January, 2020. It was published on November 13, 2019.
Synopsis for "Blackest Night"
This story is reprinted from Blackest Night #1.
In Gotham City, Black Hand languishes with Bruce Wayne's skull, talking to it and insisting that it will play a vital part in the events to come. In Sector 666, the Black Lantern Central Power Battery expels a large quantity of rings into the sky.
Green Lantern Hal Jordan and the other members of the Green Lantern Corps are parading in Coast City, on the anniversary of the day Superman was killed by Doomsday,[1] which has since become a national holiday for remembering fallen heroes. They are also remembering the millions of people who died when Mongul and Cyborg Superman incinerated Coast City a number of years ago.[2] Hal Jordan also remembers the death of his father Martin Jordan[3] and his predecessor Abin Sur.[4] The death of John Stewart's wife Katma Tui[5] and his accidental involvement in the destruction of Xanshi,[6] the death of Kyle Rayner's girlfriend Alex DeWitt,[7] and the death of Jade.[8] He also recalls the death of Guy Gardner's girlfriend Ice,[9] although she was later brought back to life[10] and they have resumed dating.[11]
All across the world, heroes and villains alike pay tribute to the dead. In Smallville, Superman and Superboy in their civilian identities with Martha mourn the recent death of Jonathan Kent.[12] In Pittsburgh, Professor Stein, Jason Rusch and Gehenna are at the grave of the original Firestorm who died several years ago.[13] The Teen Titans at Titans Tower look over their memorial to fallen comrades such as Marvin White[14] and Terra.[15] Kid Flash talks to Wonder Girl about his recent death[16] and resurrection.[17] At a hidden location in Central City, the Rogues visit their secret graveyard and honor the deceased Captain Boomerang[13] and the original Mirror Master.[18] The old members of Justice League International visit the grave of Blue Beetle.[19] The Justice Society of America honors Jade, Doctor Mid-Nite,[20] Sandman,[21] Mister Terrific,[22] Doctor Fate, the Atom,[23] Commander Steel,[24] Phantom Lady, Black Condor, the Crimson Avenger[25], and Human Bomb.[26] Near the Curry Lighthouse, Mera and Aqualad overlook the grave of the first Aquaman.[27] While Alfred Pennyworth attempts visit the grave of Batman in Gotham City, he is horrified to find it completely defiled, with Bruce's skull missing.
After the remembrance parade, Hal meets up with the Flash at the Hall of Justice, and they look over the Justice League's morgue, which has been set up for special cases, and largely consists of supervillains. They keep the bodies protected since Nightwing uncovered a superhuman corpse-harvesting conspiracy.[28] The only ones unaccounted for are the dead Rogues, who have their private cemetery that Wally West and Jay Garrick have yet to find. Barry Allen is curious as to who else died while he was trapped in the Speed Force, and Hal shows him the large number of heroic casualties through a display using his ring. Barry is shocked to see Ronnie among them, but he is particularly horrified by the deaths of both Ralph[29] and Sue Dibny.[30] They then receive a call from Alfred about the desecration of Bruce Wayne's grave.
Elsewhere, Hawkman argues with Hawkgirl argue over their destiny, and whether or not they were destined to fall in love and be with each other as according to their mutual history of reincarnation. Hawkman is also angry that the Atom's wife Jean Loring is being honored as a fallen member of the community, despite her being revealed as a serial killer during Identity Crisis.[31]
On Oa, the Guardians of the Universe are heavily concerned over the currently raging War of Light, and believe they have in some sense failed their mission statement. Sensing the Black Lantern Rings flying across the universe, they realize that Ganthet was right, and that they can only prepare for the Blackest Night, and attempt to call for help. Before they can make a distress call, the Scarred Guardian appears and begins brutally murdering them, and even eats their hearts. The rings find Morro, crypt keeper of the Green Lanterns and bypass his protection to take the bodies of fallen Lanterns. They begin taking bodies from all over the universe. The rings cry out for flesh. Scar explains that they need to feed on hearts that are full, unlike those of the Guardians. Full of emotions, from all other colors on the Emotional Spectrum. And an army of resurrected zombies rise from the dead, from the Green Lantern crypts... the Black Lantern Corps.
At Gotham City, Hal and Barry arrive, only to be confronted by the undead Martian Manhunter, now a Black Lantern who tells them they should both be dead. At St. Roch, Hawkman and Hawkgirl continue to argue, and they reach a breaking point of emotions. As Hawkgirl is finally about to admit her true feelings, the two of them are ambushed. And brutally murdered by two Black Lanterns, the Elongated Man and Sue Dibny. Dying from a spear wound to the chest, Hawkgirl is barely able to tell Hawkman that she loves him on her deathbed as he has been beaten to a pulp with his own mace by Ralph. As Hawkman swears to kill his assailants, his beating heart is ripped out by the Elongated Man, while Sue takes Hawkgirl's. Their rings then absorb the hearts, giving both rings 0.01% for each heart. Black Hand arrives, and gives the two corpses each a ring of their own, commanding them to RISE.
