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Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern Saga Reading Order

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Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps, Poozers! A ring has determined that you have strong willpower and a sense of justice. Now, it’s time to begin training to protect the universe as a member of the famous intergalactic peacekeeping force created by the Guardians of the Universe.

First, know that Alan Scott was the first Green Lantern but not a member of the Corps. The Green Lantern Corps first appeared in Showcase #22 (September 1959), alongside the famous Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. You don’t need to go back that far in time, though, to learn more about the Corps, the Guardians, and all the Lanterns. The Green Lantern universe was completely redefined and expanded in the 2000s during Geoff Johns’s run on the title.

Johns’ seven-year epic saga on Green Lantern is known today as the start of the modern age of Green Lantern, one of the most celebrated eras for the Lanterns in DC Comics. It is also the recommended entry point for anyone interested in the space cops. Johns famously brought Hal Jordan back into the Corps and introduced new Corps members, as well as new concepts, such as the Emotional Spectrum, expanding the Green Lantern mythology in a big way, in technicolor!

During those years, Johns teamed up with illustrator Ethan Van Sciver on Green Lantern, while Dave Gibbons, Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, and others contributed to the epic tale in the Green Lantern Corps comic book series.

As Kilowog would say, “Welcome ta ringslingin’ 101”, this is your complete reading guide to the Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern era!

Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Reading Order: The Starter Menu

The Prelude: What to Know Before Green Lantern: Rebirth

As written earlier, Geoff Johns’s Saga on Green Lantern is the most recommended started point for the Emerald Warriors. You don’t have to read anything before reading his run and the whole modern era. While many events are referenced in Rebirth about Hal Jordan’s past history, all the information needed to understand are given in the story.

With that said, you could want to know more before diving into those stories or you are simply curious and would like to expand your Green Lantern’s reading list in parallel to this one! So, following is a short selection of optional stories:

  • Let’s start with Green Lantern: Secret Origin, written by Geoff Johns during his time on the series. This retelling of Hal Jordan’s origin story can be read at any point, including before Johns’s official start.

Next, you can learn more about the history of Hal Jordan and Parallax, that came to fruiton following the destruction of Coast City during the Death of Superman event.

Geoff Johns was also inspired by Alan Moore’s work on the Green Lantern to built his run:

  • Green Lantern #188 – “Mogo Doesn’t Socialize” is the first appearance of Mogo
  • Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2 – “Tygers” is the basis for the Sinestro war story arc.

And to explore deeper the Green Lantern Universe, check out our Complete Green Lantern Reading Order! 

Green Lantern Modern Collection Formats

Although the whole Saga can be read in different ways, the following two formats compile the entire saga into large, comprehensive volumes.

Modern era of Green Lantern: Compendium Editions

If you are just starting reading Green Lantern right now, the Compendium Editions are, without a doubt, the easiest way to experience this era. These big paperback volumes collects the entire Johns-era Green Lantern saga in chronological order, including all main series and tie-ins:

  • Green Lantern Compendium One: Rebirth [2025]
    Collects Green Lantern #18-42, Green Lantern Corps #14-38, Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Parallax #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Cyborg Superman #1, Blue Beetle #20, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman Prime #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion #1, Green Lantern / Sinestro Corps Secret Files and Origins #1, The Brave and the Bold #1-2, and stories from DC Universe Halloween Special (2008) #1, DC Universe #0, Green Lantern / Sinestro Corps : Secret Files and Origins #1, Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1, and DC Universe Halloween Special (2009) #1.
  • Green Lantern Compendium Two: The Sinestro Corps War [2026]
    Collecting in reading order for the first time ever Green Lantern #18-42, Green Lantern Corps #14-38, Green Lantern Sinestro Corps Special #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Parallax #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Cyborg Superman #1, Blue Beetle #20, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman Prime #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion #1, Green Lantern / Sinestro Corps Secret Files and Origins #1, The Brave and the Bold #1-2, and stories from DC Universe Halloween Special (2008) #1, DC Universe #0, Green Lantern / Sinestro Corps : Secret Files and Origins #1, Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1, and DC Universe Halloween Special (2009) #1.
  • More to Come!

