Indigo Tribe
Encyclopedia
The Indigo Tribe is a fictional organization
appearing in comics published by DC Comics
. They debuted in Green Lantern
vol. 4 #25 (December 2007) and were created by Geoff Johns
and Ethan Van Sciver
.
. Using indigo power rings and power staves, they are able to wield the indigo light of compassion
. They've been depicted as being major participants within the Blackest Night crossover
event; however, their reclusive nature makes them the most elusive group among their peers (comparatively limiting their depictions within DC titles).
The Indigo Tribe makes their first extended appearance in Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 (July 2009). Very little is known about them and, in Blackest Night promotional material, they are described as being unknown to the DC Universe at large. Ethan Van Sciver, who created the initial design for the Indigo Tribe, explains that members of the group abandon everything and devote themselves to compassion. Their uniforms have a basic, hand-made appearance, their bodies are adorned with the Indigo Lantern symbol written in body paint, and they carry carved, lantern-like staves with them. This corps exists to spread goodwill throughout the universe. The Indigo Tribe is led by a pale female alien named Indigo-1, and Ganthet
and Sayd
have said that the Blue Lanterns
must seek out and form an alliance with the Indigo Tribe.
Green Lantern
laying on the ground who has been seriously wounded in a conflict with what he reports is a "being who knows no mercy." Despite clearly needing medical attention (coughing up blood
, having difficulty speaking, and open head injuries
), he advises the Indigo Tribe to stay away so that they do not attract the attention of his attacker. Indigo-1, visibly concerned for his well-being, says something in an alien language
that is unintelligible to the reader. When the Green Lantern asks his ring to translate, it replies that it is unable (despite having a catalog of all known languages in the DC Universe). Indigo-1 kneels beside him and places her hand on his heart; her indigo power ring responds by saying "will." Drawing power from him, she creates a simple green light construct that smothers him. Though he struggles, she persists and smothers him until he is dead.
Once the Green Lantern has died, his opponent (a Sinestro Corps
member) emerges. Observing the coup de grâce
Indigo-1 supplies to his enemy, he fires a beam of yellow energy at her and exclaims that he will not be taken down as easily. Not fazed by his attempt at intimidation, Indigo-1 effortlessly absorbs the assault into her power staff. Repurposing the energy, her power ring says "fear" as she creates a monstrous yellow light construct that frightens her attacker away.
Indigo-1 and Munk arrive on Earth to aid Green Lantern
, the Flash, and the Atom escape from a group of Black Lanterns
. Their indigo rings prove very effective against the Black Lanterns. When Indigo-1 channels Hal's green light through her staff, she is able to completely destroy Black Lanterns Elongated Man
and Sue Dibny
. Indigo-1 and Munk teleport the group to the Hall of Justice where it is revealed that they can speak English "when they wish to." Indigo-1 explains that, in the beginning, the DC Universe is only darkness until light becomes strong enough to suppress it. As the darkness fights back, it shatters the light into the seven colors of the emotional spectrum. She also explains that the Black Lanterns can only truly be defeated by having more than one Corps work together. If all seven Corps were to work together, they could recreate the white light of creation and permanently destroy the Black Lanterns and their power source. Once a group of Black Lanterns break into the Hall of Justice, the Indigo Tribesmen escape with Hal Jordan. The group arrives on the planet Zamaron
, saving Carol Ferris
and Sinestro
from a Black Lantern onslaught. Indigo-1 then brings Jordan, Ferris, and Sinestro to Korugar so that Sinestro can defeat Mongul
, regaining control of his Corps. At the same time, Munk, transports himself to Oa, assisting the Green Lanterns in a conflict against their fallen comrades reanimated as Black Lanterns. Indigo-1, along with Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, and Saint Walker, arrive on Okaara to recruit Atrocitus and Larfleeze. After convincing the pair to join them they go to Ryut only to discover that they are too late and the Black Central Power Battery has been moved to Earth. On Earth, Indigo-1 instructs the others to combine their powers to create the white light of creation and destroy the Black Central Power Battery. Her information appears false, however, as the white light is insufficient to affect the Black Central Power Battery. Nekron responds by reclaiming heroes that previously cheated death; now capable of recruiting them as Black Lanterns, despite their being alive.
