Whether someone is into Hal Jordan, Jon Stewart, or Kyle Rayner, all Green Lantern fans can agree that Green Lantern is one of the most notable characters in DC Comics. A founding member of the Justice League, the Green Lantern (regardless of the ringbearer) is a universally loved superhero and has been featured prominently outside the comics in live-action movies, cartoons, and video games.
However, while the Green Lantern Corps are certainly the oldest group, they're not the only Lantern Corps. Over the years, other Lantern Corps have appeared, each drawing their power by tapping into a specific emotion held by the inhabitants of the universe.
Updated by Sage Ashford on May 17th 2023: The Lantern Corps represent a major part of the DC Universe's cosmic side. Though they aren't making as much noise now as they once did, we've updated this list with the most recent new Lantern Corps added, along with some of the most important members to each Lantern Corps.
11 Green Lantern Corps: Will
The original Lantern Corps, the Green Lantern Corps is an intergalactic peacekeeping force created by the Guardians of the Universe to protect the universe. After dividing the universe into 3600 "sectors," the Guardians assigned two Green Lanterns to every sector, resulting in 7,200 active Green Lanterns.
Green Lanterns are chosen for their ability to overcome great fear, and use their green power rings to create energy constructs from the power of their will and determination. Over the years, the Green Lanterns have protected the universe from some of the most dangerous threats, including some of the other Lantern Corps. Given all their iconic members, the true surprise is the Green Lantern Corps is one of many teams who don't have an ongoing series right now.
Green Lantern Corps Oath: "In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, Beware my power — Green Lantern's light!"
Prominent Green Lanterns:
- Hal Jordan
- Kyle Rayner
- John Stewart
- Guy Gardner
- Sojourner Mullein
10 Sinestro Corps: Fear
The Sinestro Corps or Yellow Lanterns are the enemies of the Green Lantern Corps. Founded by former Green Lantern Sinestro, the Yellow Lanterns are chosen for their ability to instill great fear in others. Sinestro created the Yellow Lanterns to enforce his vision of order on the universe and oppose the Green Lantern Corps.
Believing that the best way to create order was by instilling fear, Sinestro started his Corps by waging war with the Green Lanterns. Though Sinestro eventually lost that war after the Green Lanterns were granted the authority to kill, the Sinestro Corps remains one of the most powerful groups outside the Green Lanterns.
Sinestro Corps Oath: “In blackest day, in brightest night, Beware your fears made into light. Let those who try to stop what's right, Burn like my power… Sinestro's might!”
Prominent Members:
- Sinestro
- Lyssa Drak
- Arkillo
- Kryb
- Mongul
9 Red Lantern Corps: Rage
Another lantern corps and formidable enemy to the Green Lantern Corps are the Red Lanterns. The Red Lantern Corps is headed by Atrocitus, one of the Five Inversions who survived the massacre of Sector 666. Because the massacre was caused by the Guardians' malfunctioning Manhunter androids, Atrocitus swore revenge against the Guardians. Though it took him several millennia to gain the power necessary to do so, Atrocitus eventually gained enough power to become a true threat to the Guardians.
The power of the Red Lantern rings causes users to expel all the blood from their bodies, causing their bodies to run entirely off of the red light of the ring itself. While they're capable of using constructs, their primary method of attack involves vomiting plasma from their mouths, which can burn anything it touches, even in space.
Red Lantern Corps Oath: "With blood and rage of crimson red, Ripped from a corpse so freshly dead, Together with our hellish hate, We’ll burn you all, that is your fate!"
Prominent Members:
- Atrocitus
- Dex-Starr
- Zillius Zox
- Bleez
8 Orange Lantern Corps: Avarice
Unlike the other Lantern Corps, the Orange Lantern Corps comprises only a single Lantern. Considering the Orange light represents avarice, or greed, it makes sense. The sole wielder of the power is Larfleeze, an immortal who has been around even longer than the Green Lantern Corps.
Because he keeps the Corps Battery with him at all times, his ring's charge is always maxed out at several thousand percent. With that power, he creates the "Orange Lantern Corps," a collection of energy constructs made up of people he's beaten in the past. Though Larfleeze could pose a larger threat to the Guardians and the Green Lanterns, he prefers to stay on his planet of Okaara and hoard everything he can there.
Orange Lantern Corps Oath: “What's mine is mine and mine and mine. And mine and mine and mine — Not yours!"
Prominent Members:
- Larfleeze
7 Blue Lantern Corps: Hope
Allies to the Green Lantern Corps, the Blue Lantern Corps was created by Ganthet and Sayd, former Guardians of the Universe, who were banished for their belief in the Blackest Night prophecy. Harnessing the Emotional Spectrum’s blue light of hope, the Blue Lantern Corps is primarily defensive, but can massively boost the power of Green Lanterns when they join in combat. However, that isn't to say this Corps isn't powerful.
While around Green Lanterns, the Blue Lanterns can use their powers offensively, or even do the impossible like turn back an aging red giant to make it a young star. Unlike the Green Lantern Corps, whose power rings seek out and choose a beholder based on their emotional strength and prowess, the newest member of the Blue Lantern Corps recruits the next candidate for their monk-like order.
Blue Lantern Corps Oath: "In fearful day, in raging night, with strong hearts full, our souls ignite. When all seems lost in the War of Light, look to the stars — for hope burns bright!"
