Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Green Lantern #4!A new anime-style variant of the Hal Jordan version ofGreen Lanternhas just hit the DC Universe. TheGreen Lantern officially debuts for the Absolute Universe, and like with Absolute’s previous iterations of classic DC characters, the brand is making some unique creative decisions to rebrand them. One such decision connects to the legendaryAkira.
Hal Jordan goes fullAkirainAbsolute Green Lantern#4. Before the comic book is officially released on June 03, 2025, readers can find a preview below of what’s to come for the upcoming issue. The preview also arrives with cover art by Jahnoy Lindsay.
Akirais a 1988 action cyberpunk anime movie that has garnered a legacy for being one of the most influential movies ever made. Even a scene as simple asa motorcycle slide has been copied repeatedly. Now, Akira has influenced the new Green Lantern.
Absolute Green Lantern Draws Inspiration from Akira
Absolute Green Lantern #4 by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay
DC Comics and anime have always gone hand in hand. Truly, comics in general and anime have always gone hand in hand, with anime being such a prevalent source of inspiration for writers and artists. In fact, years ago,Green Lantern opened the door for anime cameosto be even more frequent in the DC Universe than it already was and continues to be, and now,Akirajust manages to be its latest influence choice. What makes this choice so interesting is that it takes Green Lantern away from the franchise’s usual space opera tropes and into a different genre.
Green Lantern’sreference toAkiratakes the franchise into a more horror-inspired take.The visuals on display in the reference seems more apropos for a terrifying edition of nightmare-fuel rather than a kid-friendly superhero story or even a sci-fi adventure, as is the usual realm for the Green Lantern Corps. This new element is enough to bring something completely new to the table and add something fresh to the mythos of Green Lantern as it is presented by the Absolute Universe.
Horror Helps Depict a New Kind of Green Lantern Story Unique to the Absolute Universe
Genre-Bending is the Best Way to Tackle Green Lantern in a New Way
The introduction ofa Venom symbiote-esque Black Handintroduces a rare feat of horror into theGreen Lanternfranchise. The Absolute Universe is keen on offering a completely new and unique take on familiar characters like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.For Green Lantern, Absolute pulls Hal Jordan and co. into horror, a genre that’s seldom been tackled within the franchise. The new take allows the franchise to go into new territory, making it all the more possible forGreen Lanternto pay homage to anime likeAkira.
Absolute Green Lantern#4 goes on sale from DC Comics on July 2.
