Warning: The following contains spoilers for Green Lantern #1, by Geoffrey Thorne, Dexter Soy, Marco Santucci, Alex Sinclair and Rob Leigh, on sale now.
Since its inception, the Sinestro Corps has been diametrically opposed to the Green Lantern Corps. Most of the time, the Sinestro Corps fight the Green Lanterns with their physical might. Recently, however, the Sinestro Corps got a new look, one which implies a new kind of power.
Sinestro and his Yellow Lanterns made their most recent appearance in Green Lantern #1, by Geoffrey Thorne, Dexter Soy and Marco Santucci. The Sinestro Corps are representatives of New Korugar during a meeting of the United Planets. This United Planets Conclave is held on Oa, where the entire political structure of the galaxy is being rebuilt. One of the first items on the agenda is whether or not the Green Lanterns should be accepted into the United Planets.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
The Sinestro Corps, in particular, speaks out against the Green Lanterns. Draped in their new ceremonial garb, the Sinestro Corps indicate their new, more political role within the United Planets.
Sinestro uses this political power to speak against the Green Lanterns, and, more specifically, the Guardians of the Universe. Sinestro elaborates on the Guardians’ failures, which are mainly based on their fears. These fears have created several problems in the galaxy, which the Green Lanterns have taken credit for solving.
Sinestro does have a point. In the past, the Guardians have appointed themselves as sole protectors of the galaxy, which has had its pitfalls. First and foremost, Sinestro cites Krona, the Mad Guardian. Krona was consumed by his thirst for knowledge, driving him mad and making him a threat to the entire galaxy in 1965’s Green Lantern #40, by John Broome and Gil Kane.
Another one of the Guardians was scarred and mentally warped by the Anti-Monitor in 2008’s Green Lantern #25, by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and Ethan van Sciver. This scarred Guardian betrayed the Green Lantern Corps by setting the events of “Blackest Night” in motion and inciting a war between the various lantern corps across the emotional spectrum.
The Guardians have also created faulty police forces which have threatened the galaxy, including the Manhunters and the Third Army. As iterated throughout Green Lantern #1, the Green Lantern Corps has done much good, but some of their deeds have merely cleaned up the mistakes of their masters, Guardians. Sinestro, as a former Green Lantern, knows all of this firsthand. Sinestro mastered fear because he believed that the Guardians were controlled by it, even though they would never admit it.
Now, as part of the United Planets, the Sinestro Corps has more power than ever against the Green Lantern Corps. This power has manifested itself in a political manner, which can be much more dangerous than any physical threat. New Korugar had a seat on the United Planets before the Green Lanterns did, giving them a sense of superiority in this issue.
Sinestro and his cohorts can speak out against the Green Lantern Corps, exploiting the dark history behind their actions. In this way, Sinestro can call the Guardians out on their previous misdeeds and lessen their influence on the United Planets. Even now, the Green Lantern Corps has been accepted into the United Planets, but their road won’t be easy.
No longer are the Guardians in charge of protecting the galaxy. Now, forces like the Sinestro Corps have control over the galaxy’s political landscape. With this in mind, Sinestro Corps has some ability to prevent the Green Lantern Corps from taking action in the future. This political power isn’t something that can be easily beaten. Unless New Korugar is somehow removed from the United Planets, they’ll always have a voice to use against the Green Lantern Corps.
In the meantime, the Sinestro Corps have the power to propose their own ideas for protecting the galaxy. Knowing Sinestro, New Korugar will probably use their political power to enforce justice through fear. Other planets might side with the Sinestro Corps, considering the turbulent history of the Green Lanterns. In the future, the Sinestro Corps will likely be a political force to be reckoned with.
About The Author