If you haven't heard the phrase "Blackest Night" by now, you must be new to comics entirely. Blackest Night is the name of DC Comics' massive event storyline for 2009. This event spins out of the pages of the Green Lantern books and into its own mini-series. The entire DC Universe will feel the effects as a legion of undead Black Lanterns rises up and threatens to consume everything.
This event is also the third part of a trilogy that began in the pages of Green Lantern: Rebirth. Writer Geoff Johns and his collaborators have been working on this project for over five years now. When the dust settles, the Green Lanterns will never be the same. Heck, we're not sure they'll be around at all.
As with any major event comic, IGN Comics is here to guide new readers through the ropes. Never read a Green Lantern comic in your life? Not sure what the difference between a Blue Lantern and an Indigo Lantern is? We're here to help.
This guide is broken up into five sections. The first three sections provide a history of the Green Lanterns, a look at the different Lantern Corps, and the basics of the fearsome Black Lanterns. The final two sections help you catch up by telling you what to read and when to read it. Hopefully by the end, even new readers will be as excited for Blackest Night as we are.
Part 1 – The History of the Green Lanterns
Since sentient life first appeared in the universe, so has the spectrum of emotion. As beings experience love, fear, or various other emotions, they create energy that corresponds to a particular color on this spectrum. Billions of years ago, the Guardians of Oa discovered how to channel and harness the green energy of willpower. In a universe ruled by chaos, they took it upon themselves to instill law and order.
The Guardians needed a vast police force to patrol the galaxy. Their first attempt yielded the robotic Manhunters. Though the Manhunters were powerful and subservient, they lacked the ability to understand or utilize emotion. Eventually these robots went rogue and carried out their programming without the Guardians' influence. They decimated an entire sector of space, killing trillions of lifeforms before the Guardians defeated them.
Realizing that only thinking feeling, creatures could succeed as protectors, the Guardians recruited soldiers from all over the universe. Each was given a green ring that allowed them to channel their intense willpower into various energy constructs. Each Green Lantern became a living weapon. Their power was limited only by their imagination and their ability to maintain that willpower in the face of fear and danger.
The Guardians divided space into 3,600 sectors, each with two native Green Lanterns. The Guardians themselves remain on Oa, where they guard the Central Power Battery and monitor their 7,200 soldiers.
The Green Lanterns have succeeded in their mission to maintain law and order. But they have acquired more than a few enemies over the millennia. There are the Zamarons, offshoots of the Guardians who feel love should rule all. There are the Controllers, jealous would-be Guardians who have spent countless ages searching for the power to form their own Corps. There are the Children of the White Lobe, the weaponeers of Qward, the persistent Manhunters, and many other threats who continue to plague the Corps.
However, the greatest threats tend to come from within. Sinestro was once considered the greatest Green Lantern. When it was discovered that Sinestro abused his power and used fear to keep his sector in line, the Guardians stripped him of his ring and banished him from the universe entirely. Now Sinestro has armed himself with a yellow, fear-based ring. Not only that, but he has an entire Sinestro Corps that rival the Green Lanterns down to the man.
And Hal Jordan, regarded as Sinestro's successor when it comes to being the greatest Green Lantern, nearly inadvertently destroyed the Corps. Years ago, he was possessed by the living embodiment of fear known as Parallax. Through Hal, Parallax destroyed the Central Power Battery, scattered the Corps, and nearly returned the universe to chaos again.
Hal is alive and well again, as is the entire Corps. However, the Green Lanterns consist largely of rookies who are poorly trained in the art of war. The Green Lanterns are not the universal police force they once were. With the Guardians unable to exert full control over their their 3,600 sectors, new and old enemies have surfaced. The Green Lanterns are just one of seven Corps in the galaxy now. And though the Guardians have fought hard to maintain their control, their grip is loosening on the galaxy.
Though Hal and his allies – Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kilowog among them - are doing their best to maintain law and order, the Guardians only seem to be hurrying the fall of the Corps. New laws authorizing lethal force and outlawing love between Corpsman prove the Guardians are working to suppress emotion. Despite their past mistakes, they seem to have learned nothing in their billions of years of life. Their actions are only hurrying the arrival of the Blackest Night.
