DC Comics' Geoff Johns Coming to Michigan for Debut of First Arab-American Green Lantern

posted on: Aug 24, 2012

DC Comics bigwig Geoff Johns, a Lebanese-American who grew up metro Detroit, is coming home for events marking the debut of the first Arab-American Green Lantern.

Johns, a noted comic book writer who’s also DC’s chief creative officer, will sign copies of “Green Lantern #0” at Green Brain Comics on Sept. 7 and be the star attraction at two events at the Arab American National Museum on Sept. 8.

“Green Lantern #0” will introduce Baz, the landmark character who’s the first Arab-American to be the superhero Green Lantern.

In terms of superhero comic books, this represents the first major character who is Arab American, according to Green Brain owner Dan Merritt.

The Green Lantern universe is a flexible one that has allowed many characters to wear a powerful green ring over the course of decades. “There’s a whole corps of Green Lanterns. They’re like a police force,” says Rob Worley of Madison Heights, author of the “Scratch9” comic books.

In recent years, comics in general have emphasized more diversity, shaking up the old-school white male role model that dominated the genre’s early years.

DC has been a big part of the shift. This year, for instance, a gay Green Lantern was introduced in the “Earth 2” title series set in an alternate universe.

Johns will be writing the series featuring Baz. “I think Geoff is a proponent of diversity in comics,” says Worley. “There’s a real drive at DC to have characters of different ethnicities, backgrounds and demographics, to make sure that everyone who reads the comics sees a little of themselves in the heroic characters.”

Launching the title as “Green Lantern #0” raises the question of whether the Baz character could possibly be a temporary or even permanent replacement for Hal Jordan, the flagship Green Lantern who represents Earth in the Green Lantern corps.

“Green Lantern #0” will go on sale Sept. 5. The Johns visit to Green Brain will run from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 7. If you want to participate, you have to buy that issue from Green Brain and stick to a limit of two items signed per person.

The two events at the Arab American National Museum on Sept. 8 include an invite-only, superhero-development workshop for local youths and a free public presentation on Johns’ career and work. The public component will run 4-6 p.m., and auditorium seating will be on a first-come, first-seated basis, with the museum opening at 10 a.m.

Julie Hinds
Detroit Free Press