WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Future State: Green Lantern #1 by Geoffrey Thorne, Tom Raney, Mike Atiyeh, and Andworld Design, on sale now.
Even with Death Metal in the rearview, the ripples of the event are still being felt, and the future has never been so uncertain. Luckily, Future State is here to give readers a glimpse at what might come to be, including the apparent end of the Green Lantern Corps, or at least their powers. Somehow, the Green Lanterns have been cut off from their power, although that doesn't mean that they're out of the fight.
Caught in the worst part of the universe when the light literally goes out, John Stewart and his squadron are forced to improvise the best they can, and the fan-favorite Green Lantern has taken up a sword as his new weapon of choice.
It's been years since the Lanterns out in the Dark Sectors lost their powers. John Stewart is in the middle of a war alongside Salaak and G'Nort, doing all they can to mow down waves of alien invaders hellbent on spilling as much blood as possible. Together with the local Shaar, they do everything they can to keep back the Khund assailants, all while they wait for the real battle to start. The wave of attackers they've just fought off was only the first, though, and John Stewart tells everyone to prepare for the arrival of the Vanguard of the God in Red, sure to be a much more capable threat. Even without his ring, John Stewart has been able to cut through everything thrown his way, specifically with what can only be described as a lightsaber.
The classic Star Wars weapon has been a fixture of pop culture ever since the first film's release all the way back in 1977. While the weapon that John Stewart wields in this issue looks far more like a typical sword, from the handle to the shape of the blade itself, it is undeniably some sort of light or energy-based cutting edge that he is armed with.
It doesn't seem like John is a stranger to using a sword, either, as he handily cuts through and chops down the near unending hoards that he is currently up against. Along with his allies, they're able to clear the field momentarily, giving the last remaining escape ships time to load up survivors and take to the stars.
Watching the escape ships leave is a brief glimmer of hope for those left on the ground, but the next wave of the God in Red's disciples are on their way, and they're making a kamikaze landing. The vessels carrying the incoming assailants have been sent on a ballistic trajectory, ripping through some of the escape ships and doing incredible damage on the ground as they land, putting their inhabitants right in the middle of the gathered survivors.
Even with his new weapon, John Stewart may not be a match for what is coming, and the odds him getting reinforcements are slim to none. Still, the depowered Green Lantern was still able to use the weapon well, even paying homage to a great moment in Star Wars history by cutting off the hand of one of his assailants.