The debate around the Green Lantern Corps and the number of human Green Lanterns has been a recurring topic among fans. One viewpoint suggests that focusing on too many human Lanterns dilutes the unique organizational aspect of the GLC, potentially turning them into generic superheroes. This perspective raises a valid question about the direction of the Green Lantern franchise and how DC Comics manages its expanding roster of characters.
A common concern among long-time readers is the perceived overabundance of human Green Lanterns. New creative teams often seem eager to introduce their own human Lanterns, further crowding the scene. While there have been attempts to manage this, such as assigning human Lanterns to different Corps within the Emotional Spectrum or sending them on off-page missions, these solutions often lead to dissatisfaction from fans who feel their favorite characters are being sidelined or diminished. It seems DC struggles to strike a balance that satisfies both creative desires and fan expectations.
Looking at DC’s history, there are precedents for editorial decisions aimed at streamlining or consolidating character families perceived as becoming too large or unwieldy. Instances like Infinite Crisis highlight this trend. During this event, drastic measures were taken to remove characters from the playing field, such as sending Amazons away, and essentially ‘clearing out’ Atlantis. Similarly, the various iterations of the Doom Patrol often began with significant roster purges, eliminating characters who weren’t part of the original lineup. These examples, and others throughout DC’s publishing history, demonstrate a recurring pattern of creators and editors attempting to manage perceived character bloat through elimination or sidelining.
Given this historical context, it’s reasonable to anticipate a similar approach being applied to the Green Lantern franchise. At some point, those in charge may decide to take a critical look at the numerous human Green Lanterns and make a tough decision. This could involve selecting a core group of perhaps two to four human Lanterns deemed most essential or possessing the greatest storytelling potential. To make a definitive statement and reshape the franchise, DC might choose to eliminate the remaining human Lanterns, regardless of potential fan backlash. While such a move would undoubtedly be controversial, it aligns with past practices within DC and reflects a potential strategy for managing a complex and sometimes overcrowded superhero universe.