Part 2 – The Prophecy of Blackest Night
As mentioned, the failure of the Manhunters resulted in the near-total massacre of a space sector. This region is known as Sector 666, and all Green Lanterns are expressly forbidden from crossing its borders.
Only five lifeforms survived the massacre of Sector 666. These so-called Five Inversions of Ysmault fostered a deep hatred of the Guardians. Imagine their delight when Green Lantern Abin Sur was forced to make a landing on Ysmault.
It was here that Abin Sur was exposed to the prophecy of Blackest Night. When he asked Qull of the Five Inversions what the greatest challenge the Lanterns had yet to face was, Qull answered, "After untold millenia, the enemies of the Green Lantern Corps will rise united against them. The Corps shall be destroyed to the last life form. The Planet Oa shall be as dust." Qull went on to name the fall of Sodam Yat and the eventual destruction of Mogo as key steps on the road to ruin.
This warning became known as the Prophecy of Blackest Night, and it's an event the Guardians have worked tirelessly to prevent. However, despite their best attempts to patrol the universe and keep the power of the emotional spectrum in check, the Guardians seem to be playing right into fate's hand. Whether they like it or not, Blackest Night is striking the DC Universe this summer.
History of the Green Lanterns
The Black Lanterns
The War of Light
The Guardians used to hold a monopoly on power rings, but in recent months they've been faced with one new challenge after another. There are now seven Lantern Corps patrolling the galaxy, each harnessing a unique aspect of the emotional spectrum, and each with a different motive.
The Green Lanterns continue to patrol the galaxy. Their rings are powered by will. The Green Lanterns formerly were unable to kill their enemies, but a recent set of new laws added to the Book of Oa have authorized lethal force, among other things. Not all Green Lanterns are happy with these changes.
The Sinestro Corps harness the yellow power of fear. They were created by the ex-Green Lantern Sinestro as a dark mirror image of his former Corps. One Sinestro Corps member exists for every Green Lantern, and the two guilds are locked in a bloody war for dominance of the galaxy. This war has continued on despite the imprisonment of Sinestro.
The Red Lanterns are powered by rage. The act of putting on a Red Lantern ring causes the wearer to vomit the very blood from their body. From that point on, the ring is the only thing keeping them alive. As such, only the angriest and most hateful creatures are capable of being a Red Lantern. This Corps was formed by Atrocitus, who slaughtered his fellow Five Inversions and left Ysmault to seek revenge on the Guardians.
The Star Sapphires (or the Violet Lanterns) use the power of love to change the universe. This group has existed for some time now, but only recently have they molded themselves directly after the Green Lanterns. Their current mission centers around using the healing energies of love to purify captured members of the Sinestro Corps.
The Orange Lanterns are greedy, and they utilize the power of avarice. In truth, there is only one Orange Lantern, and his name is Larfleeze. Larfleeze covets the Orange Light far too much to allow anyone to share it. As he ingests lifeforms with his power, he gains the ability to recreate them as energy constructs. Larfleeze is only one creature, but his power dwarfs even the Guardians'.
The Blue Lanterns believe in hope above all. They were recently created by two exiled Guardians, Ganthet and Sayd. The process of creating a Blue Lantern is long and arduous, and so far only a handful have emerged. Unfortunately, thanks to the actions of the Guardians, the Blue Lanterns are being dragged into a battle they may not be ready or able to fight.
Finally, the Indigo Lanterns harness the power of compassion. Little is known about this Corps, other than that they forgo rings for staves. Their leader seems to be a woman named Indigo, who leads the nomadic Indigo Tribe. Johns has indicated that the Indigo Lanterns' power is primarily healing-based, and that they'll be assisting warriors on all sides of the fight.
For more information on the different Lantern Corps and their major members, refer to our Lantern Corps Spotlight.
What fight, you ask? Currently, the various lantern Corps are embroiled in the War of Light. The war began when the Sinestro Corps rose up and challenged the Green Lanterns. Though the Sinestro Corps War went to the side of will, the War of Light continues on. The Red Lanterns have joined in, hoping to murder Sinestro. The Guardians have unwittingly caused the singular Orange Lantern to stir. Those few Corps that haven't directly jumped into the fray are silently preparing for their own goals.
