In 2021, writer Geoff Thorne, with artists Dexter Soy and Marco Santucci, jumped on Green Lantern for a 12-issue limited run. This story arc delivered one of the most unexpected status quo changes to DC's Green Lantern mythology since Geoff Johns' iconic tenure on the series.
In his run on Green Lantern, Thorne made a number of changes to the Green Lantern lore, mythology, and power structure. Beginning with a literal bang, he led readers on a tale of mystery, magic, and survival. Not only did his story bring John Stewart to his most powerful, but he gave the spotlight to other lanterns, such as Teen Lantern, Simon Baz, and Jo Mullein. Although not in Thorne's stories, the annual of this run also left readers with another sudden change, Jessica Cruz as a Yellow Lantern.
When he began his Green Lantern run in 2021, Geoff Thorne made clear that the series would focus on John Stewart as its leading hero. While different writers often focus on different lanterns, Hal Jordan is typically the solo lantern to Stewart's Justice League lantern. Not only did Thorne conclude his run with a dramatic change to Stewart, but he did so in a way that made him more integral to the Green Lantern Corps than he has ever been.
The story begins with an assembly of various intergalactic powers and governments, such as Sinestro's Yellow Lantern Corps, the Guardians of Oa, and the United Planets. The meeting has been called to discuss the role of the Guardians and Green Lantern Corps in the universe, and if they are still fit to be the peacekeepers of space. However, the series takes a dramatic turn when a massive contingent of Green Lanterns is left stranded following an assault on Oa, the murder of the Guardians, and the destruction of the Central Battery.
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Following this attack, the series follows three key threads. These are the survival of John Stewart and his journey home, Jo Mullein taking control of Oa, and the mission of Simon Baz and the Green Lanterns. The biggest focus of these stories was the evolution of John Stewart. As his arc progresses, Stewart is met by a New God named Lonar, the god of journeys. He shows Stewart his possible futures; one where he has ascended to godhood and another where he remained a Green Lantern. He informs Stewart that his choice may either save or destroy the universe, and leads him on a mission to prevent the arrival of a mysterious cosmic entity called the Lightbringer.
However, when Stewart's journey leads to a confrontation with New God Esak, Stewart absorbs the 'Godstorm', a cosmic phenomenon that imbues the power of godhood. He used his new powers to defeat the villainous god, prevent Lightbringer's arrival, save trillions of lives. After his ascension, Stewart returns to Oa, where Mullein and other heroes have discovered that the attack was orchestrated by the now villainous Guardian Koyos. This led to a confrontation where John's powers became the new battery for lantern rings.
This ascension to New God status is perhaps the most radical alteration to a DC hero since DC ended the New 52 era. Not only does it leave the Green Lantern Corps dependent on John Stewart, but it makes official the idea that a Green Lantern is now more powerful than even Superman. It also means that Stewart is now more than capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the universe's heaviest hitters, such as Parallax and Darkseid. For the first time since Grant Morrison added Orion to the JLA in his legendary 1999 run, the iconic team has a genuine New God alongside them.
DC has had several stories exploring newly powered heroes and villains alike. Among them include Batman in the Mobius Chair, Wonder Woman under the possession of Hecate, and the ambitious Year of the Villain event. These stories are often well received due to how they test the heroes' character. However, they also add the feeling of a grander scope to the comic universes and provide an easy door into more epic feeling stories. In Stewart's case, this is possibly the most dramatic change in power set to any DC character in such a short time. And his new powers may invite new cosmic challenges.
Unfortunately, many writers see power sets like Stewart's as an obstacle to telling good stories, so matching a writer adept at cosmic stories would be key. Thorne himself no doubt has ideas that would make him an excellent fit to pick up right where he left off with the lanterns. It's unclear whether New God John Stewart would make for better stories alongside the Green Lantern Corps or the Justice League, but his new evolution definitely deserves new attention. Although currently dead for DC's Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths event, there's little doubt among readers that the Justice League will be reborn very soon.
With so many dangling threads left unanswered in one series, it feels like wasted potential to simply leave them hanging. Every new change leaves the door open for new and exciting stories, but Stewart's godhood is by far the ripest for exploration. While superheroes becoming even more powered has been shown before, the opportunities left by Thorne feel new and refreshing. The scale of his story, the villains, and the new status quo in the galaxy leaves open the possibility for an entirely new chapter in the Green Lantern mythos.
Whether it's in a Justice League or a Green Lantern story, fans of Stewart's new state in the DC Universe deserve a follow-up. The fact that it features a fan favorite Green Lantern in his most powerful state should make for a slam dunk of a story. Whether DC decides to maintain the change long-term, however, remains to be seen.