Emerald Knight

John Stewart was born in Detroit, Michigan. In his youth, he found himself resenting his family’s impoverished circumstances, and would often get into trouble with the law. His mother was a community organizer, who tried to improve life for her family. In order to pay his way through college and earn a degree in architecture, Stewart joined the Marine Corps, against his mother’s wishes. In the Marines, he proved to be an expert sniper. It wasn’t long before Stewart was promoted to sergeant. He eventually received an honorable discharge, completed his architecture degree and moved to Coast City, California.

When Hal Jordan’s backup Lantern Guy Gardner was incapacitated by a head injury, John Stewart was chosen by the Guardians of the Universe to take his place. Jordan at first objected to Stewart as his alternate, believing he possessed an aggressive attitude toward any kind of authority figure. Nevertheless, the Guardians stood by their selection. In time Hal Jordan realized what an asset Stewart was, and for a while Stewart even replaced Jordan as the permanent Lantern of Earth.

Over the years, Stewart earned a reputation as one of the greatest Green Lanterns of all time. Nevertheless, he suffered many personal tragedies while a member of the Green Lantern Corps. Stewart, however, has remained a faithful Green Lantern, and his loyalty to the Corps has seen him earn the rank of Corps Leader.