GEOFF JOHNS TALKS GREEN LANTERN

[MattBrady]

So there was this new series from DC that debuts today – you may have heard of it, as it had a little buzz: Green Lantern. Not just any “Green Lantern,” but, in the eyes of many, “the” Green Lantern – Hal Jordan, fresh from Green Lantern: Rebirth, which brought him back as the earth’s main Green Lantern.

We managed to corner Green Lantern writer Geoff Johns for a few minutes this morning to squeeze a few comments out about Hal, the series, and where things are coming.

Newsarama: First off, whether by accident or design, Hal Jordan has "returned" right smack dab in the middle of a "crisis" in terms of the JLA and the relationship between the satellite era League, which you've already addressed somewhat in Rebirth.

Now as writer of the upcoming JLA arc and of Infinite Crisis, some of it is your own doing, but were you hoping for a grace period at all in terms of reestablishing Hal in the DCU, or do you like that you have deal with these issues right away?

Geoff Johns: I'm not worried about a grace period of Hal Jordan not appearing anywhere outside of his own book, because his appearances are limited until we're well into Infinite Crisis, where Jordan and the GL Corps plays a significant role.

Our goal with Green Lantern is to create a character-driven, sci-fi, super-hero adventure series. A comic book not designed to be paced like cinema or television, but like a comic. So while the monthly series will, of course, re-establish Hal Jordan's life, or what he's trying to make into his life, he'll be interacting with the rest of the DCU because we want to jump right into his story and deal with all of the ramifications of him being "gone" to the public, "corrupted" to the heroes and "dead" to his family. At the same time, we've got to make the monthly accessible for new readers, which is a challenge.

He was a part of the story in Brad's Identity Crisis so it made sense for the story for Hal Jordan to be present in Allan and my JLA arc.

It just made sense to use him.

NRAMA: For fans who maybe aren't dues paying members of HEAT and maybe are sitting on the fence in terms of whether to try this new series at all, can you briefly explain Hal's new status quo that Rebirth set up and the new view of his history since the destruction of Coast City?

GJ: We're approaching GL and trying to design it for people who like heroes in the vein of Indiana Jones, Han Solo and Chuck Yeager. A guy who's been through hell and back, made a lot of mistakes and is trying to rebuild his life and relationships. It's going to have a sci-fi edge to it, full of mysteries and extra-terrestrial detective work -- he is an intergalactic cop. That's as simple as I can make it right now.

NRAMA: That said, where does Hal stand right now in the DCU? Do the heroes, and public at large still consider him a mass murderer, or victim of circumstance and of Parallax?

GJ: We're going the route of the public at large never knowing that Hal Jordan was Green Lantern. To them, Green Lantern was said to be dead. The heroes of the DCU are a different story and their reactions will be seen in GL and the rest of the DCU.

The mass murderer thing will be addressed in a very strange way, around issue #3.

NRAMA: Though Rebirth has been a very strong seller, one could make the argument Hal Jordan though beloved by hardcore fans, wasn't that dynamic a character before the Parallax affair. DC certainly appeared to have trouble sales-wise with his ongoing series which many have speculated was the reason what happened and Kyle Rayner, a younger, "hipper" GL was created.

You obviously have great affection for him, so what about Hal is compelling to you in terms of making him one of DC's biggest stars and worthy of a monthly adventure?

GJ: Hal Jordan, to me, is a classic DC hero in the sense of his attitude, courage and smile. Like I said about he's a little bit of a maverick, gets cocky, has a weakness for women, but he's driven to do the right thing. To try and be the man his father was to him, try to help people that need it and try to do what his duty calls for.

I love Hal Jordan, even though I grew up reading John Stewart as Green Lantern. And I read Kyle's adventures when he took over the lead role and enjoyed them. I still find the whole Hal vs. Kyle debate ridiculous. I don't ever remember people going crazy when it was Hal vs. Guy and I'm not sure why. They're all great characters. And if I ever hear someone say "We won!" again I'm going to shove a plastic Parallax figure down their throat.

