Simon Baz

Lebanese American Simon Baz was born in Dearborn, Michigan, and grew up facing intense xenophobia and bigotry against Muslims in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He and his family were often targeted by bigots, and Simon had to defend his younger sister Sira from bullying on more than one occasion. Despite these obstacles, Simon got a degree in engineering and a job at a local automotive plant. But when layoffs cost him that job, he made the foolhardy choice of taking up illegal street racing.

Due to his innate ability to conquer fear, Simon ended up becoming quite an adept street racer. Nevertheless, one day tragedy struck, and an accident placed his brother-in-law in a coma. Simon barely escaped going to prison. Despondent, he turned to stealing cars in order to sell them for parts. On one such occasion, Baz stole a van that turned out to be loaded with explosives. After a high-speed chase, he was arrested, and due to his ethnicity was assumed to be a terrorist. Sent to Guantanamo Bay, Baz was very nearly tortured. It was then that the Green Lantern power ring chose him to be its new bearer (at a time when veteran Earth Lantern Hal Jordan was thought to be dead)

Eventually, Baz was able to clear his name of any charges of terrorism, and became the official Green Lantern for Sector 2814. He also joined the United States government-funded Justice League of America, before joining Super Heroes like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman in the original Justice League. He’s currently training Earth’s first official female Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz, who is also his partner in protecting their assigned sector of space.