DC Crowns New Ultimate Green Lantern, Replacing Hal Jordan

Published Oct 14, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Shaun Corley has been with ScreenRant for over 5 years, and is currently the Coordinator for PR and Outreach for the Comics Team. Warning: contains spoilers for Legion of Super-Heroes #2! DC has crowned the ultimate new Green Lantern, replacing Hal Jordan. Jordan is considered one of the greatest Green Lanterns to ever put on a ring, serving as an example to the many other species that comprise the Corps. And while Jordan has had his ups and downs with the Guardians, he remains steadfast in his commitment to their mission of keeping the universe safe. The Green Lantern Corps have become a pillar of the DC Universe since their introduction in the Silver Age of Comics. Created by the Guardians after the failure of their Manhunter program, the Corps harnesses the green light of willpower, using it to make constructs out of anything the user can imagine. The Corps has kept the universe safe from the likes of Krona, Nekron and Sinestro since time immemorial. However, the future of the Green Lantern Corps has always been a mystery. In the many “alternate futures” the DC Universe has explored, including the one inhabited by the Legion of Super-Heroes, the Green Lantern Corps appears to be no more. While this has fluctuated over time, with one-off Lanterns making an occasional appearance, the Corps has been by and large absent from DC’s future. Various reasons have been floated as to why the Corps is gone, but in the new future DC is charting with the Legion, the Green Lanterns are very powerful, and have a surprise leader. All Hail the Emerald Empress: the New Leader of the Green Lantern "Corporation" Long-Time Legion Fans Will Recognize the Emerald Empress In Legion of Super-Heroes #2, written by Joshua Williamson and drawn by Hayden Sherman, fans meet the ultimate Green Lantern: the Emerald Empress. The Empress arrives to greet the family of Saturn Girl on Titan. After flattering Saturn Girl, fans see the Empress, wearing the symbol of the Green Lantern Corps, while flanked by its various members. However, a dark undertone runs through both this new, ultimate Green Lantern and the Corps. However, a dark undertone runs through both this new, ultimate Green Lantern and the Corps. The Empress refers to the team as “the Green Lantern Corporation,” but no explanation is given as to what this exactly means. Furthermore, references throughout Legion of Super-Heroes #2 seem to indicate the Green Lantern Corporation is not on the up and up. The primary reason the Empress and the Corporation were even on Titan was because the planet was signing an agreement with the Lanterns, who seemed to be exploiting a volatile political situation. The Emerald Empress debuted in 1967's Adventure Comics #352. Finally, longtime Legion of Super-Heroes fans will instantly recognize the Emerald Empress, one of the team’s oldest foes. There have been different versions of the Empress, but all previous incarnations drew their power from the Emerald Eye of Ekron, a powerful magical object that forces an unwilling symbiosis on its host, corrupting them as well. One of the founding members of the Fatal Five, the Emerald Empress, is not to be trifled with. Has the Emerald Empress Corrupted the Green Lantern Corps? And now, this classic Legion of Super-Heroes villain has appeared to have taken control of the Green Lantern Corps. The Emerald Empress controlling the Green Lanterns may not only explain the name change, but the shift in procedures as well. It is possible that the Emerald Eye’s dark influence has been cast over the Green Lantern Corps. This is not the first time the Corps has been taken over by evil leaders, but the Empress seems in a class by herself. What is concerning is that the Emerald Empress has positioned herself as the new head of the Green Lanterns, seemingly replacing Hal Jordan. The Empress’ brief appearance in Legion of Super-Heroes #2 does not clarify what happened to the Guardians. It could also be possible that the Empress killed the Guardians, which would explain why she was able to take control of the Corps and steer them in a dark new direction that Hal Jordan would not approve of. Legion of Super-Heroes #2 is on sale now from DC Comics!