The Green Lantern Corps Are Villains Now

Summary

• United Planets is secretly orchestrating the destruction of other Lantern Corps, turning Green Lanterns into criminals.
• Jessica Cruz faces skepticism from her leaders after saving Orange Lantern Power Battery from destruction.
• Thaaros and United Planets’ violent actions threaten the reputation of Green Lantern Corps in the DC Universe.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Green Lantern #9!The Green Lanterns’ days as heroes are over now and it’s all thanks to their new leaders. Something’s been rotten in the Corps ever since the Guardians mysteriously left and control was handed over to the United Planets. New details reveal how changes are turning the Green Lanterns into the DC Universe’s worst criminals.

In Green Lantern #9’s backup story “The Trial of Jessica Cruz” by Sam Humphries and Yasmin Flores Montañez, Jessica is arrested and ordered to stand before the United Planets’ leader, Lord Premier Thaaros. Cruz’s loyalty is called into question after she seemingly botched a recent operation.

The United Planets secretly ordered the destruction of the Orange Lantern Power Battery, but Jessica absorbed the blast, claiming the explosive was placed incorrectly. Despite Jessica’s attempt to save the Orange Lantern’s Power Battery, other Green Lanterns were dispatched to successfully destroy the relic and imprison its user, Larfleeze, in a Sciencell.

The United Planets is Using the Green Lanterns to Destroy Every Other Corps

After the Guardians disappeared, things radically changed for the Green Lanterns, and not for the better. Sector 2814 was quarantined and Earth’s Lanterns were reassigned. Shortly after the takeover, the Sinestro Corps Central Power Battery exploded, claiming Kilowog’s life, and causing Hal Jordan to retire. But while Hal tried to live the quiet life, his old pal Razer came around with dreadful news: Other Central Power Batteries were being destroyed. Not only was the Blue Lantern Corps’ Battery destroyed, but the Red Lanterns’ one as well. Green Lantern resolved to leave Earth and inform the United Planets of what was happening.

Given the Green Lanterns’ new ability to swap different Emotional Spectrum lights, it was hinted that the United Planets was behind the destruction of the Central Power Batteries. Now it’s confirmed that Thaaros has been secretly ordering his Lanterns to remove the other Corps from existence. Thankfully, Green Lanterns like Jess know better and are trying to stop this madness, but other Lanterns are far too eager to follow Thaaros’ orders and extinguish the alternate lights. Instead of leading the Corps responsibly, the United Planets has turned the Green Lanterns into an organization of war criminals.

Are the Green Lanterns’ Reputations Finished?

The Green Lanterns are supposed to be protecting the DC Universe from trouble, but Thaaros’ actions have led to the Corps massacring an unknown number of beings, including the Blue Lanterns. Once the word gets out about how the Corps has been hijacked by a violent fascist, few planets, if any, are ever going to trust the Corps again, even if Thaaros is removed from his position of power. Unless something seriously changes, the Green Lantern Corps is going to be remembered for nothing else but the violence they brought to the DC Universe under their violent figurehead.

Green Lantern #9 is available now from DC Comics.