The late 2000s were a busy and prosperous time for Green Lanterns. First, Hal Jordan returned to their ranks. Then, the Corps battled Sinestro and his Yellow Lanterns. To complete a years-long trilogy, Geoff Johns increased the Lanterns' profile in Blackest Night.
Covering eight issues and numerous tie-ins, the series completed a period with several big events that shook up the DC Comics universe. Heroes died and were reborn, a few villains received upgrades, and many new Lantern Corps were established. For more details, here are 10 ways Blackest Night changed the DC Universe forever.
10 Nekron Became An Omega-Level Villain
Nekron was already a powerful villain when he appeared in 1981. After all, he's the ruler of the Land of the Unliving. However, due to his location in another dimension, his appearance was limited.
This changed during Blackest Night. He was the individual who created the black power rings that reanimated the dead. Once the usage of the combined rings equaled 100%, Nekron was able to escape his realm. On top of creating Black Lanterns, Nekron was charged with the defense of his realm from the White Entity. Thus, the reason we designate him as an Omega-level villain.
9 It Focused On Emotions Instead Of Willpower
The way Green Lanterns use the full power of their rings is through the strength of will. Some of their greatest team members, Hal Jordan among them, have enough willpower to defeat the strongest, most invulnerable opponents. As readers continued through Blackest Night, they came to realize the Lanterns' rings were connected to certain emotions.
For example, members of the Sinestro Corps, the Yellow Lanterns, powered their rings with fear. Conversely, The Indigo tribe and Star Sapphires (Violet) gained their powers through compassion and love, respectively. It gave readers a different perspective universal spectrum.
8 The Guardians' Legacy Expands
Readers learn a little more about the secretive Guardians of Oa in Blackest Night. In this case, it's not a mistake involving the Manhunters. It a legacy they always feared would come true.
Blackest Night revealed what was possibly the last chapter (up to that time) in the Book of Oa. It predicted the coming of the black power rings and the Sinestro Corps War because of the Guardians' one foible: fear. It's what releases the Parallax monster from the central power battery and allows so many Black Lanterns to emerge.
7 Black Hand is Reimagined
William Hand, known as the villain Black Hand, was around long before Blackest Night started. His origins stretch back to the first edition of Green Lantern. For the most part, he was a nuisance to Hal Jordan and other Corps members due to his energy-absorbing weapon.
This was not the Black Hand of Blackest Night. This one heard the voice of the Guardian of Death while sitting in an open grave. Not long after, he killed his family and himself. Resurrected by the Guardian Scar and given a black power ring, Black Hand became a herald of those Lanterns.
6 Discovery Of The White Entity
In Blackest Night, Nekron's goal was to destroy the White Entity, a sentient being created at the start of the universe. During the series, readers learned that the entity created the emotional spectrum of power rings. When Nekron seemed to have the upper-hand, he stabbed the entity to seemingly achieve the Oan prophecy.
This wasn't the case. While Sinestro tried to absorb its entire essence, he couldn't hold onto it. Realizing the solution, Hal distributed its power to numerous heroes. This White Lantern Corps not only defeated Nekron but also helped restore life to several dead heroes. At the end of the tale, a white power battery was added to the emotional spectrum.
5 The Mystery Of Batman's Death Starts To Unravel
Five months before Blackest Night premiered, another major crossover ended in the form of Final Crisis. With a focus on a resurrected Darkseid and his cadre of Apokolips soldiers, they wreak havoc across the Earth. Along the way, two legacy heroes are murdered: Martian Manhunter and Batman.
We know now that Batman wasn't dead, he was lost in time. Yet, Bruce Wayne's body was supposedly buried next to his parents. It turned out to be a clone, which raised flags with both Hal and the recently returned Barry Allen. This revelation eventually led to a mini-series where the Caped Crusader made his way back to the present.
4 The Original Hawkgirl Returns
For most of the 2000s, Kendra Saunders was the woman behind the Hawkgirl mask. She had fighting skills learned from previous incarnations of Shiera Hall but not her memories. Though reluctant at first, Kendra first joined the Justice Society and later the Justice League.
During Blackest Night, Kendra and Hawkman were killed and provided black power rings. Once Nekron was defeated, both heroes were returned to the living world. However, instead of Kendra, Shiera returned with her spirit and memories intact.
3 Deadman Becomes Human
Boston Brand was a spirit that could inhabit a living person's body. Known as Deadman, Brand helped numerous heroes defeat several menaces, both living and dead. He was also an integral part of Blackest Night.
When the Black Lanterns were restored to life via the White Entity, Brand was among them. The reason was he had a mission to complete. One that was detailed in the Brightest Day maxi-series.
2 Several Heroes Are Resurrected
Boston Brand and Shiera Hall weren't the only heroes to be resurrected by the White Entity. Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Jade, and Ronnie Raymond, half of the hero Firestorm, were also returned to the living world. It was quite a restoration after a long period of death in the DC Universe.
During the mid- to late-2000s, these heroes perished along with Connor Kent, Bart Allen, and Ralph Dibny. By the time Blackest Night ended, most of these heroes had returned. The only ones who didn't were Ralph and his wife Sue. They decided to spend the rest of their lives in peaceful eternity.
1 A New Status Quo Is Established For The Lanterns.
The Green and Yellow Lantern Corps were no longer the only ones with power rings once Blackest Night ended. Red, Orange, Blue, Indigo, and Violet were added to the mix. Eventually, White Lanterns also appeared.
In the end, it changed the galaxy's status quo. The pressures of the Green Lantern Corps were reduced by other positive power rings. As time passed, a group of mixed Lanterns would be led by Kyle Rayner. Come the New 52, Guy Gardner would join the Red Lanterns for a time. It led to a bevy of new pairings and stories that continue today.