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Green Lantern (Geoff Johns era) reading order

Geoff Johns's nine years on Green Lantern, from Hal Jordan's return in Rebirth through Blackest Night to his last issue in 2013. Start with Green Lantern: Rebirth.

  1. Start here

    Green Lantern: Rebirth2004–2005

    6 issues · about 2 hours6 essential issues · about 2 hours

    Hal Jordan, dead and disgraced after his turn as Parallax, is brought back as Green Lantern. The series resets the mythology that the rest of the run builds on.

    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
      1. #1December 2004
      2. #2January 2005
      3. #3February 2005
      4. #4March 2005
      5. #5April 2005
      6. #6May 2005

  2. Hal Jordan returns2005–2007

    38 issues · about 13 hours20 essential issues · about 6.5 hours

    Hal rebuilds his life on Earth and in the Air Force while the Corps is reformed around him. Johns sets up old enemies and the threads that pay off in the Sinestro Corps War.

    Read this stretch in 3 books
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 1 (2015)Covers Green Lantern #1–20; Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1–5Find it
    2. Green Lantern Corps by Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason Omnibus Vol. 1 (2023)Covers Green Lantern Corps #1–3, 7–13Find it
    3. Green Lantern Corps: To Be a Lantern (2007)Covers Green Lantern Corps #4–6Find it

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

    1. Green Lantern (2005)#1–2020 issues
      1. #1July 2005
      2. #2August 2005
      3. #3September 2005
      4. #4October 2005
      5. #5November 2005
      6. #6December 2005
      7. #7February 2006
      8. #8March 2006
      9. #9April 2006
      10. #10May 2006
      11. #11June 2006
      12. #12July 2006
      13. #13August 2006
      14. #14September 2006
      15. #15December 2006
      16. #16February 2007
      17. #17April 2007
      18. #18May 2007
      19. #19June 2007
      20. #20July 2007
    2. Green Lantern Corps: Recharge (2005)#1–55 issues, optional
      1. #1November 2005
      2. #2December 2005
      3. #3January 2006
      4. #4February 2006
      5. #5March 2006

      Co-written by Johns and Dave Gibbons; Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner train new recruits for the rebuilt Corps.

    3. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#1–1313 issues, optional
      1. #1August 2006
      2. #2September 2006
      3. #3October 2006
      4. #4November 2006
      5. #5December 2006
      6. #6January 2007
      7. #7February 2007
      8. #8March 2007
      9. #9April 2007
      10. #10May 2007
      11. #11June 2007
      12. #12July 2007
      13. #13August 2007

      The companion Corps series; good background for the cast but not needed for Hal's story.

  3. The Sinestro Corps War2007–2008

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

    Sinestro arms his own army with yellow rings powered by fear and declares war on the Green Lantern Corps. The crossover runs across both Lantern titles.

    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; Green Lantern Corps #14; Green Lantern #22; Green Lantern Corps #15; Green Lantern #23; Green Lantern Corps #16; Green Lantern #24; Green Lantern Corps #17–18; Green Lantern #25; Green Lantern Corps #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

      Read this first; it opens the war.

    2. Green Lantern (2005)#21September 2007
    3. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#14September 2007

      The Corps chapters are part of the main crossover, not side stories.

    4. Green Lantern (2005)#22October 2007
    5. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#15October 2007
    6. Green Lantern (2005)#23November 2007
    7. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#16November 2007
    8. Green Lantern (2005)#24December 2007
    9. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#17–182 issues
      1. #17December 2007
      2. #18January 2008

      Chapters nine and ten.

    10. Green Lantern (2005)#25January 2008

      Chapter eleven, the finale.

    11. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#19February 2008

      Epilogue.

