Black Lantern Corps
Encyclopedia
The Black Lantern Corps is a fictional organization
of revenants
appearing in comic books published by DC Comics
. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe
.
, where a group of dead Green Lanterns are animated and empowered by Nekron
.
Prior to the Blackest Night event, Black Hand
("leader" and first member of the Black Lantern Corps) had already been established as a villain within the pages of Green Lantern. Writer Geoff Johns revisited his origin and expanded upon certain aspects of it during the Green Lantern: Secret Origin
story arc. During the arc, Hand's energy-absorbing weapon (previously thought to be an original invention) is revealed to have been constructed by Atrocitus
; a fervent enemy of the Guardians of the Universe
and future founder of the Red Lantern Corps
. Atrocitus comes to Earth and approaches Hand, recognizing him as a "doorway to the black" that possesses the power to bring about the Blackest Night. Hand manages to escape and pockets the weapon as he flees. The possession of this weapon soon leads him to become an enemy of the Green Lantern Corps, as he now feels a need to extinguish the light of the emotional spectrum.
While being transported to prison, Black Hand experiences a sudden power surge that kills his captors. He roams the desert, hearing a voice instructing him to reclaim the souls of characters who were resurrected. Hand murders his family and commits suicide. The Guardian Scar
arrives, and creates the first black power ring, which resurrects Black Hand. She reveals that Hand is the physical embodiment of death, and serves as the avatar
of the Black Lantern Corps in the same manner that Ion, Parallax
, and the Predator are for willpower, fear, and love respectively. Hand later digs up Bruce Wayne
's corpse, removes his skull, and recites the Black Lantern oath for the first time. Soon after, black power rings descend upon the universe and begin reviving the deceased as Black Lanterns that attack the heroes of the DC Universe. It is claimed the Power Battery is in Space Sector 666. Black Hand is seen holding Wayne's skull in all future appearances, embracing it in a necrophilic manner in Blackest Night #1 as the black power rings appear from the Black Power Battery, exclaiming that Wayne's death "plays a far greater role in the Blackest Night" than anyone thinks. At the end of the issue, it's shown that Black Hand uses the skull to produce new power rings at will, creating two rings for the newly deceased Carter Hall
and Kendra Saunders
.
In Blackest Night #3, Indigo-1 describes the premise behind the Black Lantern Corps' fictional relationship with the universe. She explains that the darkness in existence before the creation of the universe is what powers the Black Lanterns. Banished at the dawn of time by the white light of creation, its fighting back causes the white light to be fractured into the emotional spectrum. The events transpiring throughout the titles of Blackest Night are a result of the darkness, once again, fighting back against creation. She goes on to describe how a combination of all seven lights can restore the white light of creation and bring an end to the Black Lanterns. Throughout the Blackest Night event, each time a Black Lantern successfully removes the heart of one of their victims, a black, lantern-shaped speech balloon
(used within Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps to indicate that a power ring is speaking) depicts an ever-rising power level increasing in increments of .01 percent. In Blackest Night #4, the power meter is filled and Scar is able to transport the Black Central Power Battery to Coast City, and the true mastermind behind the Black Lanterns is able to step into the main DC Universe: Nekron
.
After being introduced into a primary role within the Blackest Night event, Indigo-1 recruits Hal Jordan to gather a team capable of recreating the white light of creation (chosen for having a personal connection to the most powerful members of the five remaining Corps). The story unfolding in Green Lantern depicts Jordan and Indigo-1 recruiting Carol Ferris
, Sinestro
, Saint Walker, Atrocitus
, and Larfleeze
to their purpose. In Blackest Night #5, the team assaults the Black Central Power Battery with the opposite results intended. Nekron is strengthened and able to recruit living characters resurrected from death to his Black Lantern Corps.
was able to discuss his reasoning behind choosing Black Hand as the leader of the new Corps, the character properties of the Black Lanterns, and his own goals in writing their depictions. Commenting on the characters being chosen to resurrect during Blackest Night, Johns said:
During the creation of Blackest Night, Johns (not being interested in or frightened by zombies) wanted to bring back the deceased characters in a way that seemed horrifying and emotionally disturbing to the living characters they encountered. To accomplish that effect, the Black Lanterns have personalities and actively seek out those who will be affected by their appearance. A prime example of Johns' use of personality distortion with the Black Lanterns is Elongated Man (typically depicted as being a "light" character that uses his detective skill to "smell" when something isn't right) looking upon his victims and remarking to his undead wife: "I smell a mystery." Johns identifies the power of the Black Lanterns as not necessarily being evil, but not being good either.
During his initial creation of the new Corps, Johns drew from information he had collected on light
while taking physics classes. With the Corps of the emotional spectrum personifying life, he knew that this Corps would need to represent death. Black being an absence of light, he chose Black Hand as the leader of the Corps both for the character's name and also because of how much he enjoyed revamping villains while writing for Flash
. Like the other members of the Black Lantern Corps, Johns wanted to take a different approach in his portrayal of Hand. Whereas other villains may have a particular motivation, Hand is meant to be depicted as a character who is clearly insane and whose presence makes others uncomfortable.
In Blackest Night #2, multiple black power rings attempt to reanimate the body of Don Hall
, only to be prevented from disturbing his grave by an invisible barrier. As they collide with the barrier, the rings' typical command ("rise") is interrupted; the rings instead respond: "Don Hall of Earth at peace." This is the first depiction of the black power rings failing to recruit a member for the Black Lantern Corps. In an interview with IGN, Johns provides an explanation behind Dove's immunity to the black power rings: "You'll learn more about this as we go forward. But really it speaks to the nature of Don Hall. He can't be desecrated by the likes of these things. He's untouchable in death and at total peace more than any other being in the universe." Reflecting on the limitations of the rings, Johns goes on to state that, even though magic is a "joke" to the black power rings (though the undead Giovanni Zatara is capable of wielding black magic), Don is quite the opposite. Similarly, Blackest Night: Titans #1 shows Black Lantern Hank Hall
unable to read Dawn Granger's emotions; her aura depicted as being white rather than a color from the emotional spectrum.
In Blackest Night: Batman #1, the spirit of Deadman is unable to prevent a black power ring from reviving his remains. Deadman attempts to possess his own corpse, but is unable to control it. During the Blackest Night panel at San Diego Comic Con 2009, Geoff Johns was asked whether the revived corpses of the Black Lanterns were speaking for themselves or if they were being controlled by an outside force. Johns declined to answer, implying that the question would be answered during the Blackest Night storyline. Similarly, while being overcome by a black power ring, the Spectre
declares that he "will not be used." Prior to The Spectre's conversion, Black Hand makes note of Shadowpact
members Zatanna
and Blue Devil
being surrounded by an aura of life. Upon scanning Phantom Stranger
, Black Hand remarks that Stranger is "neither living nor dead", and notes him as a person of interest to his Corps.
