RED LANTERN CORPS POWER RING	BIOGRAPHY
	Created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver

TECHNICAL DATA

Name: Red Lantern Corps Power Ring
DCU Creator(s): Atrocitus
First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol. 4 #25 (January 2008): "Birth of the Black Lantern"
Creators: Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver

HISTORY

The red power ring is the primary weapon of the Red Lanterns and allows the wielder to tap into rage. In addition to its offensive capabilities, the Red Lantern power ring provides flight and force fields. It is not known if the rings have communication capabilities.

The first ring was said to have been created by Atrocitus using ancient blood magics. His anger crystallized the blood of his former comrades known as the Five Inversions as the ring was formed. It is said blood sacrifices of the Red Lanterns enemies are needed for the red rings, but the validity of this statement has not been proven. - Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1

A Red Lantern ring scans a space sector for a sentient with great rage in his/her/its heart. “(Sentient) of Sector (#). You have great rage in your heart.” Thus far, all chosen sentients have been organic beings that had in some way been victims of the Sinestro Corps. It has yet to be determined if these are search parameters for the rings.

Once a target is selected, the ring will burn itself onto the sentient even if the target is unwilling to accept the ring. The initial contact and transformation is quite painful as the ring stops the heart and expels the now spoiled blood. Arteries and veins stretch as the liquid fire of red light spreads throughout the body. At this point, removal of the red ring means immediate death. A Red Lantern uniform will form on the target. - Green Lantern Vol. 4 #28

The transformation is not limited to physical changes as there is a change in the wielder’s psychology. Overwhelmed by blinding rage, the Red Lantern will act without concern of consequence. Their thoughts are short and intense with no reasoning or reaction other than violent aggressive action. Unlike their green and yellow counterparts, the Red Lanterns have virtually no free will. Aside from rare examples, such as Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan, Laira, or Antipathy, most Red Lanterns cannot summon enough self control to create constructs from the red energy and instead spew a red fire. Atrocitus himself has only recently been able to create constructs. The napalm like plasma is projected from the Red Lantern’s mouth and burns even in the vacuum of space. Wherever there is anger, the red fire burns. - Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1, Green Lantern Vol. 4 #25, #38

The Red Lantern power ring and plasma can be negated by the Blue Lantern power ring. However, due to the nature of the Blue Lanterns, the blue ring must also be in the presence of an active Green Lantern power ring to fully function. - Green Lantern Vol. 4 #38

It is not known how long the Red Lantern power ring can carry a charge before it is depleted. It is assumed the ring can only be recharged with the Red Lantern power battery. - Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1

The Red Lantern power rings were not the first red hued rings. Years ago, the Injustice League had with the help of Agamemno stolen the Green Lantern Central Power Battery, jewel kryptonite, and a Thanagarian absorbascon. The three items were combined into a super-weapon. Inspired by Sinestro’s yellow power ring, they created red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet rings. Frequent Flash villain Mr. Element wielded the red power ring. Regardless of the color, the rings performed similar to the Green Lantern rings and do not appear to have any similarities aside from color. The rings have since been destroyed. - Silver Age 80-Page Giant #1

Finally, there is no connection between the four red rings created by Hector Hammond and temporarily worn by Green Lantern Hal Jordan. The rings utilized broadcast-laser and were not connected to the emotional spectrum. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #64

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Red Lantern Corps Power Ring in chronological order click here