DC Comics has re-imagined several of its popular super heroes with a line of comics called “The New 52”. They have new histories and characteristics and one recent reboot is for the beloved Green Lantern series. The new Green Lantern is Simon Baz, a Lebanese-American from the Detroit area who is Muslim. The Universal Life Church both applauds and questions the decisions by DC comics regarding the character. As a church in which anyone can be ordained, The Universal Life Church applauds the notion of a Muslim hero to counter some Americans’ negative perceptions of the religion. It reflects the diversity of the real world and this could help fight anti-Islamic perceptions if it weren’t for another aspect of the character – he is a car thief.
Simon Baz is not the first Muslim character introduced by DC Comics (others include Dust, a female of Afghan descent who has the ability to control sand and dust, and Nightrunner, a male of Algerian descent who is mentored by Batman). What makes Simon Baz different from other Muslim comic book characters – and different from many super heroes – is that he is a criminal. In the new re-imagining of the Green Lantern storyline, Simon Baz steals a car to help make ends meet after losing his job. He learns when he gets caught for stealing the car that it is full of bombs. He is presumed to be a terrorist and the story goes on to have him being recruited to be a galactic crime fighter. Simon Baz also sports a tattoo, something that is “haram,” or forbidden in Islam.
If readers want to identify with Baz, they would be forced to supply a defense of his situation by saying he is misunderstood, that he isn’t bad because he’s not a terrorist, he’s just a car thief. This makes the redeeming quality of this character murky. Of course no one is perfect, and being a hero doesn’t require perfection. Baz’s flaws make him an interesting character, but it’s not difficult to see how this can be perceived as pandering rather than a meaningful reflection of society. To punctuate that idea, consider that DC Comics tried to make waves by announcing that a different Green Lantern in the New 52 would be gay.
It would seem rather strange that if DC wanted to positively influence the perception of Islam, they would make a Muslim character wear a forbidden tattoo and steal cars. This type of background would not seem to win favor with Muslim readers. By not having storylines in which super heroes deal with issues faced by Muslims (or openly gay people), it’s possible that DC Comics is using these characters in a stunt rather than in any meaningful way. The Universal Life Church encourages you to be ordained and respectfully share your views on the matter.