Anyone else tired of seeing GL shoot green lasers?

[Karnak2k]

The new Justice League is steadily getting better, despite a few weakpoints like Superman's voice and characterization. However, my biggest gripe is Green Lantern. He's got the authoratative voice (sadly more then Superman's) and the costume looks good, but can they have him actually USE his power ring. All he does is shoot lasers and projects shield. Granted he's supposed to be the military guy and I guess green boxing gloves and shovels might look "silly", but they pulled it off well with the GL in the BB JLU, and who didn't think it was tight how Sinestro pimped Supes in STAS.

It's a bit sad considering John Stewart was an architect in the comic continuity.

[Stupendous Man]

I know Im going to get crucified for this but .....


I prefer the way Green Lantern is using the ring to
any other way ive ever seen it portrayed before.

I know ... I know... kill me .

But first let me explain.

The producers of Justice League are trying to sell this
as "not your fathers Justice League" ..or
" dont expect the Super Friends " ..

In other words they are struggling for credibility -
trying to prove this isnt a kids show.

And they've been fairly successful .. Ive gotten some
friends to watch JL who wont read a comic book and theyve
enjoyed it.

How is a show like Justice League gonna have any credibility
when one of the main heroes is making giant green fists ...or a big green hammer.

Its silly .. and looks even sillier on screen.

* * *

But Im willing to offer you a scientific reason , a logical
reason why Jon Stewart is using the ring more efficiently
than any other GL weve seen to date.

The Green Lantern ring produces energy triggered by the
will of its user ..correct? (nod yes)

Well if its all just energy ... wouldnt the energy in the shape of
a hammer be the same energy in its natural state?

Would not the impact from his ring be the same, are you proposing that his ring causes more damage when the energy
is shaped like a hammer than when its raw?

I dont think so.

And if you agree ... that the impact of the energy is the same regardles of its shape ..why bother shaping it at all?

For aesthetic value? So it looks cool?

Its a waste of resources ...and if the ring is triggered by
will power and concentration ...it takes more concentration to
form the energy into an object and maintain its shape during battle wouldnt you agree?

Therefore his ring is less effective when the ring is forced to shape or mold the green energy.

That bieng said ... Jon Stewart is a practical man.
He wouldnt see the need to shape the rings energy
into a giant bunny when firing the energy raw accomplishes
the same purpose.

Thats not to say JL Stewart couldnt do it ...its just not practical.

Maybee someone like Kyle Rayner who is an artist would feel the need to mold the energy into creative things . . . But John wouldnt see the need when the direct approach is as or more effective.

The ring is supposed to be the universes most powerfull weapon .. not a paint brush .

Stewart uses it as such , with the respect that it deserves.

[The Dark Knight]

Using his ring creatively wouldn’t be silly. It worked in STAS, but I can understand the explanation that this Green Lantern isn’t an artist and wouldn’t use his ring the same way, but I still think Kyle was a better Green Lantern. Justice League is missing out on a lot of great possibilities by not using the ring to its full potential and I can only hope they find some way to get someone that uses the ring the way it was used in STAS, hero or villain.

[FLIPMODE]

Well if its all just energy ... wouldnt the energy in the shape of
a hammer be the same energy in its natural state?

Would not the impact from his ring be the same, are you proposing that his ring causes more damage when the energy
is shaped like a hammer than when its raw?

That would make a good topic The Spirit.

I totally agree with you on that one.

However certain things still seem unexplainanble. Ok I can see certain people's need to see GL make something. If the GL wanted to make pen, would the pen really write? I think that appeal is still with people, that he can make real things with his ring. I was just looking at JLA#4. In there kyle, made a 16 ton anvil, and dropped it on a foe. Then he "willed" a telescope so he can see into space.

(Im not sure, but did'nt someone say GL from JL iissue #2, made a chainsaw?) Energy balsts, I can see coming out of the ring, and they're only as strong as the energy the ring posses.

So what if GL just wanted enough energy to nudge and old lady into the street. He can do that right? This exert of energy would be different from an energy Blast, aimed at Darkseid. Where as that energy blast would be meant to cause great harm, but what"s the purpose of such a blast? Is is like a Laser? Is it meant to Pushed Darkseide backwards, Or meant to burn him? The quality of his rings power has to be varied, because different things happen to whatever he aims it at.

