As anticipation builds for Cyberfrog #3 and Reignbow the Brute, renowned former DC Comics artist Ethan Van Sciver unexpectedly offered a strong defense of the upcoming series Lanterns, created by James Gunn. The James Gunn Lanterns defense caught many by surprise given Van Sciver’s past controversy and distinct stance within the comic industry.
Van Sciver gained recognition for his acclaimed work on Green Lantern alongside Geoff Johns before reportedly separating from DC Comics over political disagreements. He later became a key figure in ComicsGate, a movement focused on supporting independent conservative comic creators through crowdfunding. Because Lanterns involves prominent creators like James Gunn, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof—all often labeled “woke”—Van Sciver’s vocal support challenges expectations.
Additionally, rumors suggest Van Sciver may receive royalties due to the character Atroticus, which he co-created with Johns, appearing in the show. However, this potential financial connection does not appear to be the sole reason behind his positive remarks.
Van Sciver Responds to Criticism Surrounding Lanterns
In response to the Lanterns trailer release, which prompted some criticism from fans and notable voices like legendary artist Alex Ross, Van Sciver publicly addressed the backlash on the social media platform X. He also defended Lindelof, who sparked controversy with a joking comment about the “Green” in Green Lantern. Van Sciver emphasized that Lindelof’s remark was meant to be provocative rather than serious, aimed at teasing dedicated fans.
During a dialogue sparked by fan complaints, an account associated with Lindelof stated,
“It couldn’t be more obvious that this is a joke.”
When challenged with a disdainful comment, the account responded,
“No. I’m unconcerned with what people like you think of me. And frankly I’m almost certainly smarter than 99.9% of the people that think I’m a fool.”
Van Sciver then stepped in, expressing his frustration with the ongoing debates online:
“100% this. I’m so tired of arguing with the internet defending basic shit from people determined to be victimized by pop culture, and being greeted like Anne Coulter on the Bill Maher show when she said Trump would win back in 2015,”
he tweeted. He further clarified the intentions behind Lindelof’s joke:
“Lindelof was joking. He doesn’t think ‘green’ is stupid. He said that as a provocative joke to anger nerds. ‘How could the guy making a show about Green Lantern think the color green is stupid?! GRRRRR!!!.’”
Van Sciver also shed light on the show’s approach, noting,
“The show is called LANTERNS because it will also introduce other colors on the spectrum. At least Yellow.”
Insights and Expectations for the Lanterns Series
Beyond defending the tone and creative direction, Van Sciver provided optimistic commentary about Lanterns’ quality and tone, possibly hinting at insider knowledge. He described the series as an adult drama-mystery first and a superhero show second, praising the production values and direction. He mentioned that many traditional superhero elements, such as green constructs and iconic characters like Sinestro, are deliberately withheld from the initial trailer.
“The show looks great. It looks like its being taken seriously as an adult drama-mystery first, and a superhero thing second,”
Van Sciver commented.
He elaborated,
“Obviously, they’re holding back the green constructs and superhero stuff in this trailer. Sinestro is in every episode, and we don’t see him in these two minutes. There is a reason for that. They’re holding their fire.”
Van Sciver also compared Lanterns to quality productions such as Barbarian, Weapons, and True Detective, the latter sharing the same showrunner as Lanterns. Expressing his confidence, he predicted,
“I have a feeling this show will win Emmys. The cast is solid,”
and added,
“They seem inspired by Zach Cregger and Nic Pizzolatto. We’re in for something substantial, folks. Wait and see!”
Directly responding to James Gunn upon the trailer’s release, Van Sciver tweeted,
“Thank you, Mr. Gunn. This looks very good, very respectable. Captures the souls of Hal and John in a way the GL movie failed to do. I trust you.”
Industry Insiders and Fan Reactions to Lanterns
Independent sources within the industry have echoed Van Sciver’s assessment, describing Lanterns as a series that begins with a grounded narrative but progressively expands into a more expansive sci-fi experience. Despite widespread enthusiasm, many fans remain cautious due to past disappointments with James Gunn’s previous projects, particularly Peacemaker, which some perceived as overly politicized.
The tension between appreciating the Lanterns project and skepticism about its creative leadership reflects a broader hesitation among fans regarding the direction of the DC Universe. Nonetheless, voices like Van Sciver’s serve to challenge the prevailing skepticism and encourage audiences to approach the series without preconceived bias.
100% this. I'm so tired of arguing with the internet defending basic shit from people determined to be victimized by pop culture, and being greeted like Anne Coulter on the Bill Maher show when she said Trump would win back in 2015.
Lindelof was joking. He doesn't think…
— ETHAN VAN SCIVER (@EthanVanSciver) March 6, 2026
Thank you, Mr. Gunn. This looks very good, very respectable. Captures the souls of Hal and John in a way the GL movie failed to do.
I trust you.
— ETHAN VAN SCIVER (@EthanVanSciver) March 4, 2026
