How to Make a Better Green Lantern

Jennifer
June 22, 2011

You know what would have made the “Green Lantern” movie work? If the main character had been a graphic designer rather than a fighter pilot.

Superheroes: They're just like us! They face deadlines!

I realize I’m outing myself as a comic book nerd by stating this, but I always preferred Kyle Rayner as the Green Lantern over Hal Jordan. Who’s that, you ask? Perhaps you haven’t picked up a comic since the ’80s. Kyle Rayner made his first appearance in 1994 (“Green Lantern,” vol. 3, No. 48, to be specific). He was a freelance graphic designer, which meant he struggled to make ends meet. Though he didn’t take his new position of superhero very seriously at first, Kyle eventually impressed with his ability to use his ring to create most anything in his imagination. While previous Green Lanterns were limited by their minds to construct brick walls and giant boxing gloves, Kyle would conjure steampunk weapons, superhero doppelgangers and other unique beings. And that’s what has always made the Green Lantern one of my favorite superheroes: He’s not obscenely strong or can fly on his own, and he wasn’t simply born with magical abilities. Rather, his power stretches as far as his creative mind goes, and I’m sure being a graphic artist is what attracted Ganthet, one of the Guardians of the Universe, to bestow a ring on Kyle. While the new “Green Lantern” movie isn’t the steaming pile of dung most reviewers are making it out to be, it certainly isn’t what I hoped for. Believe me – Ryan Reynolds is easy on the eyes and makes for a good Hal Jordan, but the character of Hal just doesn’t translate well to the big screen. He’s an arrogant doofus who risks lives with his daredevil-ness. Machine guns and racecars aren’t as impressive or exciting when done in CGI glowing green. However, if Kyle Rayner were the Green Lantern in the movie, you would have a more relatable character: a regular guy just trying to get enough freelance work to get by. A fellow who knows what it’s like to get your creative design rejected for something more pedestrian. But give him a power ring, and BAM! POW! Just watch what he comes up with then. And besides: Nathan Fillion could have played Kyle.

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About Jennifer Moline

Jennifer Moline writes for the PsPrint Blog as well as maintains its Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Pinterest presences. She also guest-blogs for such notable graphic design blogs as Fuel Your Creativity and Inspiredology. She’s previously written about technology and small business for news websites, magazines and newspapers. In her off-hours, Jennifer can be found roughing it in the mountains or tucked away in a movie theater.

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Freelance123
Graphic Design
Anonymous's picture
January 07, 2016 03:22 am #

Nathan Fillion was good in the animated movie and would have been fun to see.

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The PsPrint Blog is a resource for graphic designers, freelancers, small business owners and fans of print marketing. You'll find helpful techniques on printing everything there is to print, including business cards, postcards, brochures, stickers, invitations, greeting cards, door hangers, magnets and more. The PsPrint Blog shares creative ways to improve your design and layout skills, and useful tips for marketing your business in any medium. We also like to have a little fun, sharing design inspiration and spotlighting some our favorite customers' printed pieces in our "Hot Off the Press" series.