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    John Stewart

    Character » John Stewart appears in 1832 issues.

    Formerly an architect, social activist, and U.S. Marine sniper, John Stewart was chosen by the Guardians of the Universe to join the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic peacekeeping organization dedicated to protecting life throughout the universe. Stewart has proven himself time and again to be an exceptional champion in countless missions that have taken him across the cosmos. His distinguished service in the Corps has resulted in a place among the Oan Honor Guard and the position of Corps Leader.

    Analysis of John Stewart & Jon Snow (MAJOR SPOILERS)

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    Captain13

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    #1  Edited By Captain13
    The following contain MAJOR spoilers from Game of Thrones and the book series it is based on. Beware.
    The following contain MAJOR spoilers from Game of Thrones and the book series it is based on. Beware.

    At first glance, John Stewart (Green Lantern) and Jon Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire) may seem to have very little in common. Afterall, John Stewart's stories are firmly in the realm of science fiction while Jon Snow's stories are firmly in the realm of high fantasy. But once you look past the surface of these characters, you may see that they have a great deal in common.

    I. Values

    A. Duty

    The most immediately apparent parallel between the two characters is their sense of duty. John Stewart was raised by his social activist mother Shirley Stewart to stand up for the people regardless of the cost.

    Despite his mother's reservations, John went on to serve with the United States Marines as a sniper. During his time in the service, John continued to showed commitment and loyalty to his comrades and country.

    After John left the Marine, he worked as an architect for a few years, but when duty called his name again, he rose to the challenge and became a Green Lantern.

    No Caption Provided

    Similarly, Jon Snow learned the value of honor and dedication through his relationship with his "father" Eddard Stark, a lord known for his honorable way of rulership.

    Jon is shown to be a great deal more solemn than his siblings. His status as an illegitamate child made him bitter and lead to Jon manifesting a desire to prove himself. Thus, he chose a life of hard duty in the Night's Watch to earn his own honor.

    During his time with the Night's Watch, Jon showed commitment and loyalty to the brotherhood despite being surrounded by temptation.

    B. Questioning Authority

    While both John and Jon are deeply committed to their causes, they are not afraid to challenge leadership when they see the need.

    Neither character is a blind follower.

    C. Doing What's Necessary

    Oftentimes, leadership requires making difficult choices.

    Both John and Jon have had to do just that. In The War of the Green Lanterns, John is forced to sacrifice his friend Mogo to save the Corps, despite how much it pains him.

    Luckily Mogo was revived, and the two built a new headquarters for the Green Lantern Corps together.

    In A Storm of Swords, Jon swaps Gilly's child with Mance Rayder's child to spare Mance's child from Melisandre's flames on account of his Mance's child's king's blood. Because of Jon, Gilly suffers from immense grief from the loss of her child, but, in the end, Jon did what was necessary for the realm.

    II. Romantic Relationships

    Both John and Jon have had complicated relationships with women who have tried to kill them.

    III. Leadership

    A. Chosen For Leadership

    Both John and Jon have been chosen for leadership by their superiors. The Guardians of the Universe had their eyes on John before he ever became a Green Lantern. They saw potential in him and they acted to exploit that potential.

    Similarly, Jeor Mormont personally selected Jon to be fast-tracked into a leadership position.

    B. Trainers of Men

    Both John and Jon have trained new recruits.

    C. Corps Leader/Human Guardian vs Lord Commander

    In pre-Flashpoint continuity, John became the first human Guardian of the Universe, and, in current continuity, he has been offered leadership of the Corps.

    In A Storm of Swords, Jon Snow becomes the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch in a landslide vote, to his own disbelief.

    No Caption Provided

    IV. Prophecies

    In Green Lantern: Mosaic #17, it is revealed that the Guardians and the Malthusians prophesied that John Stewart would be the "Opener of Doors," a legendary, galactic hero.

    In the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, some believe that Jon Snow is the legendary hero Azor Ahai reborn, as foretold in a prophesy.

    No Caption Provided

    So, as you can see, while these two characters may seem very different at first glance, they actually have a lot in common.

    --

    Please share your thoughts below!

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    Desh

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    This is a really good write up. I'm a big fan of both A Song of Ice and Fire and Green Lantern, so I can totally see where you're coming from with this comparison. Jon Snow feels like he doesn't belong with the Starks, and John Stewart, in Mosaic, feels like an outsider as well.

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    Captain13

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    @desh: Thank you! And I definitely agree with your point about their outsider status. That's something that was often dealt with in the first and second seasons of the Justice League cartoon.

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    MeanAndGreen

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    Well done!

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    Captain13

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    @meanandgreen: Thank you!

    I forgot to mention that the GLC is currently distrusted in the universe, similarly to how the Night's Watch is distrusted by the Wildlings.

    Also, John deputized some villains like Hunger Dog and Bolphunga after Light's Out, reminiscent of Jon deputizing Mance Rayder after the Wildling invasion.

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    MeanAndGreen

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    I just remembered that John worked undercover by impersonating Hunger Dog, and Jon worked undercover by pretending to leave the Night's Watch.

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    Captain13

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    @meanandgreen: Good point! And it looks like John will take more of a leadership role in Green Lantern: Lost Army.

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