Oa

Last updated
Oa
Oa (DC Comics).jpg
Oa, with the Guardians of the Universe and the Green Lantern Corps. Art by Alex Ross.
Characters Guardians of the Universe
Green Lantern Corps
Publisher DC Comics

Oa is a fictional planet that lies at the center of the DC Comics universe. Since its inception, Oa has been the planetary citadel of the Guardians of the Universe and headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. It first appeared in Green Lantern (vol. 2) #1, when the Guardians summoned Hal Jordan's "energy duplicate" so they could hear of his origin.

Contents

History

One of the oldest planets in the universe, Oa serves as the home and headquarters for a race of blue-skinned powerful humanoids called the Guardians of the Universe. The Guardians administer the Green Lantern Corps, a group of powerful universal police officers equipped by the Guardians with green-colored power rings along with green lanterns with which to charge the rings. According to the story "Heart of a Star" in the Sandman: Endless Nights graphic novel, Oa's star is called Sto-Oa (the Light of Oa) by the children of the planet's inhabitants. Its location has been firmly established by numerous references in Green Lantern comics over the years. It was formerly the center of the universe until the events of Infinite Crisis.

Oa's history is not clear; according to some stories, the Guardians originated on a planet called Maltus. These evolved Maltusians later moved to Oa and named themselves Oans. Oa became a convenient base of operations. Other stories had the Oans living there from the beginning.

Oa appears primarily as a desert-like, lifeless planet except for the Guardians' city which contains the Corps Central Battery and various halls, living quarters, containment cells and training centers for the Green Lantern Corps. It serves basically as a planet-sized all-in-one police station, training grounds and prison.

During a period where the planet had been abandoned and the Central Battery destroyed, Oa spent some time as a patchwork mosaic of cities from other planets similar to Battleworld. This transformation was due to a rogue Guardian driven insane by solitude. When the Guardians returned to Oa, Mosaic was kept as an experiment in inter-galactic cooperative living. [1] [2]

Green Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern of sector 2814 (which includes Earth), under the influence of the evil entity Parallax, kills all but one of the Guardians and most of the Corps before draining Oa's Central Power Battery of its energy. [3] During the final Zero Hour: Crisis in Time battle with Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner destroys the planet in an attempt to defeat Hal. [4]

In the crossover Green Lantern vs the Silver Surfer , the Marvel Universe villain Thanos attempts to use the rift created by Oa's destruction to unmake the multiverse, after tricking Kyle into powering his equipment with his ring. Thanos is confronted by Parallax and their powers are drained by Kyle and the Surfer, apparently destroying the rift. During the Circle of Fire event, what remains of the planet served as a base of operations for the villain Oblivion.

The planet is reformed sometime later by Jordan's old friend and associate Tom "Pie-Face" Kalmaku in the graphic novel Legacy: The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan. The Central Power Battery is later recharged and the Guardians resurrected shortly thereafter by Kyle Rayner after he spends some time as the near-omnipotent "Ion", Kyle sacrificing his power to restore the Guardians rather than risk becoming as dangerous as Hal-as-Parallax.

After attacks by Superboy-Prime and the Spider Guild, the Guardians fortify Oa by creating a planetwide armor and defensive system to prevent attacks. The full capability of the new systems is still unknown. They were not, however, enough to prevent an assault by the Sinestro Corps, which resulted in the deaths of many Green Lanterns. Afterward, the Corps doubled its defenses. However, a rogue Guardian, Scar, weakened its defenses for an attack from the Black Lantern Corps.

After Sinestro killed the Guardians for their "Third Army" plot and their part in Korugar's destruction by the First Lantern Volthoom—although he spared and exiled both Ganthet and Sayd—Hal Jordan became the new leader of the Green Lantern Corps. Shortly after this, the planet was attacked and destroyed by Relic, with Mogo becoming the Corps's new base of operations. [5]

Following the rebirth of the Guardians of the Universe and Hal Jordan's victory over Hank Henshaw, Ganthet revealed that the Guardians were rebuilding Oa in secret with the plans to restore it to what it once was, [6] which is referred to as "New Oa". [7]

Legion of Super-Heroes

It is revealed in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds that Sodam Yat is the last Guardian of the Universe in the 31st century, while Rond Vidar is the last remaining Green Lantern until he is killed by Superboy-Prime's Legion of Super-Villains. Oa lies mostly in ruins, the power battery cracked, and the rings of the Corps lie in a pile, unable to locate new bearers due to Mogo's apparent death. Statues of legendary Green Lantern Corps members, including Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Arisia Rrab, and Ch'p, line the hall where the Guardians formerly met.

