Have you been watching the new HBO series Lanterns? I have. 

As a very long time DC comics reader, the Green Lanterns have always been a big part in that Universe. Various solo titles, Justice League iterations .. They have been around.

Yet I just never paid much attention to them.

This new Lanterns series never came up on my radar. I just opened up HBO and there it was. So I really went in blind. No trailers, no previous info. I just started watching right then and there.

Not knowing the Green Lantern lore by heart, I’m not really sure when in the timeline of things this is, but is certainly an updated or adapted timeframe. 

A very quick spoiler free rundown of  what’s going down so far is, Hal Jordan is late in his career and John Stewart is his Lantern “trainee” 

But training is interrupted when the two learn of an alien known as a Manhunter is hiding on Earth.

Another group of aliens are looking for this Manhunter and are going to destroy everything in their path doing so, with the Lantern Corp in between.

So, what we have here so far is a slow burn plot that starts slow and builds in scope and direction. 

Drama, mystery, detective work, some action. But all of this is wrapped in backstory and character building.

For those like me who have at least a general knowledge of Green Lanterns, there are all kinds of Easter egg drops and mentions, but not with the usually cringy fanboy approach

For those who are completely new, they are doing enough explaining and flashbacking to keep you in the know.

And for the die hards, well they must be doing things right because every podcast I have listened too so far is absolutely gushing over this show.

With its MA (Mature Audience) rating Lanterns is a fairly gritty, more dramatic, less action-y, and a very much noticeable lack of ring construct Green Lantern than I immediately thought of when I first seen it.

But that said, the story they are telling with its multiple mysteries and foreshadowing is really pulling it. They really have things clicking and it is showing in the ratings as it is topping charts everywhere.

I really didn’t expect to like this as much as I do. In fact, it has made me go out and start buying some old Green Lantern comics. I am grabbing the graphic novels now before they start getting scarce.

Even if you don’t think comics are your thing, get on HBO and start Lanterns now. Still have half a season to go and things are heating up.