Warning! Spoilers ahead for Green Lantern #14!TheGreen Lantern Corpshas been through some big changes, but this latest twist to their mythology is the most shocking and consequential development yet. Ever since he took over the Corps, Lord Premier Thaaros has done everything tochange the Green Lanternsfrom peacekeepers to a personal army.
In the blink of an eye,Thaaros has upended everythingthe Corps stood for. Instead of safeguarding the DC Universe, the United Planets' leader is using the light-wielders to cement his iron rule on the cosmos. But how has he bent the Green Lanterns to his will? A shocking revelation finally explains why.
Thaaros Looks Only For Green Lanterns Who Can Be Manipulated
InGreen Lantern #14’sbackup story, “The Shadow Lanterns” by Marc Guggenheim, Darick Robertson, Diego Rodriguez, and Dave Sharpe, a new Lantern by the name Shynt D’Proba airs his thoughts about the recent changes under Lord Premier Thaaros’ rule. Though D’Proba feels like he should be honored to be a Green Lantern, he’s questioning his purpose as of late. D’Proba recallshearing how Green Lantern successors were usually chosen among the most worthy and those who possess great levels of willpower.
he believes that Thaaros has made it so the Power Rings search for successors who can be manipulated
However, D’Proba began to question the Green Lanterns who also began serving under Thaaros’ time as the Corps’ leader. D’Proba also became disturbed at Thaaros’ predilection for sending Lanterns into situations where they are almost guaranteed to not survive. Though D’Proba can’t prove it, he believes that Thaaros has made it so the Power Rings search for successors who can be manipulated, rather than more brave and noble candidates. D’Proba’s fears proved to be truewhen he discovered Thaaros wielded a Green Lantern Power Ring, and the realization nearly drove D’Proba to suicide.
But the safeguards within D’Proba’s ring prevent him from self-harm and unfortunately, no one will listen to D’Proba’s theory. So D’Proba continues working as one of Thaaros’ ‘Shadow Lanterns’ until he and his comrades are ordered to repel a group of pirates violating Thaaros’ blockade. Believing that enough distance could diminish Thaaros’ influence on the Power Ring, D’Proba sacrifices his life to save a fellow Lantern in battle. D’Proba is killed in battle, but before he dies,he wishes his Power Ring is able to find a Green Lantern truly worthy of its power.
How Thaaros Changed the Green Lantern Corps for the Worse
In the wake ofDark Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Guardians of the Universe disappeared. Control of the Green Lantern Corps was handed to the United Planets and its leader, Lord Premier Thaaros. Thaaros made numerous sweeping changes to the organization, including the quarantining of Sector 2814 (to the dismay of every Earth-based Lantern). Among other things, the changes drove both Hal Jordan and John Stewart to retire from the Corps while every other Lantern was reassigned. What the Lanterns didn’t know was thatThaaros had big plans in mind for the Green Lantern Corps.
As Thaaros started to recruit new Green Lanterns and develop an inner circle, he started to order the destruction of every other Corps’ Central Power Battery. The Sinestro Corps, the Red Lanterns, the Blue Lanterns, and even Larfleeze all had the source of their powers destroyed, with many of their members either killed or detained in the Sciencells of Oa. Thankfully, Jo Mullein andmembers of the Corps’ old guard discovered what Thaaros was up to and began developing a resistanceto his rule.
Thaaros' crusade to control the Emotional Spectrum starts withGreen Lantern #7 (2024)!
But as time went on, Thaaros’ power over the Corps only grew. He found a way for his new ‘United Planets Lanterns’ to shift between different lights in the Emotional Spectrum, making his Lanterns the sole wielders of every powerful light in the DC Universe. It was eventually revealed that Thaaros’ mad work was all to access the power of the Source Lantern, something Thaaros has even sacrificed his own officers’ lives for. While he’s yet to tap into the Source Lantern,Thaaros now has hundreds of Green Lanterns all willing to fight and die at his command.
Thaaros Has Gamed the Green Lantern System to His Advantage
One thing has been made perfectly clear about Thaaros in the time he’s been running the Green Lantern Corps. The man is a fascist who won’t stand for anything less than complete and total control over the DC Universe. Thaaros has more or less taken the larger part of the Emotional Spectrum under his control. But to ensure he has a steady stream of loyal foot soldiers, he needed tofind a way to make sure the Green Lantern Power Ring technology worked for him rather than against him.
…it doesn’t benefit Thaaros to have an army composed of Lanterns who’d likely end up defying him.
Willpower may be the Green Lantern’s central ‘emotion’, but it doesn’t benefit Thaaros to have an army composed of Lanterns who’d likely end up defying him. Thaaros’ greatest skill has always been his persuasive abilities, so it’s no wonder he searched for a way to seek out beings who could be easily manipulated. It roots out rebels and it gives him hundreds and hundreds of soldiers who would obey him without question. What makes things worse is thatby changing the Power Ring system, Thaaros has found a way to fill out his ranks faster and more efficiently.
When the Power Rings were searching for Lanterns with great willpower, they would take their time, making sure they were picking the right candidate for the job. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take as much effort to find someone who can be manipulated. There are certainly more beings like that in the galaxy than those who have the willpower needed to truly deserve a Green Lantern ring. Thaaros’ changes mean he could potentially build upone of the largest and most dangerous versions of the Green Lantern Corps to ever exist.
Thaaros is Building a Terrifying New Green Lantern Corps
To be clear, Thaaros doesn’t want genuine Green Lanterns. He wants puppets who will exert his will on the rest of the DC Universe. So far, he’s succeeded in his mission and if he decides to expand the Green Lantern Corps with even more malleable puppets, there’s no telling when, if ever, he’ll stop. Thaaros’ changes to the Green Lantern Power Rings could be the start of a new rule that could see him actually take over the DCU. Hopefully, theGreen Lanternsstill opposing Thaaros will find some way to combat the changes he’s made to the Power Rings.
Green Lantern
Green Lantern is the name given to multiple enforcers of intergalactic justice in the DC Universe. Green Lanterns can harness the cosmic energy of willpower, and create unique spectral objects to face off against their enemies. Though some Green Lanterns have assisted with the Justice League, they primarily belong to the Green Lantern Corps.
