Given their shared roots in outer space, it's only natural that the histories for Green Lantern and Superman to cross over with each other. As such, the Kryptonian people, including both Superman and many of his peers, have been tied to the Green Lantern Corps many times over the years in ways that enrich the histories of both groups.
Now, we're taking a closer look at the various ways in which the histories of Krypton and the Green Lantern Corps intersect and have crossed over with one another over the years.
Who Was the Kryptonian Green Lantern?
The connection between Krypton and the Corps dates back to the earliest days of the latter, when a Kryptonian named Jan-Al became the seventh Green Lantern. Created by Sam Humphries and Robson Rocha, Jan-Al first appeared in Green Lanterns #18 in 2017. She was a part of the first Kryptonian exploration mission meant to find planets suitable for Krypton to colonize.
Jan demonstrated the immense willpower needed to become a Green Lantern when her crew crash-landed on a dangerous planet. Thanks to her leadership, the crew managed to survive a terrible sandstorm. After this she was selected to join the burgeoning Green Lantern Corps. Unfortunately, after meeting on Sol-3 (ancient Earth) the first Lanterns wound up in conflict with one another and Jan's fate in the battle demonstrated the deficiency of the early power rings. Without the safeguards the modern rings are given, Jan's ring became overcharged by her willpower and burned her to death.
Who Was Krypton's Green Lantern?
Arguably the most important connection between Krypton and the Green Lanterns is the question of which Lantern was assigned to protect Krypton at the time of its destruction. It turns out that the Lantern in question is fan-favorite Lantern Tomar-Re. Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, Tomar first appeared in Green Lantern #6 in 1961. He was the first Lantern Hal Jordan met after his late predecessor, Abin Sur, who had been a close friend of Tomar's. Tomar supported Hal during his early days with the Corps and the two quickly forged their own strong friendship.
In a story called "The Greatest Green Lantern Of All!" by Elliot S. Maggin, Neal Adams, Dick Dillin, and Dick Giordano from Superman #257, Tomar's history with Krypton was revealed. Tomar was the Green Lantern of Space Sector 2813, which included Krypton. Aware that the planet's core had grown unstable, Tomar sought to use stellarium to prevent a catastrophe but while on his way to Krypton a yellow solar flare weakened and temporarily blinded him. Although he was able to reacquire the stellarium he did not reach Krypton in time and his vision returned just in time to see the planet explode. Noble Tomar was of course heartbroken by this but his years of exemplary service definitely outweigh this one failure. After the explosion, the Guardians of the Universe brought him back to Oa to heal and informed him that the infant Kal-El had survived the destruction.
Was Superman a Green Lantern?
Superman has fought alongside various Green Lanterns on the Justice League and during the DC Universe's many "Crisis" events, but he was almost a member of the Corps himself. Superman was actually selected to be Abin's successor before Hal, but was ultimately rejected because of a specific regulation. After Abin's ship crashed on Earth he instructed his ring to find and bring to him a worthy successor so it produced the most righteous being on the planet, Clark Kent. But while Clark's character obviously makes him worthy of a power ring, Abin ultimately couldn't pick him because his successor had to be native to Earth's space sector, 2814. Therefore, as a Kryptonian, Clark wasn't eligible. After discovering this, Abin wiped his memory and had the ring send him back before locating an Earth-born candidate, Hal Jordan.
Alternate reality stories have gone further, exploring what would happen if Clark did become a Lantern. One notable example is the Elseworlds tale Superman: Last Son of Earth. This limited series by Steve Gerber and Doug Wheatley reverses Superman's traditional origin story. In this version he is born Clark Kent, the human son of Jonathan and Martha, with the former sending him in a spaceship to Krypton when he believes the Earth is going to be destroyed. While being raised on Krypton by Jor-El and Lara, Clark, now known as Kal-El, discovers a dead Green Lantern and uses its power ring to stop Krypton's destruction, leading to him being recruited by the Green Lantern Corps, before discovering his Earth-bound origins.