The oath of the Green Lantern Corps is something we’ve heard time and time again. After all, the GL’s are arguably one of the most iconic groups in DC comics, appearing in many forms of media while saying their classic oath more times than we can count. But, if someone were to ask you what the oaths of the Sinestro Corps or the Indigo Tribe were, how likely would you be able to answer that with confidence? May this article bring answers into the light, in darkest day or blackest night.
Red Lanterns
Let’s kick things off with the most violent and rageful of all the other Lanterns, forged from a tragically gruesome past. An army of robots (the Manhunters), who served as the original police force of the Green Lanterns, eventually started persecuting anything that possessed emotion. This would lead to the decimation of a planet of the one who would eventually form the Red Lanterns: Atrocitus.
Fueled by this injustice, Atrocitus would center his corps on this oath:
“With blood and rage of crimson red
Ripped from a corpse so freshly dead
Together with our hellish hate, we’ll burn you all!
That is your fate!”
Orange Lanterns
Unlike the Reds, the Orange Lanterns had less of a tragic past and more of a crazy one. There used to be more members of this Corps, but with their whole group centered on the emotion of avarice, they all killed each other until one remained: Larfleeze. Now, he serves as the sole member of the Orange Lanterns, forcibly recruiting the spirits of those he’s killed as additional members.
However, with this obsessive greed came arguably one of the worst oaths ever:
“What’s mine is mine and mine and mine.
And mine and mine and mine!
Not yours!”
While they are centered on a mind-consuming covetousness, this doesn’t sound like a true Lantern oath, which is why I personally prefer this later version:
“This power is mine, this is my light.
Be it bright of day, or black of night.
I lay claim to all that lays within my sight.
To take what I want, that is my right!”
Sinestro Corps
Also known as the Yellow Lanterns, the Sinestro Corps was founded by a former Green Lantern known as Thaal Sinestro. After using his green ring to dominate his homeworld, the Guardians of the Universe banished Sinestro for his crimes, but would come to regret it after the former GL met a race of weapon masters. With their help, he would forge a yellow ring and start his own Lantern Corps built upon the emotion of fear.
Consumed by his own power, Sinestro would have each member’s ring powered by this oath:
“In blackest day, in brightest night,
Beware your fears made into light.
Let those who try to stop what’s right
Burn like his power — Sinestro’s might!”
Green Lanterns/Alpha Lanterns
After the Manhunters didn’t work out, the Guardians of the Universe would come together to forge green rings based on the emotion of willpower. From there, they would send these rings out and would only bond with those who had exceptional sense of purpose, serving as the official police force of the galaxy.
We all know the classic oath, but for those of you who don’t, it goes as follows:
“In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight!
Let those who worship evil’s might,
Beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!”
However, this isn’t the only oath that the Greens possess. The Alpha Lantern Corps, which is actually just a higher rank of the Greens, is more centered on logic and a higher sense of loyalty towards the Guardians.
This is only furthered with their own oath:
“In days of peace, in nights of war,
Obey the laws forever more.
Misconduct must be answered for,
Swear us the Chosen—Alpha Corps!”
Blue Lanterns
Here we reach my personal favorite Lantern Corps, founded by two former Guardians (Ganthet and Sayd) after being banished from the GL base planet for (to simply put it) being themselves and expressing their own feelings. This would not deter them, though, as they would forge blue rings created from the emotion of hope. However, they apparently had a very selective and complicated recruitment process, which meant very few members.
Nonetheless, their organization would be powered by an oath that would take anyone to church:
“In fearful day, in raging night,
With strong hearts full, our souls ignite!
When all seems lost in the War of Light,
Look to the stars, for hope burns bright!”
Indigo Tribe
The Indigo Tribe is by far one of the most unique out of the other Lanterns. For starters, they preferably wield power staffs more than rings, have their own indecipherable language, and each member is literally the worst of the worst. It all started when a GL named Abin Sur encountered an assassin named Iroque, and after she killed his daughter, he brought her to a planet where he (with help) harnessed the indigo power of compassion. After forcing the newly created ring onto her, the ring forced her to feel remorse for her actions and strive to be better. She would then seek out the most horrible people in the galaxy, force rings onto them, and spread their message of peace and compassion whenever they were needed.
