Even if you’ve never picked up a Green Lantern comic book before, chances are you recognize the name. A critically panned 2011 movie, a starring role in one of the most beloved cartoons of the early 2000s, and a short-lived animated solo series means Green Lantern has some pop cultural presence; most people at least know he’s got a magic ring that makes constructs and that he’s a member of the Justice League. They might even know that multiple heroes operate under the name, due to the sprawling size of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps.
But for the first time ever, the Green Lanterns have received their own live-action TV series, and it has shed some light on corners of the mythos general audiences might not be as familiar with. Across eight episodes, Lanterns has laid the groundwork for one of the most important corners of the DC Universe, introducing some incredibly important players moving forward, including Earth’s new Green Lantern John Stewart. But with the tentative confirmation of a second season, it’s clear that the show still has more story left to tell. And, certainly, a huge part of that story will be the machinations of Sinestro, Hal Jordan’s former mentor who has been left in what looks like a prison — but might actually be his salvation (and everyone else’s worst nightmare).