But even that war is just a prelude of things to come. In Blackest Night, a new Lantern Corps emerges. These Black Lanterns consist of countless resurrected corpses from across the universe. Anyone who has died in the DCU has the potential to become a Black Lantern. With so many enemies united against them, we have to wonder if the Green Lanterns will make it out of this one alive. As we've recently seen in Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds, the Green Lantern Corps are destroyed and gone in the 31st Century. Whether this occurs in Blackest Night, or whether the prophecy is ultimately foretelling a later doom, things are looking grim for our heroes.
Part 3 - The Black Lanterns
We don't have the room in this guide to go into detail regarding every major character involved in Blackest Night. Or, more accurately, we acknowledge that most readers can only skim so much text before their eyes melt. We suggest checking out two recent features for more detailed explanations on the big names and faces. The MVP's of Blackest Night covers the eight heroes and villains who we consider central to the Blackest Night saga. The Lantern Corps Spotlight provides more information on the different Corps, and also covers the most important members of each group.
But we would like to focus on the Black Lanterns in this section. Unlike the other Lantern Corps, which tend to assign one or two Lanterns to each sector of the galaxy, the Black Lanterns are nearly limitless. In effect, any DC character who is currently dead is fair game for becoming a Black Lantern. All that is required is a ring, and a corpse is reanimated.
In color theory, black is the absence of all color. When looking at the emotional spectrum of the DCU, black is the total absence of emotion. Black Lanterns feel nothing. They may retain memories of their former lives, but they feel no attachment to their loved ones. Based on what we've heard so far, the Black Lanterns may even crave the energy generated by the emotions of others. When you can't feel anything yourself, the best option is to live vicariously through others.
But based on the revelations in Green Lantern #43, it seems one of the central missions of the Black Lanterns is to reclaim the lives of those who have been resurrected. Heroes like Hal Jordan, Superman, Green Arrow, Barry Allen, and many others have died and been resurrected over the years. The force that directs the Black Lanterns greatly desires these lives. It can be inferred from that that this force is either Death or some aspect of Death. But for now, we can only guess as to its identity.
The Black Lanterns, like all others, receive their power from a Central Battery. The Black Battery also serves as a tomb for the corpse of the Anti-Monitor, who was destroyed at the end of The Sinestro Corps War. His massive energy now powers the rings. If the Anti-Monitor still clings to life, he is probably an unwilling prisoner.
Two servants have been furthering the agenda of the Black Lanterns in secret. The first is Black Hand. This former minor villain has been fundamentally altered by the Black Lanterns' master. He willingly murdered his family and committed suicide, only to be reborn as the first Black Lantern. Black Hand is actually the embodiment of the Black Lantern Corps in the same way Ion embodies the willpower of the Green Lanterns and Parallax the fear of the Sinestro Corps. His job now is to travel the universe and select corpse to be reanimated as Black Lanterns.
The other servant is Scar. This Guardian was burned by the Anti-Monitor's power. This power corrupted her, and now she has become a slave of the Black. She reads from the Book of the Black, which foretells the end of all life and light in the universe. Though she maintains the outward facade of being loyal to Oa and the Green Lanterns, she has secretly been manipulating her Corps and hastening the War of Light.
Scar has already fostered war and eliminated the two Green Lanterns who might have been able to warn the others of the Black Lanterns' arrival. Her final act was to shatter the armor protecting Oa and leave the Green Lanterns weak and vulnerable. Now that the Black Lanterns are beginning to rise, there's no telling what Scar's new role will be.
Who are the Black Lanterns?
DC has been surprisingly forthcoming about which dead characters will rise as Black Lanterns. In fact, the earliest revelations came not in interviews or preview material, but from the solicitation of the Blackest Night action figures. So far, we know of five major Black Lanterns:
Earth-2 Superman - Earth-2 Superman was an aging relic of an Earth that no longer existed. He reappeared during Infinite Crisis because he, along with Alexander Luthor and Superboy-Prime, felt that a better version of Earth could be created. Ultimately, this Superman realized the error of his ways. He was killed in battle by Superboy-Prime. And now he rises.
