Power ring (DC Comics)

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Power ring
The Green Lantern Corps' Weapon
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	All-American Comics #16 (July, 1940)
Created by	Martin Nodell Bill Finger[1]
In story information
Type	Weapon
Element of stories featuring	Alan Scott Green Lantern Corps Red Lantern Corps Blue Lantern Corps Sinestro Corps Orange Lantern Corps Black Lantern Corps Indigo Lantern Corps Violet Lantern Corps

A power ring is a fictional object in the DC Comics Universe, most notably used by the Green Lantern Corps. These rings are considered to be the most powerful weapons in the DC Universe, as its effects are limited only by the imagination and willpower of its wielder.^[2] It first appeared in All-American Comics #16 in July 1940 and was created by Martin Nodell, "with some scripting help from Bill Finger."^[1]

Contents 1 Green Lantern Corps 1.1 Origin 1.2 Capabilities 1.3 Limitations 1.4 Oaths 1.5 Kyle Rayner 1.6 The Corpse 2 Other power rings 2.1 The prophecy 2.2 Other color variants 2.2.1 Red 2.2.2 Orange 2.2.3 Yellow 2.2.4 Blue 2.2.5 Indigo 2.2.6 Violet 2.2.7 Black 3 Other similar power rings 3.1 Power Ring 3.2 Starheart 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Green Lantern Corps

[edit] Origin

The power ring first appeared along with the very first Green Lantern, Alan Scott^[3], but "[s]cience in the original Green Lantern series was never a concern."^[1] When the Green Lantern character was reinvented, with the introduction of Hal Jordan,^[4] the more magical ring was replaced with a scientifically-based one.^[5] The ring is given a number of limitations: the charge only lasts for twenty-four hours and "due to a flaw in the unique metal that powers the battery, the ring is useless against anything colored yellow."^[5]

This origin shows the Guardians of the Universe^[6] creating the Green Lantern Corps^[7] and dividing space into 3600 sectors, they have currently assigned two Green Lanterns to patrol each sector and each one has a power ring to assist them in their duties. Power rings are depicted as staggeringly advanced technological artifacts capable of generating a variety of effects, sustained by the wearer's orientation to a particular aspect of the emotional spectrum.^[2]

Normally, an individual will only receive a power ring upon the death of the previous wielder, and then only if they pass the criteria for membership in the Corps. It is unusual for someone to wield more than one power ring at once.

[edit] Capabilities

The power ring has been shown capable of accomplishing virtually anything within the imagination of the one wearing it; the greater the user's willpower, the more effective the ring. No hard upper limit to the power ring's capabilities has yet been demonstrated and it is often referred to as "the most powerful weapon in the universe".^[2] On at least one occasion the rings have been shown to be capable of creating physical changes in the wearer (such as when Arisia aged herself to adulthood). However, there is a limit to the amount of willpower the ring can take, as seen when John Stewart attempted to use his ring to re-build a destroyed planet, only to fail, and receive a warning from his ring saying "willpower exceeding power ring capabilities".^[8]

Power rings allow the user to fly and to cover themselves and others with a protective, life-supporting force field, suitable for traveling through outer space, underwater and other hostile environments. The ring also generates its wearer's Green Lantern uniform; the uniform is not made out of fabric.^{[citation needed]} It is created by the Power Ring whenever the wearer wills to wear it. It automatically appears over the wearer's normal clothing, and vanishes when the wearer wills to return to their civilian attire (in battle, a Green Lantern's costume is often shown tearing. This is more for dramatic effect.)^{[citation needed]} The uniform varies from lantern to lantern, based on anatomy, personal preference and the social norms of their race. The only rule in this regard seems to be that the lantern must openly display the symbol of the corps, though even this has been modified based on preference (a vampire-hunting Lantern adapted the symbol into a cross, and a blind Lantern with no concept of light or color used the image of a bell).^[9]

