Sinestro Corps
View on Wikipedia| Sinestro Corps | |
|---|---|
Cover to Green Lantern vol. 4 #21. Art by Ivan Reis. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Green Lantern vol. 4 #10 (May 2006) |
| Created by | Geoff Johns (writer) Ethan Van Sciver (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | Qward |
| Roster | |
| See: (below) | |
The Sinestro Corps, occasionally known as the Yellow Lantern Corps, is a supervillainous group and analog to the Green Lantern Corps in the DC Universe. They are led by Sinestro, and derive power from the emotional electromagnetic spectrum of fear.
Publication history
[edit]The Sinestro Corps first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 4 #10 and was created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver.[1]
Fictional history
[edit]Before the Corps
[edit]The Parallax entity is a space parasite that is the embodiment of fear and was imprisoned within the Central Power Battery on Oa. This caused green power rings to be weak to the color yellow, and Parallax subsequently became known as the "yellow impurity" over time.[2]
Thaal Sinestro, at the time the universe's greatest Green Lantern, was sent to Earth by Supernova in a plot to erase Guy Gardner from history. Booster Gold was assigned to prevent this from happening. To do so, he convinced Sinestro to leave Earth, claiming that he was an admirer from the future, and that his yellow Legion of Super-Heroes flight ring was a tribute to Sinestro. When asked what Corps he belongs to, Booster ad-libbed, "The...Sinestro Corps", leading Sinestro to twirl his mustache in thought while mumbling, "Of course...Of course."[3]
After Sinestro went rogue, he was banished by the Guardians of the Universe to Qward in the antimatter universe. When he returned, he wielded a power ring which used yellow energy. After various encounters with Earth's Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, he was imprisoned within the Central Power Battery. There he was able to use his ring, which uses fear, as opposed to willpower, as a power source, to awaken Parallax from hibernation. From there, Parallax and Sinestro were able to influence the fall of Hal Jordan and instigate the fall of the Green Lantern Corps, leaving one last Green Lantern: Kyle Rayner.[4][5]
Recruitment drive
[edit]
After the Green Lantern Corps was restarted with the return of Hal Jordan,[6] the Sinestro Corps began actively recruiting members, offering yellow power rings and a role in the Corps to those who can "instill great fear". Members of the Corps are immediately taken to Qward to "...be subjected to psychological and physical reconditioning". The members of the Sinestro Corps work in sectors, like the Green Lantern Corps. Qward also has a huge yellow Central Battery on its surface like the one used on Oa.[7] Although the Sinestro Corps uses fear, and opposes the Green Lantern Corps and the Guardians, Sinestro has stated their goal is to bring order to the universe, which he claims the Guardians have failed to do.
Arkillo, a large and muscular vicious alien, is enslaving all the Qwardian Weaponers and forcing them to continuously build new yellow rings which are programmed to breach the barrier between the antimatter and matter universes to find and recruit new ring-wielders. Arkillo also serves as the Sinestro Corps' drill sergeant, similar to Kilowog's role in the GLC.[8]
Members recruited include Karu-Sil, raised by animals; Despotellis, a sentient virus capable of attacking Lanterns from the inside; and Bedovian, the sniper of the Corps, capable of taking out a target from three sectors away.[9]
During this time, the Sinestro Corps attempted to recruit Batman, known even to some alien races for his formidable ability to instill fear in others. However, Batman's willpower combined with his previous brief exposure to a power ring allowed him to reject the yellow ring before it took him to be properly trained and molded into one of Sinestro's soldiers. The yellow ring then sought a replacement and selected Amon Sur, the disgruntled son of Abin Sur, who was on Earth attempting to steal Hal Jordan's ring.[10]
The prophecy
[edit]It was revealed that after untold millennia, the Weaponers of Qward, Ranx the Sentient City, the Children of the White Lobe, and the Empire of Tears will rise united against the Green Lantern Corps.[11] This was largely ignored up until upgraded Manhunters started to appear throughout the universe. Hal Jordan encountered one on Earth and, with Guy Gardner, followed their trail to Sector 3601. Hal and Guy found several Green Lanterns, all of whom were assumed to have been killed during Emerald Twilight, and the Manhunters' new grandmaster Hank Henshaw, the Cyborg Superman. The Manhunters were defeated and Henshaw's head was brought to Oa.[12] The Book of Oa has a forbidden chapter on cosmic prophecies, which includes the following:
A face of metal and flesh shall speak of the secrets of the 52.
Fear will rise.
Willpower will gather.
And a war of light will unleash the truth behind the power of the ring.
— Book Of Oa, Green Lantern vol. 4 #20
After his interrogation, the Guardians learned that Henshaw is aware of the main fifty-two parallel universes focused on in the New 52 era and that if New Earth was destroyed, the new Multiverse would collapse and the Antimatter universe would take its place. Two of the Guardians, Ganthet and Sayd, warn the other Guardians not to ignore the prophecy because it could destroy the Green Lantern Corps.[13]
The Sinestro Corps War
[edit]Following his defeat in Green Lantern: Rebirth, the events of Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 Sinestro retreats to the planet Qward in the antimatter universe. There he amasses an army, the Sinestro Corps, that he selects based upon their ability to "inspire great fear". Each member is armed with a yellow power ring, mirroring the green ones of the Green Lantern Corps. Amongst Sinestro's allies are Parallax and the resurrected Anti-Monitor. The Sinestro Corps then launches an all-out assault against the Green Lantern Corps and the universe itself. During the assault on Oa, the Sinestro Corps manages to inflict heavy casualties and free Superman-Prime and the Cyborg Superman from their imprisonment. Kyle Rayner is captured and transported to Qward, where Sinestro manages to separate Rayner from the symbiote Ion allowing Parallax to possess him.[13] Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Guy Gardner return to Earth to warn the Justice League of the Anti-Monitor's return.