Blackest Night #1 (September 2009)
Blackest Night #2 (October 2009)
Blackest Night: Batman #1 (October 2009)
Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #39 (October 2009)
Blackest Night: Superman #1 (October 2009)
Blackest Night: Titans #1 (October 2009)
Green Lantern vol. 4 #45 (October 2009)
Solomon Grundy #7 (November 2009)
Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #40 (November 2009)
Blackest Night #3 (November 2009)
Blackest Night: Superman #2 (November 2009)
Green Lantern vol. 4 #46 (November 2009)
Blackest Night: Titans #2 (November 2009)
Blackest Night: Batman #3 (December 2009)
Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #41 (December 2009)
Blackest Night #4 (December 2009)
Blackest Night: Titans #3 (December 2009)
Green Lantern vol. 4 #47 (December 2009)
Doom Patrol vol. 5 #4 (January 2010)
Booster Gold vol. 2 #26 (January 2010)
R.E.B.E.L.S vol. 2 #10 (January 2010)
Outsiders vol. 4 #24 (January 2010)
Blackest Night #5 (January 2010)
Justice League of America vol. 2 #39 (January 2010)
Teen Titans vol. 3 #77 (January 2010)
Blackest Night: The Flash #1 (February 2010)
Justice League of America vol. 2 #40 (February 2010)
Blackest Night: JSA #1 (February 2010)
Green Lantern vol. 4 #49 (February 2010)
Suicide Squad vol. 1 #71 (March 2010)
Weird Western Tales #71 (March 2010)
Catwoman vol. 3 #83 (March 2010)
The Power of Shazam! #48 (March 2010)
Secret Six vol. 3 #17 (March 2010)
Blackest Night: The Flash #2 (March 2010)
Starman vol. 2 #81 (March 2010)
Green Lantern vol. 4 #50 (March 2010)
The Question #37 (March 2010)
Blackest Night: The Flash #3 (April 2010)
Blackest Night #7 (April 2010)
Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #46 (May 2010)
Brightest Day #23 (April 2011)
Though an exact list of the former Green Lanterns reanimated by black power rings doesn't exist, Kyle Rayner
's ring states that all of the deceased Green Lanterns within the Oa
n crypt in Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #39 are transformed into Black Lanterns.
is revealed to be the physical embodiment for these corps, in the same manner that Ion is the embodiment of willpower for the Green Lantern Corps. During the climax of Blackest Night #8, Boston Brand tells the Corps' leaders that Hand is the "tether keeping Nekron
within our world", and that as the avatar of Death he is also the only key to defeating the Black Lanterns permanently. Using the White Lantern power of Life, Hal Jordan
commands "William Hand of Earth - Live", resurrecting Hand and removing him as the Black Lantern Corps' primary power source- which deals a crippling and eventually fatal blow to the Black Lanterns.
Similarly, while Hand is the visual entity representing the Black Lantern Corps, Nekron also uses the Anti-Monitor
as a physical power source within the Black Power Battery. It is alluded to in several comics and "Origins and Omens" backstories that it is the Anti-Monitor's desire for the end of humanity that made him the primary candidate to become the Battery's power supply following his betrayal and subsequent murder at the hands of Superboy-Prime
during the Sinestro Corps War
. In a climactic battle with all the collective Lantern Corps, the Anti-Monitor is nearly freed from the Power Battery and revealled to have only succumbed partially to Nekron's influence (manifested by the visual Black Hand symbol seen on every Black Lantern only being half completed), demanding that he be freed so that he could exact revenge on Nekron for his imprisonment. As part of the final 'coup de grace' against the Black Lantern Corps, the Entity also commands "Anti-Monitor of Qward - Live", which frees him from the Black Power Battery- destroying it in the process. It was the Anti-Monitor's physical corpse, coupled with Black Hand's presence as the entity of Death, that served as the full source of the Black Lantern Corps' power.
Also within its pages is all the forbidden history of the Guardians of the Universe, and in an effort to protect its secrets, the rogue Guardian was forced to imprison the Sinestro Corps talekeeper Lyssa Drak inside the book. After Scar's true death and the end of the Blackest Night, the Book of the Black was found by Ganthet, who noted it retained much forbidden knowledge within its pages. He decided to keep it a secret from the other Guardians and entrusted Guy Gardner with the secret.
The Book was later found by Krona
who after releasing Lyssa Drak from inside the Book, took it to the Dead Planet of Ryut where after detecting the "New Guardians" it opened its pages to unveil the history of Krona. They are soon afterwards attached by the Book's keeper, the former Sinestro Corps member Lyssa Drak
. She is capable of trapping Sinestro himself, Carol Ferris, Indigo-1, Atrocitus, Saint Walker and Larfleeze inside the book. However, Sinestro was able to prevent her from capturing Hal Jordan as well by causing a detonation combining the energy of their rings, but the energy explosion also affected the Book of the Black, which disappeared in a rainbow light, leaving only behind the rings of the six trapped lanterns.
The Book is later seen in Oa while it forces the captured lanterns to re-live their lives prior to acquiring their current rings and after the release of them and the defeat of Krona, the Book of the Black is once again entrusted to the Guardians of the Universe.
The first black power rings possess no charge, but each time a Black Lantern kills someone and removes their heart, .01 percent power is restored to every ring in the Corps. In Blackest Night #3, Indigo-1 solidifies this theme by explaining that those who rise feed off emotion. Even at low power levels, black rings enable their user to fly and create black energy constructs. They are also unaffected by magic. In "classic" zombie fashion, the bite of a Black Lantern induces a slow-acting necrosis that eventually turns the victim into a fellow Black Lantern. It's unknown if this power can work on any living being, or only those characters who have been resurrected from death before (such as Superman
, Green Arrow
, and Donna Troy
).
Black Lanterns are able to read the emotions as colored auras that correlate to the emotional spectrum. Multiple emotions read as a multi-colored aura, while unreadable emotions come out as white. Furthermore, demonic and underworld dwellers (such as Etrigan) are read with a black aura, apparently as unreadable as the white one due to their dead nature. A state of profound suspended animation is enough to fool a Black Lantern by making the target of suspended-animation invisible to the senses of the Black Lantern. Emotionless hearts such as the Scarecrow's render their bearers equally invisible to the Black Lanterns. When facing beings with warped mental states, or otherwise addled minds (such as Bizarro
), the correlation between the emotion detected and the actual color that the Black Lanterns see is inverted. In addition to the abilities granted to them by the rings, Black Lanterns retain any superpowers they may have had in life.
Once a black ring is destroyed, the corpse it animates becomes inert.
Kimiyo Hoshi
and Halo
can completely destroy Black Lanterns by using their light-based powers. Conner Kent used the Medusa Mask to destroy two Black Lanterns by forcing them to experience the full of Emotional Spectrum, irritating their black power rings enough that they remove themselves from their bearers and flee. The Black Lanterns are also vulnerable to Wonder Woman
's Lasso of Truth
. The "touch" of a Black Lantern, typically used to remove their victims' hearts and drain them of emotional energy, can also sever the connection between other Black Lanterns and their black power ring. Time travel
can deactivate a black ring.
