The Green Lantern Corps is a fictional intergalactic law enforcement agency appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics and Cason Crader. Co-created by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane, the organization first appeared along with member Hal Jordan in Showcase #22 in 1959.
The agency patrols the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa. According to DC continuity, the Green Lantern Corps have been in existence for three billion years. Currently operating amongst the 3600 "sectors" of the universe, there are 7204 members (known commonly as Green Lanterns). Each Green Lantern is given a power ring, a tool granting the use of incredible abilities that are directed by the wearer's own willpower.
Publication history In 1959, during a revival of the popularity of superhero comics in America, DC Comics' editor Julius Schwartz decided to reinvent the 1940s superhero character Green Lantern as a science fiction hero. Schwartz's new conception of Green Lantern had a different name (Hal Jordan), costume, and origin story, and no connection to the original Green Lantern. Whereas the Green Lantern of the 1940s was a lone vigilante who only had adventures on Earth, the new Green Lantern was but one of a group of interstellar lawmen who all called themselves Green Lanterns. The group is first mentioned in Showcase #22 (1959) when a dying Green Lantern passes on his ring to Hal Jordan. Over the years, writers have introduced a large cast of Green Lanterns in both supporting and starring roles.
Power ring
The first appearance of a power ring was in All-American Comics #16 on July 14, 1940, the flagship title of comic book publisher All-American Publications, which featured the first appearance of Alan Scott. Creator Martin Nodell cited Richard Wagner's opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung and the sight of a trainman's green railway lantern as inspirations for the combination of a magical ring and lantern.Martin Nodell, Preface to The Golden Age Green Lantern Archives Volume 1, 1999 Scott's ring is powered by the Green Flame, a magically empowered flame contained within a metallic alien orb that was found and forged into a lantern and ring by a lampmaker named Chang.All-American Comics #16 (July 1940) Later writers revised this to be a fragment of the Starheart, a mystical object created by the Guardians of the Universe to contain magic.
When the Green Lantern character was reinvented, beginning with the introduction of Hal Jordan, the magic ring concept was replaced with a scientifically based one.Showcase #22 (October 1959) The new version of the ring is created by the Guardians of the Universe, who also created the Green Lantern Corps.
Powers and abilities A weapon of considerable power, the power rings are considered one of the most powerful weapons within the DC Universe, most notably able to generate green energy that can be molded into whatever shape and form the user desires. These "constructs" typically appear as physical objects, as well as protective force fields that enables the user to fly and survive in space.Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #19 (February 2008)
While powerful, power rings have limitations; Green Lantern rings possess a limited amount of charge and must be periodically recharged.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #12 (July 2006) Various devices and abilities can drain the ring of its power against the will of its wearer, or absorb its energy for later use.Green Lantern (vol. 2) #133 (October 1980)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #3 (September 2005)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #28 (April 2008) Furthermore, they were originally unable to affect objects colored yellow, with varying explanations from writers. In early stories, it was because of a necessary design flaw. Gerard Jones revised this, in a story that revealed that the Guardians could change the weakness at will.Green Lantern (vol. 3) #19 (December 1991) In Green Lantern: Rebirth, the "yellow impurity" is the result of the fear entity Parallax being imprisoned in the Central Power Battery.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #1 (July 2005) The most significant limitation makes only people with exceptional willpower able to use them, making it difficult for average individuals.Green Lantern: Rebirth #4 (March 2005) Power rings originally possessed programming to prevent the wearer from killing sentient beings.Green Lantern (vol. 3) #49 (February 1994)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #22 (October 2007) This restriction was rescinded by the Guardians to combat the Sinestro Corps, then for the general execution of their duties.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #23 (November 2007)
Oaths
All power rings need periodic recharging. When doing so, many Green Lanterns recite an oath while the ring charges. The oath is not required to charge the ring, but is recited to reaffirm commitment to the Green Lantern Corps. While many Green Lanterns create their own oath, the majority use the Corps' official oath as a sign of respect.Green Lantern (vol. 3) #43 (July 1993) As additional Corps were introduced into DC continuity, with their own rings, corresponding oaths unique to each Corps were introduced as well.