As the Sinestro Corps spreads out to ambush Green Lanterns across the universe, Green Lantern vol. 4 #23 sees the Guardians deciding to rewrite their sacred text, the Book of Oa. They add ten new laws, the first of which authorizes the use of lethal force against the Sinestro Corps. As the Green Lanterns gather on Oa in preparation for a Sinestro Corps assault, the Sinestro Corps teleport themselves and their Central Power Battery instead to a new Warworld, their objective revealed to be Earth.[14] Events in Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #16 show Hal informing the Green Lantern Corps of Sinestro's plans.[15]
Green Lantern vol. 4 #24 continues the story, with Green Lanterns and Sinestro Corps members battling across Earth. Hal manages to free Kyle from Parallax before the entity is imprisoned in their power batteries by Ganthet and Sayd.[16] After John and Guy arrive, the former Guardians reveal to them the prophecy of the "Blackest Night", seen in Green Lantern vol. 4 #25. It foretells of five more Corps arising, each based on a different color and emotion. After the five corps are established, a "War of Light" will ensue, in which all the corps are destroyed, leading to the "Blackest Night".[17]
The Guardians arrive on Earth and appoint Sodam Yat to be the new Ion. After a lengthy struggle in New York City, the Sinestro Corps are defeated by the overwhelming numbers against them. One of the Guardians sacrifices himself to send Superman-Prime to an alternate universe, while Hal and Kyle subdue and arrest Sinestro in Coast City. In the aftermath of the battle, seen in Green Lantern vol. 4 #25, the Guardians decide to bring the second of the new laws into effect. After realizing that the "Blackest Night" prophecy will come to pass, Ganthet and Sayd depart after creating a blue power ring with the intention of creating their own Corps, based on the spreading of hope to the rest of the universe.[17]
Blackest Night
[edit]Following the Sinestro Corps War, the Green Lantern Corps tracked down the abandoned Sinestro rings and prevented them from finding new bearers. Among these is Amon Sur's ring, which attempts to recruit the self-proclaimed "Master of Fear", Jonathan Crane.[18] The surviving members of the Sinestro Corps continue to try to bring fear to the Green Lanterns, in part by murdering the family members of Green Lanterns.[19] Meanwhile, Mongul (who had since obtained a yellow ring in the aftermath of the war) begins his quest to take command of the Sinestro Corps in their namesake's absence. After obtaining an additional five rings by killing corpsmen who refused to follow him, Mongul takes over the planet Daxam and then a large contingent of the Sinestro Corps, after besting Arkillo in one-on-one combat, he becomes the new leader of the Sinestro Corps. In "Rage of the Red Lanterns" #1, a group of rogue Sinestro Corps members still loyal to Sinestro release him from Green Lantern custody as he is being transferred for execution. Their rescue attempt is temporarily spoiled by an attack from Atrocitus and his newly formed Red Lantern Corps.[20]
Sinestro is abducted by Atrocitus' forces and brought to the Red Lantern base planet: Ysmault. Planning to use Sinestro's blood for their own means, Sinestro's faction of the Sinestro Corps eventually arrive and liberate him from the Red Lanterns. After their escape, Sinestro and his faction of the Sinestro Corps return to Qward, revealing that there is a backup Central Power Battery. Sinestro orders his men to free the Sinestro Corps members imprisoned on Zamaron by the Star Sapphires and meet him on the darkside of Daxam's moon. After Sinestro attends to "family business", they will retake the Sinestro Corps from Mongul.[21] In addition to those members imprisoned on Zamaron, Sinestro Corps members are also being held prisoner on Oa. Their power rings are held in containment along with other rings (abandoned due to casualty in war) that were prevented from finding new bearers. When Red Lantern Vice is freed from confinement in his Sciencell, he attacks the Green Lantern jailer.[22] Though the imprisoned members of the Sinestro Corps initially cheer him on, they find that he is just as likely of attacking them in his rage. During the jail break, Scar frees the yellow power rings and they find their bearers in the Sciencells. Upon being reunited with her ring, Lyssa Drak claims to once again be able to feel the Book of Parallax. Now armed with their rings the Sinestro Corps join in the battle with the Green Lanterns and Vice.[23]
The faction of the Sinestro Corps led by Sinestro are planning an invasion of Zamaron to retake the female Corps members being held prisoner there.[24] After being repelled from Daxam, Mongul's faction (which he has renamed as "The Mongul Corps") invades Korugar.[25] Sinestro's rescue attempt is interrupted by a Black Lantern attack, which he only survives through the arrival of Hal Jordan and Indigo-1, leader of the Indigo Tribe. Indigo-1 brings Sinestro to Korugar, so that he may finally confront Mongul. After a fierce battle, Sinestro activates the override systems in Mongul's rings, using them to imprison him inside the Sinestro Corps Central Power Battery, thus overthrowing Mongul, taking control of the Mongul Corps, and renaming it "The Sinestro Corps" after himself.[26] When he departs with Hal Jordan's group of light-wielders, he commands his Corps to gather at Korugar and protect it while he is away.[27]
In the aftermath of Blackest Night, the Sinestro Corps and Green Lantern Corps maintain a fragile truce where neither will attack each other. However, while helping Hal Jordan and the ring-wielders of the other five corps investigate the abduction of the emotional entities, Sinestro is separated from his ring and imprisoned in the Book of the Black, along with the other five members of the group, with Hal only just managing to escape with their rings. When Sinestro and the others escape, renegade Guardian Krona takes command of their rings, prompting Sinestro to attack Krona on his own, with the unexpected result that he is once again chosen as a Green Lantern.
The New 52
[edit]Returning to Korugar after the Guardians decide to leave him with the ring, Sinestro learns that his Corps have reverted to their brutal methods, terrorising and slaughtering the people of Korugar rather than ruling it, Sinestro creating a new Green Lantern ring for Hal Jordan albeit one that he can shut off at will so that Jordan can help him retake control of the Sinestro Corps, who now want him dead in the belief that his killer will become the new Sinestro Corps leader.[28][29] After turning various Korugarian prisoners into a temporary Green Lantern Corps using short-lived duplicates of Sinestro's ring,[30] Sinestro and Hal are able to hold off the Sinestro Corps long enough to drain the power away from the Central Power Battery of the Sinestro Corps, de-powering all of the Corps members on Korugar, although those more distant from the battery will still have access to their own power supplies.[31] Later all Lanterns' rings registered that the Sinestro Corps have disbanded with 98% of all known Corpsmen dead or incarcerated, requiring Arkillo, who was cut off from the other Corps in the Orrery with the New Guardians during this attack, to use a new, independent power battery forged by the Weaponer from the fear of the Korugarians.[32] It has since been revealed that the Guardians were responsible for Sinestro acquiring a Green Lantern ring in an attempt to undermine the Sinestro Corps as part of their future plans to destroy all seven Corps.[33] During the conclusion of the "Wrath of the First Lantern" storyline, Sinestro becomes once again a member of the Sinestro Corps and after bonding with Parallax, he reactivates the yellow rings and releases all the Sinestro Corps members who were incarcerated on Oa.[34]
During the events of Forever Evil after the Crime Syndicate had taken control of much of Earth, Batman revealed that he harbored a Sinestro Corps ring since the organization's attack on Earth as one of his weapons to deploy against the Justice League should they ever go rogue. When Batman and his allies at the time are attacked by Power Ring, Batman puts the Sinestro Corps ring on in an attempt to counterattack him. However, the ring's power is heavily depleted and Power Ring manages to get it off Batman's finger before ultimately being attacked by Sinestro himself, who was summoned to the planet by Batman's use of the ring.[35] In a brief ensuing battle, Sinestro severs Power Ring's arm from his body, causing his ring to deem him unworthy and leave. As Power Ring thanks Sinestro for freeing him from the curse of the ring, Sinestro incinerates him.[36]
In the aftermath of the war with the New Gods of New Genesis, Sinestro has created Warworld into the new base and headquarters of the Sinestro Corps, after the Green Lantern Corps have vanished into another universe.[37]
DC Rebirth
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Subsequently, in DC Rebirth, Sinestro uses the opportunity to establish the Sinestro Corps as the new force of 'order' in the universe, imposing fear rather than inspiring faith, with Soranik joining her father out of a lack of perceived options. However, as they establish a presence where Oa was once located, Hal Jordan forges a new ring for himself as the rest of the Corps return to this universe.[38]
Sinestro then sends out his enforcers of his Corps to control the new order of the universe. The Sinestro Corps attacks a planet, but soon Hal Jordan arrives with his restored Green Lantern powers and drives the Sinestro Corp back.[39] Hal causes the Sinestro Corps members to flee and pursues them. He follows them to the planet, where all the Sinestro Corps are ambush and restrain him.[40] In order to defeat Hal Jordan the Sinestro Corps used the full power of fear throughout the universe, and were ordered by Sinestro to bring Hal to him alive.[41] The Sinestro Corps return to the Sinestro with the captured Green Lantern, who they thought was Hal, but it's actually Guy Gardner instead. Furious, Sinestro demands to know where Hal is. The Sinestro Corps then begin capturing people and imprisoning them in Warworld's engine to increase the power of fear.[42]
When Hal has recovered he invades Warworld and attacks the Sinestro Corps. As they were about to attack Sinestro appears and orders his Corps to stop so that he and Hal can go face to face in battle.[43] Before Sinestro attacks him, he discovers too late his powers are decreased due to Soranik rescuing people from being imprisoned and escaping with them. Hal then uses his energies as a living construct to incinerate the Fear Warlord, apparently destroying Sinestro and Ranx.[44]
Prominent members
[edit]
Like the Green Lantern Corps, the Sinestro Corps has 7,200 ring bearers, two for each of the 3,600 sectors of space.
