When was the Concept of Multiple Colors Besides Green Introduced in the Green Lantern Comics?

The concept of multiple colors for the Green Lanterns has undergone numerous retcons (retroactive continuity changes) throughout the years of publication. This article delves into the history and evolution of these colors in the DC Comics series.

Origins of Green and Yellow Energy

Initially, the Green Lanterns were limited to only two colored energies: green and yellow. The green energy was harnessed by the Green Lantern Corps through their famous power rings. This green energy was first introduced via John Broome and Gil Kane in Showcase 22 in 1959.

The yellow energy, on the other hand, was solely harnessed by Sinestro through his infamous Qwardian power ring. The yellow energy made its debut in Green Lantern volume 2, issue 9, in 1961, also by John Broome and Gil Kane.

The Introduction of the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum

The groundbreaking idea of an Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum was introduced by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver in Green Lantern: Rebirth, volume 1, issue 3, in 2005. This led to the re-interpretation of green energy as the collective raw willpower from 'all living beings within the universe.' It also retconned both entities, Ion and Parallax, to be energy beings of living willpower and fear respectively.

This idea set the precedent for all other colored energies to represent different emotions, as seen below:

Yellow energy became the collective raw fear. Violet energy was retconned to represent the collective raw love. Red, blue, and orange energies were redefined to correspond with respective emotions: rage, compassion, avarice, and hope.

The Formation of Additional Lantern Corps

The Sinestro Corps, representing yellow energy, was first introduced in Green Lantern, volume 4, issue 10, in 2006 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. The Star Sapphire Corps, representing violet energy, was introduced in Green Lantern, volume 4, issue 20, in 2007 by Geoff Johns and Daniel Acu?a, defining the power of love.

The other four colors, Red, Indigo, Orange, and Blue, were each represented by their respective Lantern Corps, created and introduced in Green Lantern, volume 4, issue 25, in 2008: Red Lantern Corps representing collective raw rage. Indigo Lantern Corps representing compassion. Orange Lantern Corps representing avarice. Blue Lantern Corps representing collective raw hope.

The Black Lantern Corps, representing emotional blackness, was then introduced in Green Lantern, volume 4, issue 43, in 2009 by Geoff Johns and racially-descriptive artists.

The White Lantern Corps, representing emotional positivity, was introduced in Blackest Night, issue 7, in 2010 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.

The latest addition to the lineup, the Ultraviolet Lantern Corps, was introduced in Justice League, volume 4, issue 2, in 2018 by Scott Snyder and Jorge Jiménez, representing the exaltation of both positive and negative emotions.

This evolution of the Green Lantern concept highlights the dynamic nature of comic book storytelling and the continuous efforts by creators to add depth and complexity to their narratives.