The DCU’s future continues to look bright, especially when it comes to its animated projects. Creature Commandos was a record-breaking success for the DCU and Max, with a Season 2 in development. Along with that, it was announced the new DCU would aim for two animated shows a year moving forward and one animated movie as well. The newest animated series announced are Starfire and My Adventures with Green Lantern, with the latter title starring Jessica Cruz as the hero.
From what was revealed, My Adventures With Green Lantern will take place in the My Adventures With Superman universe, and it will follow Jessica Cruz’s origin story as she transforms into the titular hero. Jessica Cruz is a character who has not gotten the spotlight as much as her fellow Green Lanterns Hal Jordan or John Stewart when it comes to the animated medium, but she was recently made the new leader of the Green Lantern Corps. For those excited about her new cartoon, there is a perfect young adult graphic novel to check out before then.
Jessica Cruz: Unearthed Is A Green Lantern Comic Unlike Any Other
DC has a strong line-up of young adult graphic novels that are outside the main continuity; however, they still capture what readers love about those characters, as well what makes them a hero. Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story by Lilliam Rivera and Steph C. is one of the YA titles that is the most grounded, as it sees Jessica Cruz become a hero for her friends, family, and community without superpowers. This is no ordinary hero’s origin, but it still shows why Jessica Cruz is a hero, as well as how everyday citizens can be pillars of their community like her.
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Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story is an immigrant story. Jessica is the daughter of undocumented immigrants, and a new mayoral candidate heightens her fears for her parents’ safety and security with the rise of xenophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric, propaganda, and sentiment. Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story was a critical comic back in 2021, and its significance is even greater nowadays. It’s not just the subject matter that makes it such a stand-out for DC. Rivera writes a painfully beautiful story about a young adult feeling as if the weight of the world, the safety of her family and community falls on her.
Jessica fears if she does too much, it will put them all in danger. On the other hand, if she doesn’t do enough, something terrible can still happen. It’s not just the story and characterization of Jessica that conveys this turmoil. Steph C.’s artwork, which has a watercolor feel to it, reflects Jessica’s innermost feelings. Steph C. even incorporates Aztec elements into the art, giving Jessica strong ties to her heritage while delivering a more expressionistic take on what she is going through. Especially for a grounded comic, this makes Unearthed just as visually engaging as an action-based comic.
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Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story is a painfully relatable story, especially for a lot of Gen Z and Millennial comic readers. Seeing how much Jessica cares for her community, as well as her inner fears, makes her an easy hero to root for. It also makes her a top-tier role model for those who find themselves in a similar position. She is also a great role model for readers who want to stand up for what is right but don’t have the tools to do so just yet.
If My Adventures With Green Lantern Is Like These Cartoons, Jessica Cruz’s Future Is Bright
Jessica Cruz Could Follow In Superman And John Stewart’s Footsteps
Based on Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story alone, Jessica makes an excellent hero and role model, one perfect to lead her own animated series. On top of that, My Adventures With Green Lantern seems to be following My Adventures With Superman’s footsteps. This series has been incredibly well-received, with fans eagerly awaiting My Adventures With Superman’s Season 3. This cartoon saw a young Clark Kent early in his Superman career, which is the perfect place to start Jessica Cruz’s journey as a Green Lantern. Plus, My Adventures With Superman captures what makes Superman a needed and wanted hero today.
Jessica Cruz is just as necessary and desired as The Man of Steel. Meanwhile, for fans who are just getting to know Jessica Cruz, this cartoon can do for her what Justice League Unlimited did for John Stewart’s Green Lantern, who just got a first look of his live-action counterpart. John is incredibly beloved by fans, even those who have only seen his animated interactions. If the same care that went into his animated portrayal goes into Jessica’s, then it seems like a sure-fire thing that she will become a stand-out character for those new to the character, as well as those familiar with her comic persona.
Green Lantern Corps.
- Writer
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Dave Gibbons
- Penciler
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Patrick Gleason
- Inker
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Prentis Rollins
- Colorist
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Moose Baumann
