The power of the Green Lantern both on the page and off is that the will-based capabilities of the cosmic ring bearers and the creators who shape their stories are really only limited by their imagination. That's led to the Green Lantern title and mantle inspiring truly unique and fantastical takes, whether that was Alan Moore's short stint on the book alongside his Watchmen collaborator Dave Gibbons, or N. K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell's cosmic mystery Far Sector. The newest book to take advantage of the possibilities that the Green Lantern mantle offers is Green Lantern Dark #1, which reimagines the hero in a totally new way, throwing her into a terrifying world filled with monsters and mayhem. But this isn't just a horror story, as Green Lantern Dark manages to be a surprisingly warm, hopeful tale of community, family and belief.

On a small devastated New England island where zombie-like monsters roam freely through the night, a young girl named Lunette entertains the community of survivors that she lives among with stories of the brave, powerful and seemingly folkloric figure of the Green Lantern. While many, like Lunette’s brother Kain, don't believe that the hero actually exists, when the monsters strike, the Green Lantern finally appears—though she’s far from the compassionate leader Lunette has hoped for. Instead, she's a rogue fighter with ominous powers that might be connected to the blight on their world and who would much rather be drinking a beer than saving the day.

If you recognize the unique hooded costume and lantern swinging ominously on her stick, that's because this Green Lantern is connected to the nameless hero from the 1997 Tangent Comics event. Writer Tate Brombal and artist Werther Dell'Edera introduce us to a new wielder of the Green Lantern here, Rina Mori, who was given the lantern by the Tangent hero years before.  It's a delightful reinvention that plays into the powers that were introduced in 1997's Tangent Comics: Green Lantern #1. In that issue, we learned that when the Tangent Lantern places her light upon the grave of the recently deceased, she can bring them back to life. In Green Lantern Dark, we discover that it was she who brought Solomon Grundy back to life—in the hopes of him avenging his own death—and unintentionally freed him to take his revenge on the world.

There's plenty of beautiful art and nightmarish horror to feast on here, but what really makes this issue stand out is the hopefulness that the creative team manage to imbue into the story. Neither Lunette or Rina asked for the responsibilities bestowed on them, but together they manage to protect Lunette’s community and inspire at least a little optimism in Rina.

Zombie stories have always held a mirror up to humanity and asked whether the true threat is us or them, and here we get an answer that even in darkest night, there's hope when we work together and share stories of those who inspire us to do just that. The power of storytelling is also key in Green Lantern Dark #1, as we learn that Lunette's belief in her hero has been powering Rina and her lantern. As the issue ends, there's a hint that the farther the story spreads, the stronger Rina will become as she continues to battle Grundy and his undead minions.

It's an intriguing setup that leaves us with as many questions as it answers: What caused the apocalypse? Is Green Lantern truly the only hero left? How did she end up with her powers and why was she burdened with them so young? Will we see Lunette and her brother Kain again or is this chapter over? What is the mysterious flame that fuels the lantern and is it a sentient being that Rina can communicate with? It's an enticing start to the seven-issue miniseries which feels very different from any other Green Lantern tale that we've gotten in recent years. So, if you're looking for the perfect book to read this spooky season, make sure to pick up this rousing horror comic that'll remind of just how powerful the Green Lantern can really be.
 

Green Lantern Dark #1 by Tate Brombal, Werther Dell’Edera and Giovanna Niro is now available in print and as a digital comic book.

Rosie Knight is an award-winning journalist and author who loves Swamp Thing, the DC Cosmic and writing the monthly gossip column here at DC.com. You can also listen to her waxing lyrical about comics, movies and more each week as she co-hosts Crooked Media's pop-culture podcast, X-Ray Vision.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Rosie Knight and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.