Leadership
[edit]- Sinestro (of Sector 1417): A former Green Lantern who was discharged for abusing his power. Sinestro later allies with the Weaponers of Qward, obtains a yellow power ring, and becomes the leader of the Sinestro Corps.
- Arkillo (of Sector 674): A feared warrior from the planet Vorn who became one of Sinestro's first recruits. He is a drill sergeant within the Corps, similar to Kilowog.[45]
Ring bearers
[edit]- Ampa Nnn (of Sector 3517): A serial killer from the planet Lythyl, who has a habit of removing the organs of his victims and meticulously cleaning them.[46]
- Bedovian (of Sector 3): A hermit crab-like cannibalistic sniper.[47]
- Bekka: A warrior of New Genesis, having encountered Sinestro in Sector 1014 and given an invitation.[48]
- Borialosaurus (of Sector 3001): The oldest member of the Sinestro Corps and one of the only surviving members of a carnivorous aquatic species from the Guardian's homeworld of Maltus that were hunted down after killing dozens of the Guardians.[46]
- Braach (of Sector 3064): A Selachian who feeds on the endangered space dolphins, attracting the attention of space dolphin lover Lobo.[46]
- Despotellis (of Sector 119): A sentient, artificial virus created on the planet Khondra that can kill from within, responsible for the death of 85% of Space Sector 119 in addition to Kyle Rayner's mother.[49][50]
- DevilDog (of Sector 1567): A convicted murderer on at least 17 planets.[46]
- Feena Sik (of Sector 2897): A famous artist who discovered a ritual to bring her creations to life and slaughtered any living thing whose blood the ritual required, including her husband, earning her the attention of a yellow power ring.[46]
- Flayt (of Sector 2751): A Power-ray from the planet Tristram, known for draining the power out of hundreds of passing starships, rendering them stranded.[46]
- Haasp the Hunter (of Sector 3492):[46] Murderous brother of the Green Lantern Harvid. Imprisoned by his brother for illegal hunting, Haasp has made Harvid his next "big game".
- Karu-Sil (of Sector 2815): A village girl from the planet Graxos III whose family was killed during a raid on her village, leaving her to fend for herself in the bordering jungle while being raised by animals. After being rescued, Karu-Sil obtains a power ring and joins the Sinestro Corps.[51][52]
- Kiriazis (of Sector 1771): A Sinestro Corps member who "blinds and tortures, splintering the Ring's beams with her prisms." She was later said to be able to use her spider-like physiology to metabolize the ring's energy and produce spider web out of it. Kiriazis was captured by the Zamarons and trapped in a power ring conversion crystal,[51] but has since been freed.
- Kretch (of Sector 3545): A demonic being from the planet Soh. He can transform into a massive supernova capable of engulfing entire cities.[46]
- Kryb (of Sector 3599): A hag from the planet Vora who kills Green Lanterns and stores their children in a cage on her back. She is later captured and rehabilitated by the Star Sapphires.[53][54][55][56]
- Low (of Sector 3308): A parasitic slug-like alien who can drain others of blood in seconds.[46]
- Lyssa Drak (of Sector 3500): The keeper of the Book of Parallax.[57][58]
- Maash (of Sector 863): Conceived as triplets, Maash was later fused into one body, with three faces stacked one on top of the other. The top head is an innocent personality, unable to stop the two more vicious personalities from controlling their body.[46]
- Mallow (of Sector 614): The leader of a bloodthirsty group of marauders, whose hideout is in the centre of a violent asteroid storm.[46]
- Moose (of Sector 3333): A mammoth-like alien. His real name is unpronounceable, so his ring chose the closest approximation.[59]
- Murr the Melting Man (Austin Snow) (of Sector 3490): A scientist from the asteroid outpost DW-426 who possesses a fatal touch.[46]
- Ranx the Sentient City (of Sector 3272): An intelligent, free-floating robotic city that is prophesied to kill Mogo.[11]
- Romat-Ru (of Sector 2813):[46] A Xudarian who is regarded to be one of the vilest creatures in the universe.
- Scivor (of Sector 3106):[46] Once posed as a torture god of Aplic-Toh, influencing thousands to murder on his behalf. He possesses unmatched powers of persuasion.
- Seer Ruggle (of Sector 2700): The Bomb Mistress of the planet Rorc, who is responsible for the construction of six blink bombs throughout the universe, one of which she gave to the Children of the White Lobe to destroy Mogo.[46]
- Setag Retss (of Sector 1155): An aquatic reptilian alien from the Rexulus system. His ring allows him to breathe outside of water.[46]
- Sirket (of Sector 1110): An insect who lives in the Bleed, the space between dimensions.[46]
- Slushh (of Sector 3376):[46] A polymorphous being composed of a corrosive fluid that liquifies flesh instantly.[26]
- Sn'Hoj (of Sector 3201): Known for attacking starships, assimilating their technology, and killing the crew.[46]
- Snap Trap (of Sector 3189):[46] A humanoid crocodile who uses his hypnotic eyes to lure in his prey. He then devours the victim's spines, leaving them alive and in agony.
- Smithwick (of Sector 1418):[46] Belongs to the same race as Salaak, whom he has sworn to kill.
- Stanch (of Sector 3560): A once benevolent being who was corrupted by the pollution of his world, becoming a monstrous killer of the skies.[46]
- Tekik (of Sector 3281):[46] A robot created on the planet Potter-59-3 that rebelled against its life of servitude, creating a "fear program" that infected every other robot on the planet. The planet never recovered from Tekik's attack, and has since been abandoned and renamed "the lost world".
- The Weaponer (of Sector -1): The Weaponer created Sinestro's original yellow ring. He later lured Sinestro to Qward to destroy him. After he was defeated, he accepted Sinestro's invitation to join his corps.[60]
- Yellow Lantern (of Sector 1284, an anagram of Sector 2814): A citizen of Bizarro World who is selected as a member of the Sinestro Corps. He ignores the ring's commands until the ring overrides his free will and takes him to the battlefield.[61][62]
Former members
[edit]- Amon Sur (of Sector 2814): The son of deceased Green Lantern Abin Sur who became leader of the Black Circle Crime Syndicate until being overthrown in a battle with Kyle Rayner. Amon later battles John Stewart, during which he is inducted into the Sinestro Corps. Amon is later killed by Laira, and his ring attempts to find a new wielder before the Guardians destroy it.[18][26][63]
- Anti-Monitor (of Sector -1): A cosmic entity and the guardian of the anti-matter universe.
- Batman (Bruce Wayne) (of Sector 2814): A yellow power ring attempted to induct him into the Sinestro Corps during the Sinestro Corps War but Batman managed to remove the ring from his finger causing the ring to fly off. Batman later uses a Sinestro Corps power ring to battle Power Ring during the Forever Evil storyline.
- Bur'Gunza (of Sector 3561): A seemingly model prisoner on Takron-Galtos. When his restraints were removed, he slaughtered forty-two guards before being brought down. He was killed by Bolphunga during the Sciencell riots.
- Clark Kent / Superman (of Sector 2813): Superman became a Yellow Lantern for a while in the Injustice comics.
- Duel Eknham (of Sector 3550): A Siamese twin-like pair of doctors from the planet Sedas with two faces and personalities. One side wishes to kill and maim in the most gruesome ways possible, while the other prefers more sophisticated methods of murder. Both are later killed in battle with the Green Lanterns.[26] Eknhan's name is a reversal of artist Doug Mahnke's last name.
- Enkafos (of Sector 2981): A strategist who coordinated the Sinestro Corps attack on Mogo and was ultimately killed by Sodam Yat. Ethan Van Sciver described Enkafos as an analogue to the Green Lantern Corps' Salaak.[45]
- Fatality (of Sector 1313): A longtime enemy of the Green Lantern Corps who is later captured and rehabilitated by the Star Sapphires.[51][52]
- Flash (of Sector 2814): After the Flash was possessed by Parallax during the Brightest Day, he temporarily became the Sinestro Corps member of Sector 2814.
- Gleen (of Sector 312): A Krolotean who has tampered with the evolutionary patterns of over a thousand species. Amongst his species, Gleen is considered the cruelest and most twisted.[46] He is later killed by Alpha Lantern Varix.
- Gorgor (of Sector 3215): An expert tracker who tracked Sinestro to Earth after his leaders apparent "betrayal". He is later killed and his ring destroyed.
- Hal Jordan (of Sector 2814): A Green Lantern officer given a couple of yellow power rings during the Sinestro Corps War since his own ring had run low on power and he was unable to recharge it at the time, though it did not work out as planned.[14] During the "War of the Green Lanterns" storyline, Jordan is forced to remove his Green Lantern ring to prevent him from becoming the host of Parallax again and takes Sinestro's ring as a replacement due to his previous experience with using a Sinestro Corps ring.[64]
- Cyborg-Superman (Hank Henshaw) (of Sector 2814): A cyborg and ally of the Manhunters. Although he works with the Sinestro Corps, he does so solely so that he can die; he is loyal to the Anti-Monitor alone knowing that he can kill him for once and for all.
- Horku (of Sector 2): Member of the same race as the Green Lantern Honnu. He was later killed by Honnu near Mount Rushmore.[65]
- Imecsub: An insect-like alien who was captured by Sodam Yat and Arisia Rrab. While in a holding cell in Sector House 2815, he was crushed to death by a spacecraft belonging to Sodam's mother Cara. His name and appearance are derived from actor Steve Buscemi.
- Lex Luthor (of Sector 2814): An enemy of Superman who temporarily joins the Sinestro Corps after stealing Scarecrow's ring.
- Lobo (of Sector 3500): In the New 52, after being given a bounty to kill Sinestro, he is given the opportunity to use his skills for the yellow lanterns.
- Mongul (of Sector 2811): The son of a longtime foe of Superman also named Mongul. He obtains a power ring from an unspecified Sinestro Corps member before Sinestro defeats him and traps him in the Corps' power battery.[66][67][68][26]
- Narok (of Sector 2449): An octopus-like alien who previously imprisoned his sister and forced her to devour her children. He was killed by the Black Lantern Harbinger.[69]
- Peacemaker (of Sector 2814): Selected from Earth to join the Sinestro Corps, the alien Reach place a beetle scarab in his spine to make him a joint agent with the intention of assassinating Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle.[70] However, with Blue Beetle's help, Peacemaker is able to resist the ring and the scarab, removing both.[71]
- The Quintet Squad: Five siblings (Ena, Pente, Tessera, Theo, and Tria) belonging to an unidentified species. They attacked the families of Green Lanterns, raining the eyes of their victims over Oa. Four of them were brought in by the Green Lanterns, except for Ena, who killed herself to avoid capture.[19]
- Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane) (of Sector 2814): A criminally insane college psychiatrist and recurring opponent of Batman who is selected by a duplicate of Sinestro's ring as a deputy to the Sinestro Corps during the Blackest Night crisis.[72] Lex Luthor, overwhelmed by the orange light of greed, steals his ring.[73]
- Schlagg-Man (of Sector 3493):[46] A native of the planet Bismoll who had his teeth removed after biting through a policeman's neck. He has since had his teeth replaced with Bismollian steel, allowing him to bite through anything. He is later executed by the Alpha Lanterns.
- Starro: An alien parasite that creates copies of itself which take possession of sentient organisms and take control of their minds.[74]
- Superboy-Prime (of Sector 2813): A younger, alternate dimension version of Superman from Earth Prime and a main antagonist from Infinite Crisis.
- Tri-Eye (of Sector 3145): A fearsome traveling creature who uses his three mouths to tear his victims to pieces and devour them, leaving no trace left.[46] He is executed by the Alpha Lanterns following the Sciencell riots.
- Ugg-I (of Sector 53): A female alien with an eye placed where a human mouth would be located and two mouths where human eyes would be located. She is killed by the Alpha Lanterns during the mass execution of the Sciencell prisoners on Oa.[75]
- Vril Dox (of Sector 1287): While battling the Black Lantern version of his wife Stealth, Dox was chosen by the slain Narok's ring to be his successor.[69] He is later discharged from the Corps following his repeated refusal to follow Sinestro's orders and go to Korugar.[76]
Oath
[edit]When recharging their power rings, members of the Sinestro Corps recite the following 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(**)!
— Sinestro, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 (June 2007)
- (*) "My power" becomes "his power" when recited by other members of the Corps.
- (**) "Sinestro's might" became for a time "Arkillo's might", when Arkillo was the only active Sinestro Corps member prior to its rebirth.
Entity
[edit]As the embodiment of fear which is connected to the yellow light of the Emotional Spectrum, Parallax is revealed to be the emotional entity for the Sinestro Corps. Born when one of the earliest life forms first felt terror, it is insect-like in appearance. Parallax was the first of the seven entities to be captured by a still unknown person and currently is held captive in Ryut. The Sinestro Corps insignia is based on drawings created by life forms who looked into the mouth of Parallax and lived to tell the tale.
Book of Parallax
[edit]The Book of Parallax holds in its pages all the history of the Yellow Light of Fear and of the greatest Sinestro Corpsmen histories. For unknown reasons the book was chained to Lyssa Drak with yellow energy by Sinestro himself. This was possibly for the need to have a historian for his Corps and a way for Sinestro to revisit his Corps' success. Lyssa Drak is quite loyal to Sinestro and highly devoted to updating the Book and keeping it safe. A power ring is needed to translate the Book's text into words familiar to the ring wielder. Before a candidate of the corps enters a fear lodge, their power rings are drained by the Book of Parallax.[77]
Weapons and equipment
[edit]
Members of the Sinestro Corps use yellow power rings built on Qward. Though functionally similar to a Green Lantern's power ring, yellow power rings are fueled by fear instead of willpower. Members are selected for their skill at intimidation and terror. The ring amplifies the aggressive tendencies of the wearer. The yellow rings are charged by yellow power batteries, which are in turn linked to a yellow Central Power Battery based on Korugar. Aside from the recharging limitations common among the various Corps, their only known weakness is that their power can be drained by a Blue Lantern's power ring.[21]
Other versions
[edit]- The Lightsmiths: In the universe prior to the current one, groups managed to tap into the wellspring of power created by the Emotional Spectrum. In this universe those who tapped into the yellow light were known as the Lightsmiths of the Yellow Light of Terror.[78]
- In Scooby-Doo Team-Up #12, Shaggy Rogers and Scooby-Doo temporarily join the Sinestro Corps due to their ability to instill great fear in themselves.
In other media
[edit]Television
[edit]The Sinestro Corps appear in the Justice League Action episode "The Ringer", consisting of Sinestro and Despotellis.
Film
[edit]- The Sinestro Corps appear in a future prophecy depicted in the "Abin Sur" segment of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, consisting of Sinestro, Arkillo, Lyssa Drak, Kryb, Maash, Karu-Sil, Romat-Ru, Slussh, and Tri-eye.
- The Sinestro Corps appear in Green Lantern: Beware My Power, consisting of Lyssa Drak and Sinestro as prominent members and two minor unnamed members.[79]
Video games
[edit]- The Sinestro Corps make a cameo appearance in Green Lantern's ending in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.
- The Sinestro Corps appear in DC Universe Online.
- An alternate universe incarnation of the Sinestro Corps appear in Injustice: Gods Among Us, consisting of Sinestro and Hal Jordan. Additionally, Damian Wayne becomes a Yellow Lantern in his non-canonical arcade mode ending.
- The Sinestro Corps appear in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, with Sinestro and Arkillo appearing as playable characters while Batman's Sinestro Corps uniform appears as a downloadable alternate skin.
Miscellaneous
[edit]The Sinestro Corps appear in Smallville Season 11. This version of the group was created by Parallax and is served by the Manhunters as heralds. In the "Lantern" arc, Parallax possesses John Stewart and sends yellow power rings to Earth, where they choose Arkham Asylum inmates, such as Man-Bat, Firefly, Bane, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy, before they are all defeated by Superman and the Green Lantern Corps and depowered by Emil Hamilton.[80] In the "Chaos" arc, Lex Luthor employs a security force empowered by yellow power rings until they are defeated and depowered by Booster Gold and Skeets.[81]
References
[edit]- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ Green Lantern: Rebirth #3 (2005)
- ^ Booster Gold #2 (2007)
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 3 #50 (1994)
- ^ Green Lantern: Rebirth #4 (2005)
- ^ Green Lantern: Rebirth #6 (2005)
- ^ Rogers, Vaneta (2006-08-08). "CATCHING UP WITH GEOFF JOHNS". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #11
- ^ Wizard Magazine #184 (February 2007), 2007 Preview, Sinestro Corps.
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #17 (April 2007)
- ^ a b Tales of the Green Lanterns Corps Annual #2 (1986)
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #15 (2005)
- ^ a b Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special (August 2007)
- ^ a b Green Lantern Vol. 4 #23
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #16
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #24 (Dec 2007)
- ^ a b Green Lantern vol. 4 #25
- ^ a b Green Lantern vol. 4 #27
- ^ a b Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #28
- ^ Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1 (December 2008)
- ^ a b Green Lantern vol. 4 #38 (February 2009)
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #34 (March 2009)
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #35 (April 2009)
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #41 (June 2009)
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #39 (October 2009)
- ^ a b c d e Green Lantern vol. 4 #46
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #47
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 5, #1 (September 2011)
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 5, #2 (October 2011)
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 5, #4 (December 2011)
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 5, #5 (January 2012)
- ^ Green Lantern: New Guardians #8 (April 2012)
- ^ Green Lantern (vol. 5) #12 (August 2012)
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 5, #20 (May 2013)
- ^ Forever Evil #4
- ^ Forever Evil #5
- ^ Sinestro #14 (August 2015)
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps: Rebirth one-shot (July 2016)
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #1 (July 2016)
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #2 (August 2016)
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #3 (August 2016)
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #4 (September 2016)
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #6 (October 2016)
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #7 (October 2016)
- ^ a b Rogers, Vaneta (April 11, 2006). "Tapping Into Evil: Ethan Van Sciver on Sinestro Corps". Newsarama. Archived from the original on July 16, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps: Secret Files and Origins one-shot (2007)
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #20 (2007)
- ^ New Gods: Godhead #1
- ^ Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps one-shot
- ^ Green Lantern Corps (Vol. 2) #12-13
- ^ a b c Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #30
- ^ a b Green Lantern vol. 4 #36 (January 2009)
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #31
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #32
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #45
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #43
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #37 (June 2009)
- ^ Untold Tales of Blackest Night #01
- ^ Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Special #1
- ^ Green Lantern Corps #57
- ^ Action Comics #857
- ^ Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps Secret Files
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #26
- ^ Green Lantern vol. 4 #65 (April 2011)
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #17
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #20
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #26
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #27
- ^ a b R.E.B.E.L.S. (2009) #10
- ^ Blue Beetle (vol. 7) #20
- ^ Blue Beetle (vol. 7) #21
- ^ Blackest Night #6 (December 2009)
- ^ Blackest Night #7 (2010)
- ^ Teen Titans vol. 3 #51-54
- ^ Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #35 (July 2009)
- ^ R.E.B.E.L.S. #11
- ^ Sinestro #1
- ^ Green Lantern #23.1
- ^ "Green Lantern: Beware My Power Producer Explains How the Sinestro Corps Ended up in the DC Movie". 18 July 2022.
- ^ Smallville Season 11: Lantern #2-3
- ^ Smallville Season 11: Chaos #4
External links
[edit]- Sinestro Corps at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Wizard Article on the members of the Sinestro Corps
- Newsarama Sinestro Corp Preview
Sinestro Corps
View on GrokipediaPublication History
Creation and Introduction
The Sinestro Corps first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 4 #10 (cover date May 2006), where members like Arkillo were introduced, hinting at a new threat to the Green Lanterns. This introduction built anticipation for the Corps' detailed formation and ideology in the prelude one-shot Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 (cover date August 2007), which launched the "Sinestro Corps War" storyline.[4] The Corps was created by writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver as part of Johns' broader reimagining of the Green Lantern mythos, drawing inspiration from Sinestro's established backstory as a former Green Lantern who was expelled for his authoritarian methods. Johns incorporated the concept of the emotional electromagnetic spectrum, positioning the Sinestro Corps as wielders of yellow energy fueled by fear, in direct opposition to the green willpower of the Green Lantern Corps. This duality reflected Sinestro's philosophy that fear could impose order on the universe more effectively than willpower alone, evolving his character from a solitary villain into the leader of a militaristic force. In its early conceptualization, the Sinestro Corps was portrayed as a yellow lantern counterpart, with members recruited from across the universe to harness fear as a weapon. The initial issues established Sinestro's exile to the anti-matter universe of Qward, where he forged alliances with fear-based villains and constructed the Corps' central power battery. This setup emphasized the Corps' role as a fear-mongering army, setting the stage for their conflict with the Green Lanterns without delving into subsequent large-scale events.Key Developments and Story Arcs
