The first issue of the new Green Lantern series may be setting up an Earth hero to take on a crucial role traditionally handled by Kilowog.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Green Lantern #1 by Geoffrey Thorne, Dexter Soy, and Marco Santucci, on sale now.
With the Green Lantern Corps’ place in the DC Universe radically shifting, some fan-favorite Green Lanterns are going through a few changes of their own. With John Stewart saddled with navigating the Corps through cosmic political intrigue, Simon Baz has once again been tasked with training the Lanterns’ newest trainee: Kelli Quintela, the Teen Lantern.
This new dynamic was teased at the start of the Infinite Frontier, and it was just fleshed out in Green Lantern #1. But this isn’t the first time Simon has had to train an inexperienced Lantern. Though he may have his gripes with playing master to an apprentice so soon after his partnership with rookie Jessica Cruz, taking Kilowog’s place as the Lanterns’ resident trainer.
Green Lantern #1 shows Simon efficiently if not reluctantly acting as Keli’s de facto mentor and tour guide through the Conclave on Oa. While Simon may not have initially been thrilled to be working with Teen Lantern, he’s already doing a pretty solid job of showing her the ropes.
Apart from his new status as Keli’s guide, Baz has had a decent amount of experience training others in the past. After all, it was during his time as Jessica Cruz’s partner that he helped her reach her full potential. Since the fan-favorite duo parted ways, she’s even led her own Justice League and gone up against Darkseid single-handedly. That’s something she never would have attempted before she and Simon brought out the best in one another.
Even before his time as Cruz’s partner, it was already clear that Simon would go on to do great things as a Lantern. In 2013’s Green Lantern #20 by Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke, Ivan Reis, and more, Simon is referred to as “The Miracle Worker” for good reason by an ancient Green Lantern Sinestro as he read from the Book of Oa in the far-flung future.
Whereas Kilowog is one of the Corps’ greatest Lanterns and arguably the best drill sergeant they’ve has ever had, Simon’s style is noticeably different. Though they both are fiercely loyal and won’t turn their backs on their trainees, Simon’s style is slightly more encouraging, inspiring his pupils to see the best in themselves.
One of his first acts, reviving his brother-in-law and waking him from a coma, was something that no other Lantern thought was possible. In waking Nazir, Simon made the impossible a reality through an intense combination of will and faith – not just in the Corps, but in himself. And while it may have been hard-earned, that was the same faith he was eventually able to place in Jessica. With any luck, Simon will one day be able to place that faith in Keli as well.
If he manages to bring this level of compassion and empathy in training a whole squadron of Lanterns, there’s no limit to what the Corps could accomplish. And if Simon’s track record is anything to go by, Kilowog’s station as the Corps’ resident drill sergeant may be up for grabs.
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