With Lanterns now charging full speed ahead on HBO, there’s no better time to dust off some issues of Green Lantern. The DC Comics hero originally appeared in the form of Alan Scott in All-American Comics #16 in 1940. Initially, there was no Green Lantern Corps, no alien threats, and no weakness to the color yellow. This Green Lantern had abilities based in magic, joined the Justice Society of America, and helped set the tone for DC’s future. But by the end of the next decade, the character was completely reinvented — and that re-imagining stuck.

Considering Lanterns follows only the Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) incarnations of the character, we’re sticking with their stories for this list of beginner essentials. Sure, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, and Jessica Cruz all have their fair share of great adventures, but Hal and John are not only the most popular iterations of Green Lantern, but are arguably the most relevant at the moment. If you’re enjoying Lanterns and are looking for more, these are some great books to start with.

Showcase #22 (1959)

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The Silver Age of Comics came about when several DC Comics heroes, like The Flash, Hawkman, and the Atom, were completely re-imagined in a world that moved away from straight fantasy in favor of science-fiction. Green Lantern got the same treatment in this 1959 issue of Showcase under the direction of writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane. This time around, test pilot Hal Jordan is chosen by the alien peacekeeper Abin Sur, who dies in a crash landing after first bequeathing his power ring and lantern to his successor.

Showcase #22 doesn’t just tell Hal’s initial origin story, but it also boasts his first adventures as Green Lantern. Here, we’re also introduced to his supporting cast, including on-again/off-again lover Carol Ferris and her father. This Showcase issue establishes all the ground rules for the Silver Age Green Lantern, including his traditional weakness towards the color yellow. It wouldn’t be long before Hal was established as one of DC’s most powerful characters.

Secret Origin (2008)

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For the modern re-imagining of Hal Jordan’s origins as Green Lantern, there’s no better place to go than Green Lantern: Secret Origin. Penned by Geoff Johns with artwork by Ivan Reis, this retconned origin story takes Hal back to his roots. The core of the aforementioned comic book remains the same, but Johns layers in some additional worldbuilding and foreshadowing as we uncover the truth behind Abin Sur’s death, how Hal was trained by Sinestro, and what all of this has to do with the potential end of the world.

Secret Origin is a streamlined reworking of the most foundational moment in Hal Jordan’s life. It not only honors the stories that have come before (even Emerald Dawn, which was Hal’s longstanding origin following the Crisis on Infinite Earths), but better fits into the larger body of work by Johns, who basically rebuilt the Green Lantern brand from the ground up. For Hal’s beginnings in earnest, look no further than this comic that outshines even the best superhero origin story movies.

DC: The New Frontier (2004)

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Okay, this is our last origin-related suggestion, but if you’ve never read DC: The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke, then you’re seriously missing out. The New Frontier honors the Silver Age of DC Comics going back in the 1950s, combining different superhero origin stories (and that of the Justice League of America) into a single, streamlined narrative. Frankly, this is the tale that the modern DC Universe ought to have emulated, as it does wonders at establishing everyone from Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman to The Flash, Martian Manhunter, and, yes, Green Lantern.

For many, The New Frontier offers the most definitive and old-school version of Hal Jordan. A pilot who served during the Korean War, Hal soon finds himself with the power of a Green Lantern, just in time to save the entire world from a powerful threat. It may not be a standalone Green Lantern story, but it is easily among the best. The series was later adapted into an animated film, Justice League: The New Frontier, which is arguably a near-perfect DC Comics adaptation.

Green Lantern #87 (1971)

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While Hal Jordan may be the best and most important Green Lantern, even he needs a backup. In the early 1970s, Green Lantern #87 introduced the third man to sling the ring after Hal: John Stewart. When Hal’s previously chosen backup, Guy Gardner, is literally hit by a bus, the Guardians decide that Hal needs another potential replacement in case he is unable to fulfill his duties. They choose John Stewart, and though Hal takes some issue with it at first, they eventually come to terms.

Penned during Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams‘ famous Green Lantern/Green Arrow run, John Stewart’s introduction is a bit dated compared to contemporary versions of the character, but it’s still the best place to start. While modern origin stories find alternative methods to give him the power ring (Secret Origins #9 from the New 52 era reveals that the Guardians chose him after first sending a Manhunter to his doorstep as a test), it was his first appearance that set the tone for the character in the years to come.

