Who was the first Earth-based "Green Lantern" you ever read in comic books?

[Dataweaver]

In my case, I came into comics at a point when Green Lantern was in a state of flux. It was during the Crisis: John Stewart was Green Lantern after Hal had surrendered the ring; but the Green Lantern title featured Hal and his efforts to get himself reinstated. Meanwhile, a rogue faction of Guardians woke Guy Gardner from a coma and gave him a ring. So in a way, I got introduced to Hal, John, and Guy all at the same time.

[MajorHoy]

At present, poll results show

Hal Jordan (Silver Age Green Lantern first introduced in 1959) = 33 votes
Kyle Rayner (introduced in 1994) = 22 votes
Guy Gardner (1st "backup" GL, introduced 1968) = 2 votes
John Stewart (backup Green Lantern introduced in 1971) = 1 vote
Jessica Cruz (introduced in 2013) = 1 vote

[WebLurker]

At present, poll results show

Hal Jordan (Silver Age Green Lantern first introduced in 1959) = 33 votes
Kyle Rayner (introduced in 1994) = 22 votes
Guy Gardner (1st "backup" GL, introduced 1968) = 2 votes
John Stewart (backup Green Lantern introduced in 1971) = 1 vote
Jessica Cruz (introduced in 2013) = 1 vote

So I'm the only one? Well, I never did worry about following the crowd.

[Jim Kelly]

Back around 1966--not sure exactly when--I got a second hand copy of ARCHIE’S MADHOUSE No. 43 (October ’65)--which was mostly full of super-hero spoofs. In one story--"The Champ of Lamps, Blue Beam"--a super-hero going by the codename of Blue Beam tries out for membership in the Union of Super Heroes.

I don't know if I immediately got the joke that Blue Beam was a parody of Green Lantern (BB had his own power ring). Once I learned more about DC's Green Lantern, then the joke made more sense. Add to that--Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" came out in the summer of 1966, which name drops Green Lantern.

[j9ac9k]

Hal Jordan for me. I was too young to even remember what the story was, but I seem to recall Hal having his hands tied behind his back and needing to charge his ring...

I also had some issue that had Alan Scott on the cover (on the bottom as like a backup story?) and thinking it was odd that there was another Green Lantern flying around who looked nothing like Hal and didn't really wear much green...

I only started reading the title regularly when I noticed Guy Gardner on the cover of "Legends" and wondered what had happened to the GL from my childhood. (and the Superfriends)

[MajorHoy]

Current poll results show

Hal Jordan (Silver Age GL introduced in 1959) = 36 votes (+ 3)
Kyle Rayner (introduced in 1994) = 23 votes (+ 1)
Guy Gardner (1st "backup" GL, introduced 1968) = 2 votes
John Stewart (backup Green Lantern introduced in 1971) = 2 votes (+ 1)
Jessica Cruz (introduced in 2013) = 1 vote

[CaptCleghorn]

I'm curious. the poll states "Earth-based" Lantern. Could it be possible that someone's first Lantern isn't human?

[Dataweaver]

As far as I know, the only time there were alien Earth-based Green Lanterns was immediately after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, when five alien GLs relocated to Earth: Katma Tui (John Stewart's girlfriend), Arisia (the teen GL who had a crush on Hal Jordan), Ch'p (“funny animal” Green Lantern who had been erased from his world's history by the Crisis), Salaak (I forget why he came to Earth), and Kilowog (whose homeworld was destroyed by the Crisis). None of them were my first Earth-based GL; but they were all very close seconds: as I said before, I started picking up Green Lantern during the Crisis, so I got introduced to a whole mess of choices all at once.

[MajorHoy]

I'm curious. the poll states "Earth-based" Lantern. Could it be possible that someone's first Lantern isn't human?

Why not?

There have been stories / issues where the focus was on Green Lanterns from other planets/sectors with neither Hal nor other Earth-based GLs making any appearances (or at least not a significant one).

[Sacred Knight]

Hal Jordan. First story I read with him was an old Justice League Europe issue, and when I really started getting into DC, he was still the guy but it was right on the cusp of Emerald Twilight.

[MajorHoy]

Since the last tallying of votes,

Hal Jordan (Silver Age GL introduced in 1959) = 43 votes (+ 7)
Kyle Rayner (introduced in 1994) = 25 votes (+ 2)
John Stewart (backup Green Lantern introduced in 1971) = 4 votes (+ 2)
Guy Gardner (1st "backup" GL, introduced 1968) = 2 votes (no change)
Jessica Cruz (introduced in 2013) = 1 vote (no change)

[darima80]

Kyle Rayner. Grabbed the issues as they were tying in to the Underworld Unleashed crossover event of the year ('95, maybe?) and got hooked by the rookie POV and Pelletier's clean artwork. Have read GL and all related books ever since.

[SebastianS]

I voted Hal because technically, the first GL issue I read was v3 #46, part of the Reign of the Supermen storyline. In this issue, Hal returns to Coast City, finds it destroyed, and battles Mongul. However, the next issue I read was GL v3 #51, and thus, I consider myself as being introduced into the GL mythos with Kyle.

[Adset]

kyle rayner. it was #53 of his series, just a few issues after "emerald twilight" where he fought mongul and superman guest-starred. i was able to go back and buy the few issues i had missed (#48-52) and i've been collecting green lantern ever since.

[Dr. Ellingham]

Hal Jordan. Then, the order I was exposed to the other GLs: Alan Scott, Guy Gardner, Katma Tui, Tomar Re, Sinestro, then a slew of other alien GLs, then more human GLs thrown in after - Charlie Vickers, John Stewart, etc.