In Blackest Night #7, a creature known as "the Entity" is introduced that is explained as being the embodiment of life itself in the DC Universe's creation. Soon after, Hal Jordan bonds with the Entity, and uses its power to restore the resurrected heroes that Nekron turned into Black Lanterns. The group of characters are recruited as members of a White Lantern Corps, and they combine their abilities to bring Black Hand back to life. Without Hand operating as a tether, Nekron is forcibly removed from the living world. In the aftermath of his defeat, Saint Walker remarks that the Indigo Tribe has disappeared. The vast procession of Tribesmen are shown in the following panels, led by Indigo-1 and Munk. They have Black Hand with them in tow, bound by shackles, imprinted with an Indigo Tribe symbol, and carrying a power staff.
appears with Parallax, proclaiming that any who feel emotion cannot be trusted.
storyline, with Indigo-1 trapped in the Book of the Black by Krona
, her ring has been temporarily passed on to John Stewart
after his usual Green Lantern ring has been contaminated by Krona and Parallax, although Stewart continues to have trouble properly wielding the ring's power. While attempting to escape the Book which forces the New Guardians to re-live their lives prior to acquiring their current rings, Sinestro discovers Indigo-1 in a prison cell, angrily proclaiming that she will escape whatever Abin Sur has planned for her, although he chooses to focus on his own escape rather than remain to question her more about this. Iroque is later freed from the book by Kyle Rayner
. When her indigo ring returns to her, Iroque is confused and does not remember being a member of the Indigo Tribe. Once the ring is on her finger; however, she returns to her usual influence, declaring "Nok".
Recognizable within the oath is the name of former Green Lantern, Abin Sur: a character that Indigo-1 has admitted to knowing at one point in time. What relationship he has with Indigo-1 and the Indigo Tribe before his death is unknown; however, Indigo-1 describes him as being her "savior."
. According to Atrocitus' divining ritual, Proselyte can be found in the mid-atlantic United States.
While the various members of the Indigo Tribe are capable of channeling only one emotion at a time, Proselyte is capable of channeling all emotions in the area at once.
The Indigo Tribe promptly found it and used it to convert Black Hand
to the Tribe. Proselyte eventually possessed the body of a paramedic named Shane Thompson, who cared full-heartedly for his dying patients and later helped to 'exorcise' Parallax from Barry Allen's body, using the energy of the various spectrums, before being captured by Krona.
Proselyte was later seen with Krona on Oa where it possessed one of the remaining six Guardians of the Universe. Proselyte was eventually free from Krona's control when the rogue Guardian was killed by Hal Jordan and is once again at large in the universe.
The most distinct characteristic of the Indigo Tribe is their use of power staves. In Blackest Night #5, it's established that Indigo Tribe members use their staves instead of power batteries to charge their rings. In addition to being able to store indigo light energy, they are also capable of producing the power of other emotional lights as well, providing Indigo Tribesmen access to the abilities of other Corps. In Green Lantern vol 4 #48, Indigo-1 is shown "channeling" a black power ring (her face taking on a decayed appearance), but it's unclear if the Indigo Tribe is capable of using the power of the Black Lantern Corps, as she describes their power source as a "black hole of emotion." Whereas members of other Corps project a light display in front of the emblem on their uniform when using their abilities, Indigo Tribe members project their Corps symbol in an indigo light display from the "pod" on their staves. When they are manipulating another light of the emotional spectrum, the symbol of the Corps corresponding to that light is projected in front of the Indigo Tribe emblem painted on their forehead.
Like all power rings, indigo rings appear to be capable of the default Corps abilities of flight and protective aura generation, as depicted on the cover of Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #3. Indigo power rings provide their users with the ability to perceive compassion in others and to force compassion onto those who feel none. Indigo light also has the ability to heal individuals with great empathy and also to expose people to pain they have inflicted on other people. Members of the Indigo Tribe are able to use their light to teleport themselves and others with a range that can traverse vast intergalactic distances. This ability utilizes a great deal of power from an indigo power ring, and Indigo Tribe members try to use it sparingly. During the "Blackest Night" event, Indigo-1 and Munk first use a combination of different emotional lights to destroy members of the Black Lantern Corps. In Green Lantern Corps vol 2 #42, Munk explains that this ability is only effective from "direct and intimate discharges."
