Don’t let Guy Gardner’s reputation fool you. He may seem like the resident jerk of the superhero community, but Guy is so much more. He’s actually one of the greatest members of the Green Lantern Corps, and he’s saved the world on numerous occasions. While his attitude can be a bit much, under his sarcastic exterior he has the heart of a hero. As we prepare to meet Nathan Fillion’s version of the character in James Gunn’s Superman, let’s get to know Guy Gardner…
 

• Guy Gardner first appeared in 1968’s Green Lantern #59, written by John Broome and penciled by Gil Kane.
• Gil Kane designed Guy to look like actor Martin Milner. The character was said to be named after frequent letter writer Guy H. Lillian III and Justice League co-creator Gardner Fox.
• As a member of the Green Lantern Corps, Guy is the proud owner of a Green Lantern power ring. Like other Lanterns, he’s able to use the ring to conjure various constructs. The only limit is his imagination.

• In Guy’s first appearance, we learn that he almost inherited Abin Sur’s power ring instead of Hal Jordan. Hal was chosen simply because he was closer. Hal Jordan and the Guardians of the Universe then chose Guy to be a substitute Lantern in case Hal was ever incapacitated or unavailable. Once the Green Lantern Corps realized Sector 2814 could have multiple Lanterns, the substitute angle was dropped and Guy became a full-time Lantern.
• Guy Gardner is known for his large ego, sarcastic attitude and abrasive nature. However, he had a more agreeable and softened personality in his early appearances. Guy’s familiar rude attitude was first seen when he awoke from a long coma (superhero stuff) in 1985’s Green Lantern #190.
• Some have attributed Guy’s harsh personality to brain damage that occurred during the period where he was comatose. This was confirmed somewhat in Guy Gardner: Warrior #25, with the demonic villain known as Dementor revealing that he manipulated Gardner’s mind during his coma to make him wake up as a jerk. Free of the villain’s influence, Guy is still somewhat of a jerk, so maybe he always had it in him, Dementor or not.

• Oh, here’s another important thing: Guy is part alien. Guy Gardner: Warrior #25 reveals that Guy is a human/alien hybrid due to a Vuldarian mating with a human in his bloodline many generations ago. Once he learned of his alien heritage, Guy unlocked new abilities, including being able to transform parts of his body into deadly weapons. For a time, Guy used these abilities to battle evil under the name Warrior until his Vuldarian abilities were removed after a fight with Parallax in Green Lantern: Rebirth.
   
• Also in Guy Gardner: Warrior #25, Guy opens a superhero themed restaurant called Warriors. The original New York City location was filled with superhero memorabilia, including a deactivated Manhunter robot. The establishment has been destroyed and relocated a few times, but it remains one of the best eateries in the DCU.
• One of the things Guy is best known for is his signature bowl cut. Originally, he had more of a Beatles-inspired mop top hairdo, until it gradually evolved into the bowl cut we know and love today. We see early signs of it in Green Lantern #194, and by Green Lantern #197, it’s a full-blown bowl cut.

• The first superhero Guy ever teamed up with was Green Arrow in 1979’s Green Lantern #116. In fact, Guy teamed up with Ollie before he ever fought alongside another Green Lantern.
• In Guy’s early appearances, he wore a standard Green Lantern uniform no different than the one than Hal Jordan wears. This changed in 1985’s Green Lantern #195 when he used his new power ring to create his signature green sleeveless collared jacket. Guy has changed looks many times over the years, but this is his signature uniform that always goes back to.

• Originally, Guy wore a domino mask similar to Hal Jordan, but he ditched it when he redesigned his costume in Green Lantern #195. Guy is a bit of a showboat, so he doesn’t care to keep his identity secret.
• Determining the first supervillain Guy Gardner fought is tricky. Green Lantern #59 depicts Guy battling Sonar, Shark, Black Hand, Doctor Polaris and Sinestro, but this was a simulation. Guy would then fight Professor Ojo’s Eye drone in Green Lantern #116, but he never fights Ojo directly. General Zod and Sinestro each take turns mind-controlling Guy in Green Lantern #123-124, but he never battles them. It turns out Guy Gardner wouldn’t have his first official supervillain battle until he fought Shark in 1986’s Green Lantern #196—eighteen years after his first appearance!

• Guy has been a member of the Justice League at various times. His teammates haven’t always tolerated him, but strength and bravery have saved the day on multiple occasions.

• Prior to becoming a Green Lantern, Guy worked as a physical education teacher (1968’s Green Lantern #59).
• One of Guy’s most iconic moments is also one of his most embarrassing. In 1987’s Justice League #5, Guy challenges Batman to a fight, and the Dark Knight knocks him out in a single punch. This incident, which became known as ‘One Punch,’ is frequently referenced by the superhero community, much to Guy’s chagrin.
• Although Guy is primarily known as a Green Lantern, there have been times when he’s used other types of power rings. After being expelled from the corps, Guy fought for justice using Sinestro’s old yellow power ring in Guy Gardner Reborn. Guy is also one of the few people who has been able to use a Red Lantern power ring and walk away from the experience with his life (and sanity) intact. This happened in 2009’s Green Lantern Corps #43.

• Guy’s first love was a fortune teller named Kari Limbo. When Guy was presumed dead, Kari almost married his fellow Lantern Hal Jordan. After Guy returned, he couldn’t get past Kari’s romance with Hal and ended their relationship.
• Guy’s other great love is his Justice League teammate Tora Olafsdotter, aka Ice. Their on-again off-again relationship began in 1989’s Justice League America #28 with Guy taking her on a date to…a porn theater. Amazingly, Ice gave him another chance! Tora was one of the few people who could get through to Guy when he was being a jerk, and after their relationship ended, Guy would say that she brought out the best in him.

• After the reality-altering events of Flashpoint, the character was given a new background as a former Baltimore Police Officer. Guy left the force after a confrontation with a suicide bomber left ten civilians dead in 2013’s Green Lantern Corps #17.
• Guy Gardner graduated with multiple degrees, one in psychology and another in education. Later in life, Gardner was amused at the fact that he was a liberal arts major (Guy Gardner: Warrior #14).
• The first actor to play Guy in live action was Matthew Settle, who portrayed the character in the all-but-forgotten 1997 Justice League of America TV movie.

• Animated versions of Guy Gardner have appeared in Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by James Arnold Taylor), Young Justice (voiced by Troy Baker) and Green Lantern: The Animated Series (voiced by Diedrich Bader).
• By the way, watch the Young Justice episode “Influence” to hear Guy Gardner sing a song about his butt. You’re welcome.
• Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner in DC Studios’ Superman and will reprise the role in both Peacemaker season two and Lanterns. Speaking to the DC Studios Showcase Official Podcast, Fillion revealed that he fought for the bowl cut, saying the fans wouldn’t accept anything less.

Quite a guy, isn’t he? As you can see, there’s a lot more to this Green Lantern than meets the eye as you’ll soon discover when Superman flies into theaters later this week.
 

Superman, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult, lands in theaters this week! Click here to get tickets.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.