Appearing in "Blackest Night"
Featured Characters:
- Green Lantern Corps
- Superman
- Flash (Barry Allen)
- Hawkman (Dies)
- Hawkgirl (Dies)
- Guardians of the Universe
Supporting Characters:
- Conner Kent
- Martha Kent
- Professor Stein
- Jason Rusch
- Gehenna
- Teen Titans
- Justice Society of America
- Freedom Fighters
- Rogues
- Mera
- Tempest
- The Atom
- Fire
- Ice
- Booster Gold
- Black Canary
- Alfred Pennyworth
Antagonists:
- Black Lantern Corps (First appearance)
- Black Hand
- Kroloteans (Flashback only)
- Scar
- The Guardian of Death (Behind the scenes)
- Martian Manhunter
- Elongated Man
- Sue Dibny
- Adara
- Ahtier
- Arkkis Chummuck
- Arx
- Ayria
- Barin
- Bivvix
- Blish
- Brin
- Bzzd
- Ch'p
- Chogar
- Chthos-Chthas Chthatis
- Cundiff Cood
- Diamalon
- Dob Zagil
- Ebikar Hrui
- Eddore
- Flodo Span
- Galius Zed
- Jack T. Chance
- Katma Tui
- Ke'Haan
- Kendotha Kr'nek
- Ki-Nilg
- Kreon
- KT21
- Pelle
- Rak Arranya
- Reemuz
- Remnant Nod
- Rori Dag
- Skr'kl
- Spak Drom
- Squagga
- Starkaðr
- Tanakta Z
- TO-T-U-K
- Tylot
- Unknown Lantern
- Zborra
- Z'gmora
- Zharan Pel
Other Characters:
- Jordan Family
- Jillian Pearlman
- Geo-Force
- Wendy White
- Skeets
- Plastic Man
- Steel
- Star Sapphire Corps
- Red Lantern Corps
- Blue Lantern Corps
- Orange Lantern Corps
- Sinestro Corps
- Batman Clone (Deceased)
- Abin Sur (Flashback only)
- Alexandra DeWitt (Flashback only)
- Jade (Flashback only)
- Teen Titans
- Marvin White (Statue only)
- Terra (Statue only)
- Green Lantern Ring Constructs
- Air Wave
- Amazing Man
- Aquagirl
- Aquaman
- Atom I
- Azrael
- Aztek
- Baby Wildebeest
- Batman (Bruce Wayne)
- Black Canary I
- Black Condor
- Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett)
- Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
- Bushido
- B'wana Beast
- Celsius
- Commander Steel
- Crimson Fox
- Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)
- Doctor Fate (Hector Hall)
- Doctor Mid-Nite I
- Doctor Midnight
- Dolphin
- Dove (Don Hall)
- Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond)
- Fury
- Harbinger
- Hawk (Hank Hall)
- Human Bomb
- Kole
- Martian Manhunter
- Mister America
- Negative Woman
- Pantha
- Phantom Lady
- Question
- Rocket Red #1
- Sandman I
- Skyman
- Steel
- Tarantula
- Vibe
- Wildcat (Yolanda Montez)
Locations
- Sector 2814
- New Jersey
- California
- Kansas
- Pennsylvania
- California
- Missouri
- Illinois
- Maine
- Washington, D.C.
- Louisiana
- Sector 666
- Sector 0
Items:
- Black Lantern Central Power Battery
- Green Lantern Central Power Battery
- Star Sapphire Central Power Battery
- Red Lantern Central Power Battery
- Green Lantern Rings
- Black Lantern Rings
- Yellow Lantern Rings
- Star Sapphire Rings
- Red Lantern Rings
- Blue Lantern Rings
Notes
- This issue is a reprint of Blackest Night #1.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Green Lantern Recommended Reading
- Green Lantern (Volume 1)
- Green Lantern (Volume 2)
- Green Lantern (Volume 3)
- Green Lantern (Volume 4)
- Green Lantern (Volume 5)
- Green Lantern (Volume 6)
- Green Lantern (Volume 7)
- The Green Lantern (Volume 1)
- The Green Lantern: Season Two (Volume 1)
- Green Lantern Corps (Volume 1)
- Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2)
- Green Lantern Corps (Volume 3)
- Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors (Volume 1)
- Green Lantern: New Guardians (Volume 1)
- Green Lanterns (Volume 1)
- Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps (Volume 1)
Links and References
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #75
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #80
- ↑ Green Lantern (Volume 4) #29
- ↑ Showcase #22
- ↑ Action Comics #601
- ↑ Cosmic Odyssey #2
- ↑ Green Lantern (Volume 3) #54
- ↑ Infinite Crisis:Rann-Thanagar War Special #1
- ↑ Justice League Task Force #14
- ↑ Birds of Prey #104-108
- ↑ Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #19
- ↑ Action Comics #870
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Identity Crisis #5
- ↑ Teen Titans (Volume 3) #62
- ↑ Tales of the Teen Titans Annual #3
- ↑ The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13
- ↑ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3
- ↑ Crisis on Infinite Earths #10
- ↑ Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1
- ↑ Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #2
- ↑ JSA Secret Files and Origins #1
- ↑ Justice League of America #171
- ↑ Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #3
- ↑ Eclipso #13
- ↑ DC Comics Presents #38
- ↑ Infinite Crisis #1
- ↑ Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #50
- ↑ Nightwing #140-146
- ↑ 52 Week Forty-Two
- ↑ Identity Crisis #1
- ↑ Identity Crisis #7