It is later revealed that the indigo rings force their wearers to feel nothing but compassion, blocking out all other emotions, which is how they can channel other emotions without being affected by them. It is thus a parasitic type like the orange ring, however unlike the Orange ring, it appears to need someone who lacks compassion in order to properly bond under normal circumstances. Those who are too compassionate before the bonding appear unable to block out the other emotions, instead finding themselves heavily influenced by whatever emotion they are channeling, or unable to channel other emotions at all. If removed from someone who properly bonded with it, all memory of the time during which they wore the ring, along with the behavioral changes it induces, is lost, though this may be undone by re-donning the ring.
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...
appearing in comics 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...
. They debuted in Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
vol. 4 #25 (December 2007) and were created by Geoff Johns
Geoff 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...
and Ethan Van Sciver
Ethan Van Sciver
Ethan Daniel Van Sciver is an American comic book artist, best known for illustrating a number of titles including Green Lantern, Superman/Batman, New X-Men, and The Flash: Rebirth...
.
Fictional group history
The Indigo Tribe is one of the nine Corps of the emotional spectrum within the DC UniverseDC 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...
. Using indigo power rings and power staves, they are able to wield the indigo light of compassion
Compassion
Compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
. They've been depicted as being major participants within the Blackest Night crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
event; however, their reclusive nature makes them the most elusive group among their peers (comparatively limiting their depictions within DC titles).
The Indigo Tribe makes their first extended appearance in Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 (July 2009). Very little is known about them and, in Blackest Night promotional material, they are described as being unknown to the DC Universe at large. Ethan Van Sciver, who created the initial design for the Indigo Tribe, explains that members of the group abandon everything and devote themselves to compassion. Their uniforms have a basic, hand-made appearance, their bodies are adorned with the Indigo Lantern symbol written in body paint, and they carry carved, lantern-like staves with them. This corps exists to spread goodwill throughout the universe. The Indigo Tribe is led by a pale female alien named Indigo-1, and Ganthet
Ganthet
Ganthet is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in the 1992 graphic novel Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale , by Larry Niven and John Byrne.- Background :Ganthet is one of the Guardians of the Universe...
and Sayd
Sayd
Sayd is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. She is now an exiled member of the Guardians of the Universe. Where most of the Guardians are void of emotion and rigid in their compliance to standard policy, Sayd's sensibilities are more in line with those of Ganthet, a Guardian known for...
have said that the Blue Lanterns
Blue Lantern Corps
The Blue Lantern Corps is an 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.-Fictional group history:...
must seek out and form an alliance with the Indigo Tribe.
"Blackest Night"
In their debut portrayal, Indigo-1 and her tribe are shown traversing a desert landscape in Sector 3544 when they observe explosive displays of green and yellow light in the distance. Following the smoke left behind at the location of the conflict, the Indigo Tribe approaches to investigate. They come upon a porcinePig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
Green Lantern
Green Lantern Corps
The Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
laying on the ground who has been seriously wounded in a conflict with what he reports is a "being who knows no mercy." Despite clearly needing medical attention (coughing up blood
Hemoptysis
Hemoptysis or haemoptysis is the expectoration of blood or of blood-stained sputum from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs Hemoptysis or haemoptysis is the expectoration (coughing up) of blood or of blood-stained sputum from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs Hemoptysis or haemoptysis ...
, having difficulty speaking, and open head injuries
Head injury
Head injury refers to trauma of the head. This may or may not include injury to the brain. However, the terms traumatic brain injury and head injury are often used interchangeably in medical literature....
), he advises the Indigo Tribe to stay away so that they do not attract the attention of his attacker. Indigo-1, visibly concerned for his well-being, says something in an alien language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
that is unintelligible to the reader. When the Green Lantern asks his ring to translate, it replies that it is unable (despite having a catalog of all known languages in the DC Universe). Indigo-1 kneels beside him and places her hand on his heart; her indigo power ring responds by saying "will." Drawing power from him, she creates a simple green light construct that smothers him. Though he struggles, she persists and smothers him until he is dead.
Once the Green Lantern has died, his opponent (a Sinestro Corps
Sinestro Corps
The Sinestro Corps is a group of fictional characters, a villainous analogue to the Green Lantern Corps in the DC Universe. It is led by the supervillain Thaal Sinestro.-Before the Corps:...
member) emerges. Observing the coup de grâce
Coup de grâce
The expression coup de grâce means a death blow intended to end the suffering of a wounded creature. The phrase can refer to the killing of civilians or soldiers, friends or enemies, with or without the consent of the sufferer...
