prominent figure in the Miami drug wars of '80's. The series was created by Eric Newman and Ingrid Escajeda alongside Doug Miro and Carlo Bernand, who previously created the similarly-themed Narcos for the streamer. Another Narcos alum, Andrés Baiz, will direct the series, though he specified that Griselda will have a different feel to the team's previous collaboration. "The stylistic landmarks of Narcos are not in Griselda," Baiz explained. "Griselda has its own identity ... its own
Read more

Rami Malek’s 20th Century Thriller ‘Amateur’ Among First Studio Shoots To Get Rolling In UK After Strikes

After a grueling few months for UK film and TV producers, there are signs that the industry is starting to head back to work following twin actors and writers strikes in the U.S. Amateur, the 20th Century terrorism thriller starring Rami Malek, will be among the first studio shoots to resume filming in London next month, sources tell Deadline. Amateur, which also stars Rachel Brosnahan and Laurence Fishburne, was halfway through production when the feature’s hundreds of cast, crew, and contractors were put on hiatus in July. The film’s cast has prioritized the project ahead of other commitments they would be shooting had the strike not happened. “Productions needing lead actors back to complete means other shows and films cannot schedule starting,” said a source. Amateur is directed by James Hawes, whose debut feature, the Anthony Hopkins vehicle One Life, has generated plenty of buzz during the fall festival season. Bleecker Street has acquired U.S. rights. Amateur follows a CIA crypt
Read more

Every Underworld Movie, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

Fans and critics have shared opinions of the Underworld franchise, and Rotten Tomatoes is no exception. The Underworld series is made up of action-horror films revolving around the ongoing war between vampires and werewolves, each trying to destroy the other. Amidst this conflict, the love story between Selene, a powerful vampire, and Michael, a hybrid being, is a recurring theme. Throughout the series, figures on both sides prove to have hidden agendas. At times, it's hard to tell who is an ally and who is an enemy. One group may be on the brink of extinction, but this might just be what they want the enemies to think. Eventually, even humans learn of the secret war. The Underworld franchise, made up of at least five films and an animated short, has an interesting history. There have even been planned canceled crossovers with I, Frankenstein, Blade, and Resident Evil. Thanks to its fan base, an Underworld reboot had also been planned for the small screen. This is in addition to th
Read more