DC Confirms It's Rebooting Classic Villain for Next Green Lantern Appearance

Published Oct 29, 2026, 4:31 PM EDT Shaun Corley has been with ScreenRant for over 5 years, and is currently the Coordinator for PR and Outreach for the Comics Team. Warning: contains spoilers for Green Lantern #40! DC has confirmed it is rebooting a classic Green Lantern villain ahead of a new major storyline. Green Lantern has some of the most powerful foes in comics, such as Sinestro or Nekron. As Green Lantern is a DC powerhouse, it is fitting that his rogues’ gallery be as equally impressive. One of Green Lantern’s oldest villains is Black Hand. Introduced in the Silver Age of Comics, Black Hand remained a minor threat at best. However, the buildup to 2009’s Blackest Night reworked Black Hand, taking him from a small-timer to the big leagues, thanks to a power boost from Nekron. As revealed in Blackest Night, Nekron was using Black Hand as an emissary of sorts, preparing the way for the demon’s invasion of our reality. Earth’s heroes, led by Green Lantern, were able to liberate the dead from Nekron’s clutches, and turn back his attack. In the aftermath of the Blackest Night, Black Hand was taken into custody by the Indigo Lanterns, who “cured” him of his maladies. Black Hand was last seen during the New 52 era, where he was seemingly consumed by the Source Wall. The character has not been a presence in the Green Lantern comics in over a decade, but all that is about to change, as a new Black Hand arises, one sure to shock fans, and Kyle Rayner. There Is A New Black Hand In The DC Universe In Green Lantern #40, written by Jeremy Adams and drawn by Scott Godlewski and Vasco Georgiev, a new Black Hand is chosen. In recent issues of Green Lantern, the various multicolored Lantern Corps have entered into a power-sharing agreement, casting aside their differences for the good of the galaxy. Working together on Oa, the Corps are united for the first time ever. Yet, as seen at the end of the issue, not all is well. Acknowledging that for reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction, someone, presumably Nekron, summons Alexandra DeWitt to be the latest incarnation of Black Hand. DeWitt rises from the muck, with Nekron’s voice telling Alexandra that her pain has been “found worthy.” The former girlfriend of Kyle Rayner has been given a dark new lease on life. Alexandra DeWitt's Return As The Black Hand Plays Off A Comic Trope Alexandra DeWitt made only a handful of appearances in the DC Universe. She was Kyle’s lover when he was given the sole remaining Green Lantern Power Ring, and was tragically killed early in Kyle’s career, her body mutilated and stuffed into a refrigerator. The loss would haunt Kyle for the rest of his life. Furthermore, outside of comics, DeWitt’s senseless death raised questions about the roles of women in the genre, conversations that continue to this day. Furthermore, outside of comics, DeWitt’s senseless death raised questions about the roles of women in the genre, conversations that continue to this day. And it is possible that Green Lantern #40’s creative team is building off of this trope. Many fans, particularly women, were outraged over how Alexandra DeWitt was handled. Her death early on in the run led many to speculate she was created just to kill her off and thus spur Kyle’s development as a character. DeWitt was robbed of her agency, and she has a right to be mad about it. Most likely, Nekron is manipulating DeWitt, using her justified anger to corrupt her, and turn her into the Black Hand. The death entity did something very similar to DeWitt’s predecessor, goading him along a dark path until he had no choice but to become Nekron’s avatar. In this case, DeWitt may still harbor lingering resentment towards Kyle and the Green Lanterns as a whole. Nekron sees this as an opportunity, and weaponizes DeWitt’s discontent. What Does Black Hand's Return Mean For The Green Lantern Corps? Could Another Blackest Night-Style Event Be On The Horizon? Black Hand’s return will be a shock to all Green Lanterns, but especially to Kyle Rayner. Even though fans only got to see Kyle and Alexandra together for a short time, it was clear they loved each other. Seeing his former girlfriend, now a pawn of one of the Green Lantern Corps’ greatest enemies, will shake Kyle’s faith in himself. The new Black Hand could also signal Nekron’s return to the mainstream DC Universe, in which case the Green Lanterns are truly in trouble. Green Lantern #40 is on sale now from DC Comics!