In 1970, DC’s superhero comic Green Lantern had become stale, and the poor sales reflected it. In response, the publisher decided to take a chance and put the book into the hands of writer Denny O’Neil and artist Neal Adams, who wanted to take the title in a very different direction. Green Lantern was paired with another superhero, Green Arrow, and the two did not see eye to eye, particularly about politics. And what place did politics have in a comic book? A very big place, for this historic run of superhero comics.

Instead of fighting supervillains in garish costumes, Green Lantern and Green Arrow fought slumlords, white supremacists, corporate polluters, drug dealers, corrupt politicians, and a rogues gallery of foes taken straight from the front pages of the news. This series became a landmark in the history of comics, inspiring other creators at both Marvel and DC to create comics written for a more mature audience. Plus, the writing was top notch, and the art was amazing.

Consumerism! White supremacy! A drug-addicted sidekick! Norman Mailer quotes! Nixon as a little girl with psychic powers! Inevitable 60s fears of overpopulation! A road trip through the heart of a troubled America! It’s all here.

Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic!

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