Bringing Hal Jordan back is not about winning any silly argument -- getting the Green Lanterns, and all of the Corps members, back into the limelight is winning. And with the monthly, Recharge and other projects coming up, every fan should win. It's all about keeping the mythology alive and progressing it into the future. Kyle Rayner saved the GL franchise when it was dying. Hal Jordan's return hopefully will continue to reinvigorate it as Rebirth has.

You have to take chances, just like Brian has with New Avengers, and it's paid off for that team. People are really into the book and Young Avengers.

NRAMA: You've mentioned in interviews you spent some time doing research into the test pilot aspect of Hal's character and issue #1 thanks the military personnel you spent time with. One doesn't have to see your daily schedule to assume you're a pretty busy guy right now. How big a role with that play in your series and what key does it hold to Hal's character that it required that kind of research?

GJ: We can't set him back at Ferris Aircraft -- those days are over. I wanted to do a whole new setting, new supporting cast, etc. I wanted to get bigger. And if I was going to go for the pilot angle and set the series and Jordan in a military setting with the United States Air Force, I had to get it right if for no other reason than to really understand why someone becomes a pilot. One of my friends was in the Air Force and helped coordinate my trips out to Edwards Air Force Base. I spent the day with test pilots going over everything they did and, again, more importantly why they did it. From their career path that led them here, to their home life and life on the base, the feeling of being in that jet and the small details of customs and language between pilots -- how they got their call sign, nights at Pancho's, class coins, relationships between navs and pilots, etc. Then after that, I pitched them Hal Jordan...who he was, what happened to him and where he ended up after Rebirth. One of the pilots actually had read Emerald Twilight and was a big Green Lantern fan, so he helped decipher it to the other pilots.

I've also kept in contact with a Major (Matthew Yocum) who has been reading the scripts and he's sort of become my technical advisor. He's been invaluable to the USAF side of the book.

I'm heading back up there in a month for some more hands on research - a flight on an F-16. They say I'll do one of three things: 1) Blackout 2) Throw up 3) Both of the above. I'll try and take pictures.

NRAMA: Finally, Hector Hammond's warning at the end of Rebirth #6 - "And won't it be ever so delicious and exciting when THEY find their way back TOO."

1) Does Hammond really say things like "delicious and exciting," and if so, does he have a problem with getting respect from other villains? and 2) Who is he referring to? Is there a yin/yang thing when a hero returns, that their enemies find their way back as well?

GJ: 1) Yes, he says things like that and you'll see why in Ethan's first arc. Hammond doesn't get respect from other villains, he gets fear and uneasiness. After all, who wants to hang out with a guy with a giant head and drools a lot? Ethan and I have talked endlessly about this creep and his role in Jordan's new adventures is going to be fairly significant. I want to see him fight Modok.

2) As to who Hammond is referring to...we're determined to introduce new villains and well as update classic villains and this is just a hint at what's to come. It'll all be explained in Ethan's arc and we'll see a whole new cadre of villains as well as new takes on the Shark and Black Hand. New and classic elements throughout.

Thanks to everyone who is giving the book a shot. Carlos, Jesus, Ethan and Moose have worked incredibly hard on it and Peter Tomasi is continuing to push all of us to do our best work. I hope people enjoy it.

[choisez]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Our goal with Green Lantern is to create a character-driven, sci-fi, super-hero adventure series. A comic book not designed to be paced like cinema or television, but like a comic.

Sounds GREAT.

-Eddy

[Arsenal3]

Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and Chuck Yeager were childhood heroes of mine. Hal Jordan still bores me to tears. I love Geoff Johns and Carlos Pacheco, but I still can't bear to pick this up. I'm even a fan of the Green Lantern concept, but Hal's always been the least interesting of the entire Corps. Oh, well. I'll pass.

[Brent Sienna]

WE WON! Long Live Hal! Death to Kyle... yadda e yadda

Geoff please be sure to keep that Parallax figure on the card so it's value won't be diminished when you shove it down my throat.

