Green Lantern: The Animated Series' open-ended and often over-looked series finale was eventually addressed in three different DC Comics TV series.
After several years shepherding the line of DC Universe Original Animated Movies, producer Bruce Timm returned to episodic TV animation in 2011 with the first full animated series centered around space-faring superhero Green Lantern. Despite Timm having previously used the John Stewart incarnation of the character in earlier Justice League animated series, the increased prominence of Silver Age GL Hal Jordan following the Geoff Johns-orchestrated Rebirth storyline and the impending release of the Ryan Reynolds-starring Green Lantern film made him an obvious choice to lead the series.
Josh Keaton, then fresh from his lead role on fan-favorite series The Spectacular Spider-Man, starred as Jordan alongside Kevin Michael Richardson as gruff Green Lantern trainer Kilowog. The series was rounded out by new characters Razer (Jason Spisak), a reluctant ally and member of the destructive Red Lantern Corps, and Aya (Grey DeLisle), the artificial intelligence piloting the Interceptor spacecraft transporting the crew through uncharted "frontier space". Timm shared producing duties with Jim Krieg, then best known for his work on Spider-Man: The Animated Series and penning the series finale of X-Men: The Animated Series, and Giancarlo Volpe, whose experience on Star Wars: The Clone Wars would prove invaluable for the fully computer-generated series.
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After a special broadcast of the pilot episode in November 2011, Green Lantern: The Animated Series made its full debut the following March, anchoring the Cartoon Network DC Nation programming block alongside the traditionally animated Young Justice. Despite airing in support of a major motion picture, the lukewarm reception to the film and its financial underperformance were a black mark on the series to overcome. This ultimately proved insurmountable when scores of Green Lantern movie merchandise sat unsold on store shelves souring retailers on buying product in support of the series, a necessary component toward financing animated projects in the pre-streaming broadcast television paradigm (also the cause of Young Justice's original cancellation).
Completing its run of 26 episodes in March 2013, the series concluded with a final battle for the Corps to prevent a corrupted Aya from eradicating all organic life from the universe, a battle ending with her sacrifice after realizing the error of her ways. Believing a trace of Aya still existed somewhere in the universe, Razer set out to find her, the closing moments of the show revealing that a symbolically hopeful Blue Lantern ring trailed closely behind him. Although Green Lantern: The Animated Series came and went overshadowed by other contemporary DC Comics projects both animated and live-action, the proliferation of such content and sharing of creative personnel opened the door for further exploration and nods down the line.
This began in earnest with Keaton reprising the role of Hal Jordan on 2016's Justice League Action. Krieg, a producer on the new series, co-wrote 2018's "Barehanded", an episode featuring Patton Oswalt -- in one of his numerous appearances across DC Comics animation -- as the Space Cabbie, dealing with a new GPS. The vocals for the device were provided by DeLisle, with strong hints throughout of earlier adventures by the A.I. device. By the episode's end, the Navigational System, as the character is credited, departed to rediscover their old life.
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Produced by Timm and co-written by Krieg, 2019's Justice League vs. The Fatal Five saw Richardson reprising his role as Kilowog alongside SpongeBob SquarePants star Tom Kenny as Green Lantern recurring character Salaak. The animated film faithfully adapted Kilowog's earlier design in two-dimensions but used a slightly altered version of Salaak's DCAU look over his more complex CG model. Guy Gardner was fleetingly glimpsed in the film, represented by his Green Lantern design; Hal Jordan also briefly appeared, but via his Justice League Unlimited model. As a more direct continuation of Justice League Unlimited, the reuse of actors and designs from Green Lantern were more playful Easter eggs rather than any meaningful attempt at closure.
While earlier references to Green Lantern: The Animated Series were suggestive, oblique or cosmetic, the fourth season of Young Justice offered fans a full-on follow-up to the series. Co-written by Krieg and Volpe, "Encounter Upon the Razor's Edge!" brought Razer into the series with full acknowledgement of his backstory from Green Lantern and showing his activities balancing both Red and Blue Lantern rings and desire to finally locate Aya. Spisak returned to the role, already a regular on Young Justice as Kid Flash and Forager. Richardson, part of the series' cadre of versatile utility players, once again appeared as Kilowog. Despite seemingly connecting the two series, creator Greg Weisman tempered fan excitement by referring to the earlier series as "Adjacent" to Young Justice, allowing the use of certain canonical elements without strict adherence.
Despite lacking in merchandise at the time, a concurrent tie-in comic featured characters unseen in the series. Among those included was Lobo, a character series writer Ernie Altbacker -- co-writer of the upcoming Green Lantern: Beware My Power DTV animated film -- unsuccessfully pushed to appear in the animated series. Fleeting rumors of the series returning on HBO Max briefly circulated in 2021 before attention shifted toward the live-action Green Lantern Corps series currently in production for the streaming service. Lacking the fervent fan base of Young Justice or the DC Animated Universe, Green Lantern: The Animated Series seems an unlikely candidate for a surprise renewal, but continued goodwill and fond remembrances of the series ensure that even in lieu of a formal revival the series won't soon be entirely forgotten.
George Morrow currently lives in Southern Ontario, Canada, and studied creative writing in British Columbia. He's been a contributing writer and columnist for several publications, wrote and illustrated his own 250 page graphic novel "TDSA: The Teenaged Defending Squad of America" (available now from fine digital retailers), and had a suggestion make it into print in the "Captain America: America's Avenger" Marvel Handbook. He's read far too many comic books and watched far too many movies and television shows.
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