HBO’s superhero series “Lanterns” is drawing heat from some viewers who argue the show reframes Green Lantern lore around racial privilege. Fox News Digital reported that Episode 3, titled “OutKast,” centers John Stewart’s experience as a Black man in America, triggering a split between critics of the shift and defenders who cite the character’s political roots in 1970s comics.
What changed in Episode 3, according to Fox News Digital
In DC Comics canon, Green Lanterns are chosen by alien rings that seek individuals able to overcome fear. Fox News Digital reported that “Lanterns” reinterprets that standard for Stewart: rather than being selected as an adult for fearlessness, he’s conditioned from infancy by his parents to wield the ring through precision and perfection.
In a scene described by the outlet, Stewart’s mother, Bernadette, challenges a Guardian of the Universe (appearing as an older White woman), asking, “Do you understand how unfair it is to ask a Black man in America if he’s afraid?” She adds, “We are terrified daily of persecution and still show up, sometimes better than everyone around us. Even in space, y’all don’t consider us.”
The backlash—and the defense
Fox News Digital noted that some viewers accused the series of swapping Green Lantern’s classic emphasis on individual willpower for commentary on racial privilege. The outlet also reported that “Lanterns” co-creator Damon Lindelof previously created HBO’s 2019 “Watchmen,” which faced criticism over its focus on American racial politics.
Not all reactions were negative. Filmmaker and comic writer Steven DeKnight wrote on X that “Lanterns is fantastic,” arguing those upset about a “woke” take “obviously never read O’Neil & Adams’ Green Lantern/Green Arrow run,” according to Fox News Digital.
How John Stewart’s origins factor in
Per Fox News Digital, John Stewart debuted in 1971 as one of DC’s first Black superheroes and was portrayed as a civil rights advocate and fearless leader whose willpower earned him the ring. Critics cited by the outlet argue “Lanterns” alters that by making childhood conditioning central to his selection.
Writer and co–executive producer Vanessa Baden Kelly addressed the complaints in an interview with TheWrap, as reported by Fox News Digital. She said she saw people calling the show “woke” and sharing panels from 1970s comics of Stewart “calling people ‘Whitey’ or him opposing wars,” adding, “that’s right, just keep it in the front of your mind — that this is who John Stewart’s always been.”
Politics enters the conversation
Actor J. Alphonse Nicholson, who plays Stewart’s father in flashbacks, told TheWrap he was “grateful that the writing room put this into the script,” asking, “How can you expect this African American man in this world … to be fearless?” Fox News Digital also reported that on pop culture creator Fantastic Frankey’s podcast, Nicholson said, “Could you imagine where we would be right now if Kamala got up in there…? We’re experiencing the consequences of not trusting a Black woman,” a remark the outlet framed in the context of the show’s themes and the 2024 election.
Industry critique and the ratings caveat
Entertainment critic Christian Toto told Fox News Digital the show illustrates a broader Hollywood trend of inserting modern culture-war debates into stories, calling “Lanterns” “overtly woke” and arguing that such dialogue can feel “on-the-nose.” Toto also claimed the series has “strong ratings” so far, while warning that audience patience may wane.
Where HBO stands
Fox News Digital reported it reached out to Warner Bros. Discovery but did not immediately hear back.
