Created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks, Kyle Rayner is the man who kept the green flame of will burning after the Green Lantern Corps was destroyed. Using the last of his power, the Guardian Ganthet bestowed Kyle with the last power ring, making Kyle the last Green Lantern.

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Kyle was a comic book artist before he became a Green Lantern, so his creative mind is perfectly suited to create hard-light constructs. Kyle was known as the Torch-Bearer. He kept the spirit of the Corps alive, both in-universe and in real-world publication, until Hal Jordan and company returned and the Central Power Battery was restored. Kyle would go on to play major roles in the DC universe, merging with Ion, the Entity of Will, and becoming a White Lantern.

10 Kyle Makes The Green Lantern Persona His Own (Green Lantern Vol. 3 #50 & 51)

Green Lantern Kyle Rayner

Kyle Rayner technically made his first appearance in Green Lantern Vol.3 #48, but he was first gifted a power ring at the end of issue #50. Issue #51, with a cover image that specifically stated "It All Begins Here," is where Kyle's Green Lantern journey truly began.

After Hal Jordan's lust for power led to the destruction of the Green Lantern Corps, Kyle was left to carry the torch alone. In issue #51, Kyle battles his first villain, reveals his secret identity to his girlfriend, Alex DeWitt, and creates a new costume for himself. For fans looking to read more of Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern issues #50 and #51 are good places to start.

9 Kyle Tests His Might And Will Against Parallax (Green Lantern Vol. 3 #63 & 64)

Hal Jordan Kyle Rayner Parallax

When Parallax returned in Green Lantern Vol.3 #63, Kyle had been wielding the last power ring for about 13 issues. Though he had defeated some villains, he had yet to prove himself worthy of the ring in Hal Jordan's eyes. Hal returns and challenges Kyle for possession of the power ring.

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This confrontation forces interventions from Ganthet and even the JLA. In the end, Kyle's will proves even stronger than Hal's. Kyle knows he can't beat him, but he'll keep trying because that's what Green Lanterns do. Ganthet may have chosen Kyle at random, but issues #63 and #64 are where Kyle proves he's worthy of being a Green Lantern.

8 Joining The Justice League Of America (JLA)

Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman in JLA: New World Order.

Kyle Rayner had been the sole Green Lantern for a few years before he was invited to join the big leagues. Kyle became a recurring member of the Justice League in Grant Morrison's JLA comic series. JLA was incredibly successful, becoming DC's best-selling title for many years.

This was a huge step for Kyle Rayner, both narratively and in publication. Kyle, a legacy character like his teammate, Wally West, proved himself worthy of the Green Lantern title by fighting alongside Superman, Wonder Woman, and DC's pantheon of heroes. In the real world, placing Kyle in the Justice League roster greatly increased his popularity with readers.

7 Kyle Unknowingly Created Oblivion (Circle Of Fire)

Alex DeWitt is murdered in Green Lantern

Kyle Rayner's girlfriend, Alex DeWitt, was murdered by Major Force very early in Kyle's superhero career. The concept of a loved one dying to inspire the hero became an overused trope in the comic book world. In the DC universe, this tragedy led to Kyle creating a villainous entity in his subconscious known as Oblivion.

Oblivion eventually took shape and challenged the Justice League. The Circle Of Fire miniseries and its five one-shot companion books delve into Kyle Rayner's character. It cements him as a truly good guy, willing to sacrifice godlike powers, and even his own life, in favor of saving the people he cares for.

6 Resurrecting The Corps (Green Lantern: Rebirth)

Green Lantern Rebirth Kyle Rayner

While in deep, unknown space, Kyle discovers Hal Jordan's body. Kyle learns that Parallax, the Fear Entity, latched onto Hal's fear and drove him mad. Kyle returns to Earth with this secret and battles a resurrected Sinestro. Thankfully, Hal is also resurrected and comes to Kyle's aid.

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Green Lantern: Rebirth, written by Geoff Johns, is about the return of Hal Jordan and the return of the Green Lantern Corps' status quo. It also acknowledges the importance of a character like Kyle Rayner who kept the Lanterns alive, both in-universe and for comic readers. Hal even states that the ring picked Kyle and that it wasn't random.

5 Merging With Ion, The Entity Of Will (Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanager War #1)

Kyle Rayner merges with Ion

Kyle relit the flame of the Green Lantern Corps. After years of wielding the last Green Lantern power ring, Kyle absorbed the power of will in Infinite Crisis Special: Rann-Thanager War and called himself Ion. With this new power, he resurrected the Guardians of the Universe and recharged the Central Power Battery. Possessing godlike powers is usually temporary in comics, as it was for Kyle.

The concept of Ion would later be retconned to match the retcon of Parallax: powerful entities that represented the emotional spectrum of the universe. Kyle achieved a lot in his brief time with the powers of Ion. Perhaps these good deeds made him worthy of possessing godlike powers again in the future.

4 Kyle Leads The New Guardians (Green Lantern: New Guardians)

White Lantern Kyle Rayner

Green Lantern: New Guardians was first published in 2011 as part of DC's New 52 lineup. In New Guardians, members from each Lantern Corps, representing a different emotion from the universal spectrum, are forced to work together as power rings from each Corps select Kyle Rayner as their wielder.

Kyle, usually working alongside his fellow Lanterns or taking orders from the Guardians, steps into the role of leader with this New Guardians team. The other Lantern Corps had existed for several years in publication so seeing them team up in this series was exciting. Kyle also becomes the first person to wear seven different Corps rings at once, very briefly.

3 Kyle Becomes A White Lantern Of Life (Green Lantern: New Guardians #16)

Kyle Rayner as a White Lantern in DC Comics

In Green Lantern: New Guardians #16, Kyle becomes a White Lantern. After Kyle truly mastered the power of all emotions, he channeled them through his own ring, crafting a white power ring and becoming a White Lantern.

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As a White Lantern, Kyle possesses the powers of the entire emotional spectrum: rage, love, avarice, fear, hope, compassion, and will. Together, they give him the power of "life." The true extent of his power is unknown. If fans didn't believe Kyle was special before, becoming the only being to construct a white power ring without the help of an emotional entity should convince them.

2 Kyle Joins The Omega Men (Omega Men)

omega-men

Written by Tom King, Omega Men was a 12-issue series published in 2015. The series rebooted the Omega Men team and featured Kyle Rayner. After losing his White Lantern power ring, Kyle is forced to join the Omega Men as they expose the evils of the Citadel, an interplanetary corporation that may be taking advantage of worlds for their resources.

Kyle is one of many main characters in the book, but he plays a big role in the story. His heroic morals are on full display as he tries to convince his fellow Omega Men to avoid violence and choose the path of peace.

1 Resurrecting The Blue Lanterns Of Hope (Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps #17)

Kyle Rayner becomes a Green Lantern again

After DC launched its line-wide Rebirth rebranding, Saint Walker was the sole Blue Lantern after the rest of his Corps was destroyed by the villain Relic. In Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps, Hal and Kyle attempt to find Saint Walker to prevent the last Lantern of Hope from dying.

In issue #17 of the series, Kyle summons the power of all the emotional entities, sacrificing his White Lantern power to restore the Blue Lanterns and reignite their Central Power Battery. After the dust settles, Kyle is once again chosen to join the Green Lantern Corps, joining Hal as one of the main characters of the book.

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