Hello and welcome to ComicDrake where I talk about comics books and my name is Drake.
Today, I’d like to explain the origins of the various Lantern Corps in DC Comics.
The cosmic DC Universe can get a little out of hand, so I’ll just keep it brief.
Straight to the point, minimal filler, and just the facts.
So let’s dive in!
Billions of years ago, the Guardians of the Universe (these super old blue dwarves) formed
an intergalactic police force known as the Green Lanterns, who are fueled by the green
light of willpower of the Emotional Spectrum.
Uh… basically the Emotional Spectrum is the energy created by sentient life all across
the universe.
We...
really don’t really have time to get into that right now.
ANYWAY, by channeling their willpower through their power ring, a Green Lantern is able
to create constructs out of anything they can imagine.
While you’re probably familiar with Green Lanterns Hal Jordan or John Stewart, it's
actually their nemesis, Sinestro, who was once known as the greatest of the Green Lanterns.
After Sinestro was banished from the Green Lantern Corps for trying to enslave his home
planet Korugar, he discovered the Yellow Light of Fear and years later, Sinestro embraced
his fear of what the universe would become if it fell into chaos without his guidance.
It was then that he formed his own Corps to rival the Green Lanterns, the appropriately
named: “Sinestro Corps".
Their rings function much like the Green Lantern’s in that they’re able to create constructs.
However, one unique function of yellow power rings is their ability to produce constructs
of their opponent’s worst fears.
This yellow light has been the blight of the Green Lantern Corps for decades, but only
recently did we learn the true fearful facts behind its sinister shine.
After the two corps nearly destroyed the multiverse in the Sinestro Corps War, two Guardians sought
to protect the universe by other means, and broke from their council to bring forth the
Blue Lantern Corps to aid and boost the Green Lantern Corps in all future battles.
Their rings run on the blue light of hope, but they are unable to create constructs without
the presence of a Green Lantern.
Their rings can also supercharge a Green Lantern’s ring as was seen when Hal Jordan was both
a Green Lantern and Blue Lantern… at the same time!
Think of the Green and Blue Lanterns like peanut butter and chocolate.
They’re each fine on their own, but together, you get a delicious and unstoppable snack!
...Believe it or not, I pretty much pulled that quote straight out of Green Lantern:
Agent Orange.
In what seemed to be a chain-reaction of new, different colored Corps popping up everywhere,
this blue battalion was soon matched by the Red Lanterns with their Red Light of Rage.
This Corps was formed by Atrocitus, a guy whose entire sector was wiped out by the Guardian’s
first attempt at creating an intergalactic police force, the Manhunters…
whoops.
The Red Lanterns use their rage to form constructs and vomit an acidic plasma.
Not only that, but when receiving a Red Lantern power ring, the bearer's heart no longer functions
and the ring becomes their new heart.
Their blood is also replaced with LIQUID FIRE.
Moving right along brings us the pink… er… um...
violet lanterns, better known as the Star Sapphires.
Long ago, a group of Oans broke away from the Guardians and learned to harness the violet
light of love.
Originally there was only one Star Sapphire, Green Lantern Hal Jordan’s on and off again
girlfriend, Carol Ferris, who fell to its power and was brainwashed to fight Green Lanterns.
It wasn't until later that the Star Sapphires were granted free will and formed into a Corps
of their own.
Its worth noting that as of the making of this video, Green Lantern John Stewart has
just become the first ever recruited male Star Sapphire, aaaaaaand it’s gone.
Nope.
Then there’s the Orange Lantern Corps… which is oddly enough just one guy, Larfleeze.
One part Gonzo, one part Daffy Duck, and all parts crazy, Larfleeze (Also known as Agent
Orange) wields the orange light of greed and as such, he’s the only one that has his
power.
Ages ago, the Guardians made a pact with Larfleeze agreeing that he will be left alone as long
as he doesn’t unleash the power of the orange light on the universe.
After a misunderstanding, Larfleeze thinks that the treaty was broken and unleashes the
wrath of his Corps.
“But Drake!”
You guys might be asking yourselves.
“How is there an entire Orange Lantern Corps when it’s made up of just one dude?!”
The answer is quite simple.
Larfleeze is able to create constructs of ANYONE he has defeated and is capable of spawning
entire battalions.
This guy literally is a one man army!
Now onto the Indigo Tribe.
While Hal Jordan’s predecessor, Abin Sur, was helping on the planet Nok, he discovered
the indigo light of compassion along with Nok’s enslaved indigenous race.
After freeing the people and learning of the prophecy of the Blackest Night (More on that
later), Abin Sur formed the Indigo Tribe.
The Indigo Tribe casts individuality aside and instead embraces compassion and equality
WHICH is why Abin Sur brought his enemies back to Nok and forced them into the Tribe,
making them nearly mindless drones of compassion.
Here’s a cool fact.
The Indigo Tribe doesn’t use power rings.
Instead, they use primitive weapons that are infused with violet light and what’s unique
about this light is that it can actually mimic the effects of EVERY color of the Emotional
Spectrum!
The Indigo Tribe usually plays a supporting role to the main action, much of which involves
these next two Corps, if you can really call them that.
The Black Lantern Corps is as simple as they come: The embodiment of Death, known as Nekron,
wants everyone to just SHUT UP so that things can be quiet again.
You know, like they were before creation.
So when you’re the essence of death itself, how do you accomplish this?
Well… with zombies of course!
That’s right, Nekron sent FREAKIN’ ZOMBIES across the universe to try and kill EVERYONE
AND EVERYTHING!
It’s really that simple.
However, the dead they bring back aren’t actually the people they were before, just
a kind of artificial intelligence ACTING as the person they were before they died to try
to rip out the hearts of those close to them…
Okay maybe it’s not that simple.
And last but certainly not least is the White Lantern…. which I’ll admit is still pretty
enigmatic.
The White Lantern seems to display different power sets depending on who is wielding the
ring, and frankly, whoever is writing the story.
There’s been a little over a dozen people who’ve wielded the white light of life…
for about three panels total... but as of right now, there is only one White Lantern,
former Green Lantern, Kyle “The Torchbearer” Rayner who’s pretty much Space Jesus.
Currently, White Lanterns are able to use every color of the emotional spectrum.
That might not seem too special, and maybe it’s not considering that’s essentially
the power of the Indigo Tribe.
The White Lantern is currently a central plot point in an ongoing storyline at DC Comics,
so perhaps I’ll get a chance to revisit this “corps” at some other point down
the line.
Now don’t worry, there is a LOT more to the Emotional Spectrum, but this is just a
really solid foundation to start off with.
If you want to know more about the various corps, just grab ANYTHING that says both Geoff
Johns and Green Lantern on the front cover.
This includes Rebirth, The Sinestro Corps War, Rage of the Red Lanterns, Agent Orange,
and Blackest Night.
Oh, you can also read Green Lantern: New Guardians…
I guess…
Though the concept of an “Emotional Spectrum” is still relatively new to comics, it’s
heavily featured in the short-lived Green Lantern: The Animated Series, the game Lego
Batman 3, and uh… *mumbling* the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern movie *mumbling*
Thanks for watching ComicDrake and *insert catchphrase here*