For millennia, the Green Lantern Corps have worked to protect the DC Universe from the greatest threats in the galaxy, and on at least two occasions, actually created those threats. There have been hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Green Lantern members, each one specifically chosen for their ability to overcome fear. Created and led by the Guardians of the Universe, this collection of beings from across the galaxy are essentially the police force of space.
But with so many members, who are the ones that truly stand out? Who are the Green Lanterns who have made an impression on history, changing the course of events or leading the way to a better tomorrow? Which Green Lanterns will be honored for all time?
10 Alitha
A gladiator from Galactica, Alitha came from the Third World of gods that died before New Gods of New Genesis and Apokolips came into being. Alitha's planet was embroiled in a horrific war, during which she stood out as the greatest warrior of them all. Her courage and strength of will came to the attention of the Guardians, who chose Alitha to become the first Green Lantern. Along with the other six original members of the Green Lantern Corps, Alitha was ordered by Malthusian Rami to stop Volthoom, the first being to ever have a Power Ring. Alitha died alongside most of her teammates in the ensuing battle.
9 Tyran'r The Mighty
Tyran'r the Mighty was one of the First Seven who was sent to battle Volthoom, and one of the two who came back alive. Following the battle, Tyran'r became the guardian of the Vault of Shadows, the mausoleum where the remains of the Green Lanterns who died fighting Volthoom reside.
Tyran'r gave his ring to Simon Baz, who he first met when Baz and Jessica Cruz traveled back in time to help in the fight against Volthoom. As the last remaining member of the First Seven, Tyran'r has made it his mission to find the five missing rings of the First Seven.
8 Hal Jordan
The most famous Green Lantern and one of the most rebellious, Hal Jordan was a test pilot from Earth who was given Abin Sur's Power Ring upon his death. Throughout the years, Hal has come into conflict with the Guardians and his fellow Corps members, and at one time he became corrupted by Parallax and destroyed the Green Lanterns by killing many of the members and breaking the Central Power Battery where all Lanterns pulled their power from. After dying and returning to life, Hal Jordan worked to rebuild the Green Lantern Corps.
7 Kyle Rayner
Called the Torch-Bearer by the Guardians of the Universe, Kyle Rayner was given the last Green Lantern Power Ring when Hal Jordan destroyed the Corps. For years, Kyle was the only Green Lantern in the universe, protecting the galaxy by himself. Where Hal Jordan had been corrupted by Parallax, Kyle Rayner was empowered by the entity known as Ion, making him the most powerful Green Lantern in history. When the Green Lantern Corps was reestablished, Kyle Rayner was given a special position in the Corps by the Guardians, placing him above the other Lanterns.
6 Sinestro
The man who trained Hal Jordan, Sinestro was once considered the greatest Green Lantern in history. When the Guardians of the Universe learned that Sinestro kept order in his space sector by instilling the people of his home planet Korugar and its neighboring planets with fear, Sinestro was stripped of his Power Ring and was banished to the planet Qward in the Anti-Matter Universe.
Working with the Weaponers of Qward, Sinestro created the Yellow Power Ring. Where the Green Power Ring was controlled by will power, Sinestro's ring used fear. In time, Sinestro built his own army, the Sinestro Corps, each with their own Yellow Power Ring to battle against the Green Lanterns.
5 Von Daggle
A shape-shifting Durlan, Von Daggle serves as the leader of a secret black ops division of the Green Lanterns known as The Corpse. To ensure that members of the Corpse cannot be traced back to the Green Lantern Corps or the Guardians, they do not use Power Rings. Instead, members of the Corpse swallow a black disc that gives them the abilities of a Power Ring for five days. When the Green Lantern Corps were destroyed by Hal Jordan, Von Daggle and a number of his Corpse teammates were left powerless while undercover. This led to the deaths of many of Von Daggle's friends, something he still blames Hal for.
4 Kilowog
When a new recruit is drafted into the Green Lantern Corps, they have to be trained before being given a space sector to protect. The training of new recruits used to be handled by Kilowog, one of the toughest and most loved members of the Green Lantern Corps. Kilowog was as the drill sergeant for the Green Lantern Corps since before Hal Jordan joined, but he chose to leave the position and get back into the field after the events of Blackest Night and the creation of the Black Lantern Corps.
3 Mogo
A sentient planet, Mogo spent centuries hiding its true appearance, using holograms to make itself appear as something more in line with other Green Lanterns. Mogo has been the home to a number of alien races who needed refuge, often changing its climate to make them feel more at home. It is also responsible for finding new Green Lantern recruits when a member of the Corps dies on duty. It is prophesied that Mogo will be the last Green Lantern and that it will be killed by Ranx The Sentient City.
2 Boodikka
A member of the Bellatrix Bombers, Boodikka was drafted into the Green Lantern Corps by Chaselon of Barrio III. Boodikka quickly proved to be one of the most skilled new recruits and trained under Kilowog. When Hal Jordan began his path of destruction that ended with the decimation of the Central Power Battery, Boodikka was one of the Lanterns sent to stop him. While it was believed that Boodikka died in the battle, she had survived and joined other former Green Lanterns as a member of the Brotherhood of the Cold Flame.
When the Green Lantern Corps was rebuilt, Boodikka became the first Alpha Lantern, a section of the Green Lantern Corps that is sent out to apprehend any Lantern who uses their Power Ring in an illegal way. Like all Alpha Lanterns, Boodikka was given a second Power Ring and was surgically altered to be given Manhunter technology, making her a cyborg.
1 Jong Li
A monk who lived in ancient China, Jong Li lived in the Temple of the Dragon Lords where he trained and worked with his fellow monks. When an escaped concubine of the Emperor arrived at the temple looking for protection, Jong Li and the other monks gave her a place to stay. When the Emperor's Imperial Guard attacked the temple and burned it down, Jong Li escaped into the woods where he was confronted by a Green Lantern who was sent by the Guardians of the Universe to find a new recruit for Sector 2814. The Green Lantern chose Jong Li, making him the first human to become a bearer of a Power Ring.