The Sinestro Corps received significant expansion in the Green Lantern comic series during 2007-2008, building on its initial concept to launch the major crossover event "Sinestro Corps War." This storyline, penned by Geoff Johns with art by Ivan Reis and others, spanned Green Lantern vol. 4 #21-25, Green Lantern Corps vol. 2 #14-19, and the prelude issue Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 (August 2007), which formally introduced the Corps' yellow power rings and fear-based hierarchy.[4] The event also included tie-in one-shots under the Tales of the Sinestro Corps banner, including Parallax, Ion, Superman-Prime, and Agent Orange, totaling four issues that explored individual members and deepened the Corps' lore.[4] Following this, the Sinestro Corps integrated into broader DC Universe events, notably the 2009-2010 "Blackest Night" saga and its follow-up "Brightest Day." In Blackest Night, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ivan Reis, the Corps clashed with the emergent Black Lanterns, highlighting Sinestro's ambitions amid the War of Light, across the 9 main issues (#0-8) of Blackest Night plus Green Lantern tie-ins like #43-51.[5] Brightest Day (2010), co-written by Johns and Peter Tomasi, further developed post-event ramifications for the Corps in issues #0-24 of the shared series, emphasizing its role in emotional spectrum conflicts.[6] The 2011 New 52 reboot reshaped the Sinestro Corps through ongoing Green Lantern vol. 5, where writer Geoff Johns explored Sinestro's alliances and betrayals, including his brief tenure as a Green Lantern in issues #1-20 (2011-2012).[7] This era culminated in the 2014-2015 Sinestro series (issues #1-16) by writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dale Eaglesham, which delved into the Corps' internal dynamics and Sinestro's leadership during a Wrath of the First Lanterns arc.[8] In the DC Rebirth initiative starting 2016, the Sinestro Corps featured prominently in Green Lanterns (2016 series) issues #43-57 (2018) by writer Tim Seeley, with arcs addressing Corps recruitment and interstellar threats.[7] Subsequent developments in the 2023 Dawn of DC era included Sinestro's return in Green Lantern vol. 6 #1-12 (2023-2024) by writer Jeremy Adams, introducing new threats like the Unlight of Pariah and escalating Corps conflicts, alongside milestone explorations in Green Lantern Corps: Rebirth one-shot (2023). In 2025, the Sinestro Corps continues to play a role in the new Green Lantern Corps series (vol. 4, starting #1 in April 2025), written by Jeremy Adams, exploring conflicts involving Sinestro and the Corps.Fictional History
Origins Before the Corps
Thaal Sinestro, born on the planet Korugar in Space Sector 1417, initially served as an anthropologist studying ancient ruins before being recruited into the Green Lantern Corps by the veteran Lantern Abin Sur, who recognized his strong willpower and potential.[1] Under Abin Sur's mentorship, Sinestro honed his abilities and rose to become one of the most respected members of the Corps, eventually assigned to protect his home sector.[9] His marriage to Abin Sur's sister, Arin Sur, further solidified his ties to the Corps' legacy.[9] Sinestro's dedication to maintaining order, however, led him to impose increasingly authoritarian measures on Korugar, transforming his homeworld into a rigidly controlled society under his rule, which he justified as necessary for peace.[1] This dictatorial approach alarmed his fellow Lanterns, particularly his protégé Hal Jordan, who witnessed Sinestro's methods during a visit to Korugar and reported the abuses to the Guardians of the Universe.[1] Deeming his actions a betrayal of the Corps' oath to protect free will, the Guardians stripped Sinestro of his green power ring and expelled him from the Green Lantern Corps.[1] Following his expulsion, Sinestro was imprisoned multiple times for his continued threats against the Corps, including a notable confinement within the Green Lantern Central Power Battery on Oa, where his influence lingered despite containment.[1] He ultimately escaped to Qward in the Antimatter Universe, where he forged an alliance with the Weaponers of Qward, a race of advanced engineers hostile to the Guardians.[1] Collaborating with them, Sinestro helped develop technology harnessing yellow energy, which exploited the pre-retcon impurity in green power rings that rendered them ineffective against the color yellow, allowing constructs impervious to Green Lantern willpower.[1] Sinestro first wielded this yellow ring in Green Lantern vol. 2 #7 (August 1961), using it to trap Hal Jordan in a yellow energy bubble and launch schemes against the Corps from his Qwardian base. This marked the beginning of his enduring rivalry with Jordan, whom he viewed as a naive obstacle to true universal order, while embracing fear as a tool to enforce discipline—a philosophy that would later underpin his broader ambitions.[1]Recruitment and Formation
Following his exile from the Green Lantern Corps, Sinestro experimented with yellow energy technology on the anti-matter planet Qward, where he discovered the emotional spectrum's yellow light of fear as a potent counter to the green willpower of the Guardians.[3] In the 2007 storyline, he forged the first yellow power rings using Qwardian Weaponers, enabling him to harness fear as a weaponizable force.[3] Sinestro then initiated recruitment across the universe, selecting 100 individuals capable of instilling and wielding fear, drawing from notorious villains and fear-mongers to form his Corps.[3] Prominent early recruits included the reptilian brute Arkillo, who served as a drill sergeant and enforcer, and the tyrannical warlord Mongul, whose conquests embodied the Corps' philosophy of fear-based order.[1] These members were bonded to the yellow rings, which sought out those with the greatest capacity for terror.[3] To power the Corps, Sinestro established a Central Power Battery on Qward, inverting the Green Lanterns' Oan technology by channeling the yellow energy of fear instead of willpower.[3] This battery served as the organizational hub, recharging rings and symbolizing the Corps' opposition to the Guardians' regime. The Corps' first major action was a coordinated invasion of Oa, the Green Lantern homeworld, where Sinestro declared war on the Corps, unleashing his fear-wielding army in a bid to impose universal order through terror.[3]The Prophecy and Sinestro Corps War
The ancient prophecy foretold in a forbidden chapter of the Book of Oa predicted the rise of an "Empire of Fear," an force empowered by the yellow light of fear that would exploit the impurity in green willpower to destroy the Green Lantern Corps. This vision, first detailed in the 1986 story "Tygers" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, stemmed from Green Lantern Abin Sur's encounter on the demon world of Ysmault with Qull of the Five Inversions, who revealed a coming catastrophe: enemies uniting under a leader to shatter the Corps, with fear as the ultimate weapon.[10] The prophecy specifically warned of a metallic-faced tyrant—later identified as Sinestro—building an empire that would turn the green light against itself, fulfilling a cosmic cycle of dread overtaking resolve.[10] This foretelling materialized during the Sinestro Corps War, a 2007-2008 crossover event spanning Green Lantern (vol. 4) #21-25 and Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #14-19, written primarily by Geoff Johns. Having secretly recruited fear-wielding villains using yellow power rings forged from the Parallax entity, Sinestro launched a galaxy-wide offensive to impose his vision of order through terror. The Sinestro Corps struck simultaneously across multiple sectors, assassinating Lanterns, sabotaging central power batteries, and freeing imprisoned threats like Superboy-Prime and Cyborg Superman from Oa's Sciencells to bolster their ranks.[3] These initial assaults decimated over a dozen sectors, forcing the Guardians of the Universe to convene an emergency summit and recognize the yellow rings' vulnerability to green willpower only under extreme conditions.[11] The conflict intensified with a direct invasion of Earth, drawing the Justice League, Justice Society, and human Lanterns into the fray. Hal Jordan, drawing on his prior possession by Parallax, assumed temporary leadership of the Green Lantern Corps, coordinating a desperate defense that repelled the initial wave but at great cost, including the death of Green Lantern Jack T. Chance.[11] The Green Lanterns then mounted a counteroffensive, first targeting Ranx the Sentient City in sector 59—a massive, living fortress serving as the Sinestro Corps' headquarters—where the planet Lantern Mogo and Daxamite Ion host Sodam Yat obliterated the structure in a cataclysmic battle, killing thousands of yellow recruits and crippling Sinestro's logistics.[3][11] The climactic engagement unfolded at Oa itself, space sector 0, as the battered Sinestro Corps attempted a final siege on the Central Power Battery. Jordan's forces, bolstered by reinforcements from across the universe, outmaneuvered the invaders in brutal aerial and ground clashes, with key duels like Kilowog's victory over drillmaster Arkillo highlighting the Corps' resolve. Sinestro, confronting Jordan personally amid the chaos, was ultimately subdued and captured by the combined efforts of Hal Jordan and the Guardians, who invoked their authority to end the threat.[3][11] In the aftermath, the Guardians rewrote the Book of Oa to repeal the prohibition on lethal force, enacting the first of ten new edicts to authorize killing Sinestro Corps members on sight. Sinestro was incarcerated in Oa's Sciencells, while surviving yellow Lanterns—such as Arkillo and Karu-Sil—faced imprisonment or execution, leading to the Corps' temporary dissolution as its rings deactivated without Parallax's central influence. This victory, though pyrrhic with heavy Lantern casualties, validated the prophecy's dire warnings while affirming willpower's potential dominance over fear.[3][11]Blackest Night Integration
