The Green Lantern is a venerable superhero mantle on Earth, but it's also more than that. The Green Lantern Corps patrols the thirty-six hundred sectors of the universe, as broken up by the Oan Guardians of the Universe. Among those is Sector 2814, the one that contains Earth.
For most of the Corps' history, Earth's Lanterns have always been other species from the sector, but since the beginning of the heroic age, multiple humans have taken up the ring to protect their homeworld. Not every Lantern who protects the Earth is a member of the Corps, or even protecting the same Earth, but they've all safeguarded the planet from all manner of threats.
10 Alan Scott Of The New 52 Earth-2 Protected His World With A Very Different Power
The New 52 version of Earth-2 differed from previous versions. Its heroes debuted much later in the timeline, and some of their powers were quite different. That was the case with Alan Scott. His origin was similar; he was involved in a train wreck and received great power that allowed him to survive.
However, instead of finding a magic lantern, Scott was empowered by Earth-2's Green. Gaining super-strength, durability, flight, and the ability to control green energy, Alan Scott joined the Society and helped defend the Earth from the power of the Grey. He became a leader of the heroes of his Earth, helping battle every threat.
9 Abin Sur Was Earth's Green Lantern Before Hal Jordan
Abin Sur hailed from the planet Ungara and was chosen as Green Lantern of Sector 2814, leaving behind his wife and children to defend the stars. He'd do well over the years, but an encounter with the demons of Ysmault changed his life. There, Abin Sur learned the prophecy of Blackest Night, which he'd consign to the book of Oa.
Later, Abin Sur crashed on Earth and his ring went go to Hal Jordan. Sur had a long tenure as a Green Lantern, but he would be best remembered for being Jordan's predecessor and for learning a prophecy, his other accomplishments lost to time.
8 Teen Lantern Has Quickly Made A Name For Herself
Technically, Teen Lantern doesn't wield a Green Lantern ring, but she's still considered a Lantern. As a young girl, Keli Quintela created a gauntlet that allowed her to tap into the power of the Central Power Battery on Oa. Keli proved adept at using the energy and joined up with Young Justice, helping them free Gemworld and embarking on other adventures.
Teen Lantern has since made her way to Oa and worked with the actual Green Lanterns, including training with the best of the Corps. Teen Lantern may not be ready to defend Earth completely on her own, but she's well on her way there.
7 Simon Baz Quickly Made A Name For Himself
The human Green Lanterns are a powerful lot, and it can be quite intimidating to join them. Simon Baz had to deal with that. Becoming a Green Lantern at exactly the worst time, he experienced a baptism by fire, as enemy forces both from without and within conspired to destroy the Green Lantern Corps.
Simon Baz proved he was up to the challenge and only got better from there. He'd join the Justice League alongside Jessica Cruz, and the two became partners, protecting Sector 2814 together. Baz made quite an impact and remained one of the Corps' most stalwart members, always ready to take on all comers.
6 Jessica Cruz Overcame Her Own Fear To Become A Green Lantern
Jessica Cruz proved she belonged among the most courageous Lanterns in the Corps. Chosen by the Ring of Volthoom after the death of Earth-3's Power Ring, she did her best to become a great hero, defeating her own fears and that which Volthoom's ring put in her. Eventually, the Ring was transformed into a more conventional Green Lantern one, and Cruz joined the Corps.
Cruz is an alum of the Justice League and worked with Simon Baz as Green Lantern of Sector 2814. She proved she had what it took by overcoming her own fears. Since then, Cruz stayed with the Corps, fighting the good fight against the forces of fear.
5 Guy Gardner Is An Annoying But Great Lantern
Guy Gardner isn't the easiest person to get along with, but he's got it where it counts. Gardner was almost chosen for Abin Sur's ring, but he was farther away than Jordan was. He'd eventually get his own Green Lantern ring and become the hard-fighting Green Lantern that everyone loves to hate.
Guy can be mouthy and rude, but he's a Lantern nearly without peer. He's grown a lot over the years, becoming more of a role model than ever before. He may not be the most kid friendly Green Lantern, but he's earned his spot among the most famous and powerful Green Lanterns.
4 Hal Jordan Was The First Human Member Of The Green Lantern Corps
Hal Jordan is a legend in the Corps. The first human to join the Corps, he had a lot to overcome but did so expertly. Jordan was able to show his peers that humans could do just as well, if not better than them. He became an icon among the members of the Corps, gaining a reputation as the greatest Green Lantern ever.
Of course, Jordan's tenure wasn't all rosy. Falling to Parallax caused him to destroy the Green Lantern Corps and almost overwrite all reality, but his return saw him take front and center stage during the War of Light. Jordan helped save the universe from the forces of death and has been defending all life everywhere since.
3 Alan Scott Wasn't A Member Of The Corps But He Was No Less A Green Lantern
Alan Scott became Green Lantern in the days before WWII. Helping found the Justice Society of America, he served as inspiration for every hero who came after him. Unlike members of the Green Lantern Corps, Scott was empowered by the Starheart. While it was still created by the Oans, it was powered by magic and not willpower.
With the Starheart keeping him young, Alan battled evil throughout the decades. He became the soul of the Justice Society, having fought the good fight at the center of the team for as long as anyone. He might not be a part of the Corps, but all the human Lanterns look to Alan Scott for guidance.
2 John Stewart Rose To Top Of The Green Lantern Corps
John Stewart made some mistakes, but has taken his place among the Corps' elite Lanterns. Over the years of his storied career in the Corps, Stewart went from a brash young Lantern to an elder statesman. Stewart's time with the Justice League proved just how great he was on the biggest stage, and no one doubted his heroism or skill.
John Stewart is the consummate Green Lantern. His constructs are precise and powerful, his background as both an architect and a Marine Corps sniper making him the perfect soldier against evil. There are few Lanterns more respected than he is, and none deserve it more.
1 Kyle Rayner Kept The Fire Burning When He Was The Only Green Lantern
Kyle Rayner quickly proved he was the greatest Green Lantern. The graphic designer was thrust into battle against Hal Jordan because he was the first person Ganthet came across. Rayner triumphed and became the only Green Lantern in the entire universe. Working completely alone, he kept the fires burning, traveling from one side of the universe to the other.
Rayner joined the Justice League and proved instrumental in the early days of the Corps' return. He'd become a host of the will entity Ion and eventually gain the power of the White Lantern, hosting every Lantern Corps' power. Doing things no other Lantern had ever accomplished, Kyle Rayner established himself as the best of the best.