Warning: contains spoilers forGreen Lantern#17!
Sinestro,Green Lantern’sgreatest villain, just debuted a massive upgrade redefining what a Red Lantern is capable of doing. For over 60 years, Sinestro has been a constant menace to Green Lantern, despite having been one himself. Sinestro led his own Corps, based on the yellow light of fear. Now, inGreen Lantern#17,Sinestro embraces the red light of rage–and quickly puts every other Red Lantern to shame.
Sinestro was created by John Broome and Gil Kane, first appearing in 1961’sGreen Lantern#7.
Green Lantern#17 was written by Jeremy Adams and drawn by Xermanico. Mogo, the planet-sized Green Lantern, has fallen under the spell of the red light, thanks to Thaaros, the corrupt leader of the United Planets.Mogo is preparing to attackwhen suddenly Sinestro bursts onto the scene. Consumed by anger and wearing the Red Lantern symbol, Sinestro siphons Mogo’s rage.
Not only does this increase Sinestro’s power greatly, but it also frees Mogo from Thaaros’ control.Sinestro barely has time to revel in this god-level feat before collapsing.
Sinestro’s Fear-Filled Reign in the DC Universe, Explained
Sinestro Has Recently Experienced a Profound Change
Once considered the greatest member of the Green Lantern Corps, Sinestro has since become one of their biggest threats. Believing the Corps had become weak, Sinestro embraced using fear as a means of control.After years as a mid-range villain, Sinestro catapulted into the big time in 2007’sThe Sinestro Corps War.Fashioning a Lantern Corps in his own image, Sinestro embarks on a campaign of terror across the universe. Shortly after Sinestro created his Corp, other multicolored Lanterns began to emerge, including the anger-driven Red Lantern Corpsand the hope-filled Blue Lanterns.
Other Lantern Corps include the Orange Lanterns (greed), the Indigo Lanterns (compassion) and the Black Lanterns (death).
Recently, however, someone began attacking the other Lantern Corps, destroying their Power Batteries and killing their members. The culprit was revealed to be Thaaros, a Durlan who assumed control of the newly-formed United Planets. In the wake of Thaaros’ attack, Sinestro underwent a profound change. Seeing Thaaros’ actions angered Sinestro, and he became the new leader of the Red Lantern Corps. Meanwhile, Thaaros, having consolidated the other Lantern Corps into one, enslaved Mogo with the red light of rage. Red Lantern Mogo could have been one of the universe’s deadliest weapons–if not for Sinestro.
Sinestro Becoming a Red Lantern is Highly Ironic
Will Sinestro Have to Fight Atrocitus For Control of the Red Lantern Corps?
ThatSinestro would become a Red Lantern in the first place might seem puzzling at a glance. The Sinestro Corps cut a path of terror across the universe, killing countless numbers and displacing even more. The first Red Lantern rings found their way into the hands of Sinestro’s victims. These victims now had a chance to right a wrong, but it came at a terrible price: the red light rendered its user a mindless zombie, in the thrall of Atrocitus, the leader of the Red Lanterns. Furthermore, Atrocitus had a special grudge against Sinestro, and the feeling was mutual.
“An Unfortunate Attraction to Fascism”: Why Sinestro Will Always Be Green Lantern’s Greatest Nemesis
Why is it that Sinestro has never been dethroned as the ultimate Green Lantern enemy? Two creative minds share their thoughts on the powerful tyrant.
When andif Atrocitus returns, his anger at Sinestro will be even greater, especially when he sees what Sinestro has managed to achieve.In the short time Sinestro has been a Red Lantern, he has managed to one-up Atrocitus in many ways. Sinestro absorbing Mogo’s rage, and thus freeing him from Thaaros’ control, is a god-level feat that Atrocitus could only dream of doing. Now supercharged with the red light of rage,Sinestrohas a chance to once again becomeGreen Lantern’sgreatest villain, assuming the rage does not consume him first.
