Smallville was highly influential for introducing a generation of CW viewers of Superman’s origin story, as well as many other notable DC characters, during its ten-season run. Even after the TV show concluded, the Smallville continuity continued to be influential in comic book form, introducing a prototype of iconic villain Batman Who Laughs, and making a bold choice for its universe’s Blue Lantern.
Smallville: Continuity #9 – by Bryan Q. Miller, Ig Guara, Julio Ferreira, Agustin Padilla, Carrie Strachan, and Saida Temofonte – featured the Earth under attack by the Monitors. This led to a brutal battle between the Justice League and the Monitor Army, with plenty of deaths on both sides, including a Blue Lantern who came to Earth to help.
The Lantern’s ring subsequently sought a replacement, which ended up being Barbara Gordon, also the Smallville continuity’s Nightwing. This marks the first time a version of Nightwing has gotten a Blue Lantern ring, and it is a choice that makes perfect sense.
Who Are The Blue Lanterns? DC’s Green Lantern Allies Explained
Allies to the famous Green Lantern Corps, the Blue Lanterns are a shining beacon of hope and positivity for the DC Universe.
Barbara Gordon Is Chosen As The New Blue Lantern
The title of Nightwing is often associated with hope. Despite growing up under the darkness of Batman’s teachings, he ends up being an extremely hopeful and positive character. Several times characters have remarked on how Dick Grayson managed to “escape the darkness of his mentor.” And it seems this ability to inspire hope is intrinsic to most people who carry the mantle. In the Smallville universe, Nightwing isn’t Dick Grayson, but instead Barbara Gordon, and Babs ends up being just as big of a beacon of hope as Dick ever was.
In this universe, Batman never meets Dick Grayson, and instead it’s Babs who ends up saving his life several times and inspiring him with hope. This isn’t too surprising, considering her main universe counterpart is also an incredible symbol of hope. Barbara Gordon was a character who was shot through the spine and lost her ability to walk. This would’ve been an immensely crushing experience for some people, but Barbara didn’t let it keep her down. Instead, she came back stronger, became a different kind of hero, and continued saving lives.
Barbara’s Blue Lantern Even Inspires Batman
Barbara Gordon has always hoped for a better future for Gotham City, and she’s been an inspiring presence for everyone in life., so it’s no real surprise that she would eventually end up with a Lantern ring. Unfortunately, DC doesn’t seem keen to hand out Lantern rings to their iconic heroes in the main continuity, with Batman and Superman only using them sparingly in major moments. While a Lantern ring would definitely spice up the stories of many characters, fans will have to settle for only seeing a Blue Lantern version of Nightwing in the pages of Smallville.
