Lanterns' Damon Lindelof Clarifies 'Green Is F---ing Awesome' After Angering Comic Book Fans

The showrunner apologizes for his past comments and expresses his deep respect for the Green Lantern source material.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of the upcoming HBO series Lanterns, has addressed the backlash from comic book fans over his past comments about the color green and the Green Lantern franchise. Lindelof took to Instagram to provide context and clarify his true feelings, stating that green is his lifelong favorite color and that he has a deep appreciation for the Green Lantern mythology and characters.

Why it matters

As a high-profile showrunner working on a major DC Comics adaptation, Lindelof's comments about the Green Lantern brand had the potential to upset and alienate the passionate fanbase. By addressing the criticism directly and expressing his genuine reverence for the source material, Lindelof is aiming to mend fences and reassure fans that the Lanterns series will be made with care and respect for the beloved characters and mythology.

The details

In a 2024 podcast appearance, Lindelof made a joke about the color green being "stupid," which sparked backlash from comic book writers like Grant Morrison. Lindelof acknowledged that the comment was "dumb" and a "sloppy" attempt at humor. To make amends, Lindelof shared a photo of himself wearing a Green Lantern t-shirt at his first Comic-Con appearance, explaining that the character and the color green have been lifelong favorites of his since childhood.

  • In 2024, Lindelof made the controversial comments about the color green on a podcast.
  • This week, comic writer Grant Morrison reacted to the old comments, reigniting the backlash.

The players

Damon Lindelof

The co-creator and executive producer of the upcoming HBO series Lanterns, who is known for his work on shows like Lost, Watchmen, and The Leftovers.

Grant Morrison

A renowned comic book writer who was critical of Lindelof's past comments about the Green Lantern franchise.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I have upset Grant Morrison, which means I have now pissed off MOST of the brilliant British/Scottish comics writers that I grew up idolizing. To quote the bard (Otis Redding), this is nobody's fault but mine. I made a dumb joke on a comedy podcast. I'm not going to bob and weave about context, the joke was dumb, the fandom is not. I owe them an explanation and a genuine reflection of my actual feelings.”

— Damon Lindelof (Instagram)

“The very first time I appeared on a ComicCon panel was for the Lost Pilot, back in the summer of 2004. I wore my favorite T-shirt as I had long grown out of my favorite underoos, those being the uniform of Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Sector 2814. For a quiet, uncoordinated kid, there was nothing cooler than a hero whose superpower was his imagination. And green is not stupid, it is my lifelong favorite color and I have a questionnaire that I filled out in third grade to prove it. Green is fucking awesome.”

— Damon Lindelof (Instagram)

What’s next

Lanterns is set to debut on HBO (and via HBO Max subscription) in August, so fans will soon be able to see Lindelof's vision for the Green Lantern franchise come to life.

The takeaway

Lindelof's heartfelt apology and clarification of his true feelings about the Green Lantern brand should help reassure fans that the Lanterns series will be made with care and respect for the beloved source material, despite any past missteps in his communication about it.