Mosaic (1992)

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Eventually, John Stewart became the primary Green Lantern after Hal left the Corps behind. For some time in the ’80s and into the ’90s, John held the title. Eventually, John became the first human Guardian of the Universe. But after the events of Cosmic Odyssey and several issues of Green Lantern, he headlined his own new series titled Green Lantern: Mosaic — it’s a bit controversial, but vital to the character.

For 18 issues, writer Gerard Jones and primary artist Cully Hamner explored John’s PTSD after his failure to save the planet Xanshi. Now the caretaker of the Mosaic World created by a rogue Guardian utilizing species from various worlds, the false utopia wouldn’t have lasted long without John to oversee it — and, indeed, it didn’t last long anyway, though that was beyond John’s control. Mosaic challenged the hero in ways future stories often failed to, proving why he is one of Earth’s most notable Green Lanterns.

Emerald Twilight/New Dawn (1994)

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When the folks at DC decided that Hal Jordan had served his usefulness as a superhero, writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks (mostly) were handed the keys to the kingdom to break him down. Following The Return of Superman, Hal’s home of Coast City has been annihilated by the Cyborg-Superman and the alien warlord Mongul. This drove Hal over the edge as he attempted to do everything in his power to restore his home and those in it — only, the Green Lantern Corps stood against him.

In Emerald Twilight, Hal becomes the supervillain Parallax, a powerful DC villian who hoped to rewrite time to save Coast City. In the process of attaining this power, he strips John of his powers, destroys the entire Green Lantern Corps, and even kills Sinestro and Kilowog, among plenty of others. It’s a massacre, but it’s vital for one’s understanding of Hal Jordan’s redemption arc later on. The arc ends with the introduction of the last Green Lantern, the torchbearer named Kyle Rayner, who is further explored in New Dawn.

Rebirth (2004)

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If Emerald Twilight was disappointing, we have good news for you. Over the next decade or so, DC crossovers like Zero Hour and Day of Judgment proved that there was still good within Hal Jordan, and writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver proved as such with Green Lantern: Rebirth. Eventually, Green Arrow killed Parallax and Hal’s soul was then merged with the Spectre, DC’s Spirit of Vengeance, as a means of atonement. In Rebirth, Hal is finally resurrected and the mystery of Parallax is revealed.

With the help of Kyle Rayner and newly re-minted Green Lanterns John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kilowog, Hal returns from the grave, finds his old power ring, and faces Parallax — revealed to be the alien entity of fear behind the traditional Green Lantern weakness to the color yellow — redeeming himself and taking his place among Earth’s other Emerald Guardians. It’s a great story, and it kicked off Geoff Johns’ decade-long run on Green Lantern that completely redefined the mythos. This is one you simply must read before Lanterns concludes.

Sinestro Corps War (2007)

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Speaking of Geoff Johns, you should probably read his entire Green Lantern chronology that spans from Rebirth to the entire fourth volume of Green Lantern that ran between 2005 and 2011 to the first 20 issues of the fifth volume (set during The New 52 era). However, if you don’t have time to devour the entire space epic (and it truly is epic), settle for one of the greatest DC Comics storylines of all time in Sinestro Corps War.

Here, Johns’ teams up with artist Dave Gibbons as the four Corpsmen of Earth (Hal, John, Guy, and Kyle) work alongside the recently re-established Green Lantern Corps to battle the resurrected Sinestro and his own, well, Sinestro Corps. It’s green versus yellow in a battle of the imagination, with willpower overcoming fear in front of the entire DCU. This thematic sequel to Rebirth re-establishes both the bond and the rivalry between Hal and Sinestro, and even challenges John, Guy, and Kyle’s own fears in the process.

Blackest Night (2009)

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The third and final installment of Johns’ epic Green Lantern trilogy (though not the end of his epic run on the character), Blackest Night capitalizes on pop culture’s obsession with zombie media at the time by using the villainous Black Hand to resurrect all of DC’s most beloved dead characters as members of his nefarious Black Lantern Corps. Penned by Johns with artwork by Ivan Reis, Blackest Night is definitely a DC story we’d love to see adapted to the live-action DC Universe.

