Justice League Movie of 2019 Introduced a Significant DC Hero to the DCAU After Two Decades at the Perfect Moment

The DC Animated Universe (DCAU) welcomed a prominent superhero at a pivotal moment with the release of Justice League vs.the Fatal Five in 2019. Following the immense acclaim of 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series, which laid the groundwork for Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s universe, the subsequent series, Superman: The Animated Series, expanded on the Superman comic book mythology, incorporating a multitude of characters from across the vast DC Universe, including the Green Lantern lore.

Kyle Rayner’s introduction in season 3 of Superman marked the DCAU’s first foray into the Green Lantern Corps. However, this version of Rayner blended elements of his comic persona with attributes of the legendary Silver Age Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. Although Rayner initiated the Green Lantern storyline within the DCAU, it was John Stewart who ultimately emerged as the spotlight character in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. The choice to sideline Hal Jordan, while seemingly unexpected today, was a strategic decision at the time due to his complicated narrative in the 1990s.

Hal Jordan’s Controversial Turn in the 1990s

Although Hal Jordan was not the original Green Lantern, he, along with John Stewart, remains one of the most recognized figures associated with the title. For many years, Hal was celebrated as one of DC’s flagship heroes, but the 1990s introduced several controversial story arcs that significantly shifted public sentiment regarding his character. The 1994 storyline, Emerald Twilight, depicted Hal’s transformation into the villainous Parallax, while his attempted redemption and subsequent death came at the conclusion of the 1996 crossover The Final Night.

By the time Superman: The Animated Series premiered in 1996, Hal Jordan’s reputation had already been marred by these developments, leading the show’s creators to ultimately shy away from introducing such a divisive character. Instead, they chose to portray Kyle Rayner, while still weaving in aspects of Hal’s legacy, such as the passing of the Green Lantern ring from Abin Sur to Kyle, and establishing Sinestro as Kyle’s arch-nemesis. Notably, Hal’s legacy is subtly acknowledged with an easter egg in Kyle’s inaugural episode, and he later appears as a Green Lantern from an alternate timeline in Justice League Unlimited.

Timing Hal Jordan’s Inclusion in the DCAU

Green Lantern Corps members Kyle Rayner Guy Gardner Hal Jordan and John Stewart in Justice League vs the Fatal Five

Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern: Rebirth miniseries, published from 2004 to 2005, not only revived Hal Jordan’s character but also effectively recontextualized his earlier storylines, portraying his descent into villainy as a result of possession by Parallax—a cosmic entity symbolizing fear—rather than an authentic moral failing. This revitalization of Hal’s character subsequently reaffirmed his place as a beloved figure in the DC Universe, paving the way for his inclusion in the DCAU. In Justice League vs.the Fatal Five, Hal Jordan is officially acknowledged as he joins the Green Lantern Corps alongside other notable characters like Jessica Cruz and Guy Gardner.

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