Green Lanterns Corps Headquarters

Book of Oa

After Thomas Kalmaku used Jordan's ring to rebuild Oa, Kyle Rayner used his power as Ion to resurrect the Guardians. The book of Oa is now restored.

The Forbidden Chapter of the Book tells the prophecy of the Blackest Night, the final destruction of the Green Lantern Corps at the hands of their greatest enemies as it was told to Abin Sur by the demons of Ysmault.

Upon recruitment, a Green Lantern is expected to uphold certain principles of their duty. These principles include:

  1. The protection of life and liberty within the assigned sector.
  2. Following the orders of the Guardians without question.
  3. Noninterference with a planet's culture, political structure, or its population's collective will.
  4. Acting within local laws and obeying local authority within reason (presumably, the Guardians' orders can overrule this when necessary).
  5. Taking no action against anyone or anything until they are proven to be a threat against life and liberty.
  6. Avoiding the use of equipment, resources or authority of the Corps for personal gain.
  7. Showing respect for and cooperating with other members of the Corps and the Guardians.
  8. Showing respect for life which includes restraint of force unless there is no reasonable alternative.
  9. Giving top priority to the greatest danger in the assigned sector.
  10. Upholding the honor of the Corps.

The book of Oa has been designated off-limits after being rewritten by the Guardians of the Universe to include ten new laws. Only the first four have been revealed:

  1. Lethal force is authorized against the Sinestro Corps. [8]
  2. Lethal force is authorized against all enemies of the Green Lantern Corps. [9] This law was later repealed by Corps leader John Stewart during the war against the Darkstars, believing that the Green Lanterns are more than about winning battles, and need to focus on winning the love and support of the universe around them to prove their way of standing up for Justice is better than the Darkstars way of executing known criminals. [10]
  3. Physical relationships and love between Green Lanterns is forbidden within the Corps. [11] This law is later repealed and relationships between Green Lanterns are allowed [12] following the Blackest Night event.
  4. The Vega System is no longer outside of Green Lantern Corps' jurisdiction. [13]

When the new laws are written, the book is revealed to be written in Interlac, the galactic universal language used by the 30th and 31st century United Planets and Legion of Super-Heroes. [13]

To enforce these principles, the Guardians closely monitor the activities of the Lanterns. If they feel a violation of Corps regulations occurred, they will summon the offender to Oa and hold a trial in which the charges are read and the Lantern is allowed to explain their actions. If the Guardians are not satisfied by the explanation, they have a number of disciplinary options which include:

In other media

Television

Film

Oa as it appears in Green Lantern Planet Oa from Green Lantern the 2011 movie.jpg
Oa as it appears in Green Lantern

Videogames

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Lantern Corps</span> Fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics

Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic law enforcement organization appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa. According to DC continuity, the Green Lantern Corps have been in existence for three billion years. Currently operating amongst the 3600 "sectors" of the universe, there are 7204 members. Each Green Lantern is given a power ring, a weapon granting the use of incredible abilities that are directed by the wearer's own willpower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guardians of the Universe</span> Fictional extraterrestrial race in the DC Comics universe

The Guardians of the Universe are a race of extraterrestrial superhero characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Green Lantern. They first appeared in Green Lantern #1, and were created by John Broome and Gil Kane. The Guardians of the Universe have been adapted to a number of films, television programs, and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Gardner (character)</span> DC comics fictional character

Guy Darrin Gardner, one of the characters known as Green Lantern, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, usually in association with the Green Lantern Corps, of which he is a member. For a time in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was also a significant member of the Justice League. Gardner's original design is based on actor Martin Milner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinestro</span> Supervillain in the DC Comics Universe

Thaal Sinestro is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, particularly those featuring Green Lantern. Sinestro is a former Green Lantern Corps member who was dishonorably discharged for abusing his power. He is the archnemesis of Hal Jordan and founder of the Sinestro Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Rayner</span> Fictional superhero

Kyle Rayner, one of the characters known as Green Lantern, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character is depicted as being associated with the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which he has been a member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mogo</span> Comics character

Mogo is a fictional comic book character, a superhero appearing in publications by the American publisher DC Comics. Mogo is a sentient planet, and as a member of the interplanetary police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, appearing as a supporting character in storylines featuring that group, specifically the Green Lantern franchise. Created by writer Alan Moore and writer Dave Gibbons, Mogo first appeared in Green Lantern #188 in a story titled "Mogo Doesn't Socialize".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parallax (character)</span> DC universe character

