DC Brings Back Green Lantern Villains In A Wild, New Cosmic Setting

Published Sep 6, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT Adam has been writing in the entertainment news space for over a decade. Beginning his career of covering film and TV at CinemaBlend, he has also appeared on The Flash Podcast and done several radio spots. When Alan Scott was introduced as the first Green Lantern in 1940, the powers afforded to him by his lantern and ring were magical in nature. However, ever since Hal Jordan became the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps, this DC Comics property has been steeped in science fiction and cosmic elements. Though some Green Lantern foes hail from Earth, like the telepathic Hector Hammond and magnetic Doctor Polaris, they’re outnumbered by the From Sinestro and his Yellow Lantern Corps, to the Manhunters that originally served the Guardians of the Universe, most of the best Green Lantern villains have originated from other corners of the 3600 sectors that comprise the DC Universe. Another group of heavy hitters have now returned within the current Green Lantern Corps title, and they’ve done so in a new cosmic setting that’s one of DC’s wildest yet. The Darkstars Are Back On A Giant Tardigrade Green Lantern Corps #20, Written By Morgan Hampton, Art By Juan José Ryp, Cover Art By Travis Mercer The preview for Green Lantern Corps #20 opens with Jo Mullein, one of Earth’s many Green Lanterns, trying to enjoy some shore leave at a bar in Sector 1993. This bar is located in Zillaboq the Living City, which is a giant tardigrade, a creature that’s solely microscopic in real life. This metropolis, being established on a living organism, differs from Mogo, the sentient planet member of the Green Lantern Corps, and Ranx, the sentient city that was recruited into the Sinestro Corps. Unfortunately for Jo, she’s prevented from relaxing at the bar when she learns that it doesn’t serve Green Lanterns. This is a directive from the Darkstars, three of whom confront her and claim that the Green Lantern Corps has no jurisdiction on Zillaboq because it’s “its own incorporated celestial body.” They claim that the Living City has “designated the Darkstars as its enforcement under Spacecorp,” which has been established following the Green Lanterns’ perceived failure against the now-dissolved United Planets. Making matters worse, Jo is placed under arrest by these Darkstars for allegedly “violating” the extent of her authority, despite her offering to leave the bar willingly. While Jo tries to fight back, they launch a mechanical device onto her ring hand, then knock her unconscious to deliver her to an individual named Mogul. Assuming this isn’t a spelling error referring to the powerful DC villain Mongul, then the Darkstars are now allied with a new player on the proverbial board who also has it out for the Green Lantern Corps. What To Know About The Darkstars DC Comics Introduced in 1992’s Darkstars #1 by writer Michael Jan Friedman and artist Larry Stroman, the Darkstars were founded by the Controllers, a group of evolved Oans that split off from the group that became the Guardians of the Universe. Rather than simply wanting to police the universe, the Controllers felt that the armored Darkstars should be used to eliminate evil entirely. John Stewart even commanded this law enforcement organization for a time after losing his Green Lantern powers in the “Emerald Twilight” storyline. However, eventually the Controllers stopped backing the Darkstars because too many of these agents were only acting in their own self-interests. During the DC Rebirth era, the Controllers attempted to revive this police force using exo-mantles more lethal and tactically-enhanced than the previous versions. Alas, they were thwarted again when this new generation of Darkstar mantles gained sentience and began recruiting members on their own, including former Green Lantern Tomar-Tu. Though the new Darkstars were defeated by the Green Lanterns, somehow they remain active and are claiming jurisdiction under the supervision of Spacecorp. It’s also possible that these individuals aren’t true Darkstars, but have rather commandeered leftover Darkstar technology for their own purposes, as the solicitation for Green Lantern Corps #20 says that Jo “picks a fight with space bandits.” On the other hand, Issue #21’s solicitation says that these “pirates” were on “legitimate business” and have their own “solicitors” that will confront the Green Lantern Corps’ “legal representatives,” further complicating things. Green Lantern Corps #20 will be released Wednesday, September 9 by DC Comics. Created By Martin Nodell, Bill Finger, John Broome, Gil Kane, Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams Cast Ryan Reynolds First Appearance All-American Comics Alias Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, Sojourner Mullein Alliance Justice League, Justice Society of America, Green Lantern Corps Movies Green Lantern