Can it be said that of all the Green Lanterns of Earth, John Stewart is the most popular? Considering his starring role in the animated Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, and his upcoming live action debut in Lanterns, if he’s not yet, he may soon be. That means there’s never been a better time to get acquainted with John through his most pivotal stories. I’m talking about the ones that flesh out who he is and get to the heart of what makes him such a long-lasting fan favorite. Here are five John Stewart stories that are absolute must-reads and perfect for Black History Month.
“Beware My Power!,” Green Lantern #87
John first appeared over fifty years ago during a particularly memorable time at DC. Written by Dennis O’Neil and illustrated by Neal Adams, Green Lantern #87 was set during Green Lantern’s “Hard Traveling Heroes” era, in which topical stories and real world problems were tackled by Hal Jordan and his best buddy Green Arrow. While the hallmarks of this era are certainly dated with seventies lingo and attitudes, this issue remains a classic.
John is introduced as a fearless, heroic, fairly aggressive, but by no means humorless, young architect whom Hal approaches after witnessing him stand up to some bullying policemen who are hassling people on the street. John’s aggression and hair-trigger reactions to racism initially rub Hal the wrong way, but the older Green Lantern learns a new way of spotting problems when John unearths a plot to enact a race war by a rising politician. Hal admits fault, but the end of the adventure marks the start of a lifelong friendship.
John’s sterling Green Lantern career is off to a great beginning.
“In Blackest Day!,” Green Lantern #185
While John would go on to have a few more adventures as Green Lantern whenever Hal Jordan was unavailable, it would take nearly a hundred issues until he finally stepped into the green boots on a permanent basis.
After Hal quits the Green Lantern Corps, the Guardians of the Universe look to the second-in-line to take over Sector 2814. At first, John is wary of being a superhero full-time, especially one that answers to alien management. But after other Green Lanterns attending his hearing mock his hesitation (including his future wife Katma-Tui), John vigorously accepts.
Landing a job at Ferris Aircraft near his predecessor, John would become a hugely beloved hero to the people of Coast City. In fact, their fondness for John would grow so apparent that Hal would begin to miss the life of high-flying adventure that he walked away from and grow jealous that his onetime protégé had replaced him so thoroughly.
“Walking Tall,” Green Lantern #156
John would go through a lot in the years that followed his ascension to becoming Earth’s full-time Green Lantern. He’d get married and retire early, lose his wife and become a Darkstar. He even briefly lost the use of his legs. John would always struggle against the worst thrown at him and rise to overcome it.
When John Stewart’s successor as Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner, left the planet after a moral crisis, he entrusted a freshly created ring to John, believing him to be the best Lantern to protect the planet and to replace him on the Justice League. 2002’s Green Lantern #156 is John stepping back into the suit after having gone through so much over the years. As he’s exposed to the violence of crimefighting and the humanity of regular people, we see how John is one of DC’s most grounded, human characters in how he meets every challenge with grit and determination.
“Semper-Fi,” Green Lantern #49
In one of DC’s most horror-tinged crossover events, the “Blackest Night” saga found superheroes across the DC Universe contending with the zombified ghosts of their fallen loved ones. Led by the frightening villain Black Hand, these decaying faces from the past would often mock our heroes for their past failures and attack them with Black Lantern rings.
In Green Lantern #49, John visits the graveyard planet Xanshi—the very world he once failed to save as it exploded in front of him years ago. John is attacked by feelings of survivor’s guilt and anger, but wields the strength of his great will to overcome his insecurities. Taking everything he’s gone through and pushing past his pain, this story is not only integral for John Stewart fans, but one of the best issues from the entire “Blackest Night” arc.
Green Lantern: War Journal
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson with incredible artwork by Montos, Green Lantern: War Journal is the latest Green Lantern series to focus exclusively on John Stewart, who is trying to move on in his life only to be called once again into being a hero for all who need him.
War Journal is especially notable for fleshing out John’s past before becoming a Green Lantern. Although we’ve known him to be both an architect and former marine, we find out much more about his family across the book’s twelve issues, specifically his mother and late sister. These moments further deepen our understanding of John’s character, as he soon finds himself leading other DC heroes into battle once again for the fate of the universe.
Donovan Morgan Grant writes about comics, graphic novels and superhero history for DC.com. Follow him on Bluesky at @donomark and X at @donoDMG1.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Donovan Morgan Grant 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.