Parallax is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of the Green Lantern Corps. It is the embodiment of the emotion of fear, and serves as the power source for the Sinestro Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Stewart (character)</span> Comic book superhero

John Stewart, one of the characters known as Green Lantern, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics and was the first African-American superhero to appear in DC Comics. The character was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams, and first appeared in Green Lantern #87. Stewart's original design was based on actor Sidney Poitier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganthet</span> Fictional character in Green Lantern franchise

Ganthet is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, who first appeared in 1992 in Larry Niven and John Byrne's graphic novel Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale (ISBN 1-56389-026-7). He is also Sayd's husband.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerald Twilight</span> DC comic book saga

"Emerald Twilight" is a 1994 comic book story told in Green Lantern #48–50, written by Ron Marz, drawn by Darryl Banks and published by DC Comics. The story introduced a new Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner, who gained a significant fan following.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ion (DC Comics)</span> Comics character

Ion is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. Created by writer Judd Winick and artist Dale Eaglesham for Green Lantern #142, Ion was devised as the new superhero identity for Green Lantern protagonist Kyle Rayner. It was later revealed to be able to form mutualism with a host, bestowing its power to a host willingly. This followed a similar retcon as Parallax, originally the new supervillain alias of Hal Jordan, which was revealed to be a parasitic embodiment of fear in the 2004–2005 miniseries Green Lantern: Rebirth.

<i>Green Lantern: Rebirth</i> DC comic book series

Green Lantern: Rebirth is a six-issue monthly American comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver. Published by DC Comics between October 2004 and May 2005, the series featured characters from throughout the sixty-year history of Green Lantern comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinestro Corps</span> Comics villains

The Sinestro Corps, occasionally known as the Yellow Lantern Corps, is a supervillainous group and analog to the Green Lantern Corps in the DC Universe. They are led by Sinestro, and derive power from the emotional electromagnetic spectrum of fear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sayd</span> Comics character

Sayd is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. She is a member of the Guardians of the Universe. Where most of the Guardians are void of emotion and rigid in their compliance to standard policy, Sayd's sensibilities are more in line with those of Ganthet, a Guardian known for his non-traditional mindset, and the two eventually entered a romantic relationship and later married.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atrocitus</span> DC comics villain

Atrocitus (Atros) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the leader of the Red Lantern Corps and an enemy of the Guardians of the Universe and Sinestro, their former Green Lantern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Lantern Corps</span> Fictional organization appearing in comics published by DC Comics

The Blue Lantern Corps is a fictional organization appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, beginning in 2008 in Green Lantern vol. 4 #25 by Geoff Johns. Their powers, similar to those of other organizations based around the emotional spectrum, are fueled by the emotion of hope.

The Life Entity is a fictional creature, a physical embodiment of all life within the DC Universe. Long ago starting all life from the planet Earth, it went on to create the seven entities of the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum, and was hidden in a dimensional tear within the Earth by the Guardians of the Universe when they discovered its existence, in order to preserve it from exploitation and possible harm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Walker</span> DC Comics character

Saint Walker is a fictional comic book character appearing in American comic books and other associated media published by DC Comics. He is an alien member of the galactic Blue Lantern Corps, an organization dedicated to spreading peace and harmony through the power of hope throughout the universe.

<i>War of the Green Lanterns</i> Comic book

War of the Green Lanterns is a 2011 ten-issue American comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics that spans the Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, and Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors series. It was written by each series' writer, Geoff Johns, Tony Bedard, and Peter Tomasi respectively, and drawn by Doug Mahnke, Tyler Kirkham, and Fernando Pasarin.

Wrath of the First Lantern is a Green Lantern comic book. It was received with critical acclaim, with critics praising Geoff Johns' writing, art, action, and worldbuilding but criticized heavily on the tie-ins.

References

  1. Green Lantern (vol. 3) #1-17
  2. Green Lantern: Mosaic #1-18
  3. Green Lantern (vol. 3) #50
  4. Green Lantern (vol. 3) #0
  5. Green Lantern: New Guardians #24 (December, 2013)
  6. Green Lanterns #57 (October 2018)
  7. The Green Lantern #1 (November 2018)
  8. Green Lantern (vol. 4) #23 (November 2007)
  9. Green Lantern (vol. 4) #28 (April 2008)
  10. Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #48 (July 2018)
  11. Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #31 (February 2009)
  12. Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #47 (June 2010)
  13. 1 2 Green Lantern (vol. 4) #40 (May 2009)