Alan Ladd Wellington Scott is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, and the first character to bear the name Green Lantern. He fights evil with the aid of his mystical ring, which grants him a variety of powers. He was created by Martin Nodell and Bill Finger, first appearing in the comic book All-American Comics #16, published on July 10, 1940.
All-American Comics #16 (July 1940) is the first appearance of Green Lantern. Art by Sheldon Moldoff.
A young Alan Scott becomes Green Lantern. Art by Martin Nodell.
Green Lanterns of two worlds: The Silver Age Hal Jordan meets the Golden Age Alan Scott in Green Lantern #40 (October 1965). Cover art by Gil Kane & Murphy Anderson.
Alan Scott, being an aged superhero. Cover art of JSA #77 by Alex Ross.
An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, on average 32 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of Action Comics, which included the debut of the superhero Superman. This was followed by a superhero boom that lasted until the end of World War II. After the war, while superheroes were marginalized, the comic book industry rapidly expanded and genres such as horror, crime, science fiction and romance became popular. The 1950s saw a gradual decline, due to a shift away from print media in the wake of television and the impact of the Comics Code Authority. The late 1950s and the 1960s saw a superhero revival and superheroes remained the dominant character archetype throughout the late 20th century into the 21st century.
German refugee child at N.Y. Children's Colony, 1942, reading a Superman comic book.
The Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats (1897)
Comic Monthly #1 (Jan. 1922)
Famous Funnies: A Carnival of Comics (Eastern Color Printing, 1933)