One common way of stopping a Black Lantern is to injure them faster than their ring is able to regenerate their body (such as the plasma that a Red Lantern vomits out, or the intense heat at Mogo
's core.).
Others that have proven resistant to the Black Lantern rings are either those who have wielded a power ring before or generally otherwordly beings such as: the demon Etrigan, who lacks a human heart and human emotions, Atrocitus, whose heart was replaced by his ring, Shade, who is truly immortal and thus cannot die, and Osiris, whose magical nature allowed him some semblance of control over the ring. Don Hall (the original Dove) was immune to recruitment into the Black Lantern Corps as he was "at peace" which destroyed the Black Lantern Rings that attempted to recruit him.
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
of revenants
Revenant (fiction)
In fantasy fiction, the term revenant usually means a sentient creature whose desire to fulfill a special goal allows it to return from the grave as a creature vaguely resembling an intelligent zombie. Another possibility is that a powerful wizard returns a dead hero from the past to make him go on...
appearing in comic books published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
.
Publication history
An early version of the Black Lantern Corps first appears in Green Lantern Annual vol. 3 #7 (1998), written by Steve Vance and drawn by Ron LimRon Lim
Ronald "Ron" Lim is an American comic book artist living in Sacramento, California.-Biography:Ron Lim's first published work was an independent comic book entitled Ex-Mutants, which he worked on from 1986-1988....
, where a group of dead Green Lanterns are animated and empowered by Nekron
Nekron
Nekron is a comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, specifically those related to Green Lantern. Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2...
.
Prior to the Blackest Night event, Black Hand
Black Hand (comics)
Black Hand is a DC Comics supervillain and a recurring foe to Green Lantern. He first appeared in Green Lantern #29 and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane...
("leader" and first member of the Black Lantern Corps) had already been established as a villain within the pages of Green Lantern. Writer Geoff Johns revisited his origin and expanded upon certain aspects of it during the Green Lantern: Secret Origin
Green Lantern: Secret Origin
"Secret Origin" is a comic book story arc published in Green Lantern #29-35 by DC Comics. Written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Ivan Reis, the story retells the origin of Earth's first Green Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan for the New Earth continuity...
story arc. During the arc, Hand's energy-absorbing weapon (previously thought to be an original invention) is revealed to have been constructed by Atrocitus
Atrocitus
Atrocitus is a fictional character, an alien supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, Atrocitus is an enemy of the Guardians of the Universe and Sinestro, their former Green Lantern. He first appears in Green Lantern vol...
; a fervent enemy of the Guardians of the Universe
Guardians of the Universe
The Guardians of the Universe, alternatively known as the Guardians or Oans are a fictional extraterrestrial race in the DC Comics universe. They first appeared in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #1 , and were created by John Broome and Gil Kane. Here they do not reveal their existence to Hal, bringing his...
and future founder of the Red Lantern Corps
Red Lantern Corps
The Red Lantern Corps is a fictional organization appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They debuted in Green Lantern vol. 4 #25 and were created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver...
. Atrocitus comes to Earth and approaches Hand, recognizing him as a "doorway to the black" that possesses the power to bring about the Blackest Night. Hand manages to escape and pockets the weapon as he flees. The possession of this weapon soon leads him to become an enemy of the Green Lantern Corps, as he now feels a need to extinguish the light of the emotional spectrum.
While being transported to prison, Black Hand experiences a sudden power surge that kills his captors. He roams the desert, hearing a voice instructing him to reclaim the souls of characters who were resurrected. Hand murders his family and commits suicide. The Guardian Scar
Scar (comics)
Scar is a supervillain in the . She first appeared as an unnamed Guardian of the Universe in Green Lantern #25, and was first named in the February 2009 Origins and Omens backup stories.-Background:...
arrives, and creates the first black power ring, which resurrects Black Hand. She reveals that Hand is the physical embodiment of death, and serves as the avatar
Incarnation
Incarnation literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh. It refers to the conception and birth of a sentient creature who is the material manifestation of an entity, god or force whose original nature is immaterial....
of the Black Lantern Corps in the same manner that Ion, Parallax
Parallax (comics)
Parallax is a fictional comic book supervillain in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks for Green Lantern vol...
, and the Predator are for willpower, fear, and love respectively. Hand later digs up Bruce Wayne
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
's corpse, removes his skull, and recites the Black Lantern oath for the first time. Soon after, black power rings descend upon the universe and begin reviving the deceased as Black Lanterns that attack the heroes of the DC Universe. It is claimed the Power Battery is in Space Sector 666. Black Hand is seen holding Wayne's skull in all future appearances, embracing it in a necrophilic manner in Blackest Night #1 as the black power rings appear from the Black Power Battery, exclaiming that Wayne's death "plays a far greater role in the Blackest Night" than anyone thinks. At the end of the issue, it's shown that Black Hand uses the skull to produce new power rings at will, creating two rings for the newly deceased Carter Hall
Hawkman
Hawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
and Kendra Saunders
Hawkgirl
Hawkgirl is the name of several female fictional superhero characters, all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's universe. The character is one of the first costumed female superheroes...
.
In Blackest Night #3, Indigo-1 describes the premise behind the Black Lantern Corps' fictional relationship with the universe. She explains that the darkness in existence before the creation of the universe is what powers the Black Lanterns. Banished at the dawn of time by the white light of creation, its fighting back causes the white light to be fractured into the emotional spectrum. The events transpiring throughout the titles of Blackest Night are a result of the darkness, once again, fighting back against creation. She goes on to describe how a combination of all seven lights can restore the white light of creation and bring an end to the Black Lanterns. Throughout the Blackest Night event, each time a Black Lantern successfully removes the heart of one of their victims, a black, lantern-shaped speech balloon
Speech balloon
Speech balloons are a graphic convention used most commonly in comic books, comic strips and cartoons to allow words to be understood as representing the speech or thoughts of a given character in the comic...
(used within Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps to indicate that a power ring is speaking) depicts an ever-rising power level increasing in increments of .01 percent. In Blackest Night #4, the power meter is filled and Scar is able to transport the Black Central Power Battery to Coast City, and the true mastermind behind the Black Lanterns is able to step into the main DC Universe: Nekron
Nekron
Nekron is a comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, specifically those related to Green Lantern. Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2...
.
After being introduced into a primary role within the Blackest Night event, Indigo-1 recruits Hal Jordan to gather a team capable of recreating the white light of creation (chosen for having a personal connection to the most powerful members of the five remaining Corps). The story unfolding in Green Lantern depicts Jordan and Indigo-1 recruiting Carol Ferris
Carol Ferris
Caroline "Carol" Ferris is a character in the . She is one of many characters who has used the name Star Sapphire, and is a long-time love interest of Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern. Her original design was based on Elizabeth Taylor...