The power ring's most distinctive effect is the generation of green 'solid-light' constructs, the precise physical nature of which has never been specified. The size, complexity and strength of these 'solid-light' constructs is limited only by the ring-bearer's willpower. Thus Green Lanterns are often seen creating cages, transportation platforms, restraints, weapons, walls, battering rams, vehicles, tools, boxing gloves, etc. The style of construct varies with the character and mindset of the person wielding the ring. Hal Jordan tends to create solid, workmanlike constructs; John Stewart's constructs are almost like three-dimensional blueprints, with carefully-designed internal workings, as he is an architect by trade; Kyle Rayner, an artist, uses the ring as an imaginative outlet, envisioning cartoonish and often highly detailed constructs. Guy Gardner's ring is constantly sparking, even at rest, and his creations are simple, and often blurred by the excess energy his willpower causes. The alien Kilowog's ring, for reasons yet unrevealed is, according to Hal, "The only one that makes a sound". Kilowog unleashing his power ring is often accompanied by a loud sonic boom.^[10]

Power rings are capable of generating electromagnetic radiation of various frequencies. This radiation can be focused by the wearer into a beam, similar in appearance and effect to a massively powerful laser. The ring can also scan for energy signatures or particular objects and often serves as a universal translator. Less frequently used capabilities include splitting atomic nuclei and manipulating subatomic particles (thereby transmuting chemical elements). A power ring is also capable of creating new, fully functional duplicates of itself. Each of these duplicates shares the qualities and capabilities of the original ring; however, each duplicate still requires recharging by a power battery.

Power rings usually have to be worn to be effective. However, it has occasionally been shown to be possible to wield (or at least summon) the ring without touching it, or while somebody else is wearing it, or to order it to carry out commands automatically after being removed. Power rings also appear to be highly advanced computers, able to talk to and advise the wearer as to various courses of action; the ring of a killed Green Lantern will automatically seek out a suitable replacement Lantern.

The requirements needed to wield a power ring have changed sporadically across the years, often creating continuity confusions. Allowing power rings to fall into the wrong hands has been a favorite plot device in many previous Green Lantern stories, since in general, power rings can be wielded by whoever wears them. However, only people with exceptional wills can use power rings, a restriction which makes uses of the rings by average individuals impossible.^[11]

In some versions, a power ring can only be used by someone who literally has no concept of fear and is completely honest. Sometimes, this is treated as just a recommendation.

Some power rings have been shown to have genetic 'locks' allowing use only by their designated owner, such as Kyle Rayner's, which could only be used by him or his descendants. Although this does provide a good level of security, villains have found ways around it, such as the Manhunters who used tissue samples to make the ring think it was still on Kyle's hand.^[12]

[edit] Limitations

Power rings typically hold a limited charge. Originally, they required recharging every 24 hours, but more recently it seems that they possess a fixed amount of regular charge.^[13] Power rings are usually recharged by a Green Lantern's personal power battery, which looks like an old fashioned lantern made of dark green metal. The user typically points the ring towards the lantern, and usually gives a Green Lantern oath (below) while recharging the ring. These batteries are directly linked to the Central Power Battery on Oa and do not themselves need recharging.^[2]

Green Lantern Corps rings typically reserve a small portion of their power for a passive force field that "protects the wielder from mortal harm". In dire emergencies, that energy reserve can be tapped, at the expense of said protection, until it too is exhausted.

For a very long time, power rings were unable to affect objects colored yellow. Lanterns have typically found ways to get around these limitations by affecting objects indirectly. For example, if the Lantern is faced with a yellow gas approaching him, a fan can be created to blow it away since the fan only directly affects the normal air around it, not the gas. Originally, it was believed that the "yellow impurity" was implanted deliberately because the Guardians wanted the rings to have a weakness to prevent a Green Lantern from becoming all-powerful. More recent events have revealed that the "yellow impurity" was in fact caused by a yellow energy being, named Parallax, made of pure fear imprisoned in the Central Power Battery. Following the defeat of this creature, an experienced wielder of a power ring can, with effort, overcome the yellow weakness by recognizing the fear behind it, and facing that fear.^[14]

By far, the most significant limitation of the power ring is the willpower of the wielder. Mind control, hallucinogens, psychic attacks, "neural chaff" and other phenomena that disrupt thought processes will all indirectly impair a power ring's effectiveness. More abstractly, so can a weakening of resolve and will. For example, during the Millennium crossover, Hal Jordan fights a Manhunter who psychologically attacks him, to make him doubt that the people he is protecting value the principles he is fighting for. Jordan's resolve begins to weaken and his ring loses effectiveness until one of his charges strikes the Manhunter, declaring that she does deeply value Jordan's principles as well. With this dramatic affirmation, Jordan's faith in his cause is restored and the ring instantly returns to full power. The ring, though, does have some psychic defenses: Guy Gardner's ring apparently is able to put up psi-shields around him and Blue Beetle in their battle against the Ultra-Humanite.^[15]

In the current incarnation of the Corps, the ring was previously programmed to prevent the wielder from using it to kill sentient beings. Hal Jordan was thought to have used power rings to kill a number of Corps members during Emerald Twilight, though he did tell Kilowog that he "left them enough power to survive"^[16] (they were revealed years later to be alive, held prisoner by the Cyborg Superman on the planet Biot. These lanterns are referred to as the "Lost Lanterns"). Any attempt to kill was diverted by the ring, and in some cases resulted in the ring locking out the user.^[17] However, this restriction was rescinded by the Guardians to combat the Sinestro Corps.^[18] Originally permission to kill was only given with regards to Sinestro Corps members, but later the Corps was given permission to kill any who oppose them.^[19]

It has been revealed that only a certain type of willpower can use the ring effectively, or rather, that the willpower must be pure. When Green Arrow tried to use Kyle Rayner's Power Ring against Sinestro, it caused him great pain and difficulty because, according to Sinestro, Green Arrow's will was "cynical".

It has also been shown that the user's stamina is drained with every construct. When Green Arrow fired a small arrow-like construct from the ring (the best his "cynical" will could produce), he later said "It feels like I haven't slept for a week". He then turns to Kyle and asks him "giving your thoughts life, is that what it feels like?", to which Kyle replied "Every time."^[11]

[edit] Oaths

All power rings need periodic recharging. The process is not instantaneous, so many Green Lanterns recite an oath while the ring charges. The oath is not required to charge the ring, but is recited to reaffirm the person's commitment to the Green Lantern Corps, and to measure the time it takes the ring to charge. While many Green Lanterns create their own oath, the majority use the Corps' official oath as a sign of respect. In the interests of political correctness on the part of DC (or, in context, Hal Jordan), the word "blackest" was replaced by "darkest"; this practice has been abandoned with the reinstating of the Green Lantern Corps, due in part to the significance of the Blackest Night comic event. Rot Lop Fan, a Green Lantern from a starless sector, replaces sound for light in his oath.

[edit] Kyle Rayner

After the destruction of Coast City during the "Reign of the Supermen!" story-arc, Green Lantern Hal Jordan goes mad and betrays the Corps. He kills most of the Corps on his way to Oa, enters the Central Power Battery, and absorbs most of its energies along with the yellow impurity to become the villain Parallax. With the Central Power Battery destroyed, all the remaining power rings stop working. In desperation Ganthet, the only surviving Guardian, uses what little power remained to create a new power ring and gave it to Kyle Rayner.

Kyle's ring is unique throughout the history of the Green Lantern Corps, and, for a while, the only working power ring throughout the universe. This ring is not dependent on the Central Power Battery, and free from the yellow impurity. However, the ring does not prevent mortal damage automatically. The ring no longer needs to be charged every 24 hours; instead, it depends on how much power the ring absorbs and/or uses. For example, after the destruction of Oa, Kyle's ring has more power than ever before and does not need to be recharged for an extended period of time. Unlike Hal Jordan's ring, it is unable to make copies of itself.

When a Hal Jordan from the past visits Kyle's time after his own death as Parallax, he gives a copy of his ring to Kyle. Kyle attempts to use the self-replicating ring to restart the Green Lantern Corps, with lackluster results.

It was revealed that Kyle was not chosen at random by Ganthet. Kyle was in fact chosen by the ring because he knows fear and would be able to overcome it.^[11] After the events of Rebirth, the Parallax entity is once again imprisoned within the Central Power Battery. Since the Corps is now aware of its existence, all ring wielders who know fear can overcome it and use their ring against yellow colored objects.

