DC's New Green Lantern Team Assembles This Week

Published Oct 10, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT

Nicolas Ayala is a Senior Writer for the Comics team at ScreenRant, with over five years of experience writing about Superhero media, action movies, and TV shows. 

DC's Green Lantern lore experienced a drastic shake-up in 2026, and a new team of ring wearers rises to replace the original Corps as a direct result. The Guardians of the Universe established order across the DC Universe when they partitioned the cosmos into 3,600 sectors and harnessed the green light of willpower to police the stars, intentionally suppressing the rest of the volatile Emotional Spectrum. Over time, other emotional frequencies manifested throughout the galaxy, with each distinct color birthing its own Corps.

Despite their noble intentions, the Lantern Corps system is filled with vulnerabilities that constantly threaten the universe. The rigid boundaries between Lanterns have sparked countless wars. Thaal Sinestro corrupted his position to build a tyrannical empire of fear, Atrocitus channelled the red light of rage to lead the Red Lanterns, and Larfleeze kept the orange light of greed for himself. These factions, alongside Nekron and the Black Hand's Black Lanterns, are constant threats to the Green Lanterns' attempts to keep order across the universe.

The division of the Emotional Spectrum into separate factions is ultimately an idea fated to fail. Sentient life requires a fluid collection of multiple emotions to reach equilibrium, so true universal stability demands their eventual integration.

The Alpha Guardians Officially Assemble

Green Lantern Corps #21; Written By Morgan Hampton; Art By Juan José Ryp

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The newly transformed Chrome Lantern Corps created the Alpha Guardians in the pages of Green Lantern Corps #19. After coming to an agreement with the Emotional Entities themselves, this team unites the entire Emotional Spectrum under a singular banner. The divine Emotional Entities choose to merge directly with a select group of veteran ring-wielders who devote their heroic efforts to a shared purpose. Now, in Green Lantern Corps #21, the Chrome Lantern Jessica Cruz gathers the Alpha Guardians for the very first time, assigning them the responsibility of being "the first into every battle and at the forefront of every decision."

The Alpha Guardians count six powerful peacekeepers among their ranks, each embodying an Emotional Entity. Red Lantern Razer represents rage, the authoritative Soranik Natu represents fear, the hyper-advanced artificial intelligence Aya represents willpower, the serene Saint Walker represents hope, and the warrior Fatality represents compassion. Naturally, the notoriously greedy Larfleeze embodies avarice, which is such a strong emotion that he still feels doubtful about the idea of the Alpha Guardians. However, as Jessica Cruz explains to him, refusal to follow the Alpha Guardians' philosophy means any of the Emotional Entities can leave their host and choose a different hero to replace them.

The Alpha Guardians Sounds Like An Infallible Idea, But There's Always A Risk

The Alpha Guardians Should Never Fail, For Multiple Reasons

The Alpha Guardians are backed by multiple layers of control. The Emotional Entities live directly within the ring-wielders, so their hosts can't rebel without immediate detection. Any rogue hero who attempts to deviate from the mission faces instant replacement, as the Entities can simply strip the power away. The authoritative oversight of Chrome Lanterns Jessica Cruz and Guy Gardner prevents betrayal, and the collective gaze of every living Lantern holds the team accountable to their peace treaty. Besides, the Alpha Guardians aren't obligated to stay in the team forever, as Jessica Cruz explains to a doubtful Larfleeze.

Still, while loyal members like Saint Walker and Aya will almost certainly stay completely faithful to Jessica Cruz's leadership, the long-term compliance of unpredictable wildcards like Larfleeze and Soranik Natu is questionable. These members have a long history of violence that could create constant internal friction. The risk intensifies due to "the greatest Green Lantern that ever lived" Sinestro, who recently earned a green power ring once more yet remains entirely unworthy of trust. The reformed Sinestro could sow temptation within the Alpha Guardians to orchestrate a betrayal that the Entities might not foresee until it's too late.

Do you like the idea of the Alpha Guardians?

Green Lantern Corps #21 is available October 14 from DC Comics