, Sinestro
Sinestro
Thaal Sinestro is a fictional character, an alien supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, Sinestro is the former mentor of Hal Jordan and the arch-nemesis of the entire Green Lantern Corps. Sinestro first appears in Green Lantern #7 . In 2009, Sinestro was...
, Saint Walker, Atrocitus
Atrocitus
Atrocitus is a fictional character, an alien supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, Atrocitus is an enemy of the Guardians of the Universe and Sinestro, their former Green Lantern. He first appears in Green Lantern vol...
, and Larfleeze
Larfleeze
Agent Orange is a fictional character owned by DC Comics. He is the primary wielder of the Orange light of avarice...
to their purpose. In Blackest Night #5, the team assaults the Black Central Power Battery with the opposite results intended. Nekron is strengthened and able to recruit living characters resurrected from death to his Black Lantern Corps.
Prominent members
At San Diego Comic Con 2009, Geoff JohnsGeoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
was able to discuss his reasoning behind choosing Black Hand as the leader of the new Corps, the character properties of the Black Lanterns, and his own goals in writing their depictions. Commenting on the characters being chosen to resurrect during Blackest Night, Johns said:
During the creation of Blackest Night, Johns (not being interested in or frightened by zombies) wanted to bring back the deceased characters in a way that seemed horrifying and emotionally disturbing to the living characters they encountered. To accomplish that effect, the Black Lanterns have personalities and actively seek out those who will be affected by their appearance. A prime example of Johns' use of personality distortion with the Black Lanterns is Elongated Man (typically depicted as being a "light" character that uses his detective skill to "smell" when something isn't right) looking upon his victims and remarking to his undead wife: "I smell a mystery." Johns identifies the power of the Black Lanterns as not necessarily being evil, but not being good either.
During his initial creation of the new Corps, Johns drew from information he had collected on light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
while taking physics classes. With the Corps of the emotional spectrum personifying life, he knew that this Corps would need to represent death. Black being an absence of light, he chose Black Hand as the leader of the Corps both for the character's name and also because of how much he enjoyed revamping villains while writing for Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
. Like the other members of the Black Lantern Corps, Johns wanted to take a different approach in his portrayal of Hand. Whereas other villains may have a particular motivation, Hand is meant to be depicted as a character who is clearly insane and whose presence makes others uncomfortable.
In Blackest Night #2, multiple black power rings attempt to reanimate the body of Don Hall
Hawk and Dove
Hawk and Dove is the moniker given to two superheroes when they team up to fight crime. Hawk and Dove describes each character's attitude or approach to fighting crime. The hawk represents aggression, and the dove representing pacifism.-Hank and Don Hall:...
, only to be prevented from disturbing his grave by an invisible barrier. As they collide with the barrier, the rings' typical command ("rise") is interrupted; the rings instead respond: "Don Hall of Earth at peace." This is the first depiction of the black power rings failing to recruit a member for the Black Lantern Corps. In an interview with IGN, Johns provides an explanation behind Dove's immunity to the black power rings: "You'll learn more about this as we go forward. But really it speaks to the nature of Don Hall. He can't be desecrated by the likes of these things. He's untouchable in death and at total peace more than any other being in the universe." Reflecting on the limitations of the rings, Johns goes on to state that, even though magic is a "joke" to the black power rings (though the undead Giovanni Zatara is capable of wielding black magic), Don is quite the opposite. Similarly, Blackest Night: Titans #1 shows Black Lantern Hank Hall
Hank Hall
Hank Hall is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe who first appeared in Showcase #75 as Hawk of Hawk and Dove. He later became the supervillain Monarch in the crossover event limited series Armageddon 2001...
unable to read Dawn Granger's emotions; her aura depicted as being white rather than a color from the emotional spectrum.
In Blackest Night: Batman #1, the spirit of Deadman is unable to prevent a black power ring from reviving his remains. Deadman attempts to possess his own corpse, but is unable to control it. During the Blackest Night panel at San Diego Comic Con 2009, Geoff Johns was asked whether the revived corpses of the Black Lanterns were speaking for themselves or if they were being controlled by an outside force. Johns declined to answer, implying that the question would be answered during the Blackest Night storyline. Similarly, while being overcome by a black power ring, the Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
declares that he "will not be used." Prior to The Spectre's conversion, Black Hand makes note of Shadowpact
Shadowpact
The Shadowpact is a group of magic-based heroes who fought against the Spectre in the 2005 limited series Day of Vengeance, published by DC Comics. They are a sort of Justice League for the supernatural elements of the DC Universe...
members Zatanna
Zatanna
Zatanna Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman vol. 1 #4...
and Blue Devil
Blue Devil
Blue Devil is a superhero featured in material published by DC Comics. He first appeared in a special insert published in Fury of Firestorm #24 . That story led directly into Blue Devil #1, also cover dated June 1984...
being surrounded by an aura of life. Upon scanning Phantom Stranger
Phantom Stranger
The Phantom Stranger is a fictional character of unspecified paranormal origins who battles mysterious and occult forces in various titles published by DC Comics, sometimes under their Vertigo imprint.-Publication history:...
, Black Hand remarks that Stranger is "neither living nor dead", and notes him as a person of interest to his Corps.
List of Black Lanterns
Leadership- NekronNekronNekron is a comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, specifically those related to Green Lantern. Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2...
– Leader of the Black Lantern Corps - ScarScar (comics)Scar is a supervillain in the . She first appeared as an unnamed Guardian of the Universe in Green Lantern #25, and was first named in the February 2009 Origins and Omens backup stories.-Background:...
– Guardian of the Corps and keeper of The Book of the Black - Black HandBlack Hand (comics)Black Hand is a DC Comics supervillain and a recurring foe to Green Lantern. He first appeared in Green Lantern #29 and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane...
– Referred to as "the black incarnate," the avatar of the Black Lanterns.
Blackest Night #1 (September 2009)
- Katma TuiKatma TuiKatma Tui is a fictional comic book superhero, an extraterrestrial from the planet Korugar, and a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps. She first appeared in DC Comics' Green Lantern Katma Tui is a fictional comic book superhero, an extraterrestrial from the...
- Martian ManhunterMartian ManhunterThe Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
- Elongated ManElongated ManThe Elongated Man is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC universe. He is a reserve member of the Justice League. His first appearance was in The Flash vol. 1, #112...
- Sue DibnySue DibnySusan "Sue" Dearbon Dibny is a fictional character from DC Comics associated with the Elongated Man. Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the character first appeared in Flash vol. 1 #119...
Blackest Night #2 (October 2009)
- AquamanAquamanAquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
– Named in issue #1 but not shown in costume. - DeadmanDeadmanDeadman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 , and was created by Arnold Drake and Carmine Infantino.-Publication history:...
– Also featured in Blackest Night: Batman, which shipped the same week. - Hawk (Hank Hall)Hank HallHank Hall is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe who first appeared in Showcase #75 as Hawk of Hawk and Dove. He later became the supervillain Monarch in the crossover event limited series Armageddon 2001...
