u/Jheel33

In this video, I talk about the strange state of Green Lantern right now. We have My Adventures With Green Lantern reportedly starring Jessica Cruz, Lanterns putting John Stewart in the live-action spotlight, and the current Green Lantern comic book focusing on Kyle Rayner. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan fans are crashing out because every Green Lantern project does not revolve around Hal Jordan.

The problem is not simply that DC is using different Green Lanterns. The problem is that DC seems to be putting out multiple conflicting versions of what Green Lantern is supposed to be before the brand has even been properly stabilized for a mainstream audience. Is Green Lantern a cosmic superhero epic? A grounded HBO detective story? A young adult animated adventure? A Corps ensemble? A Hal Jordan franchise? A John Stewart franchise? A Jessica Cruz franchise? A Kyle Rayner franchise?

I also discuss why My Adventures With Green Lantern does not sound much like Green Lantern to me, and why I think launching another alternate take could be detrimental to the brand. Before DC starts experimenting with major reinterpretations, it should probably establish what the core Green Lantern identity actually is for modern audiences.

Green Lantern has incredible potential, but DC’s inconsistent approach keeps making the franchise feel scattered instead of powerful. John Stewart is starring in Lanterns, Kyle Rayner is leading the comic, Jessica Cruz is getting an animated project, and Hal Jordan fans are still fighting for Hal to remain the center of everything. At some point, DC needs a clear direction.

While talking about all of this, I’m also working on the logo for my next graphic novel, Zatswan: Stardust Embrace, the follow-up to Zatswan: Multiversal Guardian. Visit zatswan.com for more information on that.

#GreenLantern #JohnStewart #Lanterns #DCStudios #Zatswan

DC Comics keeps using John Stewart when they want Green Lantern recognition, but why does it still feel like they refuse to fully commit to him as their main Green Lantern across the board?

In this video, I talk about John Stewart’s strange place in DC Comics right now. On one hand, John has been featured in projects like Green Lantern: Beware My Power and will be one of the central characters in Lanterns. But on the comic book side, DC still seems hesitant to push him with real initiative. Instead of giving John Stewart a clear solo direction, a major marketing push, or a true spotlight, he often gets placed back into Green Lantern Corps stories where he has to share space with several other Earth Lanterns.

Meanwhile, DC can make a big promotional event out of characters like Supergirl, but when John Stewart has a major TV appearance coming, where is the same energy? Why does DC keep benefiting from John Stewart’s popularity without fully backing him as a leading Green Lantern?

While discussing all of this, I’m also coloring artwork from my own comic, Zatswan. The piece shown in this video is actually finished now, and if you want to see the properly scanned version, visit Zatswan.Com.

In this video, I talk about why John Stewart tends to get so much love from fans, animation, film, video games, etc, and why some other versions of Green Lantern do not get the same reaction. I get into John Stewart, Hal Jordan, cultural penetration vs. comic book publication history, Green Lantern fandom, and why certain versions of a character connect with audiences while others do not.

As I discuss all of that, I’m also working on artwork for my independent comic book, Zatswan. If you enjoy comic book commentary, DC Comics discussion, Green Lantern analysis, indie comics, and behind-the-scenes comic art, this video is for you.

Let me know what you think in the comments. Why do you think John Stewart resonates so strongly with fans, and what do you think the other Green Lanterns are missing?

Should black comic book fans support causes outside their own interests, or should every group focus on advocating for itself? In this video, I explore the idea of solidarity, coalition-building, fandom activism, and what people actually owe one another.

Do comic book fans have a responsibility to support every movement that comes along? Is it possible to respect another group's concerns without actively joining their cause? Where should the line be drawn between solidarity and self-interest? These are the questions I tackle in today's comic book ramble.

Along the way, I discuss fandom culture, comic book communities, activism in entertainment, representation in comics, consumer advocacy, and the challenges that arise when different groups attempt to work together toward shared goals.

While discussing these topics, I'm also inking a picture from my creator-owned comic book series, Zatswan. If you're interested in comic book creation, comic art, independent comics, worldbuilding, storytelling, and behind-the-scenes comic production, you'll get to watch the latest progress on Zatswan while listening to the discussion.

What do you think? Should comic book fans support causes outside their own interests, or is every group ultimately responsible for advocating for itself? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

The #dcblackout movement by  BlerdWithoutFear  and his friends has folded after only a few days, raising questions about whether the campaign ever had the commitment necessary to achieve its goals. In this video, I discuss the rise and rapid collapse of DC Blackout, the reaction from comic book fans, and what this situation says about activism, fandom, and the realities of the comic book industry.

I also share my thoughts on comic book writer Brandon Easton and some of the frustrations creators face when trying to build successful careers in comics. Success in the comic book industry is never guaranteed, and I discuss the expectations, challenges, and realities that creators encounter.

In addition, I talk about the ongoing debate surrounding John Stewart and Hal Jordan, including why some fans continue to react strongly whenever John Stewart's prominence is discussed.

