Controversy Erupts After Former GREEN LANTERN Artist Uses Homophobic Slur While Reacting to LANTERNS Trailer

The upcoming DCU series Lanternshas been generating a lot of excitement as it gears up to bring the Green Lantern mythology to HBO in a very interesting and different way.

While I liked what I saw and was digging the True Detective vibe, other fans were complaining about how there wasn’t enough green in the trailer.

But, now the conversation around the show recently shifted in an ugly direction after former DC Comics artist Ethan Van Sciver, who sparked backlash during a livestream reaction to the trailer.

Van Sciver, who once had a prominent career in comics with work on Green Lantern: Rebirth, Batman/Superman, and several X-Men titles, has spent the last several years stirring controversy online. His latest comments have once again put him at the center of criticism from fans.

During a stream where he reacted to footage from Lanterns, Van Sciver targeted the show’s lead actor Aaron Pierre, who plays John Stewart.

While discussing the trailer, he referred to the actor with a homophobic slur, calling Pierre a "f****t and a homosexual" before adding that "it's real creepy to hear him talk."

Unsurprisingly, the remarks immediately triggered a wave of backlash on social media. Many fans began tagging James Gunn, demanding consequences for Van Sciver’s comments and asking DC to cut ties with him.

The situation is somewhat complicated by the fact that Van Sciver has not worked for DC Comics in years. His professional relationship with the publisher ended in 2018 following earlier controversies tied to his online rhetoric and political commentary.

Even so, the remarks have once again pushed him into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, especially as anticipation builds for Lanterns and the broader DC Universe reboot.

The series itself is shaping up to be a major cornerstone of the new DCU. Lanterns will follow John Stewart and Hal Jordan as they investigate a mysterious murder connected to something much bigger unfolding on Earth.

James Gunn previously explained the concept when the project was announced: "This is a story of a couple of Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan.

“We have a few other Lanterns peppered in there but this is really a terrestrial based TV show which is almost like True Detective with a couple of Green Lanterns who are space cops watching over Precinct Earth in it they discover a terrifying mystery that ties into our largest story of the DCU."

The series also stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, with Nathan Fillion appearing in a supporting role as Guy Gardner.

Creative leadership on the show includes showrunner Chris Mundy, while James Hawes directed the first two episodes. The writing team also features Damon Lindelof, known for his work on Lost and Watchmen, along with comic writer Tom King.

Despite the controversy surrounding Van Sciver’s comments, excitement for Lanterns remains strong. The series is expected to play a major role in launching the DCU’s larger narrative, with its grounded mystery and cosmic elements setting the stage for stories that will ripple across the franchise.