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DC Comics is full of iconic groups of heroes, from the Justice League to the Teen Titans, but the Green Lantern Corps occupies a very special place in the DC Universe. This interstellar law enforcement agency has been a core part of DC Comics for almost 70 years and has spawned some of the most iconic characters in comic book history. But who exactly are the Green Lantern Corps, and what is their role in the DC Universe?

Who are the Green Lantern Corps?

Essentially, the Green Lantern Corps are the space cops of the DC Universe. Across the universe, they are a force for order and stability, with the wielders of the infamous Green Lantern rings patrolling a sector of the universe at the behest of the Guardians, who oversee the organization from Oa at the center of the universe. Each Green Lantern patrols and monitors a sector of the universe, which spreads out from Oa in a pyramid shape. There are 3600 sectors with two Green Lanterns each, bringing the total number of Green Lanterns in the universe to 7200 (plus a few extras).

Upon being chosen by a Green Lantern ring, recruits are trained to use the weapon and the various rules that constrain their power (which change frequently depending on the writer). Most often, Lanterns are restricted from killing a sentient being, but this rule can be overridden by the Guardians in times of war. Once they are ready, they are sent out to their sector to protect the people of countless planets, using their own judgment to make sometimes difficult decisions.

The Green Lantern Corps first appeared in comics in 1959 as John Broome and Gil Kane sought to reimagine the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, who had been the original Green Lantern starting in 1940. The result was Hal Jordan. Though they shared the same title, Hal Jordan was part of the Green Lantern Corps. Since their introduction, the scope and purpose of the Corps have changed significantly, but their goal is usually the same – to protect the universe from a variety of threats.

What are the Green Lantern powers?

Each Green Lantern is given a Power Ring and a Power Battery. The Ring is considered the most powerful weapon in the DC Universe, capable of creating any construct that the user can imagine and limited only by their willpower. The Power Battery connects to the Central Power Battery on Oa and allows the Lantern to recharge its ring periodically. Initially, this needed to be done every 24 hours, but retcons have altered this rule to make it more akin to a phone battery, with heavy use draining the ring faster.

The most common weakness of the Green Lantern Corps is the color yellow, which the Power Rings were originally unable to affect due to a design flaw. This was later retconned to being due to the fear parasite Parallax being imprisoned in the Central Power Battery. Since then, Green Lanterns can affect yellow creatures and objects through a great force of will.

Who are the members of the Green Lantern Corps?

Considering they’re recruited from across the universe, a disproportionately high number of Green Lanterns come from Earth. These are:

• Hal Jordan
• John Stewart
• Guy Gardner
• Kyle Rayner
• Simon Baz
• Jessica Cruz
• Jade
• Sojourner Mullein

In addition to these human characters, there have been several iconic Green Lanterns over the years from other planets, including:

• Kilowag
• Mogo
• Arisia
• Soranik Natu
• Tomar Re
  
  

The Green Lantern Corps in other media

As one of the iconic DC Comics groups, the Green Lantern Corps has appeared in most adaptations of the DC Universe, including in animation and live-action. Prominent depictions of the Green Lantern Corps outside of comics include:

• Superman: The Animated Series episode 'In Brightest Day…'
• Justice League episodes 'In Blackest Night' and 'Hearts and Minds'
• Justice League Unlimited episode 'The Return'
• Duck Dodgers episode 'The Green Loontern'
• The Batman episode 'Ring Toss'
• Batman: The Brave and the Bold
• Green Lantern: The Animated Series
• CW’s Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths event: Footage from the Green Lantern live-action movie was used here
• Green Lantern: First Flight
• Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
• Green Lantern
• Justice League vs. the Fatal Five
• Justice League: A Green Lantern is shown in a past fight against Steppenwolf
• Superman: Red Son
• Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
• Green Lantern: Beware My Power
• Superman
• Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe
• Injustice: Gods Among Us
  
  

What are the seven Lantern Corps?

In addition to the Green Lanterns, there are other wielders of Power Rings in the DC Universe. Each group is based around a different part of the emotional spectrum and is fuelled by a different emotion. The 7 Lantern Corps and their corresponding emotion are:

• Red Lanterns: Rage
• Orange Lantern: Avarice
• Yellow Lanterns: Fear
• Blue Lanterns: Hope
• Indigo Tribe: Compassion
• Violet Lanterns: Love
• Green Lanterns: Will

There are other Lantern Corps that are introduced in DC Comics, usually as a one-off or as an Elseworlds story. These are:

• Black Lanterns: Death
• White Lanterns: Life
• Ultraviolet: Negative emotions
• Gold Lanterns: All emotions
• Grey Lanterns: Sorrow
  
  

IS HBO making a Green Lantern series?

The Green Lantern Corps hasn’t had a great track record in live-action, but that looks set to change in James Gunn’s DCU. Lanterns is set to debut on HBO Max in 2026 and will feature Hal Jordan and John Stewart as two members of the Green Lantern Corps out to solve a murder in Nebraska. The eight-episode series stars

• Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
• Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
• Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
  
  

Who is the Green Lantern in the DCU?

Fans who watched 2025’s Superman movie know that it featured one member of the Green Lantern Corps, Guy Gardner. Portrayed by Nathan Fillion, Guy is the abrasive and egotistical leader of the Justice Gang. The Green Lantern Corps is briefly mentioned in the film, but Guy is the only Green Lantern shown.

Was Sinestro a Green Lantern?

The most iconic villain of the Green Lantern Corps used to be one of its own. Sinestro was once considered the greatest Green Lantern, but his obsession with rule and order led him to rule his home planet with an iron fist. When he was exposed as a tyrant, Sinestro fought his fellow Lanterns and eventually formed the Sinestro Corps, who wielded the Yellow Lantern rings, which are fuelled by fear. He has been a consistent villain and occasional hero ever since.

Shine a light on our list of the best Green Lantern comics.