All of this takes place while I ink artwork from my independent comic book series, Zatswan. If you're interested in comic book creation, storytelling, independent comics, character development, and comic industry commentary, you've come to the right place.

In this video, I discuss the growing conversation surrounding the #DCBlackout movement and why some Black comic book fans are calling for a boycott of DC Comics. What frustrations are driving this discussion? Is DC Comics failing certain segments of its audience? And what does this controversy say about the current state of the comic book industry and these fans?

As I break down the debate, share my thoughts, and examine different perspectives on the situation, I'm penciling art from my independent comic book, Zatswan. If you're interested in comic book creation, storytelling, worldbuilding, and the realities of producing an independent comic, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at my creative process while we talk comics.

In this video, I talk about  BlerdWithoutFear 's recent comments toward comic fans and why his “you’re buying comics wrong” attitude reminds me of the same preorder begging and industry talking points we’ve heard recently from people like Dan Slott and Joseph Illidge.

Instead of addressing why so many readers walked away from modern comics, or never get into them in the first place, too many industry defenders blame the audience while acting like fans are obligated to financially support the broken direct market comics system, instead of holding the industry itself accountable to meet modern readers where they are at.

While discussing all this, I’m also inking pages from my own independent comic series, Zatswan — a cosmic sci-fi fantasy universe I created partially out of my frustration with modern corporate comics and my desire to build something original with passion, scale, romance, mystery, and mythology.

Here is the BlerdWithoutFear video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKxqpMvyqIg

In this video, I talk about why I don’t often network as an indie comic creator and why I’ve chosen to focus on finding my own creative formula instead of following the paths that are generally considered “correct” in the comic industry.

A lot of creators are told that success comes from constantly networking, getting your work in front of the right people, joining social circles, engaging in community politics, building connections, and becoming part of scenes or groups. But over time, I realized that approach doesn’t fit my personality or the kind of creator I want to be.

While discussing all of this, I’m coloring pages from my independent comic series, Zatswan, using colored pencils and traditional comic art techniques.

This is a discussion about indie comics, making comics independently, creative discipline, artistic individuality, outsider creators, comic book culture, and staying focused on your work instead of distractions.

The new Lanterns trailer has finally dropped, and it reveals a LOT about the direction DC appears to be taking Green Lantern. In this video, I break down my overall impressions of the trailer, discuss the growing focus on John Stewart, the reaction from Hal Jordan fans, and what all of this potentially means for the future of the Green Lantern franchise.

I talk about the ongoing divide within the Green Lantern fandom, the legacy of the Justice League Unlimited version of John Stewart, Geoff Johns’ impact on the franchise, why many fans are emotionally attached to different versions of Green Lantern, and whether DC is gradually shifting the brand toward broader audience recognition and appreciation (John Stewart) instead of hardcore comic reader expectations (Hal Jordan).

While discussing all of this, I’m coloring a page from my independent comic series, Zatswan, using colored pencils. As someone actively creating my own sci-fi/fantasy superhero comic series, I spend a lot of time thinking about franchise identity, audience perception, storytelling, worldbuilding, and what makes characters resonate with people across generations and different media.

Today I’m talking about why John Stewart is becoming the face of Green Lantern for DC Comics and so many fans. From the impact of the Justice League Unlimited era to the way audiences connected with his personality, leadership, and presence, John Stewart’s rise says a lot about how comic book characters evolve beyond their original status quo.

Was this inevitable? Did Hal Jordan lose cultural ground? And why does John Stewart resonate so strongly with an entire generation of comic and cartoon fans?

I’m breaking down my thoughts on the history of the Green Lantern franchise, fan perception, representation, animation, and why John Stewart feels like the definitive Lantern to many people today, and why DC is ultimately choosing him to lead the way for Green Lantern moving forward.

While discussing this, I’m inking my own independent comic series, Zatswan, a cosmic multiversal sci-fi adventure featuring original characters, massive stakes, and cosmic romance. If you enjoy discussions about comics, art, worldbuilding, and independent creators building something from the ground up, you’re in the right place.

In this video, I discuss the reaction to Robotech Masters, which stars Dana Sterling and Bowie Grant, fandom perception, and why certain character dynamics consistently create controversy in science fiction and anime fandoms. Was Robotech Masters genuinely disliked because of its writing and structure, or did parts of the audience simply reject what the series represented, their preconcieved expectations because of Macross, who starred in it, and what was focused on?

I also talk about fandom behavior, nostalgia, adaptation differences between Robotech Masters and Super Dimension Cavalry: Souther Cross, audience expectations, and why certain reactions in geek culture feel strangely predictable over time.

While discussing these topics, I’m a inking page from my own independent comic series Zatswan using Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph technical drawing pens. As an indie comic creator building my own sci-fi fantasy universe, which also happens to have black man and white girl leads, I spend a lot of time thinking about audience perception, character dynamics, worldbuilding, and how fandoms emotionally attach themselves to certain stories and archetypes. Lastly, I also talk about other old anime series that I like!