Recent years have seen a huge escalation in the release of superhero movies and 2011 will be no exception with yet more additions to both the X-Men and Transformers franchises, not to mention Kenneth Branagh's Thor. The movie I'm most curious about, however, is Green Lantern, directed by Martin Campbell of Casino Royale fame. Ryan Reynolds will star as the DC Comics hero in the Hal Jordan version of Green Lantern and whilst the release of this blockbuster is slated for June 2011, the actor has already started appearing on the covers of film magazines – is 2011 going to be Green Lantern's year? If so, NOW might be a very good time to snap up a vintage Green Lantern action figure! Here's a look at what may very well be one of the finest action figures ever released...by anyone...ever – Green Lantern as he appeared in 1984 as part of the first wave of Kenner's Super Powers line.
Like many superheroes, Green Lantern has actually been embodied by several different characters over the years, but Kenner chose to focus on the Silver Age Green Lantern – test pilot Hal Jordan, who first appeared in 1959. He is an excellent likeness of artist Gil Kane's comic book Hal and wears the power ring (given to him by a dying alien, Abin Sur) and of course, he holds the loose accessory for the figure – his Green Lantern power battery. Back in 1984, nobody had heard of Parallax yet, or could have ever imagined that Hal would suddenly turn grey at the temples and take a walk on the dark side...but therein lies another tale...!
Squeeze Green Lantern's legs together and he'll thrust his ring towards danger
Looking at this figure, it's easy to see why the Kenner Super Powers line is still so popular with vintage collectors. The sculpt is utterly perfect and the attention to detail in the mold is stunning for a 4 inch figure. And the super power gimmick is integral to the figure – there are no levers – simply squeeze his legs together and he'll raise his ring towards danger!
My Green Lantern is in extremely fine condition, with stiff limbs, pristine paintwork and chest decal of the stylized Green Lantern icon on a white circle, fully intact. He has been removed from the card – or rather ripped from the backing by the look of the surviving packaging – but this loose card is still a great addition to this vintage find. With each Super Powers Collection action figure from the first two series a minicomic was included, although I'm missing this extra which teams Green Lantern with Robin against the Joker. All the same, I absolutely love my Green Lantern!
Green Lantern - original backing card
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Cool! He looks a lot like my New Frontier Hal…