Blackest Night not only includes the eight-part miniseries itself, but also several issues of Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. These tie-ins challenged Hal Jordan’s own fears and doubts after watching his loved ones return and tormented John Stewart with the lives he was unable to save. It’s an exceptional DC crossover event centered entirely around the popularity of the Green Lantern comics at the time.

War Journal (2023)

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Since Hal has had a lot of the spotlight here, let’s pivot a little to John with Green Lantern: War Journal. Here, writer Philip Kennedy Johnson and artist Montos present a largely standalone story that explores John’s complex background. After John retires due to the events of Dark Crisis, he finds himself back home caring for his mother, only to be pulled back into superheroics once again.

War Journal is perhaps not an essential Green Lantern read as far as the larger mythos are concerned, but it’s a detailed exploration of who John Stewart is that may just help readers to better understand the character. In 12 issues, John makes peace with his past and flies forward into his future as Green Lantern. If you liked this one, give John Stewart: The Emerald Knight a try as well. It may never be turned into a DC TV masterpiece, but if you’re looking for more John Stewart, it’s definitely the way to go.

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Lanterns

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Release Date

August 16, 2026

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HBO

Directors

James Hawes

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It looks like Blueface and Nevaeh Akira are staying unbothered amid Jaidyn Alexis’ comments about their relationship and their newborn son, Jonathan Jamal Porter Jr. Nevaeh popped up during Blue’s livestream, and he immediately started hyping up her post-baby snapback and new look. The chat agreed that Nevaeh should’ve popped out because she was looking good while flexing her bounce back!

RELATED: It’s His! Nevaeh Akira Claps Back After Jaidyn Alexis Questions Paternity Of Her & Blueface’s Newborn Son (VIDEOS)

Nevaeh Akira’s Post-Baby Glow Had Blueface & The Chat Taking Notice

Recently, Blueface was chilling on a livestream when Nevaeh Akira popped in and showed off her new look. She came through with a fresh buss down, rocking a dark blue matching set as she held their baby, Jonathan Jr. Blue looked shocked when he saw how she was coming, and asked, “You looked pretty. Where you going?” Nevaeh kept flexing her snapback during the stream, so she played with him and said she was going out before hading Jonathan Jr. to him. Blue immediately started flooding her with questions, and Nevaeh eventually told him she was just playing she wasn’t popping out. That led the rapper to mention that he planned on going out too, but seeing Nevaeh looking so good made him change his mind.

The Roommates Also Gassed Nevaeh UP

Once The Shade Room Teens dropped the clip of Nevaeh and Blue, folks also hyped her up in the comment section. Plenty of TeaMates said Nevaeh’s post-baby snapback was giving, while others joked that she should’ve stepped out to give Blue a taste of his own medicine.

Instagram user @fly.heroes wrote, “She looks beautiful 😍❤️❤️” 

Instagram user @ro_geez wrote, “He’s more nicer when she’s put together lol.” 

While Instagram user @darealashhm_ wrote, “So refreshing to see him saying some nice to her 😍😍😍👏” 

Then Instagram user @_nailplug wrote, “She look good here 🔥” 

Instagram user @_nellly_nell wrote, “as a single mama Girllll he would’ve got the babyyyy so daymmm fast from me😂😂cuz i’m outsideeee😭😭😭✌🏽” 

Then another Instagram user @babarbie.ro wrote, “Nevaeh if you don’t actually go OUT!😭😭” 

Finally, Instagram user @dai.da.donn wrote, “She really is naturally pretty.” 

Nevaeh Responds After Jaidyn Alexis Made Comments About Her Newborn Son

Nevaeh and Blueface have been taking over timeline ever since they welcomed their son earlier this month. Their moments together caught Jaidyn Alexis’ attention, and she made it clear that her two children with Blue, Journey and Javaughn Porter, won’t meet his newborn son with Nevaeh until they confirm paternity. Nevaeh appeared to peep Jaidyn’s comments and quickly clapped back, letting her know Jonathan Jr. is definitely Blue’s son. She also addressed Jaidyn’s comments about her decision to name their baby boy after Blue. “How the f**k can I take a child’s middle name if that’s the n***a whole full f*****g name.” Nevaeh added, “See I’m not a bitter a** b***h, but I get you is. It’s okay, though. Love to all. Love all!”

