10 DC Shows To Watch Before HBO’s Lanterns

Damon Lindelof's Lanterns comes to HBO Max on August 16, 2026, and in anticipation of the Green Lantern-inspired series, here are the DC shows that are worth checking out to some degree before the premiere. The DCU still lags behind the MCU when it comes to movies, but on television, the DCU wins more bouts.

There's a wide variety of DCU shows, and while Green Lantern has only had one TV show dedicated to the character before Lanterns, the superhero has made plenty of appearances. This list details the shows he makes the biggest impact on, and which DC shows may have a similar feel to Lindelof's series.

Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (2001-2006)

Justice League and its sequel series Justice League Unlimited, which is essentially seasons 3-5, are generally ranked among the greatest animated superhero TV shows ever, and even often make their way into broader acclaimed television lists. As suggested by the name, the shows are centered on DC's Justice League superhero team.

While the first series was focused on the core of the Justice League, Unlimited expanded the roster, with nearly 50 characters from the comics appearing in the first episode alone. Several versions of the Green Lantern appear in both series, and for many fans of the franchise, this is where their understanding of the complex superhero comes from.

Batman: The Brave And The Bold (2008-2011)

The animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold is partially based on the DC Comics series, The Brave and the Bold, which often sees two or more superheroes coming together to defeat a foe. In this three-season Cartoon Network show, it's Batman who pairs up with a new DC hero almost every episode.

Hal Jordan, Alan Scott, and Guy Gardner all appear in the series at one point or another. The series is designed to appeal to younger viewers, with a humorous, light touch, and the more cartoony art style is indicative of this as well. It's a throwback series that will remind older viewers of superhero shows like Adam West's 1960s Batman series.

Young Justice (2010-2022)

Young Justice is a four-season animated series centered on the teenage superheroes and sidekicks of the DC Universe. This teen organization has its own version of the Justice League, working under the supervision of the real one. Most of the major DC characters appear in the series, including various incarnations of Green Lantern.

As Green Lantern doesn't have a sidekick or a "mini" version, the superhero is more of a supporting character. However, in season 4, the Green Lantern Corps becomes a focus of the storyline. The lore introduced in Young Justice ended up becoming canon, later appearing in Green Lantern: The Animated Series.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011-2013)

The only TV show before 2026 centered on a member of the Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: The Animated Series follows the adventures of Hal Jordan and Kilowog as they defend their Sector of space. Their primary enemies are members of the Red Lantern Corps, led by Atrocitus, though other classic villains like Sinestro make appearances.

Those interested in the Green Lantern lore can't go wrong with Green Lantern: The Animated Series, but it doesn't offer the most satisfying binge-watch as the show was canceled after just one season. Allegedly, the failure of Ryan Reynolds' 2011 Green Lantern film contributed to the decline in viewership of the show (via ComicVine).

Arrow (2012-2020)

The CW series Arrow ran for eight seasons and generated one of the largest superhero shared-universes in media. The show stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, a billionaire playboy who ends up becoming Green Arrow, a vigilante superhero who cleans up his hometown of Starling City, primarily using a bow and arrow.

Surprisingly, none of the Green Lanterns appear in the Arrowverse, but at the end of Arrow, a glowing green ring is teased, hinting at the Corps' existence within the universe. You certainly won't be able to finish the series before Lanterns, but it's worth checking out the pilot and some key episodes to understand what Lanterns could end up looking like if it becomes an ongoing show.

Krypton (2018-2019)

Krypton is a little-known DC series that premiered on Syfy from 2018 to 2019 and focuses on Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe), the grandfather of Superman. The show takes place 200 years before the birth of Superman and follows Seg-El's attempts to restore the House of El and his efforts to save his home from its eventual destruction.

The series itself is not the best the DC can do, but it does co-star Aaron Pierre, who will star in Lanterns as John Stewart. In Krypton, Pierre plays Dev-Em, a character from the comics and a former commander of the Kryptonian army. It's an early example of Pierre's ability to hold the screen with minimal dialogue.

Watchmen (2019)

Damon Lindelof's first foray in the DC universe came in his 2019 miniseries, Watchmen, a sequel to both Alan Moore's comic and Zack Snyder's 2009 film. Holding tight to the original comics' themes of police brutality, vigilantism, and giving up freedom for safety, Lindelof manages to weave his own complete story without betraying what's come before it.

Highly unique and creative, as all Lindelof projects are, Watchmen is a foray into a world you've never seen on TV but one that is strikingly resonant with real life. It has a massive beating heart, and once you start it, you will likely burn through the series in a day or two. If Lanterns is going to be like any show, Watchmen is probably the Urtext.

Doom Patrol (2019-2023)

Doom Patrol, along with Watchmen, was proof that the DCU was taking a different tack than its Marvel counterpart. Whereas Marvel likes to pitch, "superheroes with 'X' (horror, political thriller, comedy)" to interest viewers, DCU TV shows feel like the creators think of the ideas and themes first, then drop in the superheroes afterward.

Doom Patrol is based on the DC Comics series of the same name, following the titular group of misfit heroes with superpowers that have ruined their lives rather than improved them. It's a mature, unique show with a clever handle on the genre, something we can expect from Lanterns.

Peacemaker (2022-2025)

Peacemaker has become a surprise hit for the DCEU and a symbol of how DC is willing to take risks in its productions. John Cena was terrific in Suicide Squad as Chris Smith/Peacemaker, and Cena has long deserved a TV show for himself. It's violent, hilarious, and surprisingly moving at times.

Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) appears in the season 2 premiere, "The Ties That Grind", along with the other new members of the Justice League (Gang). He only has a quick line about disliking Peacemaker, but it's a funny reminder of Fillion's character. Lanterns appears like it will strike a significantly different tone, however.

The Penguin (2024)

The Penguin was another unusual gambit for HBO and the DCU. The series, set within the universe of Matt Reeves' The Batman, explores the rise of Oz Cobb (Colin Farrell in heavy makeup) as he becomes The Penguin and a leading figure in Gotham City's underworld.

The Penguin has a strange tone that it pulls off. It's mean, cruel, sometimes horrifying, but it's also funny, campy, and bizarre. It feels perfectly situated within the world of the comics, but there's a layer of reality that makes it more harrowing. It's a tone that could work well for Lanterns.