Martian Manhunter - J'onn J'onnz was the last living Green Martian and one of the founding members of the Justice league. He found adjusting to life on Earth a continual challenge, but he made many close friends in his time as a superhero. In his final months, however, J'onn took a more militant stance and reverted to his true Martian form. He was murdered by Libra and the Society of Super-villains in the opening salvo of Final Crisis. And now he rises.
Aquaman - Aquaman was the king of the seas, a position that often put him at odds with the surface world and his allies in the Justice League. However, he was a noble hero at heart. Aquaman died after saving the citizens of Sub Diego, and his son Arthur has taken over the throne of Atlantis. Atlantis still longs for its original king. And now he rises.
Firestorm - Firestorm was one of the most powerful heroes on Earth. In addition to his flight and intangibility, Ronny Raymond could transform elements into other elements like a super-powered alchemist. He also struggled with being bonded to the consciousness of Dr. Randolph Stein. Ronnie is dead now, and has been replaced by the new Firestorm, Jason Rusch. And now he rises.
Terra - Tara Markov will forever go down in infamy as the girl who betrayed the Teen Titans. After being driven insane by Deathstroke, she helped the villain nearly destroy the team. In the end, though, Terra redeemed herself and stopped Deathstroke. She now serves as a tragic reminder of the perils teen heroes face. And now she rises.
These five Lanterns have been featured prominently on covers and in DC's preview material. However, they will only be the tip of the iceberg. DC's solicitations offer up further clues and outright confirmations as to who might be selected, with many familiar hands rising from the ground. Definitely expect Dick Grayson to be haunted by his parents, the Flying Graysons. Given Johns' affiliation with the Flash books, we expect to see at least a couple undead Flash villains. And many, many past Green Lantern characters will return, not least of which being Katma Tui.
Geoff Johns puts it this way - "It's all about emotion. If a Black Lantern doesn't have an emotional connection to you, they almost won't be interested in you. Almost."
Anyone who has died during the course of Geoff Johns' Green Lantern or Green Lantern Corps is particularly worth keeping an eye on. For example, Laira the Lost Lantern seems almost assured to make a return. After being evicted from the Green Lanterns, she gave into her rage and became a Red Lantern. Shortly thereafter, she was murdered by Sinestro. Coincidence? Probably not.
Also look to Sodam Yat. This Daxamite was prophesied by Qull to be the greatest Green Lantern, and the one whose fall would signify the defeat of the Lanterns. He recently sacrificed himself to give Daxam a fighting chance against Mongul. But we also know from Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds that Sodam Yat is not only alive and well in the 31st Century, but in fact the only Green Lantern left. It seems highly likely his return will be chronicled in Blackest Night, either as Ion once more or as a Black Lantern. And if it is the latter, that might imply that even the Black Lanterns are capable of being saved.
In the end, there's a lot we don't know about the nature of the Black Lanterns. The fact that DC and Geoff Johns have been so forthcoming about the identities of the Black Lanterns is evidence that there is more than meets the eye with these villains. Johns promises that readers don't yet understand what they truly entail. Rest assured that Blackest Night will involve far more than a few Black Lantern reveals and a lot of fighting.
History of the Green Lanterns
The Black Lanterns
Part 4 - Preparing for War
The Green Lantern comics have been around for almost as long as DC has existed as a company. The first and most obvious question for any newcomer is, "Where the heck do I start?". Is it necessary to go all the way back to the beginning of the Green Lantern mythos?
Well, you can certainly do that if you want, but you'll probably still be playing catch-up years after Blackest Night has wrapped up. Rather than reading every Green Lantern comic in existence, you really only need to pay attention to the last several years' worth of stories.
Blackest Night is positioned as the third part of a trilogy that began with Green Lantern: Rebirth. This is the general starting point for all readers. The second part of the trilogy is the mini-series The Sinestro Corps War. Of course, there were about two years of stories in between the two, and roughly the same amount between Sinestro Corps and Blackest Night. But these three stories are the big watershed moments of Geoff Johns' saga.