- Aquagirl (Tula)
- DolphinDolphin (comics)Dolphin is a fictional character, a superheroine in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer-artist Jay Scott Pike, she debuted in Showcase #79 Dolphin is a fictional character, a superheroine in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer-artist Jay Scott Pike, she debuted in Showcase #79 Dolphin...
- PariahPariah (comics)Pariah is a fictional scientist published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 , and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.-Fictional character biography:...
- Crispus AllenCrispus AllenCrispus Allen is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. Greg Rucka and Shawn Martinbrough created the character in Detective Comics #742 . Allen later went on to be one of the main characters in Gotham Central...
- Tempest (Garth)Garth (comics)Garth is a fictional character, a superhero in publications from DC Comics, originally known as Aqualad, and later known by the codename Tempest. As Aqualad, he is the teen sidekick and protege to his guardian, the super-hero known as Aquaman, bearing the same super-abilities as his mentor that...
- Firestorm (Ronald Raymond) – Named in issue #1, shown in issue #2.
- Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) – Killed in issue #1, shown in issue #2.
- Hawkman (Carter Hall) – Killed in issue #1, shown in issue #2.
Blackest Night: Batman #1 (October 2009)
- AbattoirAbattoir (comics)Abattoir is the alias of Arnold Etchison, a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in the January 1991 issue of Detective Comics.-Fictional character biography:...
- Blockbuster (Roland Desmond)
- Deacon BlackfireDeacon BlackfireDeacon Blackfire is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, and an enemy of Batman. He first appeared in Batman: The Cult #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
- KGBeastKGBeastKGBeast is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in DC Comics publications primarily as an opponent of Batman.- Back story :Anatoli Knyazev, code-named "The Beast", and known to the C.I.A. as the "KGBeast" was trained as an assassin by "The Hammer," a top secret cell of the KGB...
- King SnakeKing SnakeKing Snake is a fictional character who appears in books published by DC Comics universe, usually as an adversary of Tim Drake and Batman. Created by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Tom Lyle, King Snake first appeared in Robin #2...
- MagpieMagpie (comics)Magpie is a fictional super-villainess created by John Byrne, who first appeared in the miniseries, The Man of Steel.She is notable for her outlandish 1980s style including a unique tri-hawk/mullet hairstyle as well as an exotic, red and silver costume consisting of...
- The Trigger Twins – Tom and Tad Trigger
- Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker)Ventriloquist (comics)The Ventriloquist is a fictional character, a supervillain and enemy of Batman in the . The Ventriloquist first appeared in Detective Comics #583 and was created by Alan Grant, John Wagner and Norm Breyfogle...
- John Grayson
- Mary Grayson
- Jack DrakeJack DrakeJack Drake is a fictional character from DC Comics books, specifically the Batman titles. Jack is the father of Tim Drake, formerly the third Robin and the current Red Robin.-Initial history and family:...
- Janet Drake
Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #39 (October 2009)
- Jack T. ChanceJack T. ChanceJack T. Chance is a fictional character featured in comic books published by DC Comics. He is a Green Lantern from the world of Garnet—also known as Hellhole. Physically, he is a tall, blue-skinned humanoid. Other distinguishing features include a trademark trench coat, what appear to be brown...
– Shown but not named in Blackest Night #1 - Tomar-ReTomar-ReTomar-Re is a fictional DC Comics character, and a member of the Green Lantern Corps. He debuted in Green Lantern #6 in a story written by John Broome with art by Gil Kane.-Fictional character biography:...
- JadeJade (comics)Jade is a fictional character, a superheroine in the . Known affectionately as "Jennie" or "Jen", she is the daughter of Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. Her mother is Rose Canton, the Golden Age villain known as Thorn...
– Named in Blackest Night #1 but not shown in costume.
Blackest Night: Superman #1 (October 2009)
- Superman (Earth-Two)
- Lois Lane (Earth-Two)
- Zor-El
Blackest Night: Titans #1 (October 2009)
- Terra (Tara Markov)
- OmenLilith (DC Comics)Lilith Clay is a young superheroine who occasionally appears in DC Comic's Teen Titans titles.-Pre-Crisis: Originally living in peace at home, Lilith started to manifest strange mental powers at the age of 13. She read her parents' minds to find she was adopted, then left home to try to find her...
Green Lantern vol. 4 #45 (October 2009)
- Amon SurAmon SurAmon Sur is a fictional alien supervillain in the DC Universe. He is the son of the Green Lantern Abin Sur. Amon Sur first appeared in Green Arrow Amon Sur is a fictional alien supervillain in the DC Universe. He is the son of the Green Lantern Abin Sur. Amon Sur first appeared in Green Arrow Amon...
- Blume
- Glomulus
Solomon Grundy #7 (November 2009)
- Solomon GrundySolomon Grundy (comics)Solomon Grundy is a fictional character, a zombie supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Named after the 19th century children's nursery rhyme, Grundy was introduced as an enemy of the Golden Age Green Lantern , but has since become a prominent enemy for a number of superheroes, such as Batman and...
Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #40 (November 2009)
- Bzzd – Shown but not named in Blackest Night #1
Blackest Night #3 (November 2009)
- Alexander Luthor, Jr.Alexander Luthor, Jr.Alexander Luthor Jr. is a DC Comics character who turned from a hero to a villain. Created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Alexander has a prominent role in the DC Universe storylines Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis....
- Copperhead ("John Doe")
- Doctor Light (Arthur Light)Doctor Light (Arthur Light)Doctor Arthur Light is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the third individual to have adopted the persona of Doctor Light, after a Golden Age foe of Doctor Mid-Nite and Arthur's associate Jacob Finlay...
- Madame RougeMadame RougeMadame Rouge is a fictional DC Comics supervillainess. She first appeared in Doom Patrol v.1 #86.-Fictional character biography:Laura De Mille was originally a French stage actress. After an automobile accident, she developed a dual good/evil split personality. At this point, she attracted the...
- Maxwell LordMaxwell LordMaxwell Lord IV is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is a shrewd and powerful businessman who was very influential in the formation of the Justice League International in DC Comics.-Before the League:...
Blackest Night: Superman #2 (November 2009)
- Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden) – Shown but not named in Blackest Night #3
Green Lantern vol. 4 #46 (November 2009)
- Khufu
- Chay-Ara
- Abin SurAbin SurAbin Sur is a fictional character and a superhero from the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Showcase #22 : "SOS Green Lantern". He was a member of the Green Lantern Corps and is best known as the predecessor of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, whom Abin Sur's power ring chose as his replacement...
– Named in Blackest Night #2 but not shown in costume. - Arin Sur
Blackest Night: Titans #2 (November 2009)
- Terry Long
- Robert Long
- Hawk (Holly Granger)
- PanthaPanthaPantha is a fictional character, a superhero published by DC Comics. She first appeared in New Titans #73 , and was created by Marv Wolfman and Tom Grummett.-Fictional character biography:...
