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Geoff Johns did a phenomenal job revamping the Green Lantern franchise in the mid-2000s by bringing Hal Jordan and Sinestro back into the fold while adding an essential concept: the Emotional Spectrum. This highlighted something we never saw before; there are more Lanterns in the universe than just Green ones.
It is a concept that DC has never fully used since Johns left in the early 2010s, but there is no denying that it helped cement many interesting characters. And since Hal and Sinestro have gotten so much attention over the years, we will not include them on this list.
Atrocitus has a great design and perfectly embodies the rage motif of the Red Lanterns. Still, he has a fascinating character arc and motivation, moving him away from the stereotypical edgy and angry antagonist.
Sector-666, the area of the universe he lived in, was massacred by the Manhunters, and Atrocitus bowed for revenge. He destroys the four other Inversions, and with their blood, he creates the Red Central Power Battery on planet Ysmault, forming the first Red Lantern ring and starting the creation of the corps.
The great thing about Atrocitus as a character is that he starts as a villain but, as time goes by, shows a degree of honor and moral compass that makes him very complex and fascinating to analyze.
The color orange is supposed to represent greed in the DC Universe, and Larfleeze perfectly embodies this.
The character starts as the leader of a group of thieves but finds the essence of Parallax, the entity of fear, and a map to the Battery of Avarice. The Guardians found him and had to reach an agreement: Larfleeze would hand over Parallax, and they would allow him to take over the Vega System, keeping the powers of the Battery in the process.
This is how Larfleeze became the sole wielder of this power, perfectly fitting with the concept of avarice, and was also one of the strongest villains that the Green Lantern Corps ever faced.
Kyle started in the 90s as a replacement for Hal Jordan when the latter turned into a villain and killed the rest of the Green Lantern Corps, leaving this young man as the sole wielder of the ring for years. And while that might have seemed a very tough ordeal, Kyle grew into the role and became one of the best Green Lanterns out there and a very underrated DC character.
It is also worth pointing out his stints as Ion, the wielder of the essence of courage of the Green Lantern, and as the White Lantern, becoming a master of the Emotional Spectrum. He is a character that has accomplished a lot of things over the years while showing kindness, empathy, and a willingness to help everybody.
She has one of the best arcs of the Lantern mythos because she switched sides and helped her new side change. It may sound complicated, but that’s Soranik Natu’s journey.
Soranik is the daughter of the leader of the Sinestro Corps, Thaal Sinestro, and she used to be a Green Lantern until she was kidnapped by her father’s army, becoming a member in the process. Her abilities as a surgeon made her a tremendous aid on the battlefield, and she eventually took over the leadership position after her father’s defeat.
One of the most significant accomplishments in her life was winning over the Sinestro Corps through hard work and leadership skills. Afterward, it helped them become a force for good, thus following her path and not sticking to what her father might have wanted.
He was born as Bro’Dee Walker on the planet of Astonia, which is collapsing, and many people are dying. Walker journeys to find salvation for his world but only loses her wife and child. However, one thing he never lost was his hope, and as he reached the end of his journey, he became the chosen leader of the Blue Lantern Corps and Saint Walker.
Indeed, Saint Walker never had a lot of exposure in the comics, but one thing that made him stand out from the rest was his philosophy and belief that you have to keep hope even in the darkest times. This theme would be significant during John’s Blackest Night event, where Walker played a critical role.
He was a minor Green Lantern villain, but Johns turned him into the mortal avatar of Nekron, the essence of death of the Black Lanterns. Black Hand was so committed to the essence of the Black Lanterns that he murdered his entire family as a tribute to them.
What makes Black Hand such a compelling character is that he’s been here all this time, and Johns found a way to make his morbid ways make sense while adding a dark, epic feel to his actions. He turns into this creepy villain that is the physical representation of everything our heroes have been fighting against for decades and does so in a powerful and imposing way.
Plus, the fact that Black Hand is slowly developing the events of the Blackest Night makes him a brilliant and capable antagonist, once that was built bit by bit until the version we see when the event unfolds. This concept has stuck ever since, and that will always define the character of Black Hand.
There you have it—the World’s Coolest Nerd’s list of the best Lanterns (minus Hal and Sinestro) ever. Let me know if I missed one of your favorite Lanterns in the comments.
