Warning: Spoilers for Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age #4!
DC Comics unveils a fresh iteration of the Green Lantern, demonstrating the endless potential for revisiting and expanding the lore of the Green Lantern Corps. This approach allows for alternative interpretations of classic Green Lantern characters within the DC Universe.
In the upcoming Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age #4, crafted by Andy Diggle, Leandro Fernández, and Matt Hollingsworth, the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, undergoes a new transformation. This series acts as a sequel to the renowned Elseworlds tale, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight by Brian Augustyn, Mike Mignola, P. Craig Russell, David Hornung, and John Workman. The latest installment brings new, darker versions of characters, such as Wonder Woman, specific to this universe, and now introduces Green Lantern into the mix.
Continuing the Elseworlds tradition of reimagining well-known characters, Alan Scott’s introduction marks a shift for DC Comics, as this represents just one of several recent character reinventions for him.
Alan Scott’s Green Lantern Debuts in the Gotham by Gaslight Universe and Gains His Ring
In Alan Scott’s original origin within the official DC Comics continuity, a mysterious green flame saves a railroad engineer’s life during a catastrophic train crash, bestowing powers upon him. In Gotham by Gaslight, Alan Scott miraculously survives a similar train crash, though one Mrs. Silverton is not so fortunate. As she lies dying, she requests that Scott pass on the Ring of Jong Lee to a deserving individual.
Superman Origin Change Makes Him an Ancient Human, NOT an Alien
In the preceding issue, Mrs. Silverton encounters Alan Scott on a train prior to its derailment, introducing him to the Ring of Jong Lee. She describes it as a coveted ring for which many men perished, ultimately acquired by her grandfather, Guangzhou, during the opium wars. After falling into her possession 30 years ago, the ring began to glow and communicate with her. Upon meeting Alan, she senses that the ring is drawn to him.
What Will Alan Scott Do with His Green Lantern Ring?
The Green Lantern of an Elseworlds Universe
Alan assures Mrs. Silverton that she’ll be fine if they reach his hot air balloon, the Green Lantern, but she knows her time is limited. Recognizing Alan’s kind nature, she decides he is the ideal recipient of her ring. Despite his protests, Alan, who sees himself as nothing more than a conman, accepts the ring after she insists, asserting that it saved him. Her last words urge him to “earn … what you have been given.”
Almost instantly, Alan Scott finds himself pursued by ninjas working for Talia al Ghul in the League of Shadows, the same adversaries who chased Catwoman and Batman in the series’ first issue. Utilizing his newfound ring, Scott incinerates his would-be assailants, leaving him horrified by his transformation. The journey ahead will reveal how Scott learns to harness the ring’s powers, uncovers its history, and discovers his own potential.
Gotham by Gaslight Offers Another Reinvention of Alan Scott
Not the Only One from This Year
This isn’t the first instance of Alan Scott’s character being reimagined in the DC Universe in 2024. Another miniseries, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern by Tim Sheridan and Cian Tormey, which is part of the main DCU canon, also explored this. The series aimed to contextualize the recent revelation of Alan Scott’s sexual orientation, revising his Golden Age origin story to account for this new aspect. It reimagines Alan Scott as a superhero who was closeted during the peak of his career, facing ostracization and blackmail to join the JSA.
All six issues of Alan Scott: The Green Lantern are currently available, with the collected edition set for release on September 24th, 2024, by DC Comics.
This revelation provided DC with the opportunity to narrate a story about the resilience and willpower of the human, queer spirit. Such a narrative wouldn’t have been possible without the willingness to reinvent a character introduced over 80 years ago. This reinvention allows the character to evolve with the times, offering fresh perspectives. The same objective may well be realized with the new Gaslight version of Alan Scott.
DC's Green Lantern Legacy Changes Forever with Godlike Evolution of Alan Scott's Powers
In just a few issues, this aim seems to be achieved in various ways. The traditionally virtuous and noble Alan Scott is reimagined as a conman and perhaps a rogue. More importantly, this new issue depicts him as someone deeply unsettled by the capabilities of the Green Lantern ring. In the bright world of the Golden Age, Alan Scott’s powers were meant to be celebrated; however, here, the powers are reframed as a curse with lethal consequences rather than a blessing.
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age #4 is now available from DC Comics.
Green Lantern
Green Lantern is the name given to multiple enforcers of intergalactic justice in the DC Universe. Green Lanterns can harness the cosmic energy of willpower, and create unique spectral objects to face off against their enemies. Though some Green Lanterns have assisted with the Justice League, they primarily belong to the Green Lantern Corps.