RELATED: Social Media Reacts After Jaidyn Alexis Says Her Kids Won’t Meet Blueface’s New Baby Until Paternity Is Confirmed

Tom Cruise is officially getting back behind the wheel as Cole Trickle, and he’ll have Anne Hathaway alongside him when Days of Thunder returns to theaters.

Hathaway has joined Cruise as the co-lead of Paramount Pictures’ upcoming Days of Thunder sequel, nearly four decades after the original NASCAR racing film hit theaters in 1990.

Cruise will reprise his role as hotshot driver Cole Trickle, while Hathaway is set to play a race team owner and engineer. Paramount has also officially set the film for a June 2, 2028 theatrical release.

The project will be filmed for IMAX and receive an exclusive theatrical release that will also include premium formats such as Dolby Cinema and 4DX.

Cruise helped make the news official with a promotional image featuring himself and Hathaway together at Daytona International Speedway alongside a Days of Thunder race car.

Jonathan Levine, whose credits include Long Shot and Warm Bodies, will direct the sequel from a screenplay by Will Staples. Cruise will produce alongside longtime collaborator Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.

Days of Thunder [paramount pictures]

The original Days of Thunder was directed by Tony Scott and followed Trickle as he entered the world of NASCAR and attempted to transform his raw talent into success at the sport’s highest level. The film also starred Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid and John C. Reilly.

Released in 1990, Days of Thunder went on to earn nearly $158 million worldwide and has developed a significant following among racing fans in the decades since its release.

The sequel also gives Cruise another opportunity to revisit one of his most recognizable early films following the enormous success of Top Gun: Maverick. That film reunited Cruise and Bruckheimer more than three decades after the original Top Gun and ultimately became one of the biggest box office hits of Cruise’s career.

Hathaway, meanwhile, continues an incredibly busy stretch that has included The Odyssey, The Devil Wears Prada 2 and several other major projects.

Plot details for the new Days of Thunder remain under wraps, including exactly where Cole Trickle finds himself nearly 40 years later.

But one thing is official: Cole Trickle is heading back to the track.

Days of Thunder will race back into theaters on June 2, 2028.

Although it was once one of Konami‘s flagships, the halls of Castlevania have lain still for a while now. The last new game from the gothic horror action-platformer series was over a decade ago in 2014, when Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 released to middling reviews before Konami briefly shifted its focus towards the mobile market. Netflix’s animated series kept some interest in the Belmonts alive during this dormancy, and collections of games from throughout the console generations assured the franchise was never fully gone from modern platforms, but movement on a new whip-cracking adventure was slow. That finally changed this year with the announcement of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse at a State of Play presentation back in February.

Instead of moving forward, Belmont’s Curse goes back in the family tree and follows Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. Set 23 years after Trevor, Sypha, Grant Danasty, and the dhampir Alucard killed Dracula in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, the story takes place in a Medieval Paris overrun by monsters, where the titular castle has reformed. A bishop calls the legendary vampire hunter to get to the root of the evil, only he brings Rose along with him, granting her the family’s sacred weapon, the Vampire Killer whip, to beat back the forces of darkness and unravel the conspiracy at the heart of this invasion. It will be a fast-paced return to the Metroidvania playstyle the series helped popularize with Symphony of the Night, but a recent trailer also confirmed an intriguing voice cast will help bring the adventure to life.

The new video, which debuted at Gamescom Opening Night Live, was primarily a spotlight for the actors entering the booth for the journey to Paris, headlined by prolific Demon Slayer and DanDaDan voice actress Abby Trott as Rose and Arcane alum JB Blanc as Trevor. In a big surprise, however, the Belmont family was rounded out by none other than Alejandra Reynoso, reprising her role as Sypha from the Netflix series. She’s not the only actor crossing over from the screen to the games, either, as, towards the end of the trailer, Outlander, House of the Dragon, and general fantasy icon Graham McTavish was revealed to once again be lending his voice to the big bad vampire, Dracula, with a sinister laugh. They’re also joined by, among others, Ray Chase as The Fallen, Erica Lindbeck as Joan of Arc, Aaron LaPlante as Death, and Liam O’Brien, who also returns to the role of Isaac over 20 years after Curse of Darkness.

Who Is Behind ‘Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse’?

