The Black Lantern Corps is a supervillainous organization of corporeal revenants (resembling intelligent zombies or jiangshi) appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, whounlike the other Lantern corpsrepresent a space outside of the emotional spectrum, with black being the absence of light. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters in zombie form that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe.
Publication history Black Hand (the "leader" and first member of the Black Lantern Corps) was created before the Blackest Night storyline. Writer Geoff Johns revisited the character's origin and expanded upon certain aspects of it during the Green Lantern: Secret Origin story arc (2008). During the arc, Hand's energy-absorbing weapon (previously thought to be an original invention) is revealed to have been constructed by Atrocitus, enemy of the Guardians of the Universe and founder of the Red Lantern Corps.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #32 (August 2008) 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.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #33 (September 2008)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #34 (October 2008) 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.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #43 (September 2009)
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 reanimated.DC Universe #0 (June 2008) Hand murders his family and commits suicide. The Guardian Scar arrives, and creates the first black power ring, which reanimates Black Hand. She reveals that Hand is the physical embodiment of death, and serves as the avatar of the Black Lantern Corps. 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.Blackest Night #0 (June 2009)
In Blackest Night #3, Indigo-1 describes the premise behind the Black Lantern Corps' 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 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 depicts an ever-rising power level increasing in increments of 0.1 percent. In Blackest Night #4, the power meter is filled, allowing Scar to summon Nekron.
After being introduced into a primary role in Blackest Night, 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).Blackest Night #3 (November 2009) The story unfolding in Green Lantern depicts Jordan and Indigo-1 recruiting Carol Ferris, Sinestro, Atrocitus, Larfleeze, and Saint Walker to their purpose.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #46-48 (November 2009-January 2010) 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 reanimated from death to his Black Lantern Corps. Although the seven Corps representatives attempt to summon aid by recruiting temporary deputies until the rest of their Corps arrive, they are nearly thwarted when Nekron attempts to kill the Life Entity, the first life in the universe. After Sinestro attempts and fails to merge with the entity, Jordan takes control of the Entity himself, noting that the heroes still chose to return to life even if Nekron gave them the opportunity. With this behind him, Jordan merges with the entity and frees the reanimated heroes from Nekron's hold, creating the White Lantern Corps in the process. Jordan subsequently reanimates Black Hand and the Anti-Monitor to deprive Nekron of his tether in the living world and his power source. The White Lanterns use the power of the White Light to vanquish Nekron and the Black Lanterns.Blackest Night #8 (March 2010)
The rebirth of the Black Lantern Corps Though seemingly destroyed, an aspect of the Black Lanterns returns within Firestorm, taking the name Deathstorm.Brightest Day #10 (September 2010) While Deathstorm intends to destroy the White Lantern power battery to kill all life in the universe, a voice commands him not to do so. Instead, it orders Deathstorm to bring it an army so it can command the power of life itself. The White Lantern Power Battery in conjunction with Deathstorm creates Black Lantern versions of the twelve heroes and villains who were resurrected at the end of Blackest Night.Brightest Day #11 (October 2010) After Deathstorm steals the White Lantern, he and Firestorm are transported to Qward by the Anti-Monitor, revealed to be behind the return of the Black Lanterns. However, the Black Lanterns are destroyed by Firestorm.Brightest Day #22 (March 2011)
Prominent members At San Diego Comic-Con in 2009, Geoff Johns discussed 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 reanimate 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 most affected by their appearance.Johns, Geoff. DC Comics: Green Lantern: Blackest Night . San Diego Comic Con 2009. San Diego Convention Center, San Diego CA. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2009. A prime example of Johns' use of personality distortion with the Black Lanterns is the Elongated Man (typically depicted as being a "light" character that uses his detective skill to "smell" when something is not right) looking upon his victims and remarking to his undead wife Sue Dibny: "I smell a mystery."Blackest Night #1 (September 2009) 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 Black 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 Dove, only to be prevented from disturbing his grave by an invisible barrier. Dove is stated to be at peace in death and unable to be resurrected.Blackest Night #2 (October 2009) 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."
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.Blackest Night: Batman #1 (October 2009) During the Blackest Night panel at San Diego Comic-Con in 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 the Phantom Stranger, Black Hand remarks that the Stranger is "neither living nor dead", and notes him as of interest to his Corps.
List of Black Lanterns
Current members Black Hand – Referred to as "the black incarnate", the avatar of the Black Lanterns. Batman – Killed in the invasion of the Dark Knights from the Dark Multiverse, Bruce Wayne was resurrected by a Black Lantern ring.Dark Nights: Death Metal #5 (January 2021)
Former members Leadership NekronBlackest Night #4 (November 2009) – Leader of the Black Lantern Corps ScarAdventure Comics (vol. 2) #0 (February 2009) – Guardian of the Corps and keeper of The Book of the Black
Blackest Night #1 (September 2009) Katma Tui Martian Manhunter Elongated Man Sue Dibny
Blackest Night #2 (October 2009) Aquaman – Named in issue #1, but not shown in costume Deadman – Also featured in Blackest Night: Batman, which shipped the same week Hawk (Hank Hall) Aquagirl (Tula) Dolphin Pariah Crispus Allen Tempest (Garth) Firestorm – 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) Abattoir Blockbuster (Roland Desmond) Deacon Blackfire KGBeast King Snake Magpie Trigger Twins Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) John and Mary Grayson Jack Drake Janet Drake
Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #39 (October 2009) Jack T. Chance – Shown, but not named, in Blackest Night #1 Tomar-Re Jade – 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) Omen
Green Lantern (vol. 4) #45 (October 2009)
Hal Jordan
Amon Sur Blume Xanshi; as a Mogo analogue Glomulus
Solomon Grundy #7 (November 2009) Solomon Grundy
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. Copperhead ("John Doe") Doctor Light (Arthur Light) Madame Rouge Maxwell Lord
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 Sur – 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) Pantha
Blackest Night: Batman #3 (December 2009) Tony Zucco Captain Boomerang (Digger Harkness) – Named in Blackest Night #1, but not shown in costume
Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #41 (December 2009) Ermey Ke'Haan – Shown, but not named, in Blackest Night #1 Fentara Rrab Marata Rrab Santara Rrab
Blackest Night #4 (December 2009) Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley)