The 2000s were arguably another Golden Age of Green Lantern comics, with some of the most exciting and creative stories ever told in the series' history. This era was led primarily by Geoff Johns, who spent roughly a decade putting his own spin on the series with brand new concepts, characters, and massive events that redefined not only the character's history but changed the DC Universe as well.

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With dramatic upheavals in the mythos and new additions to the lore, readers relished in this thrilling era where every year seemed to take the unfolding story in a new direction. The build-up to each event was overwhelming, and throughout it all, characters were well-developed and their own stories were told in detail. This era gave Green Lantern a new relevance for the new millennium.

Willworld (2001)

Split image of Green Lantern with a mishaped head & heroes in bubbles in DC Comics.

The most strange and surreal Green Lantern story since Mosaic (1992), "Willworld" is the crazy story of how a rookie Hal Jordan familiarized himself with his ring through traversing the crazy Wonderland-esque "World of Odd" created from pure imagination. Having no memory of who he is, Hal embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

Part of what makes the Green Lantern universe so great is its potential for imaginative, creative storytelling. Written by J. M. DeMatteis, Willworld is arguably the most mind-bending example of this simple idea, exploring the possibilities of the premise like no other has through the beautiful artwork of Seth Fisher.

Rebirth (2004)

Green Lantern holds a giant green lantern in DC Comics.

After ten years of villainy, death, and operating as the new Spectre, Hal Jordan made his heroic return following his resurrection thanks to Kyle Rayner. As he rebuilds his life and old villains show their faces again, the status quo is gradually restored in preparation for a brand new event to come in the new millennium.

The comic also introduces Parallax, not as Hal Jordan the supervillain, but as the living embodiment of pure fear itself, who would become an essential antagonist from this point. Part of his role in the story is retconning Hal's turn to villainy with the explanation that he was possessed by the fear entity all along, absolving the formerly fallen hero of any prior guilt.

Recharge (2005)

Split image of the Green Lantern Corps & all of the Green Lanterns in DC Comics.

This story gives the reborn Green Lantern Corps the chance for its new recruits to develop and grow, easing readers into connecting with these new characters in anticipation of the coming years. Soranik Natu, Isamot Kol, and Vath Sarn all become cherished side characters from this point onward, and older characters like Guy Gardner get a chance to steal the spotlight.

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As such, the story serves as an introductory prequel to the space-focused rebooted Green Lantern Corps title that launched in 2016. Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons brought this story to life over five issues culminating in a frightening battle with the Spider Guild -- the first of many more small-scale stories with miscellaneous galactic threats leading up to the climactic spectacles to follow.

Revenge of the Green Lanterns (2006)

Split image of a close up of Green Lantern's ring & Green Lanterns fighting in DC Comics.

In a four-issue storyline by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis, Hal Jordan faces his past when the Green Lanterns he ripped through on his way to Oa following the destruction of Coast City during his possession by Parallax make a return, held prisoner by Cyborg Superman and his Manhunters threatening to become a greater threat than ever before.

Of course, these "Lost Lanterns" remember Hal and his rampage through the universe, making his task all the more difficult as they reject his aid or even attack him on sight. This was effectively concluding the fallout of his time spent as Parallax. It was also the first hint of the coming Sinestro Corps, as yellow rings traverse the universe seeking recruits capable of instilling great fear.

Wanted: Hal Jordan (2006)

Split image of Green Lantern & Hal Jordan lying on the ground in DC Comics.

In this four-issue story by Geoff Johns, Hal Jordan finds himself framed for a crime he did not commit, hunted down by the Global Guardians and aliens from across the universe looking to claim the bounty on his head. It is a thrilling mystery as Hal struggles to exonerate himself while fighting off legions of enemies coming for his skin.