How would kyle see into space, with out forging the energy into a telescope? Or something similar. I think there may still be a need for some sort of imagination regarding the circumstance, that the energy in the form of a single line wont be enough.

[Heehaw]

If silly little shapes were made then they would be just that, silly little shapes. This is a modern day show, not Superfriends. I'd like to think we've come a long way in terms of what's realistic and what's just plain ridiculous.

[Karnak2k]

Originally posted by The Spirit
I know Im going to get crucified for this but .....


But first let me explain.

The producers of Justice League are trying to sell this
as "not your fathers Justice League" ..or
" dont expect the Super Friends " ..

In other words they are struggling for credibility -
trying to prove this isnt a kids show.

And they've been fairly successful .. Ive gotten some
friends to watch JL who wont read a comic book and theyve
enjoyed it.



I can see your point The Spirit. In no way am I advocating the return to Super Friends level silliness. That portrayal undermined the true power of the ring. I don't want a GL that makes little boxing gloves or rabbits. However, while using the ring as just a laser might be more efficient, it's still not being used to it's full potential. Flipmode pointed out a few variations.

The point is that the ring can do much much more than just repel beams and burn things in half. With a show like Justice League, you have several powerful beings, 2 of which already have laser like beams: Supes, Jonn.

In my JLU example the child GL used his ring to form 4 hands that held up two collapsing skyscrapers. In that one moment you see the true potential of the ring. Despite Superman's raw power, he couldn't have done that. That's the kind of creative use of the ring I'm talking about.

One last point. In a recent issue of the JLA comic, mainstream continuity, the various members of the JLA had their "secret identities" split from their superhero identities. All except Aquaman and Wonder Woman who don't have secret identities anymore. Not only that, but each seperate entity took only half of what made them whole. Supes was cold alien power while Clark his warm human side. Kyle went into a creative binge while GL without that creative side could only make bigger and bigger guns to shoot stuff with. WW constantly pointed out what I think holds true now: The ring is more than just a weapon of destruction.

Owell, JL is still good so maybe it's just there haven't been too many situations that call for creativity.

[Karkull]

John Stewart is not Kyle Rayner--he doesn't have the artistic background. Whereas making a giant fist would come naturally to Kyle, John would waste precious seconds coming up with the perfect shape. He's a military-oriented hero, so he uses the ring in the most direct way possible. I just don't see the problem here.

Besides, he's done some creative things (that container with the tube in order to save the people on the submarine). And it's only been three episodes anyway. Relax.

[Karnak2k]

Originally posted by Karkull
John Stewart is not Kyle Rayner--he doesn't have the artistic background. Whereas making a giant fist would come naturally to Kyle, John would waste precious seconds coming up with the perfect shape. He's a military-oriented hero, so he uses the ring in the most direct way possible. I just don't see the problem here.

Besides, he's done some creative things (that container with the tube in order to save the people on the submarine). And it's only been three episodes anyway. Relax.

I said I can see The Spirit's point and it is a perfectly valid one as is mine. Why do i need to "relax" when I said the above:


Owell, JL is still good so maybe it's just there haven't been too many situations that call for creativity.

This just seems like a fun choice for a discussion considering this is the first time in comic or cartoon continuity that this classic icon has been portrayed this way. If it were continued through the series I would find it a shame, because in my opinion this legendary weapon would be reduced to a dual laser gun/shield generator. Though, from the looks of it, few people seem to share this view :)

[kid_flash]

For the umpteenth time, this isn't Kyle Rayner! John Stewart has no desire, or reason, to do something in the most creative way possible. If a creative way is more efficient, he'll use it. But he has no desire to use up willpower or ring power to create little doo-dads. He has a job to do, and he just wants to see it get done.

[Karnak2k]

kid_flash, this isn't just about the Kyle Rayner Green Lantern. Every Green Lantern has used their ring in such a manner. That's one of the defining ablilities of a Green Lantern. Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Guy Gardner/GL, John Stewart(comic continuity), every Green Lantern or power ring related character has used their ring like this; it's part of GL's mythos just as much as Superman's recognized set of powers are part of his.

In no way is this a "John Stewart sucks, bring another GL" post. The character they've amalgamated is quite good and hopefully they won't sideline this part of the GL legend in later stories.

