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Metro Detroit native Geoff Johns Intros Arab American Green Lantern
When the identity of the latest person to wear the Green Lantern ring is officially unveiled Sept. 5, comic book fans will meet Simon Baz, DC Comics’ first Arab American Green Lantern.
On Sept. 7-8, fans may meet Baz’s creator, Geoff Johns – a Lebanese American who grew up in metro Detroit, studied at Michigan State University, and is now Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment – at a pair of public events in Dearborn. The events are presented by the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in partnership with its East Downtown Dearborn neighbor, Green Brain Comics.
From 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, Johns will appear at Green Brain Comics, 13210 Michigan Ave., for a special signing to commemorate the release of Green Lantern #0 featuring Simon Baz, who is expected to be a key figure in the upcoming Green Lantern crossover Rise of the Third Army. Purchase of Green Lantern #0 from Green Brain Comics is required for attendance. There is a limit of two items signed per person.
On Saturday, Sept. 8, Johns will meet with area youth to discuss the creation of superhero characters during an invitation-only workshop being held at the AANM, 13624 Michigan Ave. Then, from 4-6 p.m. Johns delivers a presentation on his career and characters in the Lower Level Auditorium at the AANM. The presentation is free; seating is first come, first served.
“Simon Baz is a character of his time, reflecting the world around us,” said Geoff Johns. “The Arab American National Museum has been a great resource for me as I developed this new character and I hope the Dearborn community and my fellow Michiganders will enjoy getting to know Earth’s newest Green Lantern.”
Geoff Johns is one of the most prolific and popular contemporary comic book writers. He has written highly acclaimed stories starring Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Teen Titans and Justice Society of America. He is the author of The New York Times best-selling graphic novels Batman: Earth One, Justice League: Origin, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War, Superman: Brainiac and Blackest Night.
Johns was born in Detroit, raised in Grosse Pointe and Clarkston and studied media arts, screenwriting, film production and film theory at Michigan State University. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked for film director Richard Donner, whose credits include Superman: The Movie, Lethal Weapon 4 and Conspiracy Theory.
Johns began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and creating Stargirl for DC Comics. He received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 through 2005 and 2007 and 2008, and the Scream Awards for Best Writer in 2009 and 2010. He joined DC Entertainment as its Chief Creative Officer in 2010.