[edit] The Corpse

Members of the "The Corpse" (an elite, top secret black ops division of the Green Lantern Corps) do not use the standard power ring. Instead they swallow a coin-like disk that gives them all the powers of a standard ring for a limited time, except that the energy it generates is purple instead of the traditional green.^[20]

[edit] Other power rings

Artist Ethan Van Sciver worked with Geoff Johns on the concept of a spectrum of power rings and said:

“

We found the idea of the seven different colors and what they meant, and then we tried to see what each of the different corps would represent and what kind of people they were. I always call it a religion. I think of these different colors as religions. And I use that word with Geoff, and I'm not sure that he agrees. But the way I think of it is that they all sort of focus around one sort of human drive. Not even an emotion. I know it's called the emotional spectrum, but I tend to use the word "drive," because willpower isn't as much an emotion as a human drive. You have the willpower to get something done.[21]

”

Van Sciver designed aspects of the other Corps, according to Johns "Ethan redefined the way Green Lanterns’ energy is used visually. He started the “siren” symbol and now it’s everywhere. He also designed the various Corps’ symbols and there’s a rhyme and reason to them all."^[22]

[edit] The prophecy

The Book of Oa has a forbidden chapter on cosmic revelations, which included prophecies about the "Blackest Night". At the end of the Sinestro Corps War, the Guardians of the Universe known as Ganthet and Sayd reveal to the four Earth-based Green Lanterns the final verse of the prophecy, known as the "Blackest Night", which reveals that five more Corps, one for each of the remaining colors of the rainbow, will be created in the future and that war will break out between the eight Corps until they destroy each other and the universe, leading to the Blackest Night.^[23][21]

Geoff Johns says^[22] it has its origins in the story "Tygers" by Alan Moore, which touches on the rising up of the Guardians' enemies, like the Weaponers of Qward, Ranx the Sentient City and the Children of the White Lobe,^[24] and the destruction of the Green Lanterns, showing Sodam Yat and Mogo dying.^[25]

[edit] Other color variants

The known variants of power rings are the green (Oan, "willpower"),^[26] yellow (Qwardian, "fear")^[26], violet (Zamaron, "love")^[27], red (Ysmault, "rage")^[19], orange (Okaaran, "avarice")^[28], blue (Odym, "hope")^[29], indigo ("compassion") and black ("death") rings.^[30]

According to Ganthet, the farther from the center of the spectrum the color, the more control the rings have over their users; therefore, red and violet rings have a considerable amount of influence over their users.^[31]

[edit] Red

A red ring feeds on the rage of its user, and is charged by the blood of those the user kills.^[30][28] Red rings constantly emit commands and terms such as "Kill" "Rage", "Pain", "Hatred", "Blood", and "Burn". Under the rings' influence, Red Lanterns' hearts are replaced in function by the ring, the ring's energy replacing their blood, which is regurgitated through the bearers mouth in a highly corrosive form. The ring's energy is discharged as a liquid capable of explosively combusting in the vacuum of space. The red ring's energy can also capable of corrupting the energies of other power rings, preventing their proper functions.^[28] The ring aura of the red ring is savage and not as smooth as their green counterparts. The Red Lanterns were first mentioned in Booster Gold (vol. 2) #2 in a note written on Rip Hunter's chalkboard which read "Beware the Red Lanterns???". In issue #10 another note appeared which read "RED LANTERNS = BLOOD". Atrocitus, a member of the Empire of Tears on the prison planet Ysmault, forges the first Red Power Battery from the innards of Qull^[28], the being who told Abin Sur the prophecy of "the Blackest Night". Laira, one of the "Lost Lanterns", later receives the second red power ring.^[19] The Blue Lanterns' energy is the only known power source capable of neutralizing the Red Lanterns' influences.