The trailer also functions as another look at the haunting environments players will traverse in Belmont’s Curse, the abilities they’ll unlock, and the fearsome bosses to come as they navigate the castle. Konami isn’t developing this installment themselves, though, instead handing off the license to Evil Empire and Motion Twin. The former most recently worked on another acclaimed Metroidvania in The Rogue Prince of Persia, while the latter is best known as the developer of the beloved roguelike Dead Cells. Both developers previously collaborated on a DLC expansion for Dead Cells that brought in an entire Castlevania-themed area, weapons, and bosses, making them the perfect developers to join forces for the long-awaited return of the franchise.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch on October 15. Check out the new trailer in the player above.

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Release Date

2017 – 2021-00-00

Showrunner

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Warren Ellis

Writers

Warren Ellis

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Franchise(s)

Castlevania

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld, are finding joy in their quiet nightly routine after putting their daughter to bed.

“We’re trying to limit the screens ‘cause if there’s a screen, she’s over there looking,” Allen, 30, revealed during a Friday, August 28, appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio, when asked about his go-to ways to unwind each evening. “When we know that [her] eyes [are] closed and almost out, me and my wife play the New York Times crossword every night.”

According to Allen, he and the Sinners actress, 29, will also complete The Times’ daily Connections and Wordle puzzles.

“That’s our little routine that we love doing,” he gushed, also sharing his tried-and-true first guess. “It’s harps, H-A-R-P-S.”

Steinfeld announced in April that she recently gave birth to the couple’s first child. They publicly revealed the infant’s name, Harper Haize, months later in June.

“I’m in awe of you. You’ve been here for only a short while now, and somehow it feels as though you’ve always been ours,” Steinfeld wrote in an open letter to her daughter shared via her “Beau Society” newsletter. “There are moments … I still look at you and wonder how you’re real. These last few months have been beautiful and exhausting. Sacred and so special. The longest days and the shortest season all at once.”

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Related: Josh Allen Hints Becoming a Dad Is More ‘Important’ Than Football

Josh Allen can’t wait for the newest member of Bills Mafia to arrive. “I’ve got siblings that have kids, I’ve got a lot of friends that have kids and I don’t know if you can plan too far in advance,” Allen, 29, said in a press conference on Thursday, January 29, when asked about balancing […]

She continued, “People tell you becoming a mother changes everything, but no one tells you how, why, or when exactly. It isn’t always in the big moments. Sometimes it’s realizing that I no longer measure time in months or years, but in ounces, naps missed and naps miraculously taken, in diaper changes and the quiet triumph of a successful transfer from my arms to your crib.”

The Oscar nominee and Allen have been together since 2023, saying “I do” two years later in 2025 before expanding their family. Allen later gushed to Us that welcoming Harper made him “fall in love” with Steinfeld “all over again.”

“Success looks like getting my daughter down, back to sleep at night, It makes everything much less relevant,” Allen exclusively told Us in a July interview. “The outside stuff, it just makes you feel like it doesn’t matter. Honestly, everything about it’s been the best part. I tell this to all my teammates, and anybody who asks, how fatherhood is. It’s the coolest, most rewarding thing. It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done. … Seeing [Hailee] as a mother, it’s just, it’s awesome.”

On December 18, the same release date as the hotly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, Denis Villeneuve‘s acclaimed adaptation of Frank Herbert‘s genius sci-fi story will come to a close. After two of the greatest films of the 21st century, Dune: Part Three will wrap up this epic space opera in explosive fashion, as Timothée Chalamet‘s Paul Atreides faces the heavy consequences of his power, two decades after seizing control of the Imperium.

Zendaya‘s rebellious Chani also returns, alongside a stacked cast featuring the Hollywood favorites that hadn’t been snapped up for Avengers: Doomsday. This includes Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Jason Momoa as Hayt, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides. The movie arguably marks the biggest project yet in Taylor-Joy’s blossoming career, which began with one of the most impressive debut performances of the 21st century so far.

In the 2015 folk horror gem The Witch, Taylor-Joy proved herself as a future Hollywood mainstay with a performance that still ranks as one of her best, despite being just 18 years old. The film didn’t just mark an important debut for the Furiosa star, with The Witch also opening the eyes of the world to the horror directorial prowess of Robert Eggers, who has since made the likes of The Northman, The Lighthouse, and Nosferatu. The film was a massive hit critically, earning several impressive awards, including a directing prize for Eggers from the Sundance Film Festival. 11 years later, you’ll be able to stream The Witch on free streamer Plex, starting September 1, 2026.

