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Blackest Night reading order

Geoff Johns's Green Lantern build-up to Blackest Night, the eight-issue main series with its Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps chapters, and the tie-ins worth your time. Start with the Sinestro Corps War.

  1. Green Lantern: Rebirth2004–2005

    6 issues · about 2 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    Hal Jordan returns and the Green Lantern mythology is rebuilt from the ground up. Optional background that explains Parallax and the fear entity behind the later stories.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Green Lantern: Rebirth Deluxe Edition (2020)Covers Green Lantern: Rebirth #1–6Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Green Lantern: Rebirth (2004)#1–66 issues, optional
      1. #1December 2004
      2. #2January 2005
      3. #3February 2005
      4. #4March 2005
      5. #5April 2005
      6. #6May 2005

      Useful background on Hal's return; the Sinestro Corps War recaps what you need.

  2. Start here

    The Sinestro Corps War2007–2008

    12 issues · about 4 hours12 essential issues · about 4 hours

    Sinestro builds a yellow-powered army based on fear and goes to war with the Green Lantern Corps. This is where the prophecy of Blackest Night is first spelled out.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Green Lantern Corps by Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason Omnibus Vol. 1 (2023)Covers Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special #1; Green Lantern #21–25; Green Lantern Corps #14–19Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special (2007)#1August 2007

      The opening chapter of the war.

    2. Green Lantern (2005)#21–255 issues
      1. #21September 2007
      2. #22October 2007
      3. #23November 2007
      4. #24December 2007
      5. #25January 2008

      Read alternately with Green Lantern Corps #14–19 by cover date.

    3. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#14–196 issues
      1. #14September 2007
      2. #15October 2007
      3. #16November 2007
      4. #17December 2007
      5. #18January 2008
      6. #19February 2008

      The Corps side of the war, alternating with Green Lantern.

  3. Secret Origin2008

    7 issues · about 2.5 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    A flashback retelling of how Hal Jordan got his ring. It gives Black Hand his modern origin and shows Atrocitus's history with Abin Sur.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Vol. 4 (2021)Covers Green Lantern #29–35Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Green Lantern (2005)#29–357 issues, optional
      1. #29May 2008
      2. #30June 2008
      3. #31July 2008
      4. #32August 2008
      5. #33September 2008
      6. #34October 2008
      7. #35November 2008

      A flashback arc you can skip, though it sets up Black Hand and Atrocitus.

  4. Rage of the Red Lanterns and Agent Orange2008–2009

    14 issues · about 4.5 hours8 essential issues · about 2.5 hours

    New corps based on rage, hope and avarice appear, and the emotional spectrum fills out ahead of the war of light. Meanwhile the Corps faces a crisis of its own on Oa.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2 (2015)Covers Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1; Green Lantern #36–42Find it
    2. Green Lantern Corps: Emerald Eclipse (2011)Covers Green Lantern Corps #33–38Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (2008)#1December 2008

      Part one of Rage of the Red Lanterns, leading into Green Lantern #36.

    2. Green Lantern (2005)#36–427 issues
      1. #36January 2009
      2. #37February 2009
      3. #38March 2009
      4. #39April 2009
      5. #40May 2009
      6. #41June 2009
      7. #42August 2009

      Introduces the Blue Lanterns and Larfleeze and brings the Red Lanterns to the fore.

    3. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#33–386 issues, optional
      1. #33April 2009
      2. #34May 2009
      3. #35June 2009
      4. #36July 2009
      5. #37August 2009
      6. #38September 2009

      Emerald Eclipse, the Corps lead-in running alongside Agent Orange; optional.

  5. Prologue2009

    5 issues · about 1.5 hours2 essential issues · about 40 min

    Black Hand's story and the first signs of the dead rising set the stage for the event.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2 (2015)Covers Blackest Night [Free Comic Book Day Edition] #0; Green Lantern #43; Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1–3Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Blackest Night [Free Comic Book Day Edition] (2009)#0June 2009

      A short free issue that sets up the event.

    2. Green Lantern (2005)#43September 2009

      Black Hand's origin, leading straight into Blackest Night #1.

    3. Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps (2009)#1–33 issues, optional
      1. #1September 2009
      2. #2September 2009
      3. #3September 2009

      Short background stories on each corps; nice but not needed.

  6. Blackest Night: The Dead Rise2009

    16 issues · about 5.5 hours10 essential issues · about 3.5 hours

    Black rings fall across the universe and raise the dead as Black Lanterns. Green Lantern #44 sits between Blackest Night #1 and #2; read the rest by cover date.

