Green Lantern - Favorite Comic Book Superhero Lights Up The Silver Screen

"In brightest day, in blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight.

Let those who worship evil’s might,

Beware my power…

Green Lantern’s light!"

With these thrilling words, Hal Jordan, test pilot, charges his power ring and becomes one of the greatest and most respected superheroes in the star-studded lexicon of DC Comics. That scene, faithfully re-enacted in every story, never failed to send a frisson of excitement coursing through my veins. The real adventure was about to begin - the real quest was about to be undertaken.

Of all the comic book superheroes I have followed over the years, my first and best favorite has always been Green Lantern. There was something about him - that combination of rock-solid ethics and derring-do (from Old English: daring-to-do) - and much to admire in his courage and convictions.

Hal Jordan was a regular guy - he was intelligent, good-looking, had an exciting job as a test pilot, and a beautiful, faithful childhood sweetheart. OK, maybe he wasn't a regular, regular guy, but he was certainly an admirable specimen of what we would all like in a regular guy.

From the first time I read a Green Lantern comic, I was hooked. Here was a completely different kind of hero. I had long been a fan of Superman, and Batman, and had followed their careers avidly, from issue to issue. The Fantastic Four were long-time favorites, along with Aquaman, and the Flash, but there was just something different and captivating about this new super hero.

This super hero wasn't from outer space, sent to save our planet. He wasn't bitten by a radioactive spider or some kind of mutant (more about mutants later). Hal Jordan was a human being, chosen from millions of us, to be a hero.

Maybe it was Jordan's upright character, or the higher calling all Green Lanterns follow that was so initialy attractive. I do know that as I matured, his determined jaw and auburn hair, and his green-and-black-sheathed muscular form certainly helped maintain the attraction.

I have followed other great superheroes - Wonder Woman, Thor, The Justice League, the X-Men, and the Silver Surfer, who owns the notoriety of being the first anatomically correct male superhero - or at least the first one to answer the question, "To which side does this superhero dress?"

Green Lantern is certainly not the first comic book superhero to make the move to films. Superman may have started out played by George Reeves on the TV screen, but we are all familiar with Christopher Reeve's ground-breaking role as Superman. That particular "Superman" franchise lasted for five block-buster feature films.

Thor has appeared in several incarnations, including one that starred a gentleman with whom I attended college, the vastly talented and funny Eric Kramer, who also played Little John in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood spoof, "Men In Tights." Totally re-tooled and updated, "Thor" is due to premier in the summer of 2011.

The Incredible Hulk, had his own television series, starring talented Bill Bixby, and Lou Ferrigno as alter egos of the the not-so-jolly Green Giant, as well as gracing the big screen. The Dark Knight, Batman, has been celebrated in animation and live action, both on television and in theatrical release.

As well, the multi-talented Hugh Jackman's impressive portrayal of the X-Man known as "Wolverine" lends great luster to the superhero film genre. The X-Men movies have gone where no comic book superhero had gone before, from sequels, to pre-quels, and now, the origins of the X-Men, due out in the summer of 2011.

When you're a kid, it's OK for you to read and enjoy comic books, to have favorite characters whose story lines you follow and discuss with like-minded friends. It's appropriate behavior to eagerly await the next issue of your favorite mag, and then squander your allowance on the latest issue.

Then we get older, and it's not as appropriate anymore to seek out that all-important next issue. If we are lucky, we babysit for younger kids who follow the same heroes we used to follow and still love.

Once we become adults though, there is a stigma attached to reading comics, and following our favorite superheroes.

As adults, we are supposed to be too mature for comics. We call them graphic novels, and "collect" them, as opposed to just buying them to read and enjoy.

Luckily for all the comic book superhero fans out there though, more and more of our long-time favorites are making their way to movie theaters in top-notch summer action- adventure films - each one touted as the next, great summer block-buster.

Some of the movies actually live up to their hype, and we watch with joy and amazement as our favorite hero leaps off the page and into glorious, technicolor life on the big screen.

© 2011, Elle Fredine, All rights reserved