The penultimate episode of the DC Universe show Lanterns, starring Aaron Pierce as Green Lantern rookie John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as grizzled veteran Hal Jordan, was released this morning on HBO Max. I haven’t watched it yet, but early reviews seem strong—very strong. Enough to prompt this story, and certainly consistent with the first six episodes I’ve watched thus far. In fact, each subsequent 60-minute segment of hard-hitting character work, nuanced world-building and sweeping drama has seemingly one-upped each other in the critical reception department. This begs the question: amidst the rollicking waves of an uncertain industry sea, full of unfinished scripts and cancellations (rest in peace, Mahershala Ali-as-Blade) does the superhero genre still have legs? Do comic book characters still have what it takes to cut through the noise and win over audiences around the world?
I’m inclined to think so, at least when it comes to television. I can’t say much for film, because, until recently, we haven’t had much reason to think otherwise. The massive elephant in the room, of course, being the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ever since Kevin Feige’s first grand saga ended with 2019’s zeitgeist-defining Avengers: Endgame, the state of comic book movie adaptations have been…underwhelming, to say the least. Granted, some silver linings have glinted through the storm clouds. Credit where credit’s due.
In DC’s favour, Robert Pattinson gave arguably one of the best performances as the caped crusader in 2022’s The Batman. Last year’s Superman, the first film entry in James Gunn’s DC Universe, was also a standout hit, full of hope and charm as much as it was packed with CGI spectacle and fan service.
In terms of Marvel’s outings, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man films have all been relatively well-reviewed, and the newest feather in the British star’s cap, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is quite possibly the most winningest of the bunch. Let’s not forget Thunderbolts, either. Led by the inimitable Florence Pugh, as ensemble movies go, its take on mental health—grounded in a terrific cast of unlikely heroes—was a genuine lightning bolt out of the blue. It was almost enough to make one think that the engine of superhero cinema still had some fuel left in the tank. And then The Fantastic Four: First Steps came out two months later and somehow forgot everything that made Thunderbolts special.
When it comes to superhero films, the genre ‘fatigue’ has been real. For the last seven years, it’s felt like one step forward, two steps back. Just look at the hype—or lack thereof—for the marquee MCU event of the year: Avengers: Doomsday. What should be living rent free in the heads of general audiences the world over has been relegated to the backburner. Instead, viewers have learned to eat good elsewhere, in blockbuster hits like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and indie knockouts like Curry Barker’s Obsession. But take heart; hope remains, even, and especially, on the smallest of screens.
If you’re on the verge of putting up your legs and calling it a day in spandex outfits, supercharged punches and high-flying heroism, I urge you to reconsider by looking at what’s played out on television just in 2026 alone. In this regard, three shows have come to the fore, showcasing to the world that comic book characters still have what it takes to thrill with action and swoon with drama. The people, seasoned critics and diehard nerds alike, have certainly taken notice.
The first season of Marvel’s Wonder Man played to a niche audience, but was met with thunderous acclaim—thanks in large part to arresting performances from Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley. Spider-Noir was another enormously entertaining showing from Marvel: character-driven period perfection, helmed by Nicolas Cage as a hard-boiled, super sleuthing version of everyone’s favourite friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Unfortunately, both shows have been cancelled. Tragic news, and wholly undeserved, but unfortunately, at this point in the entertainment industry’s rapidly growing relationship with profitmaxxing, unsurprising.
Still, the critical reception for both these shows clearly prove that the writers’ rooms for superhero adaptations haven’t been entirely abandoned as of yet. Good stories are good stories—regardless of the subject matter. Add to that the recent lament around the Blade-never-to-be, Mahershala Ali, and you’ve got plenty of fertile soil that’s practically screaming to have fun, fantastical seeds planted in it. Which brings us back to the third, most recent and possibly brightest star in the superhero sky this year: Lanterns, one part detective drama, one part superhero romp.
The show, created by Chris Mundy, Tom King and Damon Lindelof, chronicles the journeys of Green-Lantern-hopeful John Stewart and the current bearer of the ring, Hal Jordan, as they uncover a mysterious murder in rural Nebraska. The former’s on the rise. The latter’s on his way out. Who is more deserving of the mantle? The smooth, steady Stewart, who has spent his entire life in service of earning the role? Or the brash, charismatic Hal Jordan, ‘the Man Without Fear’?
The dynamic between the two makes for incredibly compelling television. There isn’t much action, but that’s a good thing, because the writers know that snaps, crackles and pops can only get you so far. In fact, Lanterns shines brightest when both Pierce and Chandler are on-screen, simply talking to each other. Chandler is a veritable font of snarky quips, whereas Pierce is all stoic cool, and the two play off each other in an expertly executed buddy cop routine that echoes the best of HBO Max’s swords-and-sorcery cousin, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. While the first season of Lanterns isn’t over, what we’ve seen so far is excellent television, even outside of the superhero genre, calling into question the power of authority, the cost of doing good and what it means to be a hero of the people—whether in space or on earth.
It is, simply put, a really good television show. Reviews have been nothing short of rave, and fans are already crying out for Chandler to reprise the role of Hal Jordan for many more years to come. What does it matter if the show has space cops, aliens and magic rings? It would be a damn shame if it didn’t get renewed.
We don’t know what tomorrow holds. We don’t even know if Lanterns’s final episode will stick the landing, even though I am confident it will. What we do know is that there are, clearly, still plenty of opportunities—plenty of stories, characters and worlds—to explore on the fringes of nerddom. Superheroes do still have the power to move hearts and minds. So let’s hope that cooler heads prevail, Lanterns gets renewed for a second season and more showrunners everywhere have the courage to write great stories, both in brightest day and blackest night.
Watch Lanterns on HBO Max now.