Anya Taylor-Joy Is Already Part of One of 2026’s Biggest Hits

Before featuring in the hotly anticipated Dune: Part Three, Taylor-Joy can already chalk off 2026 as a success. Earlier this year, she rejoined Chris Pratt and Jack Black in the video game adaptation The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which followed its predecessor in proving a huge box office hit. During its theatrical run, the film made over $1 billion, becoming the first in 2026 to reach this milestone. Of course, several movies have since achieved this feat, most notably Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

You’ll be able to stream The Witch on free streamer Plex, starting September 1, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

February 19, 2016

Runtime

92 minutes

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Producers

Daniel Bekerman, Jay Van Hoy, Jodi Redmond, Lars Knudsen, Rodrigo Teixeira

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It was a violent night in two cities as communities in Chicago and Trenton, New Jersey, woke up to the devastating aftermath of separate shootings. What began as gatherings in each location quickly turned into scenes of chaos, leaving multiple people dead and others injured as authorities work to piece together what happened.

RELATED: Prayers Up! 5 Reportedly Injured In Virginia State University Shooting As Multiple Suspects Sought, Officials Respond

Gunfire Erupts At Chicago Park, Leaving One Dead

In Chicago, gunfire erupted around 11:37 p.m. Saturday inside Washington Park in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the city’s South Side. According to the Chicago Police Department, officers were already at the park attempting to disperse a large gathering when the shooting happened. A 35-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to the University of Chicago Hospital, where authorities said he later died.

Nine Others Injured As Parkgoers Run For Cover

Police said nine additional people were wounded in the shooting. Among them, five men and four women between the ages of 23 and 45 were being treated at area hospitals. Meanwhile, authorities had not announced any arrests. Additionally, police are investigating the possibility that more than one shooter opened fire. At this time, a motive remains under investigation, and no officers were injured.

One witness, Terry Jones, told ABC Chicago station WLS that he had been attending a picnic in the park when the gunfire began. Jones said he initially thought the sound was fireworks. However, he soon realized what was happening. He described a chaotic scene as people ran and dove for cover.

Trenton Shooting Leaves Two Dead, Nine Wounded

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in Trenton, New Jersey, another shooting unfolded shortly after midnight. Police responded to Locust Street in the Greenwood & Hamilton neighborhood around 12:25 a.m. Sunday after 911 callers reported hearing multiple gunshots. Furthermore, authorities said two people were killed and nine others were wounded in the incident, with the surviving victims transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center. No arrests had been announced, and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Police Search For Second Suspect In Seattle Food Festival Shooting That Killed 3 People (UPDATE)

In terms of sheer longevity, Marge (Julie Kavner) and Homer (Dan Castellaneta) may have one of the most enduring marriages in television history. The Simpsons has now passed its landmark 800th episode, but the relationship between Homer and Marge has remained at the center of the series since its earliest days. Even as the show has repeatedly reimagined their history, future, and occasionally the very reality they inhabit, its best episodes have always understood that there is genuine affection underneath all the bickering.

That remains true even in 2026, with the Disney+ exclusive “Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition” once again putting their marriage under the microscope as Marge imagines different versions of her imperfect husband. But Season 2’s “The Way We Was” remains the definitive explanation of why Homer and Marge chose each other in the first place, and more than 35 years later, it is still one of The Simpsons’ most romantic episodes.

“The Way We Was” Is One of the Best ‘Simpsons’ Flashback Episodes

Image via Fox

Trying to keep track of the fictional timeline of The Simpsons is bound to send any viewer down the rabbit hole. There have been countless changes, contradictions, and other issues with the canon, particularly when Maggie has remained a baby for more than 35 years. Flashback episodes would later become a crutch that The Simpsons would use when it was in need of a quick fix to the story.

However, early flashbacks within the first few seasons of The Simpsons added actual nuance to the characters. These were particularly entertaining because any time Homer or Marge tried to sit down to tell an intimate story, Bart (Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) would offer enough biting commentary to prevent the story from ever getting too serious. This all begins with “The Way We Was,” where Homer decides to tell his children about his first date with Marge after their television cuts out unexpectedly.