Prominent Members:
- B'dg
- Saint Walker
- Brother Warth
6 Indigo Tribe: Compassion
The least understood by the various Lantern Corps, the Indigo Tribe are nomadic reformed criminals that have harnessed the power of compassion. Preferring to avoid intervention, the Indigo Tribe distances themselves from conflict unless the fate of the universe is in peril. They were originally formed to ensure that the Guardians of the Universe would be able to feel compassion after they strayed from their path and created the Third Army.
Arguably, the Indigo Tribe is one of the strongest of all the Lantern Corps. With the power of the Indigo Staff, the wielder is capable of tapping into any other emotional spectrum energy close to them and wield those powers as if they were a member of that Corps.
Indigo Tribe Oath (Indigo Tribe language is untranslatable by other beings): "Tor lorek san, bor nakka mur, Natromo faan tornek wot ur. Ter Lantern ker lo Abin Sur, Taan lek lek nok — Formorrow Sur!”
Prominent Members:
- Indigo-1
- Munk
- Slog the Slayer
- Kreaven
5 Star Sapphire Corps: Love
The Star Sapphire Corps is an all-female group of lanterns empowered by love. Originally, Carol Ferris was the only Star Sapphire. At this time, the Zamarons gave Star Sapphire her strength through a violet crystal. However, the crystal was uncontrollable, causing the bearer to be guided by the darker impulsive side of love. Wielding this power, Carol was for a time one of Hal's most dangerous villains.
Eventually, the Zamaron harnessed the violet energy within power rings and created the Star Sapphire Corps, turning foe to allies, and aligning themselves with the Green Lantern Corps. The Star Sapphire powers can cause anyone wearing one of their rings to see their greatest love. Because their existence is about protecting love, they're also capable of bringing Star Sapphires to any love that's in danger.
Star Sapphire Corps Oath: "For hearts long lost and full of fright, For those alone in blackest night. Accept our ring and join our fight, Love conquers all — with violet light!"
Prominent Members:
- Carol Ferris
- Queen Aga'po
- Fatality
- Miri
4 Black Lantern Corps: Death
The Black Lantern Corps, void of color, is the enemy of all Lantern Corps across the Emotional Spectrum. Harnessing the power of death, the Black Lantern Corps comprises the reanimated corpses of heroes and villains across the DC Universe. Led by Black Hand, the avatar of Nekron, Lord of the Unliving, the Black Lantern Corps seeks and consumes the heart of their loved ones to help empower Nekron for his assault on Earth.
The Black Lanterns are nearly unstoppable, and can seek out any emotional energy being expended to hunt them down. Aside from the White Lantern, the only thing capable of stopping them are two Lantern Corps combining their energies.
Black Lantern Corps Oath: "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!"
Prominent Members
- Black Hand
3 White Lantern: Life
Opposite of the Black Lantern Corps, the White Lantern Corps bring life to the universe, harnessing the full range of colors that make up the Emotional Spectrum. Created during the Blackest Night event, the White Lantern Corps began when Hal Jordan merged with the Entity, who was found hidden for millennia on Earth.
Combining the strength of the entire Emotional Spectrum, White Lanterns can use the power of all Lantern Corps and even properly resurrect the dead — unlike the Black Lantern Corps, who can only reanimate corpses. The White Lantern power usually comes from the Entity itself, but Kyle Rayner became a White Lantern as well by mastering each power of the emotional spectrum.
White Lantern Corps Oath: “In brightest day, in brightest night, let my ring shine the brightest light. When evil comes, I will join the fight. The power of the white lanterns is the strongest might!”
Prominent Members:
- Swamp Thing
- Kyle Rayner
- Hal Jordan
- Saysoran
2 Ultraviolet Lantern: Hidden Negative Feelings
Due to the Source Wall breaking, seven hidden forces were released into the DC Universe. One of those forces was the Invisible Emotional Spectrum. Unlike the other Lantern Corps that control the Emotional Spectrum, the Invisible Emotional Spectrum controls the Ultraviolet Lanterns.
Feeding on hidden negative emotions, the Ultraviolet Lantern Corps is controlled by Umbrax, the sentient sun of a living phantom galaxy. Umbrax and the Lantern Corps of the unseen light, seek out planets with strong self-destructive forces and pull them into Umbrax’s galaxy, adding the inhabitants to the Ultraviolet Lantern Corps. Unlike other Lantern Corps, the Ultraviolet Corps doesn't offer rings, but rather gives its users Power Ring tattoos they're stuck with.
Ultraviolet Lantern Corps Oath: "By shield of day, and shield of night, We feed and grow, beyond all sight, Your darkest self shall be our knight, Wield the sword of unseen light!"
Prominent Members:
- Sinestro
- John Stewart
1 Gold Lanterns: Willpower
The Gold Lanterns are the newest Lantern Corps to be introduced to the DC Universe. A thousand years from the present, a group known as the Elders of Oa look upon a young school teacher named Kala Lour. Believing him to be the Lantern necessary for a new era, the Elders of Oa bestowed a golden ring upon Kala.
The first of its kind, Kala Lour's performance will decide whether there will be a full Corps one day. While Kala has indicated the ring works off of willpower, testing done on the ring suggests the ring isn't merely a Green Lantern ring. Meanwhile, the Elders of Oa have hinted the ring might have access to more than just one part of the emotional spectrum.
Prominent Members:
- Kala Lour