Happy Birthday John Stewart

Today is considered the birthday of John Stewart, Green Lantern.  

To celebrate, here is his first appearance, and his last appearance in Green Lantern as Hal Jordan's backup.

Green Lantern #87 (December-January, 1971/1972)

Under a cover by Neal Adams, with story by Denny O'Neil, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano where Hal Jordan is tasked by the Guardians of the Universe to train a new backup Green Lantern after Guy Gardner is injured, teaching architect John Stewart of the meaning of "Beware My Power".  

But, Hal learns when John deals with disreputable politician Jeremiah Clutcher, not every solution to a problem is as clean cut as he is used to dealing with, teaching the teacher a lesson as well.

John would have a few more appearances backing up Hal, including subbing for him once with the JLA during a Christmas tale, and working with Hal and Green Arrow Oliver Queen, before John and Ollie have a team up on their own...

Green Lantern #165 (June, 1983)

Under a cover by Gil Kane, with story by Mike W. Barr, Keith Pollard and Dan Adkins, John Stewart is pressed into service by the Guardians of the Universe after a long period of inactivity while Hal Jordan is banned from service on Earth for a year, to face "The Curse Of Krystayl".   

The Guardians also want Green Arrow to help against this menace, a living crystal being who absorbs human life (though Ollie is none too happy about how the Guardians have treated Hal).  After a few mistakes, John and Ollie get to working as a team, John finding the flaw in Krystayl, which Green Arrow is able to shatter, allowing the duo to defeat their foe!

Of course, John Stewart went on to do much more, working with the Justice League of America after that last appearance in their first annual facing Doctor Destiny, then, as shown with these Dave Gibbons' covers (here) taking over for Hal!

Merry Christmas From Green Lantern's Mosaic

Merry Christmas from outer space!

Green Lantern John Stewart brought Christmas to Oa and the many peoples of the Mosaic in Green Lantern:Mosaic #9 (February, 1993) by Gerard Jones, Jim Balent, Mark Beachum....all under a cover by Cully Hammer and Dan Panosian.

If even aliens can have a Merry Christmas, so can you!

Justice League Christmas

The Justice League of America dealt with Christmas as the world's greatest super-heroes could, with the tale of "The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus!" in Justice League of America #110 (March, 1974) by Len Wein, Dick Dillin and Dick Giordano, under a cover by Nick Cardy.

Doesn't sound like a happy tale, does it?  Sadly, bad things still happen even at Christmas, as a mall Santa Claus was found murdered, and this was enough for Superman and Batman to call in the JLA....but Flash (Barry Allen) is with Iris and her parents in the future, Elongated Man, Atom and Aquaman are also busy, and Hal Jordan slips in the tub answering the call, so his back-up, John Stewart, has to take over as Green Lantern for this case.

Things don't go well for the JLA, as Superman and Black Canary appear to die, then Batman and Green Arrow, leaving Red Tornado and the new Green Lantern to face off against the Key (an old JLA foe), who plans on releasing a "doom bomb" on this old, rundown neighborhood....at least until the Phantom Stranger shows up to stop him.  The Phantom Stranger helped the Justice League on occasion, and had saved all the previously thought dead JLAers as well.  But, the Key still manages to blow up the neighborhood! 

Thankfully, Green Lantern John Stewart is there, to rebuild the neighborhood (minus the rats, leaking pipes and other problems faced by it's residents!).   Best of all, Black Canary gives Red Tornado a new costume, allowing an android a chance at a Merry Christmas!  Better still, this issue has the a reprint of the JSA adventure from All-Star Comics #40 (April-May, 1948), with the Justice Society facing the Crimson Claw gang, and Zatanna's first meeting with the JLA (including Elongated Man) from Justice League of America #51 (February, 1967) and Murphy Anderson's drawing of the JSA from Justice League of America #76 (November-December, 1969).  How's that for a Christmas present?