Summary:
- Renowned artist Mike Becker has crafted a captivating piece of fanart that seamlessly merges the Wild West with Green Lantern, offering a fresh perspective on Hal Jordan as a space cowboy.
- While there’s no official cowboy Green Lantern in canon, DC Elseworlds presents exciting opportunities for innovative takes on classic characters.
- Becker’s artwork not only draws parallels between Wild West lawmen and Green Lanterns but also sparks speculation about potential new comic concepts at DC Comics.
Green Lantern heads to the American Wild West in a brilliant piece of fan art that DC Comics needs to see. Though the Green Lantern usually exists in modern times, the concept allows for a Green Lantern in almost any era. Artist Mike J. Becker explores this idea, creating a Green Lantern patrolling the American West of the 19th century, keeping it safe from outlaws.
Mike Becker shared the fanart in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He mentioned it started as a commission and described the piece as “Green Lantern Hal Jordan, space cowboy.” The artwork shows Hal Jordan in a Wild West version of a Green Lantern outfit, complete with a green cape and cowboy hat.
Green Lantern Hal Jordan, space cowboy commission
✳️✳️✳️ pic.twitter.com/97vuLZ3viA— Mike Becker (@mikejbecker) May 29, 2024
He carries his Lantern in hand, while a group of alien villagers behind him look on in awe. Becker also included work-in-progress versions, giving fans an inside look at his creative process.
There Has Never Been A Canonical Cowboy Green Lantern
Green Lantern is a cornerstone of the DC Universe, with various versions active since the Silver Age. During this era, Green Lantern was revamped from a magic-based hero to a high-concept science fiction character.
Under the guidance of editor Julius Schwartz, Green Lantern became a member of an intergalactic police force patrolling the universe. The Green Lantern Corps, which is millennia old, includes many different species. Several humans, including Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Jessica Cruz, have been members.
While humans have been part of the Green Lantern Corps, none joined until Hal Jordan, ruling out a canonical Wild West Green Lantern. However, the DC multiverse is vast, and the classic Elseworlds label shows various Green Lantern variations throughout history.
For example, in 1993’s Emerald Knight, Bruce Wayne obtained the Green Lantern Power Ring, becoming a Green Lantern/Batman hybrid. Other Elseworlds titles feature additional Green Lantern variants, but none from the Wild West.
DC Needs To Create a Wild West Green Lantern Comic
Mike Becker’s new fanart finally brings to life the cowboy Green Lantern fans didn’t know they needed. Combining the Wild West and the Green Lantern Corps is a genius idea, as the two concepts complement each other.
The lawmen of the Wild West patrolled vast and desolate lands, just as Green Lanterns keep distant sectors of space safe. Much like these lawmen, most Green Lanterns also work alone. Becker’s art captures the essence of Hal Jordan, whose maverick attitude makes him a modern-day cowboy.
DC Comics should seriously consider creating a Wild West Green Lantern comic. It would offer a fresh and exciting take on a beloved character, blending the frontier spirit of the Wild West with the cosmic duties of the Green Lantern Corps. This combination could bring new life to both genres and offer fans an adventure they never expected but will undoubtedly love.
