The Most "Creature of Their Time" Character DC Ever Did Was...?

[Güicho]

In many ways I think Hal (Green Lantern) Jordan is a creature of the 1960s. Test pilots still have some sheen to them, but nothing like cachet they held during The Space Race era. It wasn't too long after the moon landing that - as NASA seemed to lose it's luster - that Jordan's story and adventures seemed to wander off course, unable to find a direction that really worked.

That's mostly a complete failure, shortsightedness and shortcoming of some fans, and surprisingly several creators, who constantly seem to miss the point of the character "type" and setting.
Jordan (and Ferris) easily translates to modern sensibilities, and setting, and they'll always be relevant today, and well into the future.
Especially in a science fiction setting, which the DCU provides in abundance.

Other characters they have no problem updating with the times (both real and the fantastic), Batman's "gear". Barry Alan's job with more modern forensics, DNA, to the science of particle acceleration, etc. , Iron-Man's weapons, tech. and designs are constantly updated, etc... Yet somehow some think "Test Pilot" and their brains get frozen in the past? Instead of looking to the future? And this is a franchise that embraces forward thinking sci-fi. It's like these creators (and some fans) can't move their brains forward and connect the two:

Ferris Aero/Space should already be at the cutting-edge in design and creation of the next generation "ships" (if they can be called that) that will one day push the boundaries of FTL Speed, superluminal travel through deep Space/Time/Dimension, looking to the future. And humans will want to be there and explore this frontier themselves.
It is in this context; cutting edge of technology and ongoing (spirit), that both Carol Ferris and Hal Jordan exist.

There is always that dreamer who will design, engineer and build to take to the next level, and another who will always step up to be the first to pilot one of those ships.
In reality and in fiction (which again the DCU provides in abundance), it's characters like Carol Ferris and Hal Jordan, who won't stop pushing and exploring at the edge of what fear conquering will can achieve.

Other franchises have no problem embracing that








The constant Human drive; willpower and endurance is always tested, pushed to it's limits. We need to know, it's our natural instinct to push the boundaries over the next horizon. Despite machines taking over some jobs, We will always want to know what we as humans are capable of, to what extremes physically, and mentally we can push ourselves.
And characters like Ferris and Jordan will lead the way. It's never over.
You will always need those who willfully instinctively step forward to the task, where others draw the line. That same will is what powers and fuels the ring that recognized Jordan (it's at the core of the concept and franchise).
And that still translates to today.

This character "type" is never obsolete.
And Ferris and Jordan's "job" is only in its infancy.

It's the readers and surprisingly some creators who for some reason are stuck in the past.

Edit: (LOL ^ speech)