However, their oath is a little tricky since it is in their original language:
“Tor lorek san, bor nakka mur,
Natromo faan tornek wot ur,
Ter lantern ker lo Abin Sur,
Taan lek lek nok — Formorrow Sur!”
Unfortunately, there isn’t an official translation for this oath. The best we have are rough translations made by fans of the franchise, which only adds a layer of mystery (and frustration) to this unique Lantern Corps.
Star Sapphires
Also known as the Violet Lanterns, this organization is comprised solely of women and was founded by a race known as the Zamarons. Many years ago, the female zamarons were heavily suppressed and discriminated by the males, which prompted them to leave and spread their message of love to help the galaxy. However, the original crystals they used brought out the darker side of love, which would drive members to violent and even murderous acts. This would eventually prompt them to use new rings that were connected to the Emotional Spectrum, bringing out the true form of love.
This appears to be most evident through their oath:
“For hearts long lost and full of fright,
For those alone in blackest night,
Accept our ring and join our fight!
Love conquers all—with violet light!”
Ultraviolet Corps
Apparently, this is a more recent addition to the other Lanterns, and it has to be one of the most mysterious and strangest additions yet. In spite of harnessing the emotion of negativity/hidden feelings, it’s actually not connected to the Emotional Spectrum but rather the Invisible Emotional Spectrum, and harnessed through the sentient sun known as Umbrax. Surprisingly, Sinestro was the only one to wield its power until he forced GL John Stewart to become a member as well, but no other members were established (for now).
Their oath hauntingly embodies the aspect of hidden emotions:
“By shield of day, and shield of night,
We feed and grow, beyond all sight
Your darkest self shall be our knight,
Wield the sword of unseen light!”
White Lanterns
The White Lanterns are unlike any other organization, because there’s no official origin story like the other Corps. Instead, the entity behind them only appears in universe-threatening disasters, and chooses its members to combat said disaster. Apparently, the rings don’t create constructs, but they can completely resurrect the dead, heal wounds, enhance the wearer’s abilities, and basically harness the powers of all the colors of the Emotional Spectrum.
However, with all this power, you’d think that they’d have an amazing oath to back it up. Instead, we have:
“Live.”
That’s it. That’s literally all you have to say. As disappointing as the original Orange Lantern oath was, at least it had more than one word to it. In spite of this, it should be noted that the White Lanterns don’t actually have an oath of their own, not even “Live” is confirmed as the oath, but rather something said by Sinestro when he temporarily became a member. So, without an official oath confirmed by comics or writers, this is the best we’ve got.
Black Lanterns
DC could make a horror movie centered around the Black Lanterns, as they are centered around death and almost all members are consistent of zombies. And I say “almost all” because their leader, Black Hand, is not completely a zombie. He used to be a regular guy named William Hand, but the guy was so obsessed with death that, after being driven mad by the entity Nekron, killed his parents and even himself. After doing so, he was resurrected as the first Black Lantern, and by slapping black rings onto corpses, he’d create a soulless, heartless army bent on consuming the hearts of those who loved them—along with everyone else.
Unlike the White Lanterns, though, they not only have a full oath but a pretty frightening one at that:
“The Blackest Night falls from the skies.
The darkness grows as all light dies.
We crave your hearts and your demise.
By my Black Hand, the dead shall rise!”
Conclusion
There are many aspects of the DC lore, but everything surrounding all of the Lantern Corps is by far one of my top favorites. The varying emotions, where they get their powers from, their origins, and so many more just ignites a sense of curiosity in me which I hope is now ignited in all of you as well. If nothing else, some of these oaths (especially the Blues) can serve as sources of inspiration if you ever find yourself in your blackest night.
