Warning: Spoilers for Green Lantern Corps #1
A new character has joined theGreen LanternCorps, but I’m convinced that her addition to DC lore is a bad idea. As excited as I’ve been about the Corps' long-awaited return, the inclusion of Ellie - John Stewart’s sister - will only cause problems down the road for the Green Lantern. In an otherwise promising start to the Green Lanterns' new era, Ellie stands out as a glaring issue that needs to be addressed.
InGreen Lantern Corps#1 by Jeremy Adams, Morgan Hampton, Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, and Arif Piranto, the Corps are back and better than ever, and John Stewart’s sister has joined the ranks of the Green Lanterns - except it isn’t really her. In reality, his sister died long ago, and this version of Ellie is a construct that John created with hisPower Ring.
Green Lantern’s re-creation of his dead sister is working with the Corps, and he refuses to acknowledge how problematic that is.John Stewart’s refusal to confront his grief has reached an unsettling level, so he needs to address it before it gets worse.
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I’m not the only one who’s weirded out by Green Lantern’s dead sister being reborn as a ring construct. Near the beginning of the issue, fellow Green Lantern Corps memberJo Mulleintries to approach the subject delicately by asking John if he needs to talk. Unfortunately, John brushes her off and insists that he’s fine, though Jo seems unsure. After all, keeping the ghost of a dead relative around doesn’t indicate being “fine”. When a loved one passes away, it’s natural to struggle in the aftermath, butGreen Lantern is living in denial by keeping a construct of Ellie around instead of processing his grief.
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To his credit, the Green Lantern does know that Ellie’s construct being present has unnerving connotations. When he runs into her in the Great Hall, he admits in his narration that it’s"different", before once again changing the subject by claiming that it’s"not to the level of a problem, though I’m sure someone will want to talk to me about it". John is self-aware enough to concede that keeping Ellie around is unusual, yet he can’t bear to reflect further than that.Ellie’s presence can’t be healthy for the Green Lantern, even if he isn’t willing to say so himself.
Green Lantern Can’t Move On From His Sister’s Death If Her Construct Sticks Around
Ellie Is Adorable, But Her Presence Is Preventing John Stewart From Healing
John Stewart first created hissentient construct of EllieinGreen Lantern: War Journal#5 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Montos, in an effort to comfort his mother as she forgets that her daughter had died. Green Lantern’s heart was certainly in the right place with this plan, but he’s since developed his own attachment to the construct since rebuilding the Corps with her by his side. It gets worse, too; John is also storing hismother’s spirit in his Power Ring, which means he’s effectively carrying around two ghosts rather than moving on in the wake of their deaths.
I believe that John can only progress as a person by letting Ellie go, and the Green Lantern Corps would be better off for it.
I’d be remiss not to say that I empathize with Green Lantern, as it can’t be easy to lose family members. Everyone navigates grief differently, but it’s important to acknowledge that there are healthy and unhealthy methods of dealing with loss.Acting as if the person is still alive by forming a life-like copy of them isn’t healthy by any stretch of the imagination, as it prevents John from facing reality and working through the grieving process. I believe that John can only progress as a person by letting Ellie go, and the Green Lantern Corps would be better off for it.
Green Lantern Needs to Confront His Sister’s Death And Finally Move Forward
As a fan ofJohn Stewart’s Green Lantern, I want what’s best for him, and running away from his feelings by maintaining a construct of Ellie doesn’t exactly benefit him. He may be happy now to have his sister back, but eventually, he’ll need to accept that the real Ellie isn’t around anymore. John should confront the pain he’s experiencing to properly heal from it, otherwise he’ll be stunting his emotional growth. One way or another,Green Lanternmust let go of the Corps' heartbreaking new addition, even if it hurts him to do so.
