Green Lantern takes the spotlight in a new variant cover for Dark Nights: Death Metal #4. But as breathtaking as the new cover art may be, it seems as though it’s most important which Green Lantern is gracing this alternate cover.
The Green Lantern Corps has been noticeably absent from Death Metal thus far, and it seems as though there’s a larger mystery at play as to why. It might have to do with Green Lantern John Stewart, who’s the specific subject of this particular cover art, and he’s never looked better.
When the Multiverse was remade by Perpetua and the Batman Who Laughs, the Green Lanterns were nowhere to be found, despite several other heroes having their roles and place in the new Dark Multiverse (though Black Lanterns certainly do). It’s likely that they’ve been saved by Death Metal writers Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo for a large reveal, though if remains to be seen if that reveal will be good or bad for the heroes that remain, trying to resist the Batman Who Laughs and his legions of Dark Batmen. Regardless, it could be very telling that John Stewart is the Green Lantern featured on the newly revealed cover art from artist Stanley Lau.
The reason why it’s important that John Stewart is on this variant cover is because of Wonder Woman’s memory of how the world ended before Death Metal in Justice League #39. In Death Metal #1, Diana claims to remember the Justice League heading into a portal created by the Quintessence, giving them one more shot to stop Perpetua. However, in her recollection, Wonder Woman seems to be remembering Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern that was with them at the time, but this is false. In Justice League #39, readers will remember that it was John Stewart who was the one to actually go through the portal with the League. Why is there a discrepancy in Diana’s memory?
It’s possible that this an intentional play being made for a deeper plan in the works regarding the Green Lanterns. Perhaps someone has tampered with Diana’s memory, specifically wanting her to forget John Stewart and his involvement. It could even be Perpetua or the Batman Who Laughs, thought the reason and motivations for why remain to be seen. Of course, John and Hal have their different strengths and weaknesses, but they’re both still Green Lanterns. Why would it matter which Lantern is remembered going through the portal?
There definitely seems to be a Green Lantern mystery afoot, and hopefully Snyder and Capullo will be answering it soon. With this John Stewart variant cover, the answers could come soon when Death Metal #4 releases October 13th. It could just simply be a cool variant, but it could also be teasing that John Stewart will have his own role to play in Dark Nights: Death Metal, and it just has yet to be revealed.