Following the conclusion of Green Lantern: Rebirth, DC introduced two main GL books – Green Lantern Vol. 4 and Green Lantern Corps. The former focuses mainly on the adventures of Hal Jordan and John Stewart and is typically centered on Earth. GLC, on the other hand, is usually set in various other points in space. The cast includes the entirety of the Corps, though Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner, and Sodam Yat often feature in starring roles. Though each series tells its own stories, the two have become increasingly interconnected in the wake of The Sinestro Corps War.
The following is a suggested reading order of relevant Green Lantern trades leading into Blackest Night:
This list doesn't provide a perfect chronological breakdown, but it's the best one can do without purchasing the individual issues. It is worth pointing out that the Rage of the Red Lanterns trade also collects the story arc "The Alpha Lanterns", which is set immediately after The Sinestro Corps War. If possible, it's best to read these three issues first and come back to Rage at the appropriate time.
It's also important to note that the final two trades, Agent Orange and Emerald Eclipse, aren't available yet and won't be released until well after Blackest Night begins. Those who wish to get caught up and begin following Blackest Night on a monthly basis will need to hunt those respective issues down.
Yikes!
Yes, we know. That's a pretty tall stack of books to work through. In fact, it's almost 100 issues of material to read through. Luckily, there's no need to read each and every one before going into Blackest Night. Many readers follow Green Lantern but skip over Green Lantern Corps. We don't necessarily favor that approach, both because GLC has become increasingly vital and because it's often superior to its sister series, but the option is there. At the very least, the three GLC trades prior to The Sinestro Corps War can be skipped with little problem.
For those who want to spend as little money as possible, we would say only four of these trades are vital reading for Blackest Night. As mentioned, Rebirth and The Sinestro Corps War are the first two parts of this trilogy. Those stories are must-reads. However, Sinestro Corps Vol. 3 consists of tie-in material that isn't essential. The real conclusion of the story occurs in Vol. 2. The fourth trade to pick up would be Secret Origin. This book can actually be read prior to Rebirth, as it features a modernized retelling of Hal's origin. This trade also provides a good deal of important setup for the War of Light and Blackest Night.
Now, on the other hand, if you're interested in reading more than what is contained in these recent trades, we have a few suggestions. Alan Moore's short story "Tygers" is a critical read, as it essentially formed the basis for Blackest Night as a concept. "Tygers" is collected in both DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore and Green Lantern: In Brightest Day. The latter is an anthology of various past GL stories selected by Johns, and provides a nice look at the scope and depth of the Lanterns.
Those interested in reading more about Hal's possession by Parallax and eventual bonding to the Spectre (both key plot points of Rebirth), should check out Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight & New Dawn and The Final Night. Unfortunately, both of these trades are out of print, so that may be easier said than done.
Even after all that, we imagine some readers are wondering if they can't skip straight to Blackest Night without reading anything beforehand. And the answer to that is yes, probably. As with any big event comic, it's really in DC's best interests to ensure Blackest Night is accessible to all readers. Seasoned readers will undoubtedly get more out of the story, but everyone should find something to like. After all, at the end of the day, this is a story about superheroes fighting zombies. Anyone can appreciate an elegantly simple concept like that.
Just don't be surprised when you feel compelled to go back and read these stories. Even those with the willpower of a Green Lantern would find it hard to resist.
History of the Green Lanterns
The Black Lanterns
Part 5 - The Blackest Night Checklist
When Blackest Night was first announced in late 2007, most fans assumed it would be another crossover between Green lantern and Green lantern Corps, just as The Sinestro Corps War was. At the time, even Johns seemed to think that would be the case.
However, we now know that Blackest Night will be a mini-series separate from Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. DiDio explained the reasoning behind this decision, saying "One of the reasons why Blackest Night is a mini-series separate to what Sinestro Corps War was, which was a Green Lantern story in Green Lantern's titles, is that when we saw how Blackest Night started to take form, we realized it was more about the DCU than just about Green Lantern. Because of that, we moved it into its own mini-series. Green Lantern is the star of that book – don't get me wrong. But it also stars the rest of the DC Universe."