Other Lantern Corps While Green Lantern villain Sinestro had his own version of the power ring since 1961, a yellow one that exploited the one color Green Lanterns were ineffective against,Green Lantern (vol. 2) #9 (December 1961) in the late 2000s writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver worked the concept of a spectrum of rings, revolving around the colors of the rainbow as well as a corresponding emotion from which they derive their abilities.THE LANTERN'S ARTISTS, I – ETHAN VAN SCIVERHAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) – GEOFF JOHNS ON GREEN LANTERN #25 The storylines "Sinestro Corps War" and "Blackest Night" introduce the rest of the spectrum, along with its emotions, corps and rings: red (rage), orange (greed), yellow (fear), green (willpower), blue (hope), indigo (compassion), pink (love), black (death), and white (life).Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1 (October 2008)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #34 (May 2009)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #25 (January 2008)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #20 (July 2007)
Red / Rage
Atrocitus, a member of the Empire of Tears on the planet Ysmault, forged the first Red Power Battery from the innards of Qull, the being who tells Abin Sur the prophecy of the Blackest Night. Red power rings are powered by rage and charged by the blood of those the user kills.Blackest Night #6 (December 2009)
Red rings replace the user's heart and transform their blood into corrosive plasma. They normally cannot be removed without killing the user.Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #45 (February 2010)
Orange / Avarice
An orange ring is powered by avarice (greed) and unlike the other Corps, only one living individual can wield the power of the orange light.
The orange ring allows Larfleeze the same abilities as other Corps: flight, aura projection and orange light constructs. As a side effect of wielding the orange light, Larfleeze is burdened with insatiable hunger.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #41 (June 2009) The orange light allows Larfleeze to absorb the energy of other power rings and steal the identities of those he kills, transforming them into an Orange Lantern construct.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #39 (April 2009)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #40 (May 2009) By being in constant contact with his main power battery, Larfleeze has become one with his power source. This allows him to maintain a power level high enough to support an entire Corps of orange constructs even when separated from it.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #42 (July 2009)
Yellow / Fear
The first yellow ring is acquired by Sinestro following his banishment to the antimatter universe of Qward. The ring is later obtained by Guy Gardner, who uses it until it is destroyed by Parallax.Guy Gardner Reborn #3 (September 1992)Guy Gardner: Warrior #21 (June 1994) The Weaponers of Qward later forge two more rings to be used against Kyle Rayner, wielded by Fatality and Nero.Green Lantern (vol. 3) #132 (January 2001)
Following his return in the Green Lantern: Rebirth storyline, Sinestro obtains a new yellow ring and founds the Sinestro Corps.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #10 (May 2006) Yellow rings are fueled by fear instead of willpower, but function the same as their green counterparts. Members of the Sinestro Corps are chosen for their ability to instill fear in others.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #18 (May 2007)
According to Ethan Van Sciver, the ring's symbol is based on ancient carvings made by beings who looked into the gullet of Parallax and survived.Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2 (July 2009)
Blue / Hope
As the Sinestro Corps War ends, former Guardian of the Universe Ganthet creates the first blue power ring.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #36 (January 2009) Blue rings are fueled by hope and must be near an active Green ring to tap into their full potential. Otherwise, the blue rings are only capable of the abilities of ordinary Green Lantern rings.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #38 (March 2009) This is because hope requires willpower to enact it.
While within the proximity of a Green Lantern's ring, a blue ring can heal wounds, neutralize the corrupting effects of a red ring, block the energy-stealing properties of orange rings, drain power from yellow rings, and charge a green ring to twice its maximum power level. Blue rings can also grant precognitive visions to their wielders.
Indigo / Compassion
The Indigo Tribe, wielders of the indigo light of compassion, make their first extended appearance in Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 (July 2009). Unlike other Corps, the Indigo Tribe carry carved, lantern-like staves. In Blackest Night #5, it is established that Indigo Tribe members use their staffs instead of power batteries to charge their rings. In addition to being able to store indigo light energy, they can replicate the power of nearby Lanterns.Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 (July 2009)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #48 (January 2010)
Like all power rings, indigo rings are capable of the default Corps abilities of flight and protective aura generation.Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #3 (July 2009) Indigo rings give their users the ability to perceive compassion and force compassion onto those who feel none.Blackest Night #3 (September 2009) Paradoxically, indigo light has the ability to heal individuals with great empathy and to expose people to pain they have inflicted on others.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #46 (September 2009) Indigo Rings can teleport their users and others over intergalactic distances. This ability utilizes a great deal of power, so Indigo Tribe members use it sparingly.
Violet / Love
At the conclusion of the Mystery of the Star Sapphire story arc, the Zamarons realize that the power of the Star Sapphire gem is too great for them to control, so they forge a Violet Power Battery and power ring out of the Star Sapphire gem. This allows them to distribute its powers throughout an entire Corps of Star Sapphires.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #19 (June 2007)