Spoilers for The Golden Age #1 by DC ComicsThe first Red Lantern has been revealed by DC Comics, as a man named Vladimir Sokov was secretly the first superhero of Russia. In The Golden Age #1 by DC Comics, the first Red Lantern of the 1940s debuts, changing DC Comics lore forever, as he was the secret nemesis to Alan Scott's Green Lantern, as the character is one of the thirteen heroes seemingly lost in time.
The Red Lantern Corps is the darkest version of the Power Ring-wielding heroes in the DC Universe. While the Green Lantern Corps fights using their willpower, creativity, and fearless nature, the Red Lantern Corps is fueled solely by rage. Following the Sinestro Corps War, Atrocitus created a Red Lantern battery as the first member of the murderous superteam. The Red Lantern Corps is the dark reflection of the Green Lantern Corps, as they've used their powers to wreak havoc across the universe. However, now, DC Comics is revealing a secret Red Lantern existed decades before Atrocitus formed the rage-fueled team.
In The Golden Age #1 by Geoff Johns, Diego Olortegui, JP Mayer, Scott Hanna, Jorry Ordway, Steve Lieber, Todd Nauck, Scott Kolins, Viktor Bogdanovic, Brandon Peterson, Gary Frank, Nick Filardi, John Kalisz, Matt Herms, Jordan Boyd, Brad Anderson, and Rob Leigh from DC Comics, the comic shows off the JSA in the 1940s, where the Cold War leads to the return of Russia's first superhero, the Red Lantern. While the Red Lantern is briefly mentioned in the main story, the man named Vladimir Sokov gets a full origin and tragic backstory in a new DC Who's Who page - revealing the secret history of the Red Lantern.
The New Red Lantern Is One of The Lost DC Heroes
Red Lantern is one of the DC heroes removed from the main continuity, who are returning thanks to the Time Masters. The new Red Lantern was a former Russian Soldier named Vladimir Sokov, who was given the powers of the Crimson Flame thanks to experiments to create their own superhero. As the first Red Lantern, Sokov was the arch-nemesis of Alan Scott's Green Lantern - although the pair teamed up to fight the Nazis. However, after Sokov's daughter was born and was revealed to have red skin and the powers of the Crimson Flame, the Russians stole her from him, and he disappeared after trying to get her back.
With the Red Lantern being plugged back into DC Comics continuity by the Time Masters, the lore surrounding the Red Lantern Corps changes forever. Sokov might not have had anything to do with Atrocitus directly or had the rage-fueled powers of the future villain and the Red Lantern Corps. Still, as Russia's first superhero, Vladimir Sokov played an important role as the world's secret first Red Lantern. His return after being lost in time will surely send shockwaves through the DC Universe.