During the Blackest Night crossover event spanning 2009-2010, the Sinestro Corps faced an unprecedented threat from Nekron, the embodiment of death, who resurrected deceased members of various Lantern Corps—including fallen Sinestro Corps warriors killed in prior conflicts—as undead Black Lanterns. These reanimated Corps members, devoid of emotion and driven solely by Nekron's will to eradicate life, turned aggressively against their living Sinestro Corps counterparts, exploiting the vulnerabilities exposed by the heavy losses from the recent Sinestro Corps War.[12] In response to this existential crisis, Sinestro and his remaining Corps forged a tenuous alliance with the Green Lantern Corps and other emotional spectrum factions, including the Blue Lanterns, to combat the Black Lantern onslaught. This partnership marked a rare moment of cooperation between fear-wielders and their traditional foes, united against a common annihilator. Key confrontations unfolded across the universe, culminating in a massive battle on Earth where living Sinestro Corps members clashed with their Black Lantern resurrectees amid the chaos of resurrected heroes and villains. A pivotal victory came with the destruction of the Black Central Power Battery on the planet Ry'ut, achieved through coordinated assaults by the allied Lanterns, which severed Nekron's primary energy source and weakened the Black Lantern horde. During the climax, Sinestro's possession by the fear entity Parallax granted him immense power to aid in the fight against Nekron, though it came at great personal cost and highlighted the volatile nature of yellow lantern energy.[12] The resolution of Blackest Night transitioned into the Brightest Day storyline, where the defeated Nekron's influence waned, leading to the resurrection of select individuals via white light entities. Sinestro, having played a central role in the victory, was subsequently imprisoned by the Green Lantern Corps for his past crimes, yet subtle hints emerged of the Sinestro Corps' reformation, as surviving members regrouped to preserve their fear-based doctrine amid the shifting cosmic balance.The New 52 Reboot
In the New 52 continuity, the Sinestro Corps faced significant upheaval following the universe-wide reboot, with its founder Thaal Sinestro reintegrating into the Green Lantern Corps as a bearer of a green willpower ring. This shift left the organization in disarray, as Sinestro's absence created a power vacuum among its fear-wielding members.[13][14] Sinestro's alliance with Hal Jordan became central to early New 52 storylines, beginning with efforts to liberate Sinestro's homeworld of Korugar from the remnants of his own Corps, which had occupied it in his absence. Their partnership deepened during the Rise of the Third Army arc, where the Guardians of the Universe secretly created a fanatical force of emotionless enforcers to supplant the Lantern Corps after foreseeing its potential downfall. Sinestro and Jordan, operating as rogue elements outside the official Green Lantern structure, uncovered the Third Army's threat and worked to dismantle it, highlighting Sinestro's tactical expertise in channeling fear as a counter to the army's relentless assimilation tactics.[14][7] This collaboration culminated in the Wrath of the First Lantern storyline, where the ancient entity Volthoom—known as the originator of the emotional spectrum—emerged to drain the Lanterns' power and reshape reality. Captured alongside Jordan by Volthoom, Sinestro forged a tenuous bond with his former protégé, using their combined willpower to escape and ultimately aid in Volthoom's defeat on Oa. The arc underscored the Corps' vulnerability without Sinestro's leadership, as scattered yellow ring bearers clashed sporadically with other Lantern factions amid the chaos.[15][7] To stabilize the Corps during Sinestro's green ring phase, he appointed his daughter, Soranik Natu, as its leader. Natu, previously a Green Lantern of Sector 1417, was forcibly recruited when Sinestro stripped her of her green ring and bestowed a yellow one upon her, leveraging her medical expertise and combat prowess to reform the group into a more disciplined force. Under Natu's command, the Corps navigated internal betrayals, including actions by Sinestro's enforcer Arkillo, while tentatively aligning with the Green Lanterns against mutual threats like the Paling—a cult eradicating emotions across sectors.[13] The 2014 Sinestro miniseries further explored the Corps' reformation, depicting Sinestro's exile after losing his green ring and facing execution on Korugar. Desperate to reclaim his legacy, Sinestro assembled a ragtag group of yellow ring wielders, including Lyssa Drak and deserters from other Corps, to assault Red Lantern forces that had invaded Korugar under Atrocitus's command. The series highlighted intense conflicts with the rage-fueled Red Lanterns, culminating in Sinestro's defense of his homeworld and the Corps' partial reconstitution as a protective entity rather than a purely tyrannical one.[16] As larger inter-Corps conflicts escalated—encompassing events like the Lights Out crossover and the Godhead war with New Gods—the Sinestro Corps experienced cycles of dissolution and reformation. Natu's leadership fostered a fragile alliance with the Green Lanterns to combat existential threats, such as the emotional spectrum's potential collapse, but mounting distrust and Sinestro's growing disillusionment with willpower led to the partnership's fracture. By the era's end, the Corps splintered amid these wars, with Sinestro reclaiming a yellow ring and reasserting his dominance, reverting the organization to its fear-based roots while retaining Natu as a key strategist.[13][7]DC Rebirth and Subsequent Eras
Following the DC Rebirth initiative in 2016, the Sinestro Corps was reintegrated into the Green Lantern mythos with a restoration of many pre-Flashpoint elements, including the Corps' foundational conflicts and yellow power ring mechanics. In Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps (2016), the Green Lantern Corps is depicted as disbanded after a catastrophic event, allowing Sinestro to reform his yellow ring-wielders as the universe's dominant peacekeeping force, headquartered on Warworld at the former site of Oa. Hal Jordan, reduced to a spectral entity, rallies surviving Lanterns to challenge this occupation, reestablishing the green rings' will-based constructs against the Corps' fear-driven arsenal.[17][18] The Sinestro Corps served as key antagonists during Warworld-centric events, leveraging the planetoid's armaments to enforce Sinestro's authoritarian vision. In arcs spanning Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps (2016–2018), Corps members like Arkillo clashed with reforming Green Lanterns amid battles on Warworld, where Sinestro's forces suppressed rebellions and tested experimental fear constructs derived from Parallax energy. This antagonism peaked in interstellar skirmishes, underscoring the Corps' role in destabilizing galactic order until Hal's leadership restored the Green Lanterns' prominence.[19] Between 2018 and 2021, Sinestro faced capture by the Guardians of the Universe in the pages of Green Lantern (2018 series), imprisoned on Oa for his ongoing threats to cosmic stability. His escape occurred during escalating crises, leading to a tenuous alliance with Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps against the Dark Multiverse incursions tied to Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020). In this collaboration, Sinestro wielded a green ring temporarily, aiding in the defense against Batman Who Laughs and the twisted realities of the Dark Multiverse, though underlying tensions between the Corps and Lanterns persisted.[20] Under the Dawn of DC banner in 2023, the Sinestro Corps' influence waned as Sinestro operated more independently, hiding on Earth without a charged ring in Green Lantern (2023). His resurgence involved forging pacts with shadowy groups like the Guild to target Hal Jordan's life, blending personal vendetta with Corps remnants' fear tactics in Green Lantern: War Journal, where John Stewart confronted echoes of Sinestro's manipulations amid broader Lantern reconstructions. This era emphasized Sinestro's strategic isolation, setting the stage for renewed Corps activity.[21][22] In the 2025 Green Lantern Corps series, Sinestro embarks on a journey to his homeworld Korugar alongside Vexar'u, discovering that the Sinister Sons—offspring of notorious villains—have restructured Korugarian society under fear-based rule, echoing Corps ideals. This return intersects with escalating threats from Sorrow, a malevolent entity, and Starbreaker, whose energy-draining assaults force Sinestro into defensive alliances with Green Lanterns like John Stewart and Guy Gardner. The Corps' yellow rings prove vital in countering these foes, highlighting Sinestro's evolving role from antagonist to reluctant guardian amid the race to complete new Central Power Batteries.[23][24]Organization and Members