The lengths I go to for free action figures.

[algertman]

Hector Hammond vs. MODOK

CRANIUM CRISIS

[grantg]

Originally posted by MattBrady

Geoff Johns said: "I still find the whole Hal vs. Kyle debate ridiculous. They're all great characters. And if I ever hear someone say "We won!" again I'm going to shove a plastic Parallax figure down their throat."

Hear that? That's the sound of Alex Ross getting bitch slapped.

[I am MODOK]

I've read GL since Emerald Dawn, and I see no reason to stop now!

Oh, and MODOK would paste Hector Hammond!!! (I may be biased)

[Ensign Janos]

Having Hal in a military environment makes no sense.


1. He belongs to a militia group and has sworn loyalty to the leaders of that group.

2. How can you be in the miltary and maintain a secret identity?

3. How could he possibly pass even a standard background check. I know I wouldn't want an ex-toy salesman with a close association with a drugged up hippie communist flying my F-22.

4. General's identical triplet daughters. Rich target environment.

[Banana_Oil]

Originally posted by Arsenal3
Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and Chuck Yeager were childhood heroes of mine. Hal Jordan still bores me to tears. I love Geoff Johns and Carlos Pacheco, but I still can't bear to pick this up. I'm even a fan of the Green Lantern concept, but Hal's always been the least interesting of the entire Corps. Oh, well. I'll pass.

Writers like Johns and Busiek keep saying "Hal's like Indiana Jones" but saying it over and over doesn't make it so.

I've read a big chunk of Silver Age GL over the years. Hal is no Indiana Jones and he never was. He's met plenty of interesting people and been to plenty of interesting places, but he himself is a man of cardboard, a cipher that most of the previous GL writers (not to name names) projected their midlife crises on.

The CORPS, however, IS interesting; I'm looking forward to whatever Dave Gibbons will be doing with it.

[dorwaystudios]

Agreed. The comic industry needs more writers, nay TALENTS, like Geoff Johns - ones who understand that they're writing in a different medium than either movies or TV.

However, he lost me with:

You have to take chances, just like Brian has with New Avengers, and it's paid off for that team.

BMB took the wrong kind of chance. Unlike Johns who finds the root of what makes a concept great, Bendis went for wholesale slaughter that paid NO respect to what came before. I expected more after his terrific Ultimate Spider-Man.

[cousindick]

I don't know about you boys. That Kyle Rayner was always a bit of a nancy feller to me. Hal Jordan, he kicks commie ass, if you want proof then just look at New Frontier when he was fightin' the communists over there in one of them Asian countries.

DC's on the move! We got good ol' Hal Jordan and good ol' Guy Gardner back to boot. Hawkman's back and he's Republican. Green Arrow talks like a liberal but acts like a Republican.

Now let's git that Democrat, Maxwell Lord, and have a party!

[Gordon McAlpin]

Originally posted by cousindick
Now let's git that Democrat, Maxwell Lord, and have a party!

Didn't you read Countdown? Maxwell Lord is OBVIOUSLY a Republican -- he was only pretending to be a Democrat all this time!

[algertman]

Originally posted by Ensign Janos
Having Hal in a military environment makes no sense.


1. He belongs to a militia group and has sworn loyalty to the leaders of that group.

2. How can you be in the miltary and maintain a secret identity?

3. How could he possibly pass even a standard background check. I know I wouldn't want an ex-toy salesman with a close association with a drugged up hippie communist flying my F-22.

4. General's identical triplet daughters. Rich target environment.

Yet you have no problem that the guy wears a magical ring

[No1insight]

Originally posted by MattBrady
[b]GJ: We're approaching GL and trying to design it for people who like heroes in the vein of Indiana Jones[b]

Not that I'm insulting Johns or questing his skills (I did buy the issue), but isn't that what he said when he relaunched Hawkman?

[Batitude]

Originally posted by Ensign Janos
I know I wouldn't want an ex-toy salesman with a close association with a drugged up hippie communist flying my F-22.

