Writer Geoff Johns has made his presence known in comics over the better part of the last decade. Having revitalized such franchizes as the Justice Society of America and the Flash, Johns' real shot at stardom came with the 2004 miniseries Green Lantern Rebirth. Along with artist Ethan Van Sciver, Johns revitalized the Green Lantern franchise and did the seemingly impossible by returning Silver Age GL Hal Jordan to life and prominence in the DC Universe.
But Rebirth was only the part of the story. In 2007 Johns unleashed the epic storyline Sinestro Corps War. As he did in Rebirth, Johns used the story of the Sinestro Corps to add depth and expansion to the Green Lantern mythos. For the first time, readers were introduced to the idea that the each color in the spectrum represented an idea or emotion. Green represented will power. The Sinestro Corps' yellow represented fear. And throughout the universe were other lantern colors, representing rage, avarice, hope, compassion and love. But at the end of the Sinestro Corps War, a final Lantern Corps was created: the Black Lanterns.
2009 brings the story of the Blackest Night. The concept was introduced in the Alan Moore story "In Blackest Night" from Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #3. The prophecy of the Blackest Night tells of the darkest moment in the Green Lanterns history. The Blackest Night has arrived, led by silver age Green Lantern villain the Black Hand and powered by a Battery formed from the deceased body of the Anti-Monitor. The Black Lanterns are the ressurected bodies of the dead, controlled by black rings. It is unknown what their true power is or who ultimately controls them.
Blackest Night, unlike the previous stories, will affect the entire DCU. It will put friends and family members against the dead bodies of those they love. Dick Grayson vs Bruce Wayne. Powergirl vs her cousin, the Earth 2 Superman. Clark Kent vs Jonathan Kent. "Across the Universe, the dead will rise." Still, central to Blackest Night is the Green Lantern corps, and specifically Hal Jordan. One thing is certain, the Blackest Night will redefine the DC Universe and the Green Lanterns for years to come.
Blackest Night #1 ships July 15th at your local comic shop.
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