Tom King Teases A ‘Renaissance’ For The DC Universe Alongside His Mindset For ‘Lanterns’

Will fans finally enjoy a Green Lantern project with Lanterns? Tom King suggests that the new DC Universe is the start of a “renaissance” for the brand.

It’s no secret that the DC Universe is in dire straits. After over a decade of flops, controversial films, and general corporate skullduggery, all eyes are on James Gunn and Peter Safran to deliver something truly special with their reboot. Two of the biggest pallbearers for this potential coffin are the upcoming Superman film, which will test the brand’s mettle at the box office, and Lanterns, which will see if this new era can bring interest back to previously sullied characters.

Tom King, a comic writer best known for writing some of the most acclaimed books in the past decade, seems optimistic about this prospect. When speaking on his involvement with Lanterns, the writer explained that he believes the DC Universe to be a true rebirth for the brand, with the DC Studios team crafting something truly special that fans have never seen before.

“[The DC Universe] feels like a DC renaissance,” King explained in a recent article from Business Insider. “We’re at the beginning of creating an entirely brilliant world.”

Tom King Reveals His Mindset For ‘Lanterns’

One of the key strengths fans have identified for the current DC Universe is that the executives aren’t afraid to lean into the truly weird aspects of comics. Tom Kings seems to be taking that idea to heart. He emphasized that he feels a responsibility to the characters in Lanterns, emphasizing that he doesn’t intend to modernize them, but rather show how the iconic characters are still relevant to modern problems.

“I was friends with Neal Adams, the co-creator of John Stewart. And every time I was in the room, I felt Neal yelling at me: ‘Don’t forget where you come from kid,” King explained. “Damon, Chris, and I came with a lot of love for the material and we wanted to do what I’ve always done in comics, which is take these original creations and show why they’re still relevant today, and why they can speak to both the audience and the issues of everything we’re dealing with.”

Given how detached fans have felt from the superhero genre in recent years, it seems as though Tom King already has a formula for success down for Lanterns. The DC Universe certainly has a large hurdle to climb when it comes to being considered a success. However, given the pedigree of creators in its corner, it’s hard not to believe in the supposed renaissance.

The Green Lantern series Lanterns has a series order for HBO. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!