[edit] Orange

An orange ring is powered by avarice, or greed. The wielders of the orange rings are covered in a deeper aura than members of other Corps. According to Ganthet, "the orange light of avarice will be discovered and manipulated by a being whose greed knows no bounds".^[30] The Controllers, an off-shoot of the Oan race, are searching for the orange light in the Vegan star system in order to create their own Corps,^[19] as is a new character known only as Agent Orange. On the final page of Green Lantern #38 it is revealed that Agent Orange's name is Larfleeze. Wielders of orange rings also appear to steal the power rings of other Corps.^[30]

[edit] Yellow

The first yellow ring was acquired by Sinestro following his banishment to the anti-matter universe of Qward, and could only be recharged by fighting a Green Lantern. Years later, after losing the ring to Guy Gardner and reacquiring it, Sinestro created the Sinestro Corps.^[32] The yellow rings used by the Sinestro Corps are fueled by fear as opposed to willpower and are recharged by Yellow Power Batteries.

[edit] Blue

At the end of the war with the Sinestro Corps, former Guardians of the Universe Ganthet and Sayd used the emotion of hope to create the first blue power ring, thus creating the Blue Lantern Corps. The first Blue Lantern was shown to be an alien named Saint Walker, who came to the aid of the Green Lanterns after they were ambushed by Atrocitus and the Red Lanterns.^[30][33][28] The second Blue Lantern was shown to be Warth, an elephant-like creature who was selected by Saint Walker.^[34] A blue power ring has the ability to heal wounds, neutralize the corruptive effects of a red power ring, recharge a green power ring to twice its maximum power level^[28], and can drain the power from yellow power rings. The constructs of a blue ring represent calming images that inspire hope to their targets. A blue power ring is capable of feeding off the hope of other beings, eschewing constant recharging as shown when Saint Walker and Warth use their rings to reverse the age of a dying sun 8.6 billion years and their rings feed off the hope of the billions of alien beings who witnessed the act. The home planet of the Blue Lanterns and the Blue Power Battery is the planet Odym, a beautiful and diverse planet orbiting the star Polaris. The emotion of hope is described as "the most powerful of lights" by Saint Walker, implying that the Blue Lantern's rings are the most powerful yet.^[34] The ring aura of a Blue Lantern is similar to its green counterpart, but the light it generates is emitted in a series of concentric circles. The major weakness of the Blue Lanterns is that they require an active Green Lantern member nearby to perform tasks beyond flight and generation of the standard protective aura.

[edit] Indigo

The bearers of the indigo power wield staff-like lanterns composed of coral-like material, which are powered by compassion. The wielders of this power resemble Shamans and tattoo their bodies with the symbol of their Corps. They appear to be neutral in the war helping injured on both sides.^[21] This corps exists to spread goodwill throughout the universe.^[30]

[edit] Violet

After realizing that the power of the Star Sapphire was too great for them to control, the Zamarons forged a Violet Power Battery and power ring out of the Star Sapphire gem. Violet power rings are fueled by the emotion of love, one of the two emotions, with the other being rage, that most influence their user.^[27] At this moment, it is unknown whether or not the Corps will include male members.^[21] The first recruit was Miri Riam of the planet Lartnec, who had just lost her husband to an attack by Mongul.^[35] The second Star Sapphire to be recruited is the villain Fatality, who has plagued the Green Lantern Corps in the past.^[36] The rings of this corps are able to encase their targets in crystal. Corpsmen of other corps have been shown to be slowly converted into Star Sapphires, their rings infected by the violet light. They are able to detect when true love is being threatened, and can use the love shared between two hearts to act as a tether.^[37] The ring aura of the violet ring is asymmetric and ornate, reminiscent of vines and feathers. The newest member of the Star Sapphire Corps was revealed to be Carol Ferris herself.^[38]

[edit] Black

After the battle with the Sinestro Corps, Superboy-Prime hurled the Anti-Monitor into space, who then crashed on an unknown planet and was encased within a Black Power Battery by an unknown being.^[30][22]

Black power rings are wielded by the deceased. The symbol on black power rings; (a triangle pointing downwards, with five lines radiating upward from the base); is the same symbol used by Green Lantern super-villain Black Hand.^[30] The black rings symbolize a total absence of emotion and life.^[39] A recent promotional release from DC Direct advertising their upcoming "Blackest Night" action figures has shown that some of the Black Lanterns will be the Earth-Two Superman and the Martian Manhunter. Other characters mentioned as future Black Lanterns are Ronnie Raymond aka Firestorm, Conner Kent aka Superboy, and Aquaman. Scar, one of the Guardians of the Universe will become their Guardian.