Blackest Night is going to be an eight-issue mini-series written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Ivan Reis. Additionally, DC released a prologue issue called Blackest Night #0 on Free Comic Book Day in May. If you missed this issue and can't track it down, you'll have to either wait until DC reprints it (probably with a cover price this time) or pay for it online.
Both Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps will continue to be heavily involved in the events of Blackest Night. Johns is remaining on Green Lantern, and Doug Mahnke is joining him as the new regular artist starting with issue #43. Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason will remain the regular creative team on Green Lantern Corps.
It's probably best to look at the relationship between Blackest Night and the two Green Lantern books as similar to that of Secret Invasion and the Avengers books last year. The main story beats occur in Blackest Night, but the other two books flesh out certain characters and conflicts. Additionally, Blackest Night features a wider cast of DC heroes, while the two GL books will confine themselves more to the various Lantern Corps and their respective struggles.
As for other tie-ins, DC have a fairly extensive list of books to choose from. DiDio says, "We'll probably push it a little further than we did with Final Crisis, but nowhere near what we did with Infinite Crisis or what other companies might do." So far, the overall list of books is comparable to what we saw from Final Crisis, if a little higher.
To date, DC have only released the tie-in checklist for the first half of Blackest Night, which covers the months of July through October. That doesn't include Blackest Night #0, which already shipped in May.
Here's the list, along with the solictation descriptions where available:
GREEN LANTERN #43
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari
The official prologue to BLACKEST NIGHT starts here as the first Black Lantern is born! Black Hand has been an enemy of Hal Jordan since Hal's early days as a Green Lantern. But even Black Hand is unaware of the true power he holds that will connect him to the Blackest Night! Discover this villain's connection to death and the Black Lantern Corps!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Rodolfo Migliari). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale July 8 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Ethan Van Sciver
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis raise the dead in the most anticipated comics story of the year! Throughout the decades, death has plagued the DC Universe and taken the lives of heroes and villains alike. But to what end? As the War of Light rages on, the prophecy of the Blackest Night descends upon us, with Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps at the center of it all.
Don't miss this 8-issue epic taking the DCU beyond the grave!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver). For every 250 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale July 15 - 1 of 8 - 48 pg, FC, $3.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #1-3
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Rags Morales, Chris Sprouse, Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke and others
Covers by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter
Variant covers by Gary Frank, Francis Manapul and Doug Mahnke
In this 3-issue miniseries, writers Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi (GREEN LANTERN CORPS) reveal the secrets behind the Lanterns of BLACKEST NIGHT! Bear witness to Blue Lantern Saint Walker's pilgrimage of hope, Star Sapphire Carol Ferris' sacrifice for love, Green Lantern Kilowog's courageous beginnings, Red Lantern Vice's source of rage, Orange Lantern Blume's bizarre creation, and the first appearance of the mysterious Indigo, leader of the Indigo Tribe!
Retailers please note: These issues will each ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with covers by Gary Frank, Francis Manapul and Doug Mahnke). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
Issue #1 on sale July 15; Issue #2 on sale July 22; Issue #3 on sale July 29 - 1-3 of 3 - 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
GREEN LANTERN #44
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari
"Blackest Night" continues! As Hal Jordan and Barry Allen investigate a bizarre crime in Gotham City, they come face to face with one of their oldest allies – J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter! But their old friend is not there for reunions; he's come for much more. Meanwhile, Sinestro seeks to rebuild his army and take his revenge on the being who would usurp it – Mongul!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Rodolfo Migliari). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale July 22 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT #2
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Mauro Cacioli
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis
The event of the summer continues! The dead rise across the DC Universe, bringing terror and darkness with them. What are the Black Lanterns? What do they want? Will Earth's greatest heroes survive long enough to find out – or will they join the Black Lantern Corps?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Mauro Cascioli). For every 200 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale August 12 - 2 of 8 - 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
GREEN LANTERN #45
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Francis Manapul
BLACKEST NIGHT continues!
