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.