It's not uncommon for heroes to have a 'no-kill rule', but the Green Lantern Corps' edict may be placing its in serious danger. Soranik Natu found out the hard way how a Green Lantern's Power Ring could metaphorically backfire when it's needed most.
It's one of the oldest principles in the superhero handbook: a hero never takes a life. It's a moral stance that defines a number of heroes: Superman, Batman, the Flash. All of them make it a point to not cross the line and end the life of their enemies. Some heroes, like Red Hood or Wonder Woman, may not have as many qualms about killing others in the heat of battle. But for the most part, many of DC's heroes take their stance seriously. No matter what evils their villains bring, heroes with a 'no-kill code' refuse to stoop to their level and kill as well.
However, it seems that some heroes don't exactly get a choice in the matter. One member of the Green Lantern Corps found out at the worst possible moment that she wasn't allowed to use her ring in a lethal way. In Dave Gibbons, Patrick Gleason, and Angel Unzueta’s Green Lantern Corps #14, the Sinestro Corps' attack on the Green Lanterns is in full swing, with Lanterns dying all across the universe. Sinestro's replacement, Soranik Natu, goes to their home planet of Korugar to establish peace, only for Natu to come face-to-face with the fallen Lantern himself. The two begin a brutal brawl, with Sinestro easily clobbering Natu. As Sinestro attempts to display his newfound power on the people of Korugar, Natu attempts to launch a killshot and stop him, only to find her ring intentionally miss due to its nonlethal programming.
What Makes The Green Lanterns 'No-Kill Rule' Different
It should be noted that while Green Lantern is a Justice League member, he’s first and foremost a member of the Corps, meaning anyone wearing a ring is a peacekeeper who answers to a higher authority. The Guardians of the Universe aren't perfect leaders, but clearly they are aware of how easily such a weapon could be abused in the wrong hands. While it makes sense to keep the Lanterns in balance, a