DC’s ‘Lanterns’ might have a continuity problem on its hands, and it all comes down to one very important piece of Green Lantern technology: the power ring.
How ‘Lanterns’ Timeline Creates A Continuity Problem
The confusion comes from how the show appears to connect to James Gunn’s ‘Superman’. Guy Gardner is already operating as a Green Lantern in the film, but ‘Lanterns’ seemingly introduces a timeline in which Hal Jordan’s death happens in 2026. If the show’s rules are taken at face value, those two details create a pretty awkward question.
And for a franchise built around cosmic mythology, an unexplained ring transfer could become a bigger headache than it initially seems. The first episode of ‘Lanterns’ ends with John Stewart discovering Hal Jordan frozen and apparently dead, with his power ring missing.
John himself isn’t wearing a ring at that moment, leaving the identity of whoever possesses it next unclear. Here’s where things get complicated. In ‘Superman’, which takes place in 2025, Guy Gardner is already wearing a Green Lantern ring and working alongside the Justice Gang.
That means Guy has access to a ring before Hal’s apparent death in ‘Lanterns’. The problem becomes even more confusing if the series establishes that only one Green Lantern ring can be active on Earth at a time. Under that rule, Guy’s ring shouldn’t coexist with Hal’s before the latter’s death, unless there’s another explanation for how the system works.
Of course, the distinction between a ring being active, being assigned to a Lantern, and physically existing on Earth could matter here. Without the full context, it’s too early to declare this a definitive continuity error.
Did DC Make A Mistake, Or Is There A Missing Piece?
The question has reportedly even reached ‘Lanterns’ co-creator Tom King, who responded by asking why Guy ends up with the ring rather than providing a clear explanation. That response has only made the mystery more interesting for fans trying to connect the dots.
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Could Guy have a different ring? Is the one-ring rule more complicated than it sounds? Or does ‘Lanterns’ take place across a timeline that hasn’t been fully explained yet? DC has created a question that deserves an answer.
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