Who exactly are you referring to here? Green Arrow?!? Well, he's never been shown to do drugs (and in fact got speedy help for it) and nowhere has he EVER been shown to be a Communinst...he's a liberal. That doesn't make you a communinst.

Nor does assocication with the communist party neccesarilly restrict you from military duty anymore...it's not the 1960's.

[Lobok]

Originally posted by dorwaystudios
Agreed. The comic industry needs more writers, nay TALENTS, like Geoff Johns - ones who understand that they're writing in a different medium than either movies or TV.

However, he lost me with [quote about New Avengers]:

BMB took the wrong kind of chance. Unlike Johns who finds the root of what makes a concept great, Bendis went for wholesale slaughter that paid NO respect to what came before. I expected more after his terrific Ultimate Spider-Man.

Fact is, he took a chance, and New Avengers is one of the biggest books in the industry now, however bad it is or was. Johns isn't saying he's going to mimic Bendis, he's saying that you've gotta shake things up to invigorate a series.

[BlueThunderArmy]

Originally posted by grantg
Hear that? That's the sound of Alex Ross getting bitch slapped.

You mean "Green Lantern #1" variant cover artist Alex Ross?

Yeah, I found Geoff's comment really funny, too.

[x23nocturne]

Hmmm pretty cool. Gotta check it out, maybe actually purchase it regularly. I love Geoff John's work on Avengers, Flash, Teen Titans, and now I'm sure this'll be a great run. I'll have to tell my friend, he loves Green Lantern!

[TheMightyGeek]

Originally posted by Lobok
Fact is, he took a chance, and New Avengers is one of the biggest books in the industry now, however bad it is or was. Johns isn't saying he's going to mimic Bendis, he's saying that you've gotta shake things up to invigorate a series.

Well, technically, bringing Hal back should be considered unshaking up the book. Bringing in Kyle was the shake-up.

Not that I have a problem with that. I love Geoff's take on Hal. He's more interesting than he's ever been. Which, quite frankly, isn't that difficult.

Fact is, all someone needs to do in order to generate sales is create a well-made book and have it marketed well. Fallen Angel is an example of a good book marketed poorly. I'd list a bad book that's marketed well, but that's more likely to start a flame war than the previous example.

Now I've gotta wait until I get off work in about 4 hours to get my hands on GL #1 and hope that it hasn't sold out like Rebirth #1 did. Grrrrr.

[James Groves]

Hal Jordan will, and always will be, the Green Lantern.

[Ensign Janos]

Originally posted by algertman
Yet you have no problem that the guy wears a magical ring

Only if it's an earring. Only pirates should wear them.

[Dave_Garcia]

Originally posted by No1insight
Not that I'm insulting Johns or questing his skills (I did buy the issue), but isn't that what he said when he relaunched Hawkman?

No, he said Hawkman was Conan

[BlueThunderArmy]

Originally posted by James Groves
Hal Jordan will, and always will be, the Green Lantern.

I love the "state opinion as fact" game, too!

[Ensign Janos]

Originally posted by Batitude
Who exactly are you referring to here? Green Arrow?!? Well, he's never been shown to do drugs (and in fact got speedy help for it) and nowhere has he EVER been shown to be a Communinst...he's a liberal. That doesn't make you a communinst.

From what I've gathered from fan sites Speedy learned how to use heroin watching Ollie. His first dose came from Ollie's private stash.

He sounds like a red and that's how Batman has described him.

Nor does assocication with the communist party neccesarilly restrict you from military duty anymore...it's not the 1960's. [/quote]

It should. I know I wouldn't want anyone associated with the nazi party serving in the military.

[algertman]

Originally posted by Lobok
Fact is, he took a chance, and New Avengers is one of the biggest books in the industry now, however bad it is or was. Johns isn't saying he's going to mimic Bendis, he's saying that you've gotta shake things up to invigorate a series.

what world do you live in where sticking Spidey and Wolverine on the same team is a "chance" cause it sure as hell ain't this one