Wrath of the First Lantern

At a glance

This closes the run that began with Green Lantern: Rebirth in 2004. It follows Rise of the Third Army in the New 52 line, which continued the earlier Green Lantern history.

Why read it?

The First Lantern, Volthoom, is free and experiments with the emotional histories of the Lanterns. His power turns their memories and possible lives into threats. Hal and Sinestro’s thread converges with the Corps, Kyle’s New Guardians and the Red Lanterns.

Watch for: the return of choices made throughout Johns’ run. The story works as a culmination of Hal and Sinestro’s relationship and the Guardians’ failures; it is a poor first stop if you want those reveals to retain their weight.

Before, during and after

• Before — recommended: Green Lantern (2011) #1–16, #0 and Annual #1, with the Rise of the Third Army crossover. The main reading guide explains this final phase.
• Hal-focused route: Green Lantern (2011) #17–20 follows the central conflict and Johns’ finale. It leaves out the other casts’ experiences.
• Full event: read the combined Wrath of the First Lantern collection in its printed order: #17–20 from each of the four series. Red Lanterns continues through #20 here, not only #18.
• Next: #21 onward begins new creative runs across the line. For a later Hal ensemble starting point, try Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps.

The Hal-only collection Green Lantern Vol. 3: The End and the four-title Wrath collection serve different purposes and overlap. Check their contents before choosing both.

People to follow

Hal JordanThe run’s central hero reaches its final trial. SinestroHis relationship with Hal anchors the conclusion. Kyle RaynerThe New Guardians thread joins the crisis. Carol FerrisAn experienced Star Sapphire and ally. AtrocitusBrings the Red Lantern perspective.