The fearsome enemies of the Green Lanterns, the rage-fueled Red Lantern Corps, may not be the monsters everyone sees them as. Their stalwart leader Atrocitus revealed that he targeted a specific set of aliens to be the first members in his Corps' mission of vengeance.
Few energies in the Emotional Spectrum are as intense or life-changing as the Red Light of Rage. Unlike the light wielded by the Green Lantern Crops, the Red Lanterns' energy is found one of the furthest ends of the spectrum. And also unlike the Green Light of Will, the energy that powers the Red Lantern Corps drives those who embrace it mad with anger. With the exception of Atrocitus and a few others, most Red Lanterns are returned to a primal, beast-like state when they don a Red Lantern ring. With nothing on their mind but destruction and a constant spewing of acidic bile, the Red Lanterns are intimidating.
Despite their appearance, the animalistic Lanterns have quite the tragic secret that puts their Corps in a heartbreaking new light. In Green Lantern #36 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis, Sinestro has been kidnapped by his old adversary, Atrocitus. Though he’s no longer a Green Lantern, Sinestro helped assist with Atrocitus' imprisonment and the furious alien is ready to exact his revenge. After rescuing the disgraced former Lantern from his scheduled execution, Atrocitus has Sinestro brought to the Red Lanterns' home base of Ysmault so that Atrocitus can achieve his own brand of justice. Atrocitus beckons his snarling Lanterns back and tells Sinestro to gaze upon the members of his Corps. Apparently, the first wave of recruits Atrocitus has sought out for his Corps are all made up of victims from Sinestro's assault on the universe in the "Sinestro Corps War" storyline.
The Sinestro Corps War was Sinestro's attempt to replace the Green Lanterns for good with a Corps that utilized the Yellow Light of Fear. After amassing the worst criminals from all across the universe, Sinestro and his underlings tore apart several sectors in their mission, leaving an untold number of victims in their wake. Atrocitus' intentional selection of Sinestro victims isn't just ironic statement for his army, it's a reveal that re-contextualizes the most misunderstood Corps in the Emotional Spectrum.
Because of their appearance and bloodthirsty nature, many assume the Red Lanterns are villainous. While they may desire vengeance upon Sinestro and the Green Lanterns, it’s actually understandable once their backgrounds are brought to light. Atrocitus is the survivor of a massacre committed by the Guardians of the Universe’s Manhunters while Bleez was a princess on her home world before she was assaulted by the Sinestro Corps. The Red Lanterns are beings who have been caught up in struggles they had no say in. Most members have lost everything except their anger and Atrocitus used that feeling to give them back meaning to their lives. The Red Lanterns may appear to be villains, but to them, the Green Lanterns are the bad guys.