  4. Secret Origin and the Red Lanterns2008–2009

    14 issues · about 4.5 hours11 essential issues · about 3.5 hours

    A retelling of how Hal first got his ring, followed by the arrival of the rage-fuelled Red Lanterns. The emotional spectrum starts to take shape.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Vol. 4 (2021)Covers Green Lantern #26–35; Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1; Green Lantern #36–38Find it

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

    1. Green Lantern (2005)#26–283 issues, optional
      1. #26February 2008
      2. #27March 2008
      3. #28April 2008

      A Sinestro Corps War epilogue about the Alpha Lanterns; worth reading but light on consequences.

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

      Secret Origin: a modern retelling of Hal's first days as a Lantern.

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

      The prologue to Rage of the Red Lanterns, led by Atrocitus; read before Green Lantern #36.

    4. Green Lantern (2005)#36–383 issues
      1. #36January 2009
      2. #37February 2009
      3. #38March 2009

  5. Agent Orange2009

    23 issues · about 7.5 hours4 essential issues · about 1.5 hours

    Hal meets Larfleeze, the greedy keeper of the orange light, as the Guardians' plans start to unravel. This is the last stop before Blackest Night.

    Read this stretch in 4 books
    1. Green Lantern Corps by Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason Omnibus Vol. 1 (2023)Covers Green Lantern Corps #20–26Find it
    2. Green Lantern Corps: Emerald Eclipse (2011)Covers Green Lantern Corps #33–38Find it
    3. Green Lantern Corps: Sins of the Star Sapphire (2009)Covers Green Lantern Corps #27–32Find it
    4. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2 (2015)Covers Green Lantern #39–42Find it

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

    1. Green Lantern (2005)#39–424 issues
      1. #39April 2009
      2. #40May 2009
      3. #41June 2009
      4. #42August 2009
    2. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#20–3819 issues, optional
      1. #20March 2008
      2. #21April 2008
      3. #22May 2008
      4. #23June 2008
      5. #24July 2008
      6. #25August 2008
      7. #26September 2008
      8. #27October 2008
      9. #28November 2008
      10. #29December 2008
      11. #30January 2009
      12. #31February 2009
      13. #32March 2009
      14. #33April 2009
      15. #34May 2009
      16. #35June 2009
      17. #36July 2009
      18. #37August 2009
      19. #38September 2009

      Corps stories, mostly by Peter Tomasi, that build towards Blackest Night but can be skipped.

  6. Blackest Night2009–2010

    28 issues · about 9.5 hours18 essential issues · about 6 hours

    The dead rise as Black Lanterns, and every colour of the spectrum must face them. The core event miniseries is the centre of the whole run.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2 (2015)Covers Blackest Night [Free Comic Book Day Edition] #0; Green Lantern #43; Blackest Night #1; Green Lantern #44; Blackest Night #2; Green Lantern #45–46; Blackest Night #3; Green Lantern #47; Blackest Night #4; Green Lantern #48; Blackest Night #5; Green Lantern #49; Blackest Night #6; Green Lantern #50–51; Blackest Night #7; Green Lantern #52; Blackest Night #8Find it
    2. Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps (2011)Covers Green Lantern Corps #39–47Find 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, optional

      A short free prologue; helpful scene-setting but nothing missing without it.

    2. Green Lantern (2005)#43September 2009

      The Black Hand prologue.

    3. Blackest Night (2009)#1September 2009
    4. Green Lantern (2005)#44September 2009
    5. Blackest Night (2009)#2October 2009
    6. Green Lantern (2005)#45–462 issues
      1. #45October 2009
      2. #46November 2009
    7. Blackest Night (2009)#3November 2009
    8. Green Lantern (2005)#47December 2009
    9. Blackest Night (2009)#4December 2009
    10. Green Lantern (2005)#48January 2010
    11. Blackest Night (2009)#5January 2010
    12. Green Lantern (2005)#49February 2010
    13. Blackest Night (2009)#6February 2010
    14. Green Lantern (2005)#50–512 issues
      1. #50March 2010
      2. #51April 2010
    15. Blackest Night (2009)#7April 2010
    16. Green Lantern (2005)#52May 2010
    17. Blackest Night (2009)#8May 2010
    18. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#39–479 issues, optional
      1. #39October 2009
      2. #40November 2009
      3. #41December 2009
      4. #42January 2010
      5. #43February 2010
      6. #44March 2010
      7. #45April 2010
      8. #46May 2010
      9. #47June 2010

      Tie-ins following the Corps on Oa; strong but not needed to follow the main event.