Indigo-1 supplies to his enemy, he fires a beam of yellow energy at her and exclaims that he will not be taken down as easily. Not fazed by his attempt at intimidation, Indigo-1 effortlessly absorbs the assault into her power staff. Repurposing the energy, her power ring says "fear" as she creates a monstrous yellow light construct that frightens her attacker away.
Indigo-1 and Munk arrive on Earth to aid Green Lantern
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...
, the Flash, and the Atom escape from a group of Black Lanterns
Black Lantern Corps
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.-Publication history:...
. Their indigo rings prove very effective against the Black Lanterns. When Indigo-1 channels Hal's green light through her staff, she is able to completely destroy Black Lanterns Elongated Man
Elongated Man
The 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...
and Sue Dibny
Sue Dibny
Susan "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...
. Indigo-1 and Munk teleport the group to the Hall of Justice where it is revealed that they can speak English "when they wish to." Indigo-1 explains that, in the beginning, the DC Universe is only darkness until light becomes strong enough to suppress it. As the darkness fights back, it shatters the light into the seven colors of the emotional spectrum. She also explains that the Black Lanterns can only truly be defeated by having more than one Corps work together. If all seven Corps were to work together, they could recreate the white light of creation and permanently destroy the Black Lanterns and their power source. Once a group of Black Lanterns break into the Hall of Justice, the Indigo Tribesmen escape with Hal Jordan. The group arrives on the planet Zamaron
Zamaron
The Zamarons are a fictional extraterrestrial race published by DC Comics. They were first introduced in Green Lantern #16 , and were created by John Broome and Gil Kane.-Fictional species biography:...
, saving 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...
and 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...
from a Black Lantern onslaught. Indigo-1 then brings Jordan, Ferris, and Sinestro to Korugar so that Sinestro can defeat Mongul
Mongul
Mongul is the name of two fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the character debuted in DC Comics Presents #27 and was created by writer Len Wein and artist Jim Starlin. The second version first appears in Showcase '95 #85 and was created by...
, regaining control of his Corps. At the same time, Munk, transports himself to Oa, assisting the Green Lanterns in a conflict against their fallen comrades reanimated as Black Lanterns. Indigo-1, along with Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, and Saint Walker, arrive on Okaara to recruit Atrocitus and Larfleeze. After convincing the pair to join them they go to Ryut only to discover that they are too late and the Black Central Power Battery has been moved to Earth. On Earth, Indigo-1 instructs the others to combine their powers to create the white light of creation and destroy the Black Central Power Battery. Her information appears false, however, as the white light is insufficient to affect the Black Central Power Battery. Nekron responds by reclaiming heroes that previously cheated death; now capable of recruiting them as Black Lanterns, despite their being alive.
In Blackest Night #7, a creature known as "the Entity" is introduced that is explained as being the embodiment of life itself in the DC Universe's creation. Soon after, Hal Jordan bonds with the Entity, and uses its power to restore the resurrected heroes that Nekron turned into Black Lanterns. The group of characters are recruited as members of a White Lantern Corps, and they combine their abilities to bring Black Hand back to life. Without Hand operating as a tether, Nekron is forcibly removed from the living world. In the aftermath of his defeat, Saint Walker remarks that the Indigo Tribe has disappeared. The vast procession of Tribesmen are shown in the following panels, led by Indigo-1 and Munk. They have Black Hand with them in tow, bound by shackles, imprinted with an Indigo Tribe symbol, and carrying a power staff.
"Brightest Day"
During the subsequent search for the emotional entities, Indigo-1 returns to Earth to infuse Proselyte, the Indigo Tribe's emotional entity, into Shane Thompson, a paramedic who shows more concern for a fatally-wounded patient when his partner was more interested in the less-wounded man simply because he had insurance. When Indigo-1 and Black Hand confront Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, Sinestro, Saint Walker and Larfleeze, Black Hand explains that the ring has 'cured' him of William Hand's sickness, prompting the others to realize that the Indigo Tribe cannot feel any emotion without their rings; furthermore, given Hand's role in the Blackest Night, Jordan implies that other Indigo Tribe members may have committed evil deeds in the past. Although the Indigo Tribe offer to take the remaining emotional entities into protective custody, Hal rejects the offer, concluding that he cannot trust them in the search for the entities with this new information, just as the being responsible for abducting the emotional entitiesKrona (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:...
appears with Parallax, proclaiming that any who feel emotion cannot be trusted.
