Green Lanterns are one of the most powerful forces in the DC Universe. Green is the color of Will, but that isn’t all. Similarly, there are multiple-colored lanterns with unique abilities to create constructs the bearer imagines. This unique characterism places them in the list of the most powerful forces in the cosmos. 

Green Lantern

• First Appearance: All American Comics #16
• Created By: John Broome, Gil Kane
• Ignited by: Will
• Entity: Ion
• 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!

• Notable Members: Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, Kilowag, Abin Sur

Created by the immortal guardians of Oa, they maintain the law in various sectors of space. There are around 7200 lanterns in all (2 in each sector, but Earth itself has 6 [7- including Alan Scott] lanterns). Will is the most powerful of the emotional spectrums. They are admired and respected throughout the universe. Batman had worn the Green ring briefly. It can be used to create Kryptonite energy to harm a Kryptonian.

Sinestro Corps

• First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol.4 #10
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver
• Ignited by: Fear
• Entity: Parallax
• 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!

• Notable Members: Sinestro, Arkillo, Anti-Monitor, Superboy-Prime, Amon Sur, Soranik Natu

Also known as Yellow Lanterns, Sinestro forged the first ring. They are at war with the Green Lanterns most of the time. Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Jessica Cruz, Batman, and the Flash have been deputy Yellow Lanterns during the Blackest Night event. It can help in charging up a Kryptonian or Daxamite.

Star Sapphire

• First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol.4 #20
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Daniel Acuna
• Ignited by: Love
• Entity: The Predator
• 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!

• Notable Members: Carol Ferris, Krystal, Fatality

They were created by the female counterparts of the Guardians, the Zamarons. John Stewart became a Star Sapphire briefly. Wonder Woman was briefly recruited into the Star Sapphire Corps.

Blue Lantern

• First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol.4 #25
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis
• Ignited by: Hope
• Entity: Adara
• 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!

• Notable Members: Saint Walker, Brother Warth, Brother Hymn

First appeared during the Sinestro Corps War, they reside on the planet Odym. They are a monastic community of missionaries with the sole purpose of spreading hope in the universe. They require a Green Lantern nearby to fully unleash their potential, while a yellow lantern can depower them. They can help in severing the parasitic connection between a red lantern and their power ring without a casualty. And can nullify the properties of an Orange Lantern. During the Blackest Night event, the Flash (Barry Allen) was a deputy Blue Lantern.

Red Lantern

• First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol.4 #25
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Ethan Von Sciver
• Ignited by: Butcher
• Entity: Rage
• 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!

• Notable Members: Atrocitus, Rankorr, Bleez, Dex-Starr, Supergirl

Atrocitus, the leader of the Red Lantern Corps, seeks revenge against the Guardians for the massacre of sector 666 by their first creations, the Manhunters. Several notable heroes like Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan, and Mera have been Red Lanterns. Superboy-Prime, Lobo and Supergirl too.

Agent Orange

• First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol.4 #25
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Philip Tan
• Ignited by: Avarice
• Entity: Ophidian
• Oath:

  What’s mine is mine and mine and mine.
  And mine and mine and mine!
  Not yours!

• Notable Members: Larfleeze, Glomulus

Also known as the Larfleeze Corps, they wield the orange light of avarice. Larfleeze, the sole living member of his Corps, is known for his intense possessiveness over everything he considers his own. Larfleeze is the only living member of the corps, the rest were murdered by him, but their constructs retained their original personalities showing that Larfleeze claimed the souls of his Orange Lanterns.

Indigo Tribe

• First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol.4 #25
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi
• Ignited by: Compassion
• Entity: Proselyte
• Oath:

  Tor lorek san, bor nakka mur,
  Natromo faan tornek wot ur.
  Ter Lantern ker lo Abin Sur,
  Taan lek lek nok–Formorrow Sur!

• Notable Members: Iroque, Natromo

The Indigo Tribe is a nomadic group known for recruiting the most sociopathic individuals and instilling them with compassion. They are not aggressive but are willing to fight when necessary. The Indigo tribe and their powers are still unknown completely. Abin Sur played a part in creating the first Indigo Lantern and so they have Abin Sur honored in their oath. They do not use conventional power rings like other Lantern Corps but utilize a unique specter-like staff to channel their indigo light. They can imitate any power ring.

Black Lantern Corps

• First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol.4 #25
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver
• Ignited by: Death
• Entity: Nekron
• 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!

• Notable Members: Hal Jordan, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Black Hand, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, etc.

One of the most dangerous of all the Corps, the Black Lanterns have the power to reanimate the dead. They are led by Nekron and seek to extinguish all life and emotion from the universe. They can read emotions tied to the Emotional Spectrum and lacks the conventional constructs like others. They can be countered by the White Lantern Corps or a combination of different emotions.

White Lantern Corps

• First Appearance: Blackest Night #7
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis
• Ignited by: Life
• Entity: Entity
• Oath:

  In brightest day, there will be light
  To cleanse the soul and set wrongs right.
  When darkness falls, look to the sky,
  A new dawn comes, let there be light!

• Notable Members: Superman, Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Wonder Woman, Flash, etc.

The white light of life could only damage Nekron. The White Lantern Corps embodies the white light of life and has the power to resurrect the dead by giving full life and heal the living. They are instrumental in countering the Black Lantern Corps and restoring balance to the Emotional Spectrum. Batman was a white lantern briefly.

Ultraviolet Lantern

• First Appearance: Justice League #2
• Created By: Scott Snyder, Jorge Jiménez
• Ignited by: Shame
• Entity: Powered by a sentient sun, Umbrax
• 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!

• Notable Members: John Stewart, Sinestro

The Ultraviolet Lantern Corps is a recent addition to the emotional spectrum, powered by Umbrax, a sentient sun. It is an invisible emotional spectrum. They operate differently from other Corps, with Umbrax controlling their emotions with some exceptions. They are shrouded in mystery and can create constructs faster than the Flash.

Phantom Lantern

• First Appearance: Green Lantern Rebirth #1
• Created By: Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis
• Ignited by: Various emotions
• Entity: –
• Oath:

  In desperate day, in hopeless night,
  The Phantom Ring is our last light.
  We yearn for power, strength, and might,
  I seize the ring, that is my right!

• Notable Members: Cyborg Superman, Frank Laminski

Crafted by Rami, The Phantom Ring serves as a formidable Power Ring to be used if Green Lantern Rings’ weakness to yellow were to become a problem. Rami had tried 5,612 methods, including black holes, zeta-beams, kryptonite, and Nth Metal, but failed to destroy it. This ring allows the bearer to tap into the emotional spectrum and allows them to have the power of that spectrum, but it does not have access to a Black or White Lantern Power Ring. It is unstable and can affect the sanity of the bearer and can explode them. It does not need a power battery or the need for recharge as it connects directly to the emotional spectrum.

These 11 spectral lanterns are just the start of a wide range of spectrum it seems with the arrival of the unseen light force from beyond the source wall. And these powers have just scratched the surface. Stay tuned and let’s see what secrets are there more to be revealed in DCU.

^{Pic Credits: DC Comics}