The Blackest Night event has become one of the most popular stories within Green Lantern comics-related history and possibly comics in general. As for Green Lantern, he’s just as iconic as the Sinestro Corps War, which in many ways led up to the Blackest Night event. This seemed to be essentially the most rewarding series for DC Comics from 2009-2010 and brought together the vast majority of the characters in the DC Universe, in one way or another. The story’s plot was written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Ivan Reis and prominently featured many of the widely recognized characters within the DC Universe, including the Flash and the Atom.
Blackest Night stands out as the third part of the trilogy of Green Lantern story events. The first is Green Lantern Rebirth and the second happens to be The Sinestro Corps War.
The story begins with a pair of Green Lanterns stumbling upon a Black Power Battery found in Sector 666. One of the Green Lanterns touches the battery, and they are shortly destroyed by two hands reaching out from below them. As they are killed, a voice in Black Central Battery yells “meat”.
Black Hand, one of several of Green Lantern’s most dangerous enemies, goes to Gotham City to retrieve the skull of the hero Batman entombed within the tomb of his alter ego, Bruce Wayne.
Several of the Lantern Corps have begun fighting across the galaxy. The Guardians of Oa, the authorized body within the Green Lantern Corps, become aware of the confrontation. The Guardian named Scar stops the Guardians Ganthet and Sayd from planning to end the war and kills one of the Guardians. The rest of the Guardians are imprisoned.
Soon after, numerous, if not infinite, black rings fly across the universe towards the resting places of the fallen Green Lanterns. The rings raise deceased Lanterns to become the Black Lantern Corps!
Hal Jordan, along with the Flash, are called in by Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s longtime butler, to verify the desecration of Wayne’s plot site. While at the grave of their fallen friend, they are assaulted by a fallen hero they both know very well.
From then on, the heroes of the DC Universe mount a defense against hordes and hordes of dead and evil heroes who seem to have come back to life as Black Lanterns. A large number of whom were good friends.
As in any conflict, there are deaths. Many people lost their lives in the battle against the Black Lanterns. Along the way there were many twists and turns that make for a fantastic ride.
In case you’ve never read the Blackest Night series, remember to do yourself a favor and do it. This was an epic superhero story that featured good character moments and a few surprises as you go along. Without a doubt, this was one of Geoff Johns’ best writings. And Ivan Reis’ art expanded him to superstar popularity within the comic book industry.
If you decide you want to try great comics, the Blackest Night miniseries is believed to be the best comic to come out in a long time.