"War of the Green Lanterns"
In the War of the Green LanternsWar of the Green Lanterns
"War of the Green Lanterns" is a ten-issue American comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics that spans across the Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, and Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors series...
storyline, with Indigo-1 trapped in the Book of the Black 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:...
, her ring has been temporarily passed on to John Stewart
John Stewart (comics)
John Stewart is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2, #87 , and was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams.-Publication history:...
after his usual Green Lantern ring has been contaminated by Krona and Parallax, although Stewart continues to have trouble properly wielding the ring's power. While attempting to escape the Book which forces the New Guardians to re-live their lives prior to acquiring their current rings, Sinestro discovers Indigo-1 in a prison cell, angrily proclaiming that she will escape whatever Abin Sur has planned for her, although he chooses to focus on his own escape rather than remain to question her more about this. Iroque is later freed from the book by 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...
. When her indigo ring returns to her, Iroque is confused and does not remember being a member of the Indigo Tribe. Once the ring is on her finger; however, she returns to her usual influence, declaring "Nok".
Prominent members
In Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1, the Indigo Tribe is presented as a Corps that travels in a large nomadic procession. Indigo-1 explains that they eschew everything associated with individualism, including names. While interacting with others, some members allow themselves to be addressed by name:- Indigo-1 (Sector unknown): A violetViolet (color)As the name of a color, violet is synonymous with a bluish purple, when the word "purple" is used in the common English language sense of any color between blue and red, not including either blue or red...
skinned female alien who serves as the chosen leader of the Indigo Tribe. Unlike the other members of the tribe, her garments are indigo in color. During the Blackest Night event, she guides Hal Jordan in gathering members of the various Lantern Corps to combat the Black Lanterns. She claims to have once met 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...
at a time when she was "self-centered and self-important". Sinestro later encounters a pre-Tribe version of her in the Book of the Black waiting in a prison cell for Abin Sur to pass 'judgement' on her. Her true name is revealed to be Iroque. - Munk (Sector unknown): A humanoid alien who acts as the Indigo Tribe's second-in-command. He accompanies Indigo-1 to Earth, and then to Zamaron, before teleporting himself to Oa in order to assist the Green Lantern Corps. Munk will also be the representative of the Indigo Tribe in the new DC series Green Lantern: New GuardiansGreen Lantern: New GuardiansGreen Lantern: New Guardians is an American comic book series written by Tony Bedard with art by Tyler Kirkham and Batt and published by DC Comics....
. - Ray Palmer (of Sector 2814): Professor Ray Palmer, one of the heroes bearing the name the AtomAtom (comics)The Atom is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe.There have been five characters who have shared the Atom codename. The original Golden Age Atom, Al Pratt, was created by Ben Flinton and Bill O'Connor and first appeared in All-American Publications'...
, is temporarily selected as a deputy member of the Indigo Tribe during the Blackest Night crisis. Ray is later discharged from the Tribe, following his final battle. - William 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...
(of Sector 2814): Shown in Blackest Night #8 and again in Green Lantern #56 in an unknown place on Earth with the rest of the Indigo Tribe. - Shane Thompson (of Sector 2814): A human paramedic who was pinned under an ambulance in an accident, yet still attempted to help the wounded. He was then chosen to be the host for the compassion entity Proselyte. Shane was later discharged from the Corps, following the capture of Proselyte by Krona's hands.
- John StewartJohn Stewart (comics)John Stewart is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2, #87 , and was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams.-Publication history:...
(of Sector 2814) - After the rogue guardian known as KronaKrona (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:...
launched his attack on Oa and restored ParallaxParallax (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...
into the Green Central Power Battery, John is forced to remove his green power ring to avoid being contaminated by the yellow impurity. Later Hal Jordan gave him the ring of Indigo-1, to fight against Krona; however, since the ring did not choose its bearer, John could not control the Indigo power properly.
Oath
Just as other Corps use an oath to charge their rings using a power battery, Indigo-1 is shown charging her ring using her power staff and the Indigo Tribe's own oath. In their first extended appearance, the Indigo Tribe is depicted speaking a language that power rings are unable to translate; thereby remaining indecipherable to the reader as well. Though Indigo-1 explains that her Tribe is capable of speaking in a language others can understand when they choose, their oath has only been shown spoken in the aforementioned fictional language of Geoff Johns' creation. Johns has said that the Corps oaths have a tempo regardless of what language they are spoken in, adding: "But speaking of languages, the Indigo Tribe speaks an interesting one."Recognizable within the oath is the name of former Green Lantern, Abin Sur: a character that Indigo-1 has admitted to knowing at one point in time. What relationship he has with Indigo-1 and the Indigo Tribe before his death is unknown; however, Indigo-1 describes him as being her "savior."
