While fans wait for Cyberfrog #3 and Reignbow the Brute – years in the making – former DC Comics Green Lantern artist Ethan Van Sciver surprisingly(?) defends James Gunn’s Lanterns.
Van Sciver was known for his stellar work on Green Lantern with Geoff Johns, but reportedly parted ways with DC Comics over politics. Van Sciver would go on to spearhead “ComicsGate,” a movement within the comic book industry that would showcase independent conservative comic creators via crowd funding.
So Ethan Van Sciver coming out in public support of Lanterns is sort of surprising to fans, as the show is created by the likes of James Gunn, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof, all of whom are considered “woke.”
It should be said that Van Sciver may be getting a paycheck for the use of certain characters via royalties, as rumors offer that Atroticus will be appearing in Lanterns. Ethan Van Sciver co-created the character with Geoff Johns.
However, that doesn’t mean getting paid swayed Van Sciver’s opinions.
What did Ethan Van Sciver say about Lanterns?
Following the trailer release, which even saw legendary comic book artist Alex Ross seemingly express disappointment, Van Sciver took to X to fire back at the backlash and the recently surfaced video of Lindelof joking (no one laughed) that the “Green” title in “Green Lantern” is stupid.
First, the “seangunnburner” account responded to fan complaints, “It couldn’t be more obvious that this is a joke.”
Another user replied, “Do you ever get tired of making a fool of yourself defending these people?”
The “seangunnburner” account replied back, “No. I’m unconcerned with what people like you think of me. And frankly I’m almost certainly smarter than 99.9% of the people that think I’m a fool.”
That’s when Ethan Van Sciver chimed in with his two cents and blasted the internet.
“100% this. I’m so tired of arguing with the internet defending basic shit from people determined to be victimized by pop culture, and being greeted like Anne Coulter on the Bill Maher show when she said Trump would win back in 2015,” said Van Sciver.
He continued and defended Lindelof, “Lindelof was joking. He doesn’t think ‘green’ is stupid. He said that as a provocative joke to anger nerds. ‘How could the guy making a show about Green Lantern think the color green is stupid?! GRRRRR!!!.'”
The former DC artist added, “The show is called LANTERNS because it will also introduce other colors on the spectrum. At least Yellow.”
Ethan then went on to offer his thoughts on the show and may have even also revealed insider info.
“The show looks great. It looks like its being taken seriously as an adult drama-mystery first, and a superhero thing second,” he said.
Van Sciver continued, “Obviously, they’re holding back the green constructs and superhero stuff in this trailer. Sinestro is in every episode, and we don’t see him in these two minutes. There is a reason for that. They’re holding their fire.”
Ethan even thinks Lanterns is bound to win awards and compares it to Barbarian and Weapons, and toTrue Detective, which shares the same showrunner.
“I have a feeling this show will win Emmys. The cast is solid,” he said. “They seem inspired by Zach Cregger and Nic Pizzolatto. We’re in for something substantial, folks. Wait and see!”
Ethan also responded directly to James Gunn with the trailer release: “Thank you, Mr. Gunn. This looks very good, very respectable. Captures the souls of Hal and John in a way the GL movie failed to do. I trust you.”
Lanterns is good?
For what it’s worth, my insiders have also said Lanterns is good and that it starts off very grounded but eventually goes big into sci-fi.
Fans got burned by Gunn, particularly with the woke Peacemaker, so most have taken a defensive stance toward the DCU. Can you blame them?
