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Contains spoilers for “Lanterns” Season 1, Episode 2
In “Lanterns” Season 1, Episode 2, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) is tasked with locating Hal Jordan’s (Kyle Chandler) very literal green lantern, namely the energy-charging device that the Green Lantern power ring needs to work. The trip is enlightening in more ways than one. Not only do we see Hal’s barely lived-in mansion that he got as a gift, but we also meet a very “Little Shop of Horrors”-esque alien flesh-eating plant that the veteran Lantern is keeping as a pet. Before this side quest is over, John gets abducted by a rogue alien faction, as one does.
Yet somehow, none of these oddities come close to the stealthily strangest moment the episode gives us. Amidst all this action, we get a fun little nod to one of the strangest DC superheroes in existence: Mogo, the most peculiar Green Lantern by a long shot. This Easter egg arrives in the form of Hal’s cryptic password for the pocket dimension lockbox that holds his lantern: “Mogo doesn’t socialize.” This is a direct reference to the Green Lantern Corps member who also happens to be a massive sentient planet — and with this name drop, Mogo is now an official presence in the DCU.
Mogo is the biggest Green Lantern, with power and responsibility to match
DC Comics
There are a few versions of Mogo floating around, but his core characteristics are stable: He’s a massive, sentient planet who’s technically affiliated with the Green Lantern Corps but generally avoids interaction, as Hal’s password indicates. He has complete control of his vegetation, temperature, weather, and all other elements of a habitable planet. He communicates by projecting holograms, and to announce his presence and allegiance he arranges his vegetation in the shape of a giant Green Lantern ring around his equator.
Being a mobile, intelligent planet with full control of his own physical properties and gravity, Mogo is a powerhouse who plays a large role in several Green Lantern stories. Apart from his obvious heavy-hitter properties, he also has another, perhaps even more important role: His vast telepathic abilities make him the Green Lantern who’s in charge of distributing the Corps’ power rings to suitable hosts.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has already introduced its take on the “sentient planet” trope by introducing Star-Lord’s (Chris Pratt) father Ego (Kurt Russell) in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” It remains to be seen if James Gunn will return to that particular narrative, or if the “Lanterns” name-drop is the closest we’ll get to a DCU Mogo in the foreseeable future. Still, Hal’s password stealthily confirms that Mogo is part of the DCU Green Lantern Corps’ story in some shape or form.
“Lanterns” Season 1 is streaming on HBO Max.