Blackest Night: Batman #3 (December 2009)
- Tony ZuccoTony ZuccoAnthony "Tony" Zucco is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He was introduced in Detective Comics #38 and is best known for his connections to the origin of Robin.-Pre-Crisis:...
- Captain Boomerang (Digger Harkness)Captain BoomerangCaptain Boomerang is a fictional character in the . A supervillain traditionally portrayed as an enemy of the Flash...
– Named in Blackest Night #1 but not shown in costume.
Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #41 (December 2009)
- Ermey
- Ke'HaanKe'HaanKe'Haan is a fictional character featured in comic books published by DC Comics. He is a very tall, well-muscled humanoid alien with reddish-orange skin, a partially bald head and three brown locks down the center of his head. Other distinguishing features include a pair of bull-like horns. He...
– Shown but not named in Blackest Night #1 - Fentara Rrab
- Marata Rrab
- Santara Rrab
Blackest Night #4 (December 2009)
- Azrael (Jean Paul Valley Jr.)
- Atom (Al Pratt) – Named in issue #1, shown in issue #4.
- Jean LoringJean LoringJean Loring is a fictional character in comic books published by DC Comics, formerly associated with superhero the Atom for whom she was a supporting character and primary love interest. She first appeared in Showcase #34 , created by Gardner Fox and Gil Kane...
Blackest Night: Titans #3 (December 2009)
- Baby Wildebeest – Shown but not named in issue #2
Green Lantern vol. 4 #47 (December 2009)
- LairaLaira (comics)Laira Omoto is a fictional character in comic books from DC Comics. Laira is originally introduced as a female humanoid Green Lantern with purple skin and auburn hair. She first appeared in Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #6 in the story entitled "What Price Honor?"-Early years:Laira is born on the...
– Named in issue #45, shown in issue #47. - Qull of the Five Inversions – Named in issue #45, shown in issue #47.
- Roxeaume of the Five Inversions
Doom Patrol vol. 5 #4 (January 2010)
- CelsiusCelsius (comics)Celsius is the superhero alias of Arani Desai, a fictional character in the DC Comics series, Doom Patrol. She first appeared in Showcase #94 , and was created by Paul Kupperberg and Joe Staton...
- Tempest (Joshua Clay)Joshua ClayJoshua Clay is a fictional character, a member of the superhero team Doom Patrol in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Kupperberg and Joe Staton, he first appears as the hero Tempest in Showcase #94 ....
- Negative WomanValentina VostokValentina Vostok is a fictional character by DC Comics. She first appeared in Showcase #94, , and was created by Paul Kupperberg and Jim Aparo.-Fictional character biography:...
- Cliff Steele'sRobotman (Cliff Steele)Robotman is a fictional character, a cyborg superhero in the . Robotman first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80 and was created by Arnold Drake, Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani.-Fictional character biography:...
original body
Booster Gold vol. 2 #26 (January 2010)
- Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)Blue Beetle is the second Blue Beetle, a superhero who was originally published by Charlton Comics and later picked up by DC Comics...
R.E.B.E.L.S vol. 2 #10 (January 2010)
- Stealth
- HarbingerHarbinger (DC Comics)Harbinger is a fictional character, a DC Comics superheroine created in the early 1980s.-Fictional character biography:She and her associate, the Monitor, made several short teasing appearances in various DC comic books up until 1985, when the Crisis on Infinite Earths began...
Outsiders vol. 4 #24 (January 2010)
- KatanaKatana (comics)Katana is a fictional character, a superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created to be a member of the first Outsiders team by writer Mike W...
's late husband and children:- Maseo Yamashiro
- Yuki Yamashiro
- Reiko Yamashiro
Blackest Night #5 (January 2010)
- DamageDamage (comics)Damage is a DC Comics superhero who first appeared in a comic book of the same name during the Zero Hour crisis. He is the son of the original Atom Al Pratt. He has been a member of the Titans, the Freedom Fighters, and Justice Society of America....
- Clone of Bruce Wayne
- Animal ManAnimal ManAnimal Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . As a result of being in proximity to an exploding extraterrestrial spaceship, Buddy Baker acquires the ability to temporarily “borrow” the abilities of animals...
- Ice (Tora Olafsdotter)Ice (comics)Ice is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in publications from DC Comics. Created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire, she first appeared in Justice League International #12 ....
- Wonder WomanWonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
- SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
- Superboy (Kon-El)Superboy (Kon-El)Superboy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. A modern update of the original Superboy, who is a younger version of Superman, the character first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 , and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.Originally...
- Kid Flash (Bart Allen)Bart AllenBartholomew "Bart" Allen is a superhero in the . Allen first appeared as the superhero Impulse. He would later go on to become the second Kid Flash and the fourth Flash. Allen's first cameo appearance was in The Flash #91, while his first full appearance was in issue #92...
- Green Arrow (Oliver Queen)Green ArrowGreen Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
- Donna TroyDonna TroyDonna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani...
Justice League of America vol. 2 #39 (January 2010)
- VibeVibe (comics)Vibe is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America Annual #2 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton.-Paco Ramone:...
- ZataraZataraGiovanni "John" Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Universe. He first appeared in Action Comics #1 , and was created by writer and artist Fred Guardineer. He is a stage magician who also practices actual magic...
Teen Titans vol. 3 #77 (January 2010)
- Ravager (Grant Wilson)
- Ravager (Wade DeFarge)
- William WintergreenWintergreen (comics)William Randolph Wintergreen, is a fictional character in DC Comics Teen Titans comics.-Fictional character biography:He was introduced in New Teen Titans #2 as the butler of Deathstroke the Terminator...
- Adeline Wilson
Blackest Night: The Flash #1 (February 2010)
- Professor ZoomProfessor ZoomEobard Thawne, who has gone by the codenames "Professor Zoom" and "Reverse-Flash", is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the DC Universe. Thawne is the Arch enemy of the superhero Barry Allen, the second hero to be called the Flash...
- SolovarSolovarSolovar is a fictional character, a sentient gorilla in the . The character is the progressive leader of a race of gorillas that first appeared as supporting characters of the Flash.-Character history:...
Justice League of America vol. 2 #40 (February 2010)
- Steel (Hank Heywood III) – Shown but not named in issue #39.
Blackest Night: JSA #1 (February 2010)
- Sandman (Wesley Dodds)Sandman (Wesley Dodds)Sandman , is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first of several DC characters to bear the name, he was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Bert Christman....
- Doctor Mid-Nite (Charles McNider)
- Mister Terrific (Terry Sloane)
- Johnny QuickJohnny Quick (Johnny Chambers)Johnny Quick is a Golden Age DC Comics character with the power of superhuman speed. He was a superhero who appeared mostly in More Fun Comics during the Golden Age...
Green Lantern vol. 4 #49 (February 2010)
- Driq
Suicide Squad vol. 1 #71 (March 2010)
- FiddlerFiddler (comics)The Fiddler is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain and a recurring foe of the first Flash . He first appeared in All-Flash #32 .-Fictional character biography:...
