With a different color within the visible spectrum each represented by a Lantern Corps powered by a specific emotion in the DC Universe, there are several cosmic factions vying for control with their color-coded Power Rings. In addition each Lantern Corps, including DC's iconic Green Lanterns who's famously powered by will, there are the Black Lanterns and White Lanterns. While the Black Lanterns are populated by the undead, represented by the absence of life, the White Lanterns are one of the DCU's most powerful forces, combining the powers of all seven living Lantern Corps into a potent, white light.
Now, CBR is taking a look back is a history of the White Lanterns, from their arrival during DC's best-selling comic book crossover Blackest Night to their powers and notable characters to wield the white light.
HOW DID THE WHITE LANTERNS BEGIN?
The existence of a white energy within the DCU's emotional spectrum was teased over the course of Blackest Night when another Lantern combined their energy with that of a Green Lantern to create a white energy blast to destroy a Black Lantern ring. At the end of the comic book crossover, a massive White Lantern was unearthed. It housed an omnipotent creature, the Life Entity, who is connected to every living thing in the DCU and under attack from Nekron, the undead embodiment of death and leader of the Black Lantern Corps.
The first White Lantern was Sinestro, leader of his eponymous Sinestro Corps wielding fear-powered rings. Bonding with the Entity, Sinestro transformed into a White Lantern with the entire power of life itself at his disposal. This transformation was short-lived, however, with Nekron forcibly removing the Entity from Sinestro when the two battled briefly. Hal Jordan seized the opportunity to bond with the Entity and use his newfound powers as a White Lantern to restore Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Donna Troy, Bart Allen, Animal Man, Superboy, and Ice to life as White Lanterns and they had been transformed into Black Lanterns by Nekron. After Nekron's defeat, the White Lantern unexpectedly resurrected Deadman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Jade, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Maxwell Lord, Eobard Thawne, Hawk, Ronnie Raymond, Osiris and Captain Boomerang for unknown reasons.
HOW POWERFUL ARE WHITE LANTERNS?
When channeling the power of the Living Entity through the White Lantern power ring, a ring bearer gains a degree of omnipotence. Like most Lantern Corps, White Lanterns can create energy constructs powered by life itself. Tapping into the Entity's power, White Lanterns can resurrect the dead, including restoring life to barren landscapes. Additionally, White Lanterns possess an incredible healing factor, with Sinestro recovering from a mortal wound inflicted by Nekron in a matter of seconds, an ability which can be used to heal others.
The nature of the Living Entity drawing from all life across the emotional spectrum gives White Lanterns access to all the powers of the seven living Lantern Corps; White Lanterns do not have access to the abilities of Black Lanterns. This includes the teleportation of the Indigo Tribe, the power augmentation of the Blue Lantern Corps, the burning red plasma of the Red Lanterns and mind control abilities of the Star Sapphires.
WHO ARE THE WHITE LANTERNS?
Kyle Rayner became a White Lantern after mastering the all seven elements of the emotional spectrum within his Green Lantern power ring while confronting the Third Army during the New 52 era. Following a confrontation with Sinestro, the villain attempted to claim Kyle's ring for himself only for it to reject him and Green Lantern Simon Baz before returning to Kyle. Struggling with the power of omnipotence after acquiring the Life Equation from the New Gods, Kyle divides the White Lantern power to new members Saysoran, Tallahe, Mehenash Exeter, Romgan Shay, and Telos Usr. Called by Ganthet and Sayd to resurrect the Blue Lantern Corps, a mysterious presence prevents Kyle from acting and downgrades him back to a Green Lantern.
The White Lantern is one of the most powerful, enigmatic Lantern Corps in the DC Universe. Powered by the Living Entity, the white light draws from the entirety of life itself and gives ring bearers the ability to tap into the whole emotional spectrum powering each of the other living Lantern Corps. While Kyle Rayner may no longer wield the white light, it is only a matter of time until White Lanterns play a major role again in the future of the DCU.