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This comic also made a new enemy in Amon Sur, son of the alien being, Abin Sur, whose ring was inherited by Hal Jordan, seeking escape from his father's shadow in the worst ways possible, and becoming a great villain in his own right. On the foreshadowing front, Batman made a cameo as a candidate for the Sinestro Corps for his famed ability to instill great fear.

Sinestro Corps War (2007)

Sinestro prepares for battle in DC Comics.

The Green Lantern Corps faced their greatest challenge since Parallax: their greatest enemies united in a single giant army -- Superboy-Prime, Cyborg Superman, Ranx, Amon Sur, Parallax, and many more -- all led by one of Green Lantern's best villains, Sinestro, as the commander of fear itself as they wreak havoc throughout the universe.

A massive story written by Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons with an all-star cast of illustrators across eleven issues between the Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps titles, the event also saw upheavals in the mythos, seeing changes resulting from the Corps' desperate fight to save itself and the multiverse from the champions of terror.

Secret Origin (2008)

Split image of Green Lantern holding a lantern & a ring in DC Comics.

A retelling of the classic Hal Jordan origin story, Secret Origin was written by Geoff Johns following the Sinestro Corps War storyline to recontextualizing recent events, streamline the continuity somewhat, and set up the future. Hal Jordan, Carol Ferris, Abin Sur, Sinestro, and classic villains Hector Hammond and Black Hand were reintroduced alongside new cool Green Lantern villains like Atrocitus.

In addition, the story elevates the classic origin story to modern standards to create a more accessible introduction to the mythos and its characters. With crisp, eye-catching artwork by Ivan Reis over seven issues reintroducing old friends and foes, it is easily the best start for any neophyte looking to get into Green Lantern.

Rage of the Red Lanterns (2008)

Split image of the Red Lanterns flying & Green Lantern as a Red Lantern in DC Comics.

On the planet Ysmault, Atrocitus had forged the Red Lantern Corps from pure rage, shepherding a legion of the universe's angriest and most vengeful souls to become his seething, bloodthirsty flock in his quest for revenge against all those who have wronged him, including the Guardians of the Universe, whose Manhunters destroyed his entire sector.

The comic also introduces the Blue Lantern Corps, further expanding the range of the "Emotional Spectrum" leading up to the proceeding Blackest Night event. With the primary purpose of playing a supporting role to back up the struggling GLC, its ranks consisted of fan-favourite Saint Walker. The iconic Red and Blue found their way into the underrated Green Lantern: The Animated Series.

Agent Orange (2009)

Larfleeze looks at the viewer with organge flames surrounding him in DC Comics.

Larfleeze is one of the most powerful Green Lantern villains, and his true introduction to the unfolding story of the War of Light began here in a four-part saga by Geoff Johns. After the conflict with Sinestro's army leads to the violation of an ancient treaty to avoid the Vega system, the Guardians dispatch Hal Jordan to the planet Okaara in sector 2828 on a diplomatic mission.

While the rest of the Corps struggles to contain a prison break on Oa, Hal Jordan encounters "Agent Orange" for the first time, the greediest being in the universe. Still wearing both a green and blue ring after the events of Rage of the Red Lanterns, Hal enters a tense battle of wits as Larfleeze's backstory is revealed in his pursuit of Hal's shiny new trinket -- eager to hoard the shiny thing.

Blackest Night (2009)

Green Lantern holds his ring as dark zombies gather behind him in Blackest Night.

Blackest Night was not only the biggest Green Lantern event but was arguably the largest DC crossover event since Crisis on Infinite Earths. Every corner of the grand mythos got involved, almost every title dedicating an issue or two to the unfolding calamity affecting the universe as Nekron -- death itself -- turned DC's many dead into an endless zombie army.

The sheer scale of the spectacle, and the premise of DC's dead heroes and villains resurrected as zombies, made Blackest Night into one of the most unmissable comic events of the year. Of course, it also seemed like bringing the entire Green Lantern world to a head with a storyline that began in a classic Green Lantern story from the '80s by resolving the prophecy of the Blackest Night.

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