Modern era of Green Lantern: Omnibus Editions

For Omnibus Collectors, Geoff Johns’ complete Green Lantern run have been reprinted in these oversized hardcover editions. It took DC Comics longer to collect Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason and Dave Gibbons’ work on Green Lantern Corps in this format, but the gap has been filled in recent years:

  • Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Green Lantern Rebirth #1-6, Green Lantern Corps Recharge #1-5, Green Lantern #1-25, Green Lantern Corps #14-18, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1, Green Lantern Secret Files 2005 #1, Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman Prime #1 and Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files #1.

  • Green Lantern Corps by Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1-5; Green Lantern Corps #1-38; Green Lantern #21-25; Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1; And Stories From Showcase ’95 #7-8, Blackest Night: Tales Of The Corps #1-3, And Untold Tales Of Blackest Night #1.
  • Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Green Lantern #26-52, Blackest Night #0-7, DC Universe #0, Untold Tales of Blackest Night #1-2, and Blackest Night Tales of the Corps #1-2.
  • Blackest Night Omnibus (10th Anniversary Edition)
    collects Blackest Night #0-8, Adventure Comics #4, 5 and 7, Blackest Night: Batman #1-3, Blackest Night: The Flash #1-3, Blackest Night: JSA #1-3, Blackest Night: Superman #1-3, Blackest Night: Titans #1-3, Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #1-3, Catwoman #83, Green Arrow #40, Green Lantern #43-52, Green Lantern Corps #39-47, Phantom Stranger #42, The Atom and Hawkman #46, The Power of Shazam! #48, The Question #37, Weird Western Tales #71 and more!
  • Green Lantern Corps by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus Vol. 2
    Collects Green Lantern Corps #39-47 #59-60, Green Lantern Corps (The New 52) #0-20, Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #1-13, Blackest Night #8, Green Lantern #65-67, Green Lantern (The New 52) #17, #20, Green Lantern Corps Annual #1, and a story from Green Lantern 80th Anniversary JOO-Page Super Spectacular #1.
  • Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus Vol. 3
    Collects Green Lantern #53-60, Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special #1, Green Lantern (2011) #1-20, Green Lantern Annual #1, Green Lantern Corps #58-60, And Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #8-10.

Absolute Green Lantern Collection

The Absolute Edition is a premium hardback format, larger than typical comic books, providing a wider canvas for displaying artwork. These editions are defined by their thick paper stock, detailed printing, and, in many cases, a protective slipcase. They also include additional content such as forewords, sketches, scripts, and interviews. DC Comics released three books in this collection from this period:

Green Lantern, The Modern Saga

We’re taking a closer and detailed look at the entire Geoff Johns era with the full trade paperback collection followed by a complete issue checklist, highlighting every major crossover and tie-in.

The Complete Trade Paperbacks Reading Order

Hal Jordan, considered the greatest Green Lantern of all time, is finally returning to his true calling as the Green Lantern of Space Sector 2814. Seeking to rebuild his life, he sets out on a new epic journey that reinvigorates Green Lantern as one of the most important heroes in the DC Universe!

Infinite Crisis Logo Reading Order

Optional Read. Long-lost heroes from the past have returned to make things right in the universe… at any cost. This is the 2005’s Infinite Crisis, an event written by Geoff Johns that changed the DC Universe, leading to the creation of a new Multiverse. This is a complementary reading to his Green Lantern’s run with the conclusion connecting and having an impact during the Sinestro Corps War.

After Infinite Crisis, DC Comics made a one-year time jump, and covered what happened during this famous year in the 52 comic series. There’s no Lantern in it, but it’s a great read!


The Guardians of the Universe reform the fabled Green Lantern Corps! New recruits such as Soranik Natu, Isamot Kol, and Vath Sarn will need guidance to find their footing in their new life mission. Drill instructor Kilowog is here to teach them about the Green Lantern’s life, as well a Legend Lantern Guy Gardner! It all started with the Green Lantern Corps: Recharged limited series from Johns and Dave Gibbons, before the official launch of a monthly ongoing Green Lantern Corps! At the same time, Kyle Rayner co-creator Ron Marz is back on the character to write about his new role as Ion, the living embodiment of the Green Lantern legacy.

Although Geoff Johns did not write the Green Lantern Corps (and Ion), we heartily recommend reading the comic series to gain a better understanding of the Corps and its Lanterns. The two series complement each other so well that they enhance each other’s reading experience.

