WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Green Lantern #7, available now from DC.
The Green Lanterns have found themselves in a very dangerous time, with many of their number depowered and mysteries abounding about how the survivors will pick up the pieces. But an unlikely venture into the past could reveal more about how they've always been further connected to some of DC's most important aspects.
Green Lantern #7 by Geoffrey Thorne, Tom Raney, Marco Santucci, Andy Owens, Mike Atiyeh, and Rob Leigh reveals the secret role the Guardians of the Universe played in one of DC's most ancient and important wars.
The previously established history of the Guardians suggested they were among the earliest signs of intelligent life in the universe. They eventually dedicated themselves to protecting all of creation, learning how to master the collective willpower of all beings as an energy source -- eventually leading to the creation of the Green Lantern Corps. They at one point tried to contain the magical forces in the universe that could otherwise spread chaos to countless worlds -- and even waged a war with the forces of Apokolips, which resulted in failure. Most recently they've been left at death's door in the current DC Universe, caught in the destruction of the Green Lantern Central Power Battery.
But Green Lantern #7 reveals more about their early years. The New Genesis-born Lonar reveals to John Stewart that it's time for them to go on a journey to the ancient past -- discovering themselves on an early battlefield of the war between New Genesis and Apokolips. Long before the births of Orion and Scott Free would give the two the chance to find a tentative peace, the two armies fight with full intensity. In the Plain of Ahmeggon -- the midway place between the two worlds -- John Stewart watches as young incarnations of Izaya (the future Highfather) and Uxas (the future Darkseid) throw themselves into battle. Notably, they're not alone on the battlefield.
RELATED: Animal Man's New 52 Debut Introduced The Dark World Of 'The Rot'
The Oans -- firmly confirmed to be the oldest beings in the universe -- are still present at this period. Having arrived on the battlefield, Ganthet and his allies reveal they've mastered weapons that harness the apparent powers of the green, indigo, and yellow sections of the emotional spectrum. Describing the New Gods of both sides as "chaotics," Ganthet and the future Guardians use their weapons to contain the New Gods within prisms of light. Lonar explains to John Stewart that the Oans consider the New Gods to be a universal threat due to their seemingly mystical aspects, and intend to wipe them out for the protection of the universe.
Izaya speaks with Ganthet and reveals that they are further connected to the Source, something the Oan's had at the time considered to just be a myth. This seemed to calm things down -- until Uxas, using a weapon that effectively gave him the prototype of his future Omega-Beams, murders one of the Guardians. John Stewart -- noting these events were hidden from the Corps and kept out of the historical records within the Book of Oa, interferes in the past to save the Oans. It's implied his actions actually inspired the name of the Guardians (with Ganthet taking note of the terminology as John attacks Uxas), and taking the full brunt of the blast from Uxas -- reveals a new green energy form that he seems to somewhat retain after being sent back to his natural time-period by Lonar.
These are massive revelations, setting up the possibility that the Guardians have been hiding other formative interactions they've had across the DC Universe. It confirms an earlier confrontation between Apokolips and the Guardians before Raker Qarrigat was assigned to the world. It also means there may be deeper connections between the Green Lanterns and the New Gods -- which might further lead to the Future State development where John became an avatar of the potentially empowered Orion. Even with the Green Lantern Corps devastated at the time being, it's apparent things could continue to expand and change for the longtime heroic force.
KEEP READING: Batman: How Ace The Bat-Hound Returned After Crisis