The 5 Green Lanterns of Earth and their Regular Jobs before the Ring

Also, somewhere out there is a universe where a student got chosen by a cosmic police force while everyone else was studying for finals.

And frankly, that’s the best excuse for missing class.

4. Kyle Rayner : Comic Book Artist

Kyle Rayner was a comic book artist before becoming a Green Lantern. Which might be the single most appropriate job in the history of superhero casting.

Most Lanterns use their rings to create weapons and vehicles. Kyle can literally imagine anything and turn it into reality. So while everyone else is making green tanks, Kyle is thinking:

“What if I made a giant dragon?” or Better yet “What problem can’t be solved with a giant Mech?”

His artistic imagination made him one of the most creative Lanterns, and he eventually became one of the Corps’ most powerful members. Proof that doodling during work might actually pay off.

5. Guy Gardner : Teacher

Before becoming a Green Lantern, Guy Gardner was a teacher and social worker.

Which makes you wonder what happened.

This guy was a teacher? With that haircut?

Because somewhere along the way, this apparently reasonable career path turned into: Intergalactic police officer who screams at aliens.

Guy is arrogant, argumentative, and possesses no chill whatsoever.

But underneath all that yelling is someone genuinely courageous and fiercely loyal.

He’s basically the Green Lantern equivalent of the co-worker everyone complains about but secretly wants around when things go wrong.

From test pilots to artists, Marines to college students, Earth’s Green Lanterns prove there’s no single way to be a hero. They all got the same ridiculous space ring, but what they did with it was completely their own. And considering the universe keeps handing these things to humans, the Guardians might want to rethink their hiring process.