When it comes to having hope in a universe that sometimes feels like it’s full of anything but, the Blue Lanterns are a beacon of light for all who need solace when times aren’t exactly at the greatest. Coupled with the cosmic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, these Blue Lanterns are invaluable allies in the constant war between good and evil.

But who are the Blue Lanterns, and where did they get their start? Furthermore, why is the blue light of hope the most powerful force on the Emotional Spectrum, even trumping the willpower fueled might of the Green Lanterns?

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The Origins of The Blue Lantern Corps

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Premiering during a dark time in the DC Universe that saw the omnipotent Darkseid unleash a Final Crisis that wreaked havoc across every corner of the galaxy, the Blue Lantern Corps was birthed by an act of defiance. On the planet Oa, home base and hangout spot for all things Green Lantern related, a handful of blue aliens named the Guardians of the Universe preside over their Lantern Corps from up on high, devoid of any emotion that would get in the way of making unbiased decisions for the betterment of the universe. Two in particular, “Torchbearer” Kyle Rayner’s recruiter, Ganthet, and female Guardian and partner of Ganthet’s, Sayd, took up issue with their fellow Guardians’ mindset and lack of emotion following the end of the devastating conflict known as the Sinestro Corps War and decided to do something about it.

Shunned and then exiled for their individuality and love for one another as well as their attempts to draw attention to the prophecy known as the Blackest Night, Ganthet and Sayd struck out on their own to help find hope in a universe that needed it more than anything. Settling on a peaceful and lush world named Odym, the pair immediately began to construct a blue ring imbued with the power of the hope they so desperately believed in. Being uniquely different than the usual Green Lantern ring that sought out a new recruit the second it was made (or the second its original wearer ceases to be), this new power ring needed to be gifted to a bearer that was handpicked by Ganthet and Sayd, and so, with their mission of bringing hope to the cosmos firmly implanted in their minds as well as the drive to follow through with recruiting the perfect candidate to their cause, the Guardians of Hope left Odym for the stars.

Saint Walker, The First of the Blue Lanterns Explained

Needing someone to properly wield their coveted blue ring of light, Ganthet and Sayd stumble upon Bro’Dee “Saint” Walker, an extremely religious being from the world of Astonia, at the exact moment he needed them most. After billions of years of providing warmth and light to the citizens of his planet, the nearby sun of Astonia was dying, setting off cataclysmic events and threatening to exterminate every living being on the planet. Having no real way of stopping the encroaching death of everything he held dear, Walker did the only thing he knew and could think of at the time: he prayed.

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At the highest peak of a nearby mountain, Walker prayed for the solution to his people’s impossible situation, hoping to find some kind of enlightenment or at the very least a prophesized messiah that would bring about his species salvation, and in the face of extinction, having sent out the last bit of hope he had to calm his fellow Astonians, his prayers were finally answered. Gifted the blue ring of hope by Ganthet and Sayd, his new mentors were able to reverse the aging of Astonia’s sun by billions of years, effectively saving his people and solidifying his place as the first Blue Lantern. But there was more to the role of becoming a Blue Lantern than even Walker could have imagined.

Hope and the Healing Power of the Blue Light

Being a Corps based on the powerful emotion of hope, the Blue Lanterns are by default a very spiritual and calming presence in the DC Universe. Being one of the least populated Corps, Blue Lanterns are chosen in a sort of “referral” kind of way, with each recently inducted recruit searching out and bringing back to Odym a candidate of their choice. Upon arrival, said candidates are not immediately given a blue ring, instead, they are evaluated for days and taught what it means to be a Blue Lantern and why the power of hope is such an important emotion to wield. Once satisfied that the candidate is indeed worthy of understanding and commanding such power, only then is a ring bestowed, and with it, true induction into the Corps.

But outside of the usual flight capabilities and a nifty blue aura, the Blue Lanterns’ power and abilities are contingent on one huge factor: the proximity of a Green Lantern. Developed with the idea in mind that the Blue Lanterns would work in tandem with other Corps to support and aid them when they need it most, the Blue Lantern power is unlocked to its fullest when a Green Lantern is nearby, which in turn, boosts the power of their green light to untold heights, and strengthening both in a cycle of symbiosis. Being able to recharge a Green Lantern’s ring is great and all (they can also depower yellow rings when needed), but by working together, Blue Lanterns also unlock the ability to heal and restore damage done on a scale that rivals the fabled White Lanterns. To top it off, the soothing blue light of hope is also the only known way to safely destroy the influence of a Red Lantern ring since their rage-fueled power usually lays claim to the life of the one who wields it without a reliable way to back out. It’s through these unique abilities that allow the Blue Lanterns to transcend their roles as simple spiritual beings to something much more powerful and valuable in the grand scheme of the Green Lantern mythos.

Related: Alan Scott, The First Green Lantern's Comic Origins Explained

The Tragic Fall of the Blue Lanterns

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For a time, and especially during the events of Blackest Night where heroes such as The Flash were called upon to wield the blue light of hope to help vanquish the army of the dead, the Blue Lanterns were an integral part of the ongoing Green Lantern story arcs. Having recruited a handful of other members to their cause such as the peaceful, elephant-like alien known as Warth, the Blue Lanterns were on the upswing and continued to help defend the Green Lanterns against the Red, Orange, and Yellow Lanterns on a near-constant basis.

But after being forced to relocate to a new homeworld after a battle with the evil armies of the Reach, the Blue Lantern Corps was hit with another misfortune that resulted in the destruction of the Corps as they knew it. Hell-bent on destroying all variations of “lightsmiths” across the galaxy for their part in reducing the emotional reservoir that powered all of the different Corps’ rings, the villain Relic set his sights on the Blue Lanterns and took them out with impunity. By draining the Blue Central Battery of all of its power, Relic rendered all blue rings useless, and capitalized on the chaos he caused by murdering all members of the Blue Lantern Corps other than Saint Walker who barely escaped with his life. Depressed and shaken to his core, Walker lost all hope, and with it, the ability to wield his ring. It wasn’t until witnessing the power of Kyle Rayner and his command over the White Lantern’s life-giving light that his hope for the universe was restored, and thus, his ring returned to him. As of now, Walker has made it his mission to search the galaxy for new recruits to join him in bringing hope back to the cosmos, and restore his Corps to their rightful place beside the Green Lanterns.

With the Green Lantern Corps doing their best to uphold law and order across the universe, it’s the Blue Lanterns’ constant companionship and drive that never allows them to lose sight of what it takes to rise above insurmountable odds. And while recent events have wiped out the once-thriving Corps, Saint Walker, as always, holds out hope for a better tomorrow. In the words of Walker himself, “All Will Be Well”, and it’s hard not to believe him.

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