365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs
Green Lantern / Alan Scott
The original Green Lantern from the Golden Age, Alan Scott is one of the first superheroes of the modern era. The character’s backstory and the origins of his powers have been altered and retold on numerous occasions, making it difficult to discern which is official cannon.
One telling has the hero’s powers coming from an ancient green meteorite that fell to earth thousands of years ago. Another version tells of a corrupt Green Lantern named Yalan Gur who abused his powers on earth and was punished by the Guardians, ultimately leading to his ring coming into the possession of Scott. And yet another suggests that the hero’s powers are derived from the Starheart.
This Starheart is a sentient being created when the Guardians attempted to capture all of the wild, chaotic and uncontrollable magic in the universe and imprison it in the heart of a supermassive star. Concentrated together, this imprisoned energy gained self awareness as well as a deep sense of loneliness and a pining for connection with another sentient being.
A portion this energy managed to escape its prison and traversed the galaxy until it came to earth and bonded itself to a young railroad engineer named Alan Scott. The Starheart bestowed Scott awesome powers, including flight, energy projection, matter manipulation and hypnotism. A goodhearted man, Scott chose to use these powers for good and he became the superhero known as the Green Lantern. He was one of the first of a new generation of heroes and would go on to help form The Justice Society of America. He additionally served as a member of The All Star Squadron aiding the Allied Forces during The Second World War. The Green Lantern continued to operate as a hero following the war.
A gay man who came of age in the 1930s, Scott was very conflicted over his sexuality. He tried to suppress his true self and live as a straight man, even marrying a woman named Rose Canton. The marriage did not last, although it did result in twin children whose existence Rose kept a secret from Scott.
Years later, Scott would learn that he had a son and daughter and he was able to foster a relationship with them. His exposure to the Starheart had resulted in both his children developing metahuman powers. His daughter became the heroine known as Jade and his son became the hero called Obsidian.
Obsidian is also gay, but unlike his father he has fully accepted his sexuality and is open and proud of who he is. This inspired Scott and he chose to do the same, coming out and no longer hiding this aspect of who he is.
The Starheart has acted to slow Scott’s aging process and he has continued to operate as a superhero, acting as a member of the Justice Society as well as a mentor to many of the newer heroes following in his footsteps.
Actors Doug Pinton portrayed live action versions of Alan Scott in the televisions series Smallville. The hero has additionally featured in animated projects, voiced by actors Corey Burton, Jason Phelps and William Katt. The hero first appeared in the pages of All American Comics #16 (1940).
turnnoffyourmind
yousharknotpass
theartofmadeline
stormborns