Entity
Revealed during the Blackest Night event, Proselyte is the embodiment of compassion which is connected to the indigo light of the Emotional Spectrum. Similar to the Indigo Tribe, almost nothing is known about this entity whose creation was explained simply as: "Rage grows from murder. Hope from Prayer. And at last, compassion is offered to us all." As it reached out to offer itself to all living beings, this entity took a form similar to an octopus, with four visible appendages. As with the other emotional entities, Proselyte was attracted to Earth by the Entity and its now being hunted by KronaKrona (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:...
. According to Atrocitus' divining ritual, Proselyte can be found in the mid-atlantic United States.
While the various members of the Indigo Tribe are capable of channeling only one emotion at a time, Proselyte is capable of channeling all emotions in the area at once.
The Indigo Tribe promptly found it and used it to convert 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...
to the Tribe. Proselyte eventually possessed the body of a paramedic named Shane Thompson, who cared full-heartedly for his dying patients and later helped to 'exorcise' Parallax from Barry Allen's body, using the energy of the various spectrums, before being captured by Krona.
Proselyte was later seen with Krona on Oa where it possessed one of the remaining six Guardians of the Universe. Proselyte was eventually free from Krona's control when the rogue Guardian was killed by Hal Jordan and is once again at large in the universe.
Powers and abilities
The Indigo Tribe wields the indigo light of compassion. In an interview, Geoff Johns said of the Indigo Tribe: "I've been very careful with Indigo because they're not what everyone expects, and they act very differently than what everyone expects." On that note, Dr. Robin S. Rosenberg (writer of college psychology textbooks and editor of the anthology The Psychology of Superheroes) describes compassion as being able to have empathy for someone while maintaining enough distance to understand their motivations.The most distinct characteristic of the Indigo Tribe is their use of power staves. In Blackest Night #5, it's established that Indigo Tribe members use their staves instead of power batteries to charge their rings. In addition to being able to store indigo light energy, they are also capable of producing the power of other emotional lights as well, providing Indigo Tribesmen access to the abilities of other Corps. In Green Lantern vol 4 #48, Indigo-1 is shown "channeling" a black power ring (her face taking on a decayed appearance), but it's unclear if the Indigo Tribe is capable of using the power of the Black Lantern Corps, as she describes their power source as a "black hole of emotion." Whereas members of other Corps project a light display in front of the emblem on their uniform when using their abilities, Indigo Tribe members project their Corps symbol in an indigo light display from the "pod" on their staves. When they are manipulating another light of the emotional spectrum, the symbol of the Corps corresponding to that light is projected in front of the Indigo Tribe emblem painted on their forehead.
Like all power rings, indigo rings appear to be capable of the default Corps abilities of flight and protective aura generation, as depicted on the cover of Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #3. Indigo power rings provide their users with the ability to perceive compassion in others and to force compassion onto those who feel none. Indigo light also has the ability to heal individuals with great empathy and also to expose people to pain they have inflicted on other people. Members of the Indigo Tribe are able to use their light to teleport themselves and others with a range that can traverse vast intergalactic distances. This ability utilizes a great deal of power from an indigo power ring, and Indigo Tribe members try to use it sparingly. During the "Blackest Night" event, Indigo-1 and Munk first use a combination of different emotional lights to destroy members of the Black Lantern Corps. In Green Lantern Corps vol 2 #42, Munk explains that this ability is only effective from "direct and intimate discharges."
It is later revealed that the indigo rings force their wearers to feel nothing but compassion, blocking out all other emotions, which is how they can channel other emotions without being affected by them. It is thus a parasitic type like the orange ring, however unlike the Orange ring, it appears to need someone who lacks compassion in order to properly bond under normal circumstances. Those who are too compassionate before the bonding appear unable to block out the other emotions, instead finding themselves heavily influenced by whatever emotion they are channeling, or unable to channel other emotions at all. If removed from someone who properly bonded with it, all memory of the time during which they wore the ring, along with the behavioral changes it induces, is lost, though this may be undone by re-donning the ring.