Leadership Structure
The Sinestro Corps operates under a hierarchical structure modeled after the Green Lantern Corps, with Thaal Sinestro serving as the supreme leader, known as the Grandmaster, who holds ultimate authority over strategic decisions, recruitment efforts, and the overall direction of the organization.[1] Sinestro's leadership emphasizes the use of fear to impose order across the universe, drawing on his experience as a former Green Lantern to organize the Corps into sectors assigned to specific ring bearers.[25] Key second-in-command roles support Sinestro's command, including Arkillo, a formidable enforcer from Sector 674 who functions as the Corps' primary drill instructor, training new recruits in fear-based combat and discipline akin to Kilowog's role in the Green Lantern Corps.[25] Lyssa Drak, originating from Talok IV in Sector 3500, serves as the keeper of the Book of Parallax, maintaining the Corps' historical records and ideological lore while chained to the artifact itself.[25] At the regional level, sector commanders enforce Sinestro's will, such as Mongul, who was assigned as an enforcer for Sector 2814, overseeing operations in that area with brutal efficiency.[25] Following major conflicts like the Sinestro Corps War and subsequent events, the leadership evolved, with periods of transition including temporary command by Soranik Natu, Sinestro's daughter, who assumed leadership to stabilize the Corps during crises and guide it toward reformed objectives.[13] This adaptability in hierarchy has allowed the Corps to persist despite internal power struggles and external threats.[26]Prominent Ring Bearers
Arkillo, a brutish enforcer and trainer from the planet Vorn, serves as the Sinestro Corps' primary drill instructor, instilling discipline through terror among recruits. Known for his savage nature, he once devoured a Green Lantern during a confrontation, showcasing his ability to weaponize fear against the Corps' enemies. Arkillo played a pivotal role in sector conquests during the Sinestro Corps War, leading assaults and clashing directly with Green Lanterns like Kilowog, his longtime rival.[27][3] Karu-Sil, hailing from the predator-infested world of Graxos III, survived a traumatic childhood where she was orphaned and raised by beasts after her family's slaughter. Her experiences forged a deep-seated fear of predatory creatures, which she channels through her yellow ring to manifest bestial constructs in battle. As a frontline fighter, Karu-Sil participated in key engagements like the invasion of Earth, using her abilities to terrorize Green Lanterns and civilians alike during the Corps' campaigns.[27][28] Mongul, the tyrannical ruler of Warworld, joined the Sinestro Corps after acquiring a yellow ring, bringing his history of galactic conquests to bolster the group's expansionist efforts. Having subjugated numerous planets through brute force and slavery, Mongul sought to seize control of the Corps itself, attempting to enslave Daxam as a new homeworld and clashing with Sinestro's lieutenants in power struggles. His role in battles included leading assaults on Green Lantern strongholds, leveraging his immense strength alongside ring constructs to dominate sectors.[29][30] Romat-Ru, a notorious criminal from Xudar in Sector 2813, was recruited for his capacity to inspire profound dread through his past atrocities. As a serial offender responsible for countless deaths, he wielded his ring in terror campaigns, contributing to the Corps' efforts in subduing resistant sectors before his eventual confrontation with Green Lantern forces.[31] Superboy-Prime briefly aligned with the Sinestro Corps during the height of the war, receiving a yellow ring that amplified his already formidable Kryptonian powers with fear-based energy. Though his tenure was short-lived, he engaged in devastating attacks on Earth and the Green Lantern Corps, driven by his rage and desire for dominance, before pursuing his own destructive agenda.Former and Defected Members
Soranik Natu, the daughter of Thaal Sinestro, initially rejected her heritage and served as a Green Lantern, but was kidnapped by the Sinestro Corps member Arkillo during the New 52 continuity and forced to join the organization as her father's heir.[13] Sinestro subsequently stripped her of her green power ring and equipped her with a yellow one, appointing her as leader of the Sinestro Corps to protect her from a cosmic threat targeting Green Lanterns.[13] Under her leadership, she forged a temporary alliance with the Green Lantern Corps, leveraging her prior experience and medical expertise to promote stability, but moral conflicts arising from her familial ties and the Corps' aggressive tactics led to the partnership's collapse following the death of a Guardian.[13][32] This defection and the ensuing fracture contributed to internal purges within the Sinestro Corps, as Sinestro sought to reassert control and eliminate dissent, ultimately straining recruitment efforts amid ongoing conflicts with other Lantern groups.[13] Hal Jordan briefly wielded a yellow power ring during the War of the Green Lanterns, using it alongside other spectrum rings to combat Krona, but rejected it upon reclaiming his green ring, underscoring the Corps' challenges in sustaining loyalty from high-profile figures.[33] Amon Sur, son of the former Green Lantern Abin Sur and a former leader of the Black Circle Crime Syndicate, joined the Corps but faced repeated failures in battles against the Green Lanterns, leading to his capture and execution by Laira Omoto, a Red Lantern, which further highlighted vulnerabilities in the Corps' ranks.[34] In the DC Rebirth era, some Weaponers of Qward, originally allies who forged the yellow rings, integrated into other Corps after conflicts with Sinestro, such as the central Weaponer joining the Sinestro Corps only to seek revenge, contributing to purges and shifting allegiances that weakened the organization's cohesion.[35]Core Concepts and Lore
The Corps Oath
The Sinestro Corps oath serves as the official incantation recited by its members to recharge their yellow power rings, encapsulating the organization's philosophy of imposing order through fear.[36] The full text, as established in DC Comics publications, reads:In blackest day, in brightest night,This oath was crafted by Thaal Sinestro himself, introduced during Geoff Johns' Green Lantern storyline in the 2000s, as a deliberate parallel to the Green Lantern Corps oath but inverted to invoke fear rather than willpower.[36] It first appeared in Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 (2007), where Sinestro recites it while activating the Corps' yellow power battery.[37] Members recite the oath during ring charging at the Corps' central power battery, originally constructed on the planet Qward in the Antimatter Universe, to symbolize their unwavering commitment to wielding fear as a mechanism for universal order.[36] This ritual reinforces the ideological bond among ring bearers, drawing from the yellow light of fear within the emotional spectrum.[36] Over different eras in DC continuity, minor variations have emerged, such as substitutes for "my power" with "his power" when recited by Corps members other than Sinestro, and a temporary alteration to "Arkillo's might" during Arkillo's brief leadership role.[36] These adaptations reflect shifts in command while preserving the core invocation of fear-based authority, including during temporary alliances with other Lantern Corps in events like the Blackest Night.[36]
Beware your fears made into light.
Let those who try to stop what's right,
Burn like my power, Sinestro's might