The new DC show ‘Lanterns’ has already left fans of the franchise with a question: why isn’t the series called ‘Green Lantern’? Why just ‘Lanterns’? After all, the story is about Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart. However, the title could be alluding to something more than the Green Lantern Corps.
The Lantern Mythology Goes Far Beyond Green
“Lantern” in DC Comics is more than just a green ring. The mythos grows and grows, and the various Lantern Corps embody different emotions. If James Gunn and DC Studios plan to explore that mythology over time, the title suddenly feels much more deliberate.
Related: ‘Lanterns’ Just Dropped A Huge Clue About Where DCU Is Really Heading
The Green Lantern Corps is fueled by willpower, but it’s just one of the many emotions. The Yellow Lanterns (Sinestro Corps) are powered by fear; the Red Lanterns by rage. Blue Lanterns are about hope, Indigo Lanterns are related to compassion, and the Star Sapphires are about love.
There’s the Orange Lantern Corps, which gets its power from greed. The mythos eventually gets even crazier as the Black Lanterns are Death and the White Lanterns are Life. So “Lanterns” is a much more general term than “Green Lantern.” It allows the DCU to add characters and Corps that don’t necessarily have green as their color. And that’s what makes the title interesting.
Could ‘Lanterns’ Be Setting Up The Full Spectrum?
The first season might be mostly about Hal Jordan and John Stewart, but there’s still plenty of space for the rest of the DC universe to develop the mythology. If the show ever does introduce other Lantern colors, the title may be a big hint at where the franchise is going.
In case you missed it: The Biggest ‘Lanterns’ Mystery Just Got A Terrifying Answer
This would also allow the DCU to slowly develop its cosmic mythology over time, instead of dumping all the Lantern Corps on the table at once. No word yet on whether the series will cover all the emotional spectrums, so the title isn’t enough to confirm that there will be Yellow, Red, Blue, or other Lanterns.
It is certainly a strange and intriguing selection, however. Rather than Green Lantern, DC Studios decided to go with a name that would cover the whole mythos. If the DCU is going to venture into the emotional realm, a seemingly minor naming decision may prove to be a surprisingly significant one.
You might like to read: ‘Lanterns’ Already Has A Season 2 Plan That Could Change DCU’s Future