The Black Lanterns descend on all the Corps throughout the universe! Sinestro's assault on the Star Sapphires' homeworld of Zamaron is interrupted by another Sinestro Corps – one made up of those who died during the Sinestro Corps War! And while the War of Light flickers, deep in the darkness of space, John Stewart comes face-to-face with his deceased wife – and longtime Green Lantern – Katma Tui.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Francis Manapul). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale August 26 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art and cover by Patrick Gleason & Rebecca Buchman
Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari
Just when things couldn't look any darker after the death and chaos of the Sciencell riot, Blackest Night descends on Oa! The black rings tear into the planet and the Lantern Crypt causing all the dead Corps members to rise and wreak havoc as a new and deadlier battle threatens to engulf not only the Corps, but the Universe itself!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Patrick Gleason & Rebecca Buchman), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Rodolfo Migliari). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale August 12 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #1
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Adrian Saef & John Dell
Cover by Andy Kubert
Variant cover by Bill Sienkiewicz
Deadman can't shut out the cries of the dead rising as he comes to the aid of the new Batman. It's just in time, too, as the duo face a circus of zombies including the Black Lantern Flying Graysons!
BLACKEST NIGHT blankets Gotham City in this 3-issue miniseries from writer Peter J. Tomasi (GREEN LANTERN CORPS, THE MIGHTY) and hot new talent Adrian Saef!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Andy Kubert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Bill Sienkiewicz). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale August 12 - 1 of 3 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #1
Written by James Robinson
Art and cover by Eddy Barrows & Ruy Jose
Variant cover by Shane Davis & Sandra Hope
Black Lantern Superman has unearthed Pa Kent's grave! But that's only the beginning of the horrifying things he's about to unleash on an unsuspecting Smallville.
Discover the demented evil of BLACKEST NIGHT in this 3-issue miniseries from writer James Robinson (SUPERMAN, STARMAN) and artist Eddy Barrows (TEEN TITANS, ACTION COMICS)!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Eddy Barrows & Ruy Jose), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Shane Davis & Sandra Hope). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale August 19 - 1 of 3 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #1
Written by J.T. Krul
Art and cover by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter
Variant cover by Brian Haberlin
Black Lantern Titans are descending together onto Titans Island! Will the Titans be prepared to fight off their deceased allies? And how can Beast Boy not lose his heart to Black Lantern Terra?
Explore the effect BLACKEST NIGHT has on the greater DC Universe in this 3-issue miniseries from writer J.T. Krul (JSA CLASSIFIED, Fathom) and superstar artist Ed Benes (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA)!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Brian Haberlin). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale August 26 - 1 of 3 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT #3
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Ethan Van Sciver
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis
As the dead attack in full force, Green Lantern is faced with an impossible decision and the scattered remains of the Justice League suffer a terrible loss. Who can stop the Black Lanterns? Why are they rising? And how can the Spectre help?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with three covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver). For every 100 copies of the Standard Edition, retailers may order one copy of the Sketch Variant Edition (with a cover by Ivan Reis). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale September 16 - 3 of 8 - 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
GREEN LANTERN #46
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Andy Kubert
BLACKEST NIGHT continues! For months, Mongul has wrested control of the Sinestro Corps. Now Sinestro wants a word with him. And Hal wants a word with Sinestro. But in the midst of BLACKEST NIGHT, they'll all become the hunted as the fallen Sinestro Corps members rise. What will happen? Here's a hint: Sinestro gets some serious payback.
