Like many of our modern day super heroes and villains, the Green Lantern became popular originally in the 1940’s and 50’s through comic books. The Green Lantern was a production of DC Comics which is one of the longest running and most successful American comic book companies. Martin Nodell was the individual who came up with the Green Lantern in 1940. He first made his appearance in All American Comics #16 in July of that year.

The Green Lantern, also like many of the DC Comics characters, went through several well defined stages of development throughout the 1900’s. There was the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, and the Modern Age. It wasn’t really until 1970, during the Bronze age that the Green Lantern took a major stylistic departure from the original Green Lantern and became more widely known for what we think of the Green Lantern today.

The rings in the Green Lantern logo are an important part of his super hero abilities. The rings can act as semi-sentient computers and can access data through their connection with the Book of Oa. They have problem solving ability but cannot make decisions on their own or take actions on their own. They must be given directives by the wearer.

Green Lantern is most well known for the oath he recites when he charges his ring. Originally, the oath was simple:

…and I shall shed my light over dark evil.

For the dark things cannot stand the light,

The light of the Green Lantern!

But it has evolved quite a bit over the years, as has the character.

Superhero Logo ⋅ green lantern, superhero ⋅