20 Mind-Blowing Facts You Never Knew About Green Lantern

14. Aladdin Inspired Green Lantern's Powers

A railroad engineer may have played a role in the creation of this original Green Lantern, but so did Aladdin. His abilities were heavily inspired by Arabian Nights where the character is able to create anything he imagines just like the genie can create any wish he's asked to fulfil. Aladdin contacted said genie by rubbing a magic lamp (i.e. lantern) or ring, so that's where those ideas came from too. The Aladdin influences were so heavy that the plan at one point was to name Alan Scott "Alan Ladd" in order to further pay homage to Aladdin. However, the book's editors wisely decided that it might be too on the nose and distracting.