To be bestowed a Power Ring and granted a role in the Green Lantern Corps is one of the greatest responsibilities in the DC universe. Within the 3600 sectors of the galaxy protected by Green Lanterns, Earth resides in Sector 2814.
A long line of Green Lantern Corps has protected the planet, some were official long-lasting while others were only temporarily recruited. Several famous , including the iconic Hal Jordan and John Stewart, originate from Earth. Meanwhile, others come from other planets within Sector 2814.
Jong Li
The earliest Green Lantern in the timeline is Jong Li of 7th century China. Jong Li was a kind-hearted monk whose temple was massacred by the Imperial guard. Also, a young woman named Jade and her infant child were taken as captives, sending Jong Li on a path of justice.
He was given a Power Ring and a Lantern battery as a means to fight his enemies. His training as a monk helped him learn the ways of the ring with ease and he set off on a journey to free Jade and save the land from the evils of the Empire.
Yalan Gur
With a jump to the 10th century, Yalan Gur was a powerful Green Lantern who protected Earth at first. However, after he lost his weakness to the power of yellow energy, he became corrupted by his own power. Gur ended up enslaving China, feeling the need to protect humans from themselves.
Yalan Gur was defeated by the Guardians but rather than simply dying, his body and energy dissipated into a meteor. Yalan Gur recently got his cinematic debut in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Laham
Not much is known about Laham other than he originates from the planet Scylla and he was the Green Lantern during the 17th century. Laham was killed in action as his planet was ravaged and conquered by an alien race.
It would seem that Laham was apparently an honorable member of the Corps as he was memorialized in the Crypts Of The Green Lantern Corps.
Waverly Sayre
Upon Laham's death, the Power Ring found a suitable successor on Earth in the form of Waverly Sayre. The ring had transported him to Laham's planet to discover the alien invaders, whom he perceived as demons and spirits.
Feeling rejuvenated and filled with purpose after losing his wife and daughter, Waverly fended off the alien threat as the new Green Lantern. It earned him praise from the locals, including Laham's widow. His acts of valor also earned him a spot in the same crypt as Laham later on.
Starkaðr
After Waverly, it was Starkaðr who took on the responsibilities of the Green Lantern. His mission brought him to the planet Ungara to defend its people from an invasion which he was able to do but at a price.
The battle left Starkaðr mortally wounded, so he ed the ring to Abin Sur. This was a wise choice because Abin Sur would end up being one of the more decorated Green Lanterns in the history of the Corps.
Abin Sur
Abin Sur was recruited by the Corps in the Earth year 1860; he would go on to serve to the Corps for over a century. However, Abin Sur met his end at the hands of a being known as Legion.
Before his death, he crash-landed in the desert of the nearest habitable planet - Earth. This is where Abin Sur's Power Ring would onto the most famous Green Lantern: Hal Jordan. However, Hal was not the first to get the ring from Abin Sur.
Daniel Young
In 1873, after Abin Sur was wounded and temporarily incapacitated on Earth, the Power Ring chose a replacement - a young sheriff named Daniel Young.
As a Green Lantern, Daniel fought some outlaws in Montana. However, that was about it before the ring was recalled to Abin Sur.
Alan Scott
Though technically not a member of the Green Lantern Corps, Alan Scott is a Green Lantern whose magic is connected to the Corps thanks to Yalan Gur. Plus, without Alan, there would be no legion of Green Lanterns that fans know of today.
Alan was the Green Lantern of the Golden Age and his power does come from a ring and a lantern much like the Corps. Scott's ring, however, is powered by magic with a weakness to wood.
Hal Jordan
For many fans, Hal Jordan is the definitive Green Lantern. Hal was a cocky test pilot with a heart of gold who discovered the wounded Abin Sur and received the Power Ring.
Since his introduction, Hal has gone through quite the journey from rookie to possibly the most decorated member of the Corps. He's fallen from grace several times but always finds his way back to heroism as both a Lantern and core member of the Justice League.
John Stewart
Though Guy Gardner was supposed to be Hal Jordan's successor, John Stewart was rewarded with the ring due to Gardner being hospitalized. John has had his own fair share of comics to shine as the Green Lantern.
Where Hal was rather cocky and charismatic, Stewart is more stoic due to his military background. In some ways, he is a superior fighter to Hal and he proves to be Hal's equal in the Corps, even becoming his predecessor's partner many times throughout history.
