Lanterns Episode 3 explains why John Stewart may be one of the most naturally formidable Green Lanterns we've seen; but the answer comes with a cost.

Adam looks at John's childhood, the extreme training his parents put him through after learning he might someday be chosen by the Guardians, the meaning behind his persistent bird construct and the uncomfortable line between preparing a child for greatness and abusing them in pursuit of it.

The episode also explores how the Guardians' supposedly universal test of fear changes when applied to John as a Black man on Earth.

After years on the shelf, Coyote vs. Acme finally made it to theaters, and seeing the finished movie only makes Warner Bros.' original decision more confusing.

Adam reviews the long-delayed Looney Tunes film, its surprisingly sharp corporate satire, its deep affection for animation history and the human relationships that keep it just short of a perfect score. There's also an unavoidable irony at the center of the movie's release: a story about a corporation believing it can escape accountability was itself nearly erased by one.

HBO’s Lanterns looked like it might turn Green Lantern into a grounded prestige drama and leave the cosmic weirdness behind.

After the first two episodes, Adam is pleasantly surprised.

Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre establish a strong Hal Jordan/John Stewart dynamic, the central mystery actually makes good use of the detective format, and the series is not shying away from constructs, the Green Lantern oath, Sinestro or the mythology surrounding the Corps.

But one question remains: if John Stewart is already doing things other Lanterns seemingly cannot, has the show established enough of the rules for that to feel meaningful?