10 DC Heroes With Surprisingly Tragic Origins

3. Alan Scott

Doomsday Clock Alan Scott
DC Comics/Gary Frank

Alan Scott was one of the original DC Comics heroes. A true legend of the Golden Age, Scott became the first Green Lantern and went on to play a key role in the precursor to the Justice League - the Justice Society of America.

Sadly, with time, Alan's spark began to fade. As the Silver Age came in the old fascination with mystical heroes started to wane, and so he was replaced by a newer, space-age Green Lantern called Hal Jordan. Scott's story was erased from DC continuity for years, until subsequent retcons brought the character back into the fold, and there alongside his fellow Lanterns.

Because Scott was so inextricably linked to DC's multiverse, however, the character's origin took on a tragedy of its own - one only placed into an in-universe context with the release of Doomsday Clock.

Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's series reveals how Doctor Manhattan was responsible for the New 52, and how it came from him killing Alan Scott and stopping the advent of the JSA.

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Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.