The Sinestro War Corps

The first crossover between the Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps title put the Green Lanterns of Earth and the rest of the Corps in a interstellar war against the Sinestro Corps, an army led by the former Green Lantern Sinestro who are armed with yellow power rings and seek a universe ruled through fear! If you want to go deeper into the Lantern lore, as said in the prelude section of the guide, this story is based on the 1986 Alan Moore “Tales of the Green Lantern Corps” story.

Final Crisis Event, An Essential Issue by Issue Reading Order
Featuring the Green Lanterns!

For those who want to read Grant Morrison’s Final Crisis during this time (not an essential for the Lanterns), here’s our recommended reading order to have the essential story:

Final Crisis #1 | Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns | Green Lantern #35-42 | Final Crisis #2-3 | Superman Beyond #1-2 | Final Crisis: Submit #1 | Final Crisis # 4-5 | Batman #682-683 | Final Crisis # 6-7

Green Lantern by Geoff Johns’ new paperback collection

In 2019, DC Comics started reprinting the main Green Lantern comics series in a new format. This paperback collection focused on Geoff Johns, the only issues from other series included are the ones connected to the crossovers (Books One & Four have been reprinted in 2024).

Blackest Night

The Prophecy of the Blackest Night has come to pass—a mysterious force is raising deceased heroes and villains into an army of undead Black Lanterns! The combined might of the Green Lantern Corps and an armada of living superbeings must now band together in a fight quite literally for their lives.

Blackest Night was one of the biggest events in DC Comics, with over 70 issues in total (that you can find in one place in the Blackest Night Omnibus). The following trade paperbacks collects the main story featuring the Green Lanterns.

Blackest Night, An Essential Issue by Issue Reading Order

Following are the essential Blackest Night Reading Order, without all the tie-ins, focused on the Green Lanterns. If you want to read the complete event, with all the tie-ins, go check out our Complete Blackest Night Reading Guide.

Blackest Night #0-1 | Green Lantern #44 | Blackest Night #2 | Green Lantern #45 | Blackest Night #3 | Green Lantern #46 | Blackest Night #4 | Green Lantern #47 | Blackest Night #5 | Green Lantern #48-49 | Blackest Night #6 | Green Lantern #50-51 | Green Lantern Corps #39-45 | Blackest Night #7 | Green Lantern #52 | Green Lantern Corps #46 | Blackest Night #8

After the Blackest night came Brightest Day, another (but different) event written by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi dealing with the aftermath of Blackest Night. In that particular case, you don’t have to read the main event but only the Green Lantern tie-in issues, which stories lead to the War of the Green Lanterns crossover. If you’re interested in reading the complete event, check out our Brightest Day Reading Guide.

This is around here that Flashpoint happened! This DC Comics event from Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert see Barry Allen waking up in a new version of his Earth in the altering event Falshpoint. He need to discover what happened before his memories of the old universe are erased forever. In this alternate reality, Abin Sur survived the crash on Earth and continues his work as a Green Lantern, while Hal Jordan is a fighter pilot. Those two stories are collected in Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern. This is an optional read.

Green Lantern New 52

Following the events of Flashpoint, the DC Universe was relaunched. It was the start of the New 52 era, although the impact on Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps was limited in comparison to some other parts of the DC Universe. Geoff Johns was still the main writer of Green Lantern at the start of this era, while Tomasi also returned to the Green Lantern Corps. Two more titles were added to the Green Lantern Universe: The Red Lantern comics by Peter Milligan expanded the backstory of this particular Corps while the Green Lantern: New Guardians comics, written by Tony Bedard, featuring a team of renegade Lanterns consisting of members from each Corps including Kyle Rayner.

Green Lantern: Rise of the Third Army/Wrath of the First Lantern

Geoff Johns’ era on Green Lantern is coming to an end with two crossovers event between all the Green Lantern comic titles. The mysterious Third Army has risen across the cosmos like a plague, destroying everything in its path—and Hal Jordan and Sinestro are nowhere to be found. Now, it’s up to the new Green Lantern Simon Baz to become the hero that the Corps needs!

Here, you have a choice collection-wise, as DC Comics has reprinted the series individually AND by story. Despite the fact the Green Lantern Vol. 5 #0 has only been collected in Vol. 3: The End, we recommend going for the trades collecting the crossovers.