It’s easy to forget that before it became the inspiration for other adult cartoons like Family Guy and American Dad, The Simpsons was intended to be a parody of the “family sitcoms” that had dominated the 1980s. While it was definitely less idealistic in its depiction of small-town life than something like Leave It To Beaver or The Cosby Show, The Simpsons had a degree of heart and sincerity that its later seasons would forget. It’s important that in the very first episode of Season 1, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” Homer is a sad sack trying to provide for his kids on Christmas; the episode ends with him reflecting on his family values. This is carried over into Season 2 when Homer sheds light on a very different time in his relationship with Marge.

More than three decades later, The Simpsons is still finding new ways to interrogate that relationship. The 2026 Disney+ exclusive “Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition” revolves around Marge’s frustration with her husband, prompting her to imagine several different versions of Homer who might better suit her. That the series can still build stories around the question of why these two people belong together only makes “The Way We Was” more important: it established the emotional foundation that every subsequent Homer and Marge story has been working from.

“The Way We Was” is a parody of the 1973 film The Way We Were, which starred a young Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand as a couple whose loving relationship declines over time as a result of their political differences. Ironically, this was one of the rare cases in which The Simpsons version of events is actually less cynical than what it’s parodying. “The Way We Was” uses the basic concept of “opposites attract” to examine how Marge and Homer first became attracted to each other when they were in high school. They meet in school detention; Marge gets in trouble for burning a bra at a feminist rally (in a more direct reference to The Way We Were), and Homer has occupied the detention hall for quite some time.

“The Way We Was” Explains How Marge and Homer Fell in Love

Image via Fox

While later seasons made it feel like Homer was taking his relationship with Marge for granted, he actually has something to prove in “The Way We Was.” Abe (Castellaneta) warns him that he’s aiming too high by trying to date Marge, but Homer defies his father’s taunts and decides to commit himself to improving. He joins the debate team to spend time with her and even fakes his ineptitude in French class so that she can serve as his tutor. The lazy, stupid “jerk Homer” version of the character that emerged later on is completely nonexistent here; Homer is actually working hard to win Marge’s heart and only feigns his lack of intelligence in order to spend more time with her. Homer would later become trademarked by the idea that he was unable to accommodate anyone else, but in “The Way We Was,” he goes out of his way to change his lifestyle because he’s so smitten with Marge.

It would have been easy for The Simpsons to make Marge’s reason for choosing Homer as simple as “he makes me laugh,” but “The Way We Was” gets surprisingly deep. While Marge is initially touched to find Homer crying in the hallway after confessing his love for her, she has already committed herself to her seemingly more suitable suitor, Artie. It’s only at the end when Artie attempts to make a move on her that she realizes that Homer was always the “good guy.” Of course, the episode never risks being too sappy, as Bart is there to feign gagging in classic The Princess Bride-style. While he’s clumsy and at times incoherent, Homer is a good person and has more sincere values than the average high school boy who is simply looking for a short-term relationship. Marge realizes that while Artie’s good looks and seemingly promising future might give her a more stable future, she’s willing to accept one that’s a little more tumultuous with the knowledge that Homer is everything he appears to be.

This is solidified in an ending moment where Homer and Marge’s independent telling of the story coincide. Not only is it the most romantic that the show has ever gotten, but it explains the unique tone that has made it so enduring after such a long time. Homer and Marge are both outsiders defying their parents’ expectations, and as a show, The Simpsons has never fallen within a standard model of either sitcoms or animation. However, The Simpsons was still presenting a version of love, family, and the stories that endure that people could relate to. Even if no one will ever know exactly where Springfield is located, it still feels like a real place.

The Simpsons is available to stream on Disney+.

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The Simpsons

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Release Date

December 17, 1989

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Network

FOX

Directors

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Steven Dean Moore, Mark Kirkland, Rob Oliver, Michael Polcino, Mike B. Anderson, Chris Clements, Wes Archer, Timothy Bailey, Lance Kramer, Nancy Kruse, Matthew Faughnan, Chuck Sheetz, Rich Moore, Jeffrey Lynch, Pete Michels, Susie Dietter, Raymond S. Persi, Carlos Baeza, Dominic Polcino, Lauren MacMullan, Michael Marcantel, Neil Affleck, Swinton O. Scott III, Jennifer Moeller

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• 

  Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)

• 

  Julie Kavner

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  Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)

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