  7. Brightest Day and War of the Green Lanterns2010–2011

    40 issues · about 13 hours21 essential issues · about 7 hours

    Hal leads an uneasy alliance of lanterns from different colours after Blackest Night. The phase ends with a crossover that turns the Corps on itself.

    Read this stretch in 5 books
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 3 (2016)Covers Green Lantern #53–64; Green Lantern Corps #58; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #8; Green Lantern #65; Green Lantern Corps #59; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #9; Green Lantern #66; Green Lantern Corps #60; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #10; Green Lantern #67Find it
    2. Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors (2012)Covers Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #1–7Find it
    3. Green Lantern Corps: Revolt of the Alpha-Lanterns (2012)Covers Green Lantern Corps #48–52Find it
    4. Green Lantern Corps: The Weaponer (2012)Covers Green Lantern Corps #53–57Find it
    5. War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath (2013)Covers War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath #1–2Find it

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

    1. Green Lantern (2005)#53–6311 issues
      1. #53June 2010
      2. #54July 2010
      3. #55August 2010
      4. #56September 2010
      5. #57October 2010
      6. #58November 2010
      7. #59December 2010
      8. #60January 2011
      9. #61February 2011
      10. #62March 2011
      11. #63April 2011
    2. Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors (2010)#1–77 issues, optional
      1. #1October 2010
      2. #2November 2010
      3. #3December 2010
      4. #4January 2011
      5. #5February 2011
      6. #6March 2011
      7. #7April 2011

      Guy Gardner's side series; sets up details used later but optional.

    3. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#48–5710 issues, optional
      1. #48July 2010
      2. #49August 2010
      3. #50September 2010
      4. #51October 2010
      5. #52November 2010
      6. #53December 2010
      7. #54January 2011
      8. #55February 2011
      9. #56March 2011
      10. #57April 2011

      Kyle and John Stewart's side of the story; optional.

    4. Green Lantern (2005)#64May 2011

      War of the Green Lanterns begins; the crossover rotates through three titles.

    5. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#58May 2011
    6. Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors (2010)#8May 2011
    7. Green Lantern (2005)#65June 2011
    8. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#59June 2011
    9. Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors (2010)#9June 2011
    10. Green Lantern (2005)#66July 2011
    11. Green Lantern Corps (2006)#60July 2011
    12. Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors (2010)#10July 2011
    13. Green Lantern (2005)#67August 2011

      The conclusion.

    14. War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath (2011)#1–22 issues, optional
      1. #1September 2011
      2. #2October 2011

      An epilogue not written by Johns; skip if you want to go straight to the relaunch.

  8. The New 52 finale2011–2013

    21 issues · about 7 hours21 essential issues · about 7 hours

    After the relaunch, Sinestro wears a green ring again and Hal is left without one. Johns closes his run by settling the story of the Guardians and the first Lantern.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 3 (2016)Covers Green Lantern #1–12, 0, 13–20Find it

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

    1. Green Lantern (2011)#1–1212 issues
      1. #1November 2011
      2. #2December 2011
      3. #3January 2012
      4. #4February 2012
      5. #5March 2012
      6. #6April 2012
      7. #7May 2012
      8. #8June 2012
      9. #9July 2012
      10. #10August 2012
      11. #11September 2012
      12. #12October 2012
    2. #0November 2012

      Introduces Simon Baz; published between #12 and #13.

    3. #13–208 issues
      1. #13December 2012
      2. #14January 2013
      3. #15February 2013
      4. #16March 2013
      5. #17April 2013
      6. #18May 2013
      7. #19June 2013
      8. #20July 2013

      Issue 20 is Johns's final issue; the crossover chapters in other Lantern titles are optional.

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