[edit] Other similar power rings

[edit] Power Ring

Power Ring is also the name of several supervillains from Earth-Three, Earth-3, and the anti-matter universe, usually associated with the Crime Syndicate of Amerika. He has had several incarnations and all have been evil versions of current Green Lanterns, including Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner,^[40] and John Stewart.^[41] Their power rings are cursed with the entity Volthoom, who communicates much like the AI of Corps power rings. Other than that, their powers are mostly similar to the positive-matter power rings. The Bizarro-JLA member Yellow Lantern has a Power Ring that has a Yellow weakness and is thus powerless.

[edit] Starheart

Alan Scott uses a power ring that draws energy from the Starheart. Before the creation of the Corps, the Guardians gathered all the magic they could and imprisoned it in the Starheart. The Starheart found its way to Earth, and met with the power ring and lantern of a banished ex-Green Lantern of Sector 2814. The combined chunk hurtled through the atmosphere and was smelted together into a green rock, which was then forged into a ring by Alan Scott. The limits of this ring's power are currently unknown. Residual effects from wearing it were, however, passed down to Scott's children, the metahumans Jade and Obsidian.

Jade was able to tap into the Starheart naturally and use its power without the necessity of a ring. For a time, Alan Scott absorbed the Starheart, and was able to use the power in similar fashion. When Jade died, Kyle Rayner absorbed her energy, and could tap into both the Starheart and the Central Power Battery as Ion. During the Sinestro Corps War, Rayner was separated from the Ion entity, a benevolent symbiote and living embodiment of willpower, and was granted a standard power ring to become a normal Green Lantern. It is unclear if Rayner's link to the Starheart remains, or if it was transferred with the Ion symbiote to its newest host, Sodam Yat.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Gresh, Lois H.; Robert Weinberg, Dean Koontz (2002). The Science of Superheroes. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 224. ISBN 0471024600. 

[edit] External links

• Green Lantern Oaths

v • d • e Green Lantern Creators Bill Finger • Martin Nodell • John Broome • Gil Kane • Dennis O'Neil • Neal Adams • Ron Marz • Darryl Banks • Geoff Johns • Other writers and artists Green Lanterns Alan Scott • Hal Jordan • Guy Gardner • John Stewart • Kyle Rayner • Jade Green Lantern Corps Guardians of the Universe: Appa Ali Apsa  • Ganthet  • Sayd  • Lianna  • Scar Members: Abin Sur • Arisia • Boodikka • Ch'p • Flodo Span • G'nort • Graf Toren • Green Man • Isamot Kol • Jack T. Chance • Katma Tui • Ke'Haan • Kilowog • Kreon • Laira • Medphyll • Mogo • Raker Qarrigat • Salaak • Sodam Yat • Soranik Natu • Stel • Tomar-Re • Tomar-Tu • Turytt • Vath Sarn Additional: Ion • The Alpha Lanterns • The Corpse Supporting Characters Alexandra DeWitt • Carol Ferris • Doiby Dickles • Oliver Queen • Roy Harper • Molly Mayne • Obsidian • Rose Canton • Terry Berg • Thomas Kalmaku Enemies Amon Sur • Atrocitus • Black Hand • Controllers • Doctor Polaris • Effigy • Evil Star • Fatality • Goldface • Harlequin • Hector Hammond • Legion • Major Force • Manhunters • Monsieur Stigmonus • Nekron • Nero • Red Lantern Corps • Scar • Shark • Solomon Grundy • Sonar • Star Sapphire • Tattooed Man • Thorn • Traitor • Vandal Savage • Zamaron Sinestro Corps: Anti-Monitor • Hank Henshaw • Parallax • Sinestro • Superboy-Prime • Other members Locations Coast City • Korugar • Maltus • Oa • Qward • Zamaron Storylines "Snowbirds Don't Fly" • "Emerald Twilight" • "Emerald Knights" • Circle of Fire • Rebirth • Rann-Thanagar War • Recharge • "Sinestro Corps War" • The Blackest Night Miscellanea Power Ring • Emotional spectrum • Green Lantern in other media • Green Lantern: First Flight