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Earth-Two Superman (Black Lantern)

On July 15th, DC Comics’ Blackest Night #1 will be hitting comic shops, heralding in what may be the biggest comic event of the year, and the most shocking.  We here at IoM have been presenting a history of each of the corps involved in the upcoming battle, as well as some background on the major players and the storylines leading up to the big event!

We started with the Green Lantern Corps, then followed up with the Red Lanterns, the Sinestro Corps, Blue Lanterns, Star Sapphires, and Agent Orange!  This week, we focus on the final two entrants to the War of Light, the Black Lanterns and Indigo Tribe!

As told of in the Forbidden Chapter of the Book of Oa, the Black Lanterns are prophesied to bring about the destruction of the Green Lanterns, engulfing the universe in a War of Light.  The Black Lantern are the reanimated corpses of the dead, reanimated by the power of their black rings.  Fueled by the remains of the Anti-Monitor, the Central Power Battery of the Black Lanterns resides on the dead planet Ryut.

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Black Hand

When Atrocitus came to Earth, seeking out the man who bore within him the black power, he found this man in William Hand.  Fascinated with the dead, William Hand was one creepy dude.  Hal Jordan and Sinestro saved him from Atrocitus, but years later he would become the supervillain known as the Black Hand.  Defeated by Hal Jordan during his days as the Spectre, the Black Hand lost a hand, but soon realized the power of the Black inside him.

Later, at the end of the Sinestro Corps War, the Anti Monitor, who assisted the Sinestro Corps in their attack on Earth, was betrayed and hurled into space by Superboy Prime, eventually crashing into Ryut.  Forces unknown to him encompassed him, turning his carcass into the Central Power Battery of the Black Lanterns.

Scar, leader of the Black Lanterns?
Scar, leader of the Black Lanterns?

During the same battle, one female Guardian was burned on her face by the Anti-Monitor’s touch.  The Guardian took on the name Scar, and she secretly started to plot against the Green Lanterns, setting into motion the coming Blackest Night.

On Earth, Hal Jordan and Barry Allen meet at the grave of Bruce Wayne to honor their fallen comrade.  As they leave the cemetery, Black Hand pulls out a skull from Wayne’s grave and recites the Black Lanern oath (shown below), and the skull begins to glow, smoke taking the form of two bat ears….

Meanwhile, Green Lanterns Ash and Saarek, sent on a mission from Scar herself, find themselves at the Black Central Power Battery in Sector 666.  As they approach the battery, two monstrous hands emerge from the dead planet, threatening to engulf them.

The Blackest Night falls from the skies.
The darkness grows as all light dies.
We crave your hearts and your demise.
By my black hand, the dead shall rise!

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The Black Lantern Corps (click to enlarge)

Nothing is known about the Indigo Tribe, including their oath, other than the preview art seen below…

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The Indigo Tribe

BLACKEST NIGHT COMES OUT JULY 15th!

KEEP IT HERE ON IoM FOR ALL YOUR BLACKEST NIGHT NEWS!

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