- PsiPsi (comics)Psi is a DC character created by Paul Kupperberg and Carmine Infantino for Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
- RavanRavan (comics)Ravan is a fictional DC Comics villain. His first appearance was in Suicide Squad vol. 1 #1 , he was created by John Ostrander and Luke McDonnell.-Publication history:...
- Atom (Adam Cray)
Weird Western Tales #71 (March 2010)
- ScalphunterScalphunter (DC Comics)Scalphunter is a fictional character, a Wild West hero in the DC Comics Universe. Scalphunter first appeared in Weird Western Tales #39 and was created by Sergio Aragones and Joe Orlando.-Fictional character biography:...
- Super-ChiefSuper-ChiefThis article is about the DC Comics character. For the Major League Baseball pitcher nicknamed "Superchief" see Allie Reynolds.Super-Chief is the name of several fictional characters, three superheroes and one supervillain in the DC Comics universe. Created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, the...
- Bat LashBat LashBartholomew "Bat" Alouysius Lash is a fictional Western character in the DC Universe. A self-professed pacifist, ladies' man, and gambler, Bat Lash's adventures have been published by DC Comics since 1968.-Character origin:...
- Jonah HexJonah HexJonah Woodson Hex is a Western comic book antihero created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga and published by DC Comics. Hex is a surly and cynical bounty hunter whose face is horribly scarred on the right side. Despite his poor reputation and personality, Hex is bound by a personal...
- Quentin TurnbullQuentin TurnbullQuentin Turnbull is a comic book western criminal created by Michael Fleisher and Tony DeZuniga and published by DC Comics and first appearing in Weird Western Tales #22 .-Fictional character biography:...
Catwoman vol. 3 #83 (March 2010)
- Black Mask (Roman Sionis)Black Mask (comics)Black Mask is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. An enemy of Batman, he first appeared in Batman #386 . Black Mask was created by Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake.-Dark beginning:...
The Power of Shazam! #48 (March 2010)
- Osiris (Amon Tomaz)
- SobekSobek (comics)Sobek is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appears in 52 #26 , and was created by Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Pat Olliffe.-Fictional character biography:...
Secret Six vol. 3 #17 (March 2010)
- Yasemine Soze
Blackest Night: The Flash #2 (March 2010)
- Mirror Master (Sam Scudder)
- Golden GliderGolden GliderThe Golden Glider is a DC Comics supervillain, the sister of Captain Cold and an enemy of The Flash. She first appeared in Flash #250 and was murdered in Flash vol.2 #113...
- Rainbow RaiderRainbow RaiderRainbow Raider is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics universe. His real name is a pun based on the acronym "ROYGBIV" , a mnemonic for the colors of a rainbow.He first appeared in The Flash vol...
- TopTop (comics)The Top is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Universe. One of the earliest members of the Silver Age Flash's "Rogues' Gallery", the character debuted in The Flash #122 .-Fictional character biography:...
- Trickster (James Jesse)
Starman vol. 2 #81 (March 2010)
- Starman (David Knight)
Green Lantern vol. 4 #50 (March 2010)
- Aquababy
- Bug-Eyed BanditBug-Eyed Bandit-Bertram Larvan:Bertram Larvan was an inventor who designed a mechanical insect to control insect pests. Unfortunately, he had no financial backing to support his invention. He resolved to steal money he needed for his invention. He later used his invention to steal more. Soon, he had an army of...
- Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)Hal JordanHarold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
The Question #37 (March 2010)
- Question (Charles Victor Szasz)Question (comics)The Question is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by DC Comics. The original was created by writer-artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Blue Beetle #1...
Blackest Night: The Flash #3 (April 2010)
- Captain Boomerang (Owen Mercer)Owen MercerCaptain Boomerang is a comic book superhero existing in the DC Comics' main shared universe. He is the son of the original Captain Boomerang and Meloni Thawne....
Blackest Night #7 (April 2010)
- Air Wave (Harold Jordan)Air WaveAir Wave is the name of three fictional superheroes in the DC Comics universe. The first two were active in the Golden Age of Comic Books...
Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #46 (May 2010)
- Alexandra DeWittAlexandra DeWittAlexandra "Alex" DeWitt is a fictional character in the . She is the girlfriend of Kyle Rayner before he receives the Green Lantern power ring from Ganthet. She is best known, however, as the murder victim whose manner of disposal led Gail Simone to coin the phrase "Women in Refrigerators". Alex...
- Anti-MonitorAnti-MonitorThe Anti-Monitor is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain and the antagonist of the 1985 DC Comics miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths. He first appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 , and was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, only to return after a long absence in Green...
Brightest Day #23 (April 2011)
- Swamp ThingSwamp ThingSwamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
Though an exact list of the former Green Lanterns reanimated by black power rings doesn't exist, Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
's ring states that all of the deceased Green Lanterns within the Oa
Oa
Oa is a fictional planet that lies at the center of the DC Comics universe. Since its inception, Oa has been the planetary citadel of the Guardians of the Universe and the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps...
n crypt in Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #39 are transformed into Black Lanterns.
Oath
As with the other Lantern Corps, Black Hand devised an oath for the Black Lanterns:Entity
While the Black Lantern Corps are powered by the black emptiness of space which represents death and therefore does not belong to the Emotional Spectrum, Black HandBlack Hand (comics)
Black Hand is a DC Comics supervillain and a recurring foe to Green Lantern. He first appeared in Green Lantern #29 and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane...
is revealed to be the physical embodiment for these corps, in the same manner that Ion is the embodiment of willpower for the Green Lantern Corps. During the climax of Blackest Night #8, Boston Brand tells the Corps' leaders that Hand is the "tether keeping Nekron
Nekron
Nekron is a comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, specifically those related to Green Lantern. Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2...
within our world", and that as the avatar of Death he is also the only key to defeating the Black Lanterns permanently. Using the White Lantern power of Life, Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
commands "William Hand of Earth - Live", resurrecting Hand and removing him as the Black Lantern Corps' primary power source- which deals a crippling and eventually fatal blow to the Black Lanterns.
Similarly, while Hand is the visual entity representing the Black Lantern Corps, Nekron also uses the Anti-Monitor
Anti-Monitor
The Anti-Monitor is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain and the antagonist of the 1985 DC Comics miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths. He first appeared in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 , and was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, only to return after a long absence in Green...
as a physical power source within the Black Power Battery. It is alluded to in several comics and "Origins and Omens" backstories that it is the Anti-Monitor's desire for the end of humanity that made him the primary candidate to become the Battery's power supply following his betrayal and subsequent murder at the hands of Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime, or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain, and one of several alternate Supermen. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 , and was created by Elliot S...
during the Sinestro Corps War
Sinestro Corps War
"Sinestro Corps War" is an American comic book crossover event published by DC Comics in its Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps titles. Written by Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons and drawn by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, and Ethan Van Sciver, the 11-part saga was originally published between June...
