Across the near-infinite cosmos that makes up the world of DC Comics, the Indigo Lanterns are a faction of warriors that have harnessed the power of the Emotional Spectrum to help aid the Green Lantern Corps to wage their never-ending war on evil. Wielding the indigo-tinged light of compassion, these Lanterns, along with any number of other brightly colored Corps spread out across the universe, are a truly unique force in the greater Green Lantern mythos even when stacked up against their better-known colleagues.
But these Indigo Lanterns aren’t ones to hog the spotlight themselves. In fact, they’re so elusive and secretive that they hold the title of DC’s least-known group of ringslingers for more than one reason. Because, sure, it might be an impressive feat commanding complete and total control over the powerful emotion of compassion, but these Lanterns’ greatest trick in staying hidden deep within the shadowy folds of the universe without the fabled Green Lanterns finding out is even more so; those guys are everywhere!
Premiering in the pages of Green Lantern #25 by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, these Indigo Lanterns, or better termed as members of the Indigo Tribe, were an unknown force in the universe for decades before becoming relevant in the war against the cosmos shattering prophesies of the Blackest Night and the incoming threat of the Black Lanterns. Founded and then steadily cultivated by Green Lantern Hal Jordan predecessor, Abin Sur, until his untimely death left them without a pressing need to reveal themselves to the rest of the universe, the Indigo Tribe utilized their galactic anonymity to master their specialized powers that included the ability to teleport and “convert” members through the act of experiencing extreme compassion.
So while the Star Sapphire Corps might be the most loving faction and the Blue Lanterns the most hopeful, the Indigo Tribe are the most compassionate and have enough to spare for everyone along the Emotional Spectrum – bad guys included – as their ranks are normally filled by taking in criminals and sadists, then unleashing the full power of compassion on them until they are born anew with a far more positive attitude. With their stated mission being to spread goodwill throughout the galaxy, the members of the Indigo Tribe laid in wait for years as the Green Lantern Corps paid their dues as cosmic space cops to only then reveal their existence on the galactic stage when the situation looked to be at its most dire.
Now, this kind of belated reveal isn’t usually the most tactful strategy when it comes to making a grand entrance, but unlike the Sinestro Corps or Red Lanterns that came onto the scene with a decidedly bigger splash, the Indigo Tribe needed to play their part in the cosmic game of war that the rest of the Corps was about to be embroiled in. And as the events of Blackest Night finally came to pass, the Indigo Tribe still kept most of their elusive secrets and impenetrable mystique, but were firmly planted on the side of good when it counted, and luckily still stand there to this day.
With the Green Lantern Corps’ far reach and ever-present authority blanketing the cosmos, the seemingly endless expanse of the universe feels as if it’s getting smaller and smaller by the day. But with the help of an iconic Green Lantern as well as years of undisturbed time to fully realize their innate compassion-fueled powers, these Indigo Lanterns have risen from the hidden corners of the galaxy as DC Comics’ least-known Corps to becoming one of their most well known – and best.
