JSA Spotlight: Green Lantern

Green Lantern Alan Scott (Art by Alex Ross)

Before Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart and Kyle Rayner came Alan Scott, the first Green Lantern. A founding member of the Justice Society and remaining a member to this day, his character has proven ever-popular with fans and he has provided a continuing source of stories for the DC Universe.

All-American Comics #16

The Green Lantern Alan Scott first appeared in All-American Comics #16 in July, 1940, created by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell. One of the major characters in this title, he appeared until the series was renamed to All-American Western in 1948. He went on to star in his own self-titled series until issue #38.

Green Lantern Volume 1, Issue 1 (1940)

When the decision to have different character featuring in a team-up story resulted in All-Star Comics #3, the JSA was formed and Green Lantern became a founding member. As with the other members who had their own series, however, he was not continuously featured. He has, however, remained a solid member of the team throughout its incarnations and is one of the few surviving golden age members still on the team many years later.

Imbued with the power of the “Starheart” focused through his ring, originally fashioned from a mystical metal Green Lantern. The ring gave him the power to fly, read mindsm create rays, melt objects and phase through solid objects. It did, however, have a weakness against anything made of wood (and sometimes plant material).

It has since been revealed that the Starheart power is mystical in nature, being a collection of random magic collected by the Guardians of the Universe. This gave the Golden Age Green Lantern a much-appreciated link to the Silver Age Green Lantern Corps version that tenuously remains to this day.

Alan Scott fathered two children, Jennifer-Lynn Hayden (Jade) and Todd James Rice (Obsidian) with the Thorn (Rose/Thorn). The Thorn’s schizophrenia is said to be the cause of Obsidian’s later mental problems. He then went on to marry the reformed villian, Harlequin.

After Crisis on Infinite Earths the JSA was sent to the limbo dimension in the never-ending battle of Ragnarok. (Last Days of the Justice Society Special, 1986)

Upon the return of the Justice Society in Armageddon: Inferno, Green Lantern was returned to the DC Universe and continued on as a member of the Justice Society in both self-titles series in 1992 and 1993 respectively.

During the upheavals of the then-current Green Lantern (Volume 3) title, Alan ended up taking the name of Sentinel, with the power of the starheart becoming internalised. He continued as Sentinel for the re-founding of the Justice Society in the JSA series, reverting to the name Green Lantern during that series and remaining with this name ever since.

Green Lantern Alan Scott can be found every month in the pages of Justice Society of America (Volume 3). For previous appearances, please see below.

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Publication History:

(Solo)

All-American Comics #16 – #102 (#16 – #38 Reprinted in Golden Age Green Lantern Archives #1 – #2)

Green Lantern (Volume 1) #1 – #38 (#1 – #3 Reprinted in Golden Age Green Lantern Archives #1 – #2)

Sensation Comics #91 – # 93

JSA: Classified #10 – #13; #25; #32 – #33 (Reprinted in JSA Presents: Green Lantern)

(JSA)

All-Star Comics, Justice Society Of America (Volumes 1,2,3) JSA, JSA: Classified, America vs The Justice Society, Last Days of the Justice Society Special, All-Star Squadron.