. In a climactic battle with all the collective Lantern Corps, the Anti-Monitor is nearly freed from the Power Battery and revealled to have only succumbed partially to Nekron's influence (manifested by the visual Black Hand symbol seen on every Black Lantern only being half completed), demanding that he be freed so that he could exact revenge on Nekron for his imprisonment. As part of the final 'coup de grace' against the Black Lantern Corps, the Entity also commands "Anti-Monitor of Qward - Live", which frees him from the Black Power Battery- destroying it in the process. It was the Anti-Monitor's physical corpse, coupled with Black Hand's presence as the entity of Death, that served as the full source of the Black Lantern Corps' power.
The Book of the Black
Hidden within the vaults of Oa, it is massive black tome known as "The Ultimate Facilitator of The Blackest Night". Written in black, corrupted blood by the traitorous Guardian of the Universe called Scar, this unholy tome reveals troublesome prophecies, indicating which Earth heroes have the abilities to weather the Blackest Night and ensure the survival/destruction of the universe.Also within its pages is all the forbidden history of the Guardians of the Universe, and in an effort to protect its secrets, the rogue Guardian was forced to imprison the Sinestro Corps talekeeper Lyssa Drak inside the book. After Scar's true death and the end of the Blackest Night, the Book of the Black was found by Ganthet, who noted it retained much forbidden knowledge within its pages. He decided to keep it a secret from the other Guardians and entrusted Guy Gardner with the secret.
The Book was later found by Krona
Krona (comics)
Krona is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Green Lantern #40 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane.-Fictional character biography:...
who after releasing Lyssa Drak from inside the Book, took it to the Dead Planet of Ryut where after detecting the "New Guardians" it opened its pages to unveil the history of Krona. They are soon afterwards attached by the Book's keeper, the former Sinestro Corps member Lyssa Drak
Lyssa Drak
Lyssa Drak is a fictional alien supervillainess published by DC Comics. First appearing in Green Lantern vol. 4 #18 , she was created by Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons.-Fictional character biography:...
. She is capable of trapping Sinestro himself, Carol Ferris, Indigo-1, Atrocitus, Saint Walker and Larfleeze inside the book. However, Sinestro was able to prevent her from capturing Hal Jordan as well by causing a detonation combining the energy of their rings, but the energy explosion also affected the Book of the Black, which disappeared in a rainbow light, leaving only behind the rings of the six trapped lanterns.
The Book is later seen in Oa while it forces the captured lanterns to re-live their lives prior to acquiring their current rings and after the release of them and the defeat of Krona, the Book of the Black is once again entrusted to the Guardians of the Universe.
Powers and abilities
The Black Lanterns are corpses reanimated by black power rings, which are fueled by the power of death. Corpses reanimated by black power rings are reconstructed if damaged, keeping the body in working order at all times. Black power rings are capable of regenerating typically fatal injuries inflicted upon their users (including decapitation and complete dissolution). The rings generate black tendrils to "root" themselves into the corpses, making it impossible to remove them by physical force.The first black power rings possess no charge, but each time a Black Lantern kills someone and removes their heart, .01 percent power is restored to every ring in the Corps. In Blackest Night #3, Indigo-1 solidifies this theme by explaining that those who rise feed off emotion. Even at low power levels, black rings enable their user to fly and create black energy constructs. They are also unaffected by magic. In "classic" zombie fashion, the bite of a Black Lantern induces a slow-acting necrosis that eventually turns the victim into a fellow Black Lantern. It's unknown if this power can work on any living being, or only those characters who have been resurrected from death before (such as Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
, and Donna Troy
Donna Troy
Donna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani...
).
Black Lanterns are able to read the emotions as colored auras that correlate to the emotional spectrum. Multiple emotions read as a multi-colored aura, while unreadable emotions come out as white. Furthermore, demonic and underworld dwellers (such as Etrigan) are read with a black aura, apparently as unreadable as the white one due to their dead nature. A state of profound suspended animation is enough to fool a Black Lantern by making the target of suspended-animation invisible to the senses of the Black Lantern. Emotionless hearts such as the Scarecrow's render their bearers equally invisible to the Black Lanterns. When facing beings with warped mental states, or otherwise addled minds (such as Bizarro
Bizarro
Bizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68...
), the correlation between the emotion detected and the actual color that the Black Lanterns see is inverted. In addition to the abilities granted to them by the rings, Black Lanterns retain any superpowers they may have had in life.
Vulnerabilities
Black Lanterns are vulnerable to white light and a combination of green light with another Corps' light.Once a black ring is destroyed, the corpse it animates becomes inert.
Kimiyo Hoshi
Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Doctor Light is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe.Kimiyo Hoshi is a distinct character from the DC villain of the same name...
and Halo
Halo (comics)
Halo is a fictional superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created by Mike W...
can completely destroy Black Lanterns by using their light-based powers. Conner Kent used the Medusa Mask to destroy two Black Lanterns by forcing them to experience the full of Emotional Spectrum, irritating their black power rings enough that they remove themselves from their bearers and flee. The Black Lanterns are also vulnerable to Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
's Lasso of Truth
Lasso of Truth
The Lasso of Truth is a fictional weapon wielded by DC Comics superheroine Wonder Woman, Princess Diana of Themyscira. It is usually referred to as the Magic Lasso or Golden Lasso and forces anyone it captures to obey and tell the truth....
. The "touch" of a Black Lantern, typically used to remove their victims' hearts and drain them of emotional energy, can also sever the connection between other Black Lanterns and their black power ring. Time travel
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
can deactivate a black ring.
One common way of stopping a Black Lantern is to injure them faster than their ring is able to regenerate their body (such as the plasma that a Red Lantern vomits out, or the intense heat at Mogo
Mogo
Mogo is a fictional character and planet in the DC Universe, a member of the Green Lantern Corps. It first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2 #188 , in a story titled "Mogo Doesn't Socialize." Mogo was created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons....
's core.).
Others that have proven resistant to the Black Lantern rings are either those who have wielded a power ring before or generally otherwordly beings such as: the demon Etrigan, who lacks a human heart and human emotions, Atrocitus, whose heart was replaced by his ring, Shade, who is truly immortal and thus cannot die, and Osiris, whose magical nature allowed him some semblance of control over the ring. Don Hall (the original Dove) was immune to recruitment into the Black Lantern Corps as he was "at peace" which destroyed the Black Lantern Rings that attempted to recruit him.
See also
- Blackest Night
- Black HandBlack Hand (comics)Black Hand is a DC Comics supervillain and a recurring foe to Green Lantern. He first appeared in Green Lantern #29 and was created by John Broome and Gil Kane...
- NekronNekronNekron is a comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, specifically those related to Green Lantern. Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2...
- ScarScar (comics)Scar is a supervillain in the . She first appeared as an unnamed Guardian of the Universe in Green Lantern #25, and was first named in the February 2009 Origins and Omens backup stories.-Background:...