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Andy Kubert). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale September 30 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #40
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art and cover by Patrick Gleason & Rebecca Buchman
Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari
The battle continues on Oa as the honored dead of the Green Lantern Corps and the recently deceased Sciencell convicts who lost their lives in the riots have all become Black Lanterns and will not rest until the bloody hearts and minds of the Green Lanterns are literally in their hands. Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardener and John Stewart resort to their most brutal fighting yet as the Blackest Night threatens to envelop Sector Zero and send the universe reeling into chaos!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Patrick Gleason & Rebecca Buchman), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Rodolfo Migliari). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale September 9 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #2
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Adrian Syaf & John Dell
Cover by Andy Kubert
Variant cover by Bill Sienkiewicz
The Dark Knight continues his journey into BLACKEST NIGHT! Will the new Batman join his predecessor in the grave? Will Red Robin's reunion with his father be bitter and bloody? Can anyone escape the horror of the Black Lanterns? Find out in this new installment of the 3-issue miniseries from writer Peter J. Tomasi (GREEN LANTERN CORPS, THE MIGHTY) and up-and-comer Adrian Syaf!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Andy Kubert), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Bill Sienkiewicz). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale September 9 - 2 of 3 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #2
Written by James Robinson
Art and cover by Eddy Barrows & Ruy José
Variant cover by Shane Davis & Sandra Hope
It's a crisis in Smallville as Psycho Pirate attacks! Plus, Superman's dead bride returns as a Black Lantern! And she joins in on the haunting of Smallville in the second part of this terrifying 3-issue epic from writer James Robinson (SUPERMAN, STARMAN) and artist Eddy Barrows (TEEN TITANS, ACTION COMICS)!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Eddy Barrows & Ruy José), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Shane Davis & Sandra Hope). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale September 23 - 2 of 3 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #2
Written by J.T. Krul
Art and cover by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter
Variant cover by Brian Haberlin
Titan-on-Titan violence! Black Lantern Hawk has his talons set for the female Hawk and Dove! Meanwhile, Red Star faces a frightful family reunion with Black Lanterns Pantha and Wildebeest, and Donna Troy faces her worst possible nightmare! Plus, Black Lantern Terra terrorizes Beast Boy! Continuing the 3-issue miniseries from writer J.T. Krul (JSA CLASSIFIED, Fathom) and superstar artist Ed Benes (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA)!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ed Benes & Rob Hunter), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Brian Haberlin). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale September 30 - 2 of 3 - 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Note – the October solicitations haven't been released by DC yet.
And that's just the first half. Blackest Night: Batman, Superman, and Titans all conclude in October. They'll make way for a new slate of mini-series and tie-in projects beginning in November. As currently scheduled, Blackest Night will run through February 2010. And we'd be surprised if the tie-ins didn't continue on through the spring as the after-effects of the event are felt.
Yikes again!
It seems like a lot of material. That said, we don't see any reason why casual readers need run out and purchase every single tie-in. Quality notwithstanding, how many Final Crisis tie-ins were truly necessary to understanding Grant Morrison's story?
We think most GL readers will be happy just reading Blackest Night and the two Green Lantern books. The rest of the tie-ins are being positioned as supplementary material. If you're especially interested in Black Lantern Superman, then Blackest Night: Superman will provide a closer look at that particular villain and the rest of the Superman family. The same goes for BN: Batman and BN: Titans.
Tales of the Corps, meanwhile, offers up a collection of short stories dealing with the different Lantern Corps. We doubt it'll be necessary reading, but it will provide more details on some of the peripheral players in the event. For instance, this mini-series will be the first to truly explore the Indigo Lanterns as they make their long-awaited appearance in the War of Light.
Johns says, "The idea is to do what we did with Sinestro Corps and Green Lantern. You can still just read Green Lantern and get the story. But if you read both, you'll get more pieces of the story and get the bigger scope of it. That's what we're hoping to do here. You can read just Blackest Night, but hopefully you'll enjoy it so much you'll want to see more of the story and read Green Lantern as well as Green Lantern Corps. We're trying to do our best to make sure you don't have to buy everything, but we want you to enjoy it so much that you'll want to."
We don't yet know what the second half of Blackest Night holds in store as far as new books. We suspect DC is reluctant to officially confirm the complete line-up for fear of spoiling certain story developments. We do know there are at least three projects replacing the Titans, Superman and Batman mini-series. The three revealed are mini-series based on Flash, JSA and Wonder Woman.
And that's all for now. We fully expect to update this guide several times over the course of Blackest Night. As more information about the Black Lanterns surfaces and DC reveals the second half of the Blackest Night tie-in lineup, we'll adjust this guide accordingly.
And don't forget that the IGN message boards are a great resource for new readers. If you have more questions, why not head over to the IGN Comics General Board and ask the regulars for help? We're reasonably certain they won't bite. They even have an official thread devoted to Blackest Night with plenty of useful information and chatter.
And keep checking the main site for plenty of Blackest Night updates throughout the summer and into 2010.
History of the Green Lanterns