[kid_flash]

It just seems like the version of John Stewart they're playing with is more direct-minded, more of a military guy. Maybe for the comics that would've worked, but I just can't see John making thousands of bunnies to attack Kanjar Ro or something.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy all,

To approach the question from a slightly different perspective, when has John needed to use his ring for something OTHER than a shield or a laser beam in the show so far?

The only opportunities I can think of are the aforementioned submarine rescue (I'll lay odds there was a giant, green, glowing nitrogen pump right next to it to ensure the sailors didn't get the bends), and the missed opportunity with the Atlantean-ice-cap-melter-thingie ("Quick, GL! I don't have much time to disarm it!" "You're right, Batman. I'll just use my ring to rip the whole thing out of the ground and frickin' throw it into orbit."). Maybe some kind of life-scanner thing to find some remnant of the planet he blew up in In Darkest Night, but John probably doesn't think that way. He knows his ring can do stuff like that, and takes things at face value.

So, while I'm tired of seeing GL using his ring in the same ways over and over, maybe it's just because the writers haven't given him enough reason not to. Yet =8^).

-- Ed/Ace

[metaphysician]

Originally posted by Ace the Bathound
Howdy all,

To approach the question from a slightly different perspective, when has John needed to use his ring for something OTHER than a shield or a laser beam in the show so far?

The only opportunities I can think of are the aforementioned submarine rescue (I'll lay odds there was a giant, green, glowing nitrogen pump right next to it to ensure the sailors didn't get the bends), and the missed opportunity with the Atlantean-ice-cap-melter-thingie ("Quick, GL! I don't have much time to disarm it!" "You're right, Batman. I'll just use my ring to rip the whole thing out of the ground and frickin' throw it into orbit."). Maybe some kind of life-scanner thing to find some remnant of the planet he blew up in In Darkest Night, but John probably doesn't think that way. He knows his ring can do stuff like that, and takes things at face value.

So, while I'm tired of seeing GL using his ring in the same ways over and over, maybe it's just because the writers haven't given him enough reason not to. Yet =8^).

-- Ed/Ace

Well, he obviously provides life support to himself when flying in space or underwater, so I doubt there would actually be a NEED to produce some weird construct to maintain hospitable conditions.

As for why he doesn't produce constructs, maybe creativity is a force that can be tapped, when present, but gets in the way when one doesn't have a really fertile imagination.

[Karkull]

This is why I'm hoping that they do a Kyle Rayner episode in Justice League--I'd love to see Kyle and John compare notes/disagree about the proper use of the ring.

[zmanjz]

While I do Like John Stewart, I liked Kyle Rayner better.

Up to now, John has used his ring three ways: Power Beam, Energy Shield, and Flight Capability.

THis is not a direct slam against John Stewart, (especially if he does use some of the other aspects of the ring eventually.)

I guess in the end, a half hour, Multi-character show like JL just doesn't provide the kind of time necessarry to explore all the possabilities. (and unfortunately the GL has never been popular enough to rate his own show... yet.)

Still I would like to see some other uses, Oh I don't know:

A Green Bridge to save a train? (too stereotypical)

I guess that the GL can get by with just the Beam and shield... But it's just not as fun. (which does match John Stewart's Personality. )


Ahhhh, I guess I'm just whining in this post.

[Memphis Bleek]

lasers, bubbles, and barriers not gotten the job done? Don't go making constructions just for the sake of it!

[MattL.]

Actually...no. I *like* that the GL rings don't seem to be over munchkiny neigh omnipotent finger trinkets in this show.

and even if they are basically on the same power level as the comicbook version I still like that John doesn't use it in the green fun-shapes style. It fits his character.

To me the fact that the way the ring is handled is very basic is part of what makes it cool, its more about being an energy weapon.

[GL2k2]

I was born tired of it. But I think its pretty much the writers that are not doing that stuff with his ring, I don't think its entirely in the character description to say don't have fun with the ring. No, I just think they haven't gotten around to it yet. I still have to wait until all the characters are established with their respective "spotlight"s and then I will full forceibly complain.

Star Trek: TNG was the same way, Data was not being used to the best of his ability early on. He has superior strength, intellect, speed, and agility. They have had spotlight episodes where he has shown himself, especially the one where he's abducted. If this show goes on long enough, the writers should take a cue from the best sci-fi ensemble show ever and do something with GL's ring when it calls for it. Maybe "Brave and Bold" we'll see something?