    Read this stretch in 3 books
    1. Blackest Night: Black Lantern Corps Vol. 1 (2011)Covers Blackest Night: Batman #1–3; Blackest Night: Superman #1–3; Blackest Night: Titans #1–3Find it
    2. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2 (2015)Covers Blackest Night #1; Green Lantern #44; Blackest Night #2; Green Lantern #45–46Find it
    3. Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps (2011)Covers Green Lantern Corps #39–40Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Blackest Night (2009)#1September 2009
    2. Green Lantern (2005)#44September 2009

      Continues from Blackest Night #1 and leads into #2.

    3. Blackest Night (2009)#2October 2009
    4. Green Lantern (2005)#45–462 issues
      1. #45October 2009
      2. #46November 2009

      Hal's side of the story, read alongside the main series.

    5. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#39–402 issues
      1. #39October 2009
      2. #40November 2009

      The Corps on Oa as the dead attack.

    6. Blackest Night: Batman (2009)#1–33 issues
      1. #1October 2009
      2. #2November 2009
      3. #3December 2009

      Dick Grayson and Deadman face Batman's dead foes; the best of the tie-in minis.

    7. Blackest Night: Superman (2009)#1–33 issues, optional
      1. #1October 2009
      2. #2November 2009
      3. #3December 2009

      Superman family tie-in that can be skipped.

    8. Blackest Night: Titans (2009)#1–33 issues, optional
      1. #1October 2009
      2. #2November 2009
      3. #3December 2009

      Titans tie-in that can be skipped.

  7. Blackest Night: War of Light2009–2010

    9 issues · about 3 hours9 essential issues · about 3 hours

    The heroes realise they need every colour of the spectrum to fight back.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2 (2015)Covers Blackest Night #3–4; Green Lantern #47–48; Blackest Night #5; Green Lantern #49Find it
    2. Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps (2011)Covers Green Lantern Corps #41–43Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Blackest Night (2009)#3–42 issues
      1. #3November 2009
      2. #4December 2009
    2. Green Lantern (2005)#47–482 issues
      1. #47December 2009
      2. #48January 2010

      Green Lantern #48 leads into Blackest Night #5.

    3. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#41–422 issues
      1. #41December 2009
      2. #42January 2010
    4. Blackest Night (2009)#5January 2010
    5. Green Lantern (2005)#49February 2010

      Leads into Blackest Night #6.

    6. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#43February 2010

  8. Blackest Night: Finale2010

    18 issues · about 6 hours12 essential issues · about 4 hours

    The new lantern alliance takes the fight to the source of the black rings. Read the tie-in minis before Blackest Night #7, and Green Lantern #52 and Green Lantern Corps #46 before #8.

    Read this stretch in 3 books
    1. Blackest Night: Black Lantern Corps Vol. 2 (2011)Covers Blackest Night: The Flash #1–3; Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #1–3; Blackest Night: JSA #1–3Find it
    2. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2 (2015)Covers Blackest Night #6; Green Lantern #50–51; Blackest Night #7; Green Lantern #52; Blackest Night #8Find it
    3. Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps (2011)Covers Green Lantern Corps #44–46Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Blackest Night (2009)#6February 2010
    2. Green Lantern (2005)#50–512 issues
      1. #50March 2010
      2. #51April 2010

      Green Lantern #51 leads into Blackest Night #7.

    3. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#44–452 issues
      1. #44March 2010
      2. #45April 2010
    4. Blackest Night: The Flash (2010)#1–33 issues
      1. #1February 2010
      2. #2March 2010
      3. #3April 2010

      Written by Johns, with Barry Allen and the Rogues closely tied to the main series.

    5. Blackest Night: Wonder Woman (2010)#1–33 issues, optional
      1. #1February 2010
      2. #2March 2010
      3. #3April 2010

      Follows Wonder Woman's time as a Star Sapphire; optional.

    6. Blackest Night: JSA (2010)#1–33 issues, optional
      1. #1February 2010
      2. #2March 2010
      3. #3April 2010

      Justice Society side story; optional.

    7. Blackest Night (2009)#7April 2010
    8. Green Lantern (2005)#52May 2010

      Leads directly into Blackest Night #8.

    9. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#46May 2010

      Also leads into Blackest Night #8.

    10. Blackest Night (2009)#8May 2010

      The conclusion.

  9. Aftermath2010

    2 issues · about 40 min0 essential issues · about 0 min

    The Corps counts the cost and the returned heroes begin new stories.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Brightest Day Omnibus (2014)Covers Brightest Day #0Find it
    2. Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps (2011)Covers Green Lantern Corps #47Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#47June 2010, optional

      Corps epilogue for readers who followed the series.

    2. Brightest Day (2010)#0June 2010, optional

      Sets up Brightest Day, the follow-up series.

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