"Lanterns" and The Superman Problem

 To my surprise (and probably yours), I like HBO's "Lanterns" series.

I will start off by happily admitting that there are aspects of it I do not like, rooted in the foibles of its creators (Damon Lindenof's loose plotting and time wasting,  James Gunn's simplistic and irreverent dialog, and Tom King's obsession with trauma and general sourness).  But these failures of style have not blinded me to its successes of substance.

• The original relationship between Hal Jordan (as mentor) and John Stewart (as back-up) is central.
• The core lore is preserved.  The Oans, The Sciencells, The Corps, Sinestro, The Manhunters.  In the first two episodes. I mean, what more do you want?
• Hal Jordan (although not ideally cast) is somehow both a reckless idiot, but still a fearless and innovative hero who instinctively cuts to the heart of the matter.

And there is another element that I think people are overlooking. One that some see as a downside, but which is actually the secret to the show's success so far:

It's completely the wrong genre.

Before I explore that, I'm going to discuss (again) "The Superman Problem".  One of the problems with Superman is that he is SO darned powerful that it's hard to come up with a credible threat.  But pre-Bronze Age writers knew exactly how to handle that: they gave him problems that couldn't be solved with force.  The Prankster; The Toyman; Mr. Myxyzptlk; Bizarro; secret identity problems; red kryptonite shenanigans; Lois's schemes.  These are not challenges that Superman could simply punch his way out of.

Lois is a problem easily solved through simple inaction.

Lots of people make fun of these old Supeman stories, but they are missng their genius. Stopping a locomotive is a snap compared to hiding your use of your awesome array of superpowers when you are in your civilian identity and constantly surrounded by scoop-hungry reporters.

WHAT WILL HE DO?!

This is all very obvious in Superman's case, but there examples with other heroes as well.  

For example, as I have mentioned before, Hawkman's main tactic is hitting things with a mace, so writers gave him "unhittable" foes like the Shadow Thief, the Gentlemen Ghost, and the Fadeaway Man.  

"Lanterns" seems to have learned the lessons of "The Superman Problem".  It's not switching genres from space opera to detective story randomly.  Not is it doing so because it's "embarrassed" at Green Lanter's space opera roots (I mean, Hal suits up and flies off to Oa to visit Sinestro in the SECOND episode).  "Lanterns" has dumped two GLs in the middle of a detective story because they can't just "power ring" their way out of it.  Sure, it's a detective story with aliens, bu it's still very much not a situation where a power ring is going to accomplish much. So far, that's giving Hal and John a substantial challenge (one which they seem to still be struggling with after ten years).

And, one which I -- so far -- enjoying.