Also collected in:

Rise of the Third Army/Wrath of the First Lantern, An Issue by Issue Reading Order

Rise of the Third Army
Green Lantern #0 | Green Lantern Annual #1 | Green Lantern #13-14 | Green Lantern Corps #13-15 | Green Lantern: New Guardians #13-16 | Red Lanterns #13-16 | Green Lantern #15-16 | Green Lantern Corps #16 | Green Lantern Corps Annual #1

Wrath of the First Lantern
Green Lantern #17 | Green Lantern Corps #17 | Green Lantern: New Guardians #17 | Red Lanterns #17 | Green Lantern #18 | Green Lantern Corps #18 | Green Lantern: New Guardians #18 | Red Lanterns #18 | Green Lantern #19 | Green Lantern Corps #19 | Green Lantern: New Guardians #19 | Red Lanterns #19 | Green Lantern #20 | Green Lantern Corps #20 | Green Lantern: New Guardians #20 | Red Lanterns #20

Green Lantern The Modern Era Saga, Issue-by-Issue Reading Order (with some Annotations)

This section is under Construction! We’re taking the cue from DC Comics! As the publisher is reprinting the modern Green Lantern saga in their Compendium Collection, I’m following their reading order, with some personal recommendations and notes. If you read your comics on the DC Universe app, you should find most issues here.

Part I: Rebirth

The Green Lantern Modern era starts with Hal Jordan’s return from exile, retconning his past as Parallax, and the return of The Green Lantern Corps. Not long after, the DC Universe was affected by Infinite Crisis, a follow-up to the classic 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths leading to the creating of a New Multiverse.

This event was also written by Geoff Johns and, as messy as it is, can be read as a complementary reading for his Green Lantern’s run. While this is still an optional read, I choose to put it in the following list for everyone interested by the main event (check out our Complete Infinite Crisis for the whole event). This is also during the Rann-Thanagar War that Kyle Rayner ascended as Ion.

  • Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-6
  • Green Lantern: Secret Files & Origins 2005
  • Green Lantern (Vol. 4) #1-6
  • Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage #1-2 – This two-part story by Howard Chaykin is optional and, to be honest, really bad.
  • Rann-Thanagar War #1-6 – A chaotic 2005 event from Dave Gibbons and Ivan Reis, part of Infinite Crisis. It features Kyle Rayner and Kilowog.
  • Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1-5
  • Infinite Crisis #1
  • Green Lantern #7-8 – After the events of Infinite Crisis #1, Mongul faces off with Green Lantern and Green Arrow.
  • Infinite Crisis #2-4
  • Rann-Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special #1 – Kyle Rayner becomes Ion at the end of this issue.
  • Infinite Crisis #5-7
  • Green Lantern #9
  • Green Lantern Corps #1
  • Ion #1-8 – While this can be optional, this series from writer Ron Marz and artist Greg Tocchini help define Kyle Rayner’s place in this GL’s era and understand his powers as Ion.
  • Green Lantern Corps #7-9
  • Ion #9
  • Green Lantern #10-17
  • Ion #10-12
Part II: The Sinestro Corps War
  • Green Lantern #18-20
  • Green Lantern Corps #10-13
  • Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1
  • Green Lantern #21
  • Green Lantern Corps #14
  • Green Lantern #22
  • Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents: Parallax #1
  • Green Lantern Corps #15
  • Green Lantern #23
  • Green Lantern Corps #16
  • Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents: Cyborg Superman #1
  • Blue Beetle #20
  • Green Lantern #24
  • Green Lantern Corps #17
  • Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime #1
  • Green Lantern Corps #18
  • Green Lantern #25
  • Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion #1
  • Green Lantern Corps #19
  • Green Lantern / Sinestro Corps: Secret Files & Origins #1
  • Green Lantern #26-28
  • Green Lantern #29-35 – This is Secret Origin
  • Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1
  • Green Lantern #36-42
  • Green Lantern Corps #20-38
  • DC Universe #0 – Prelude to Blackest Night
  • The Brave and the Bold #1-2
  • DCU Halloween Special #1 – “Fear of the Dark” story
  • DCU Halloween Special ’09 #1 – “Halloween the Guy Way!”

To be continued… In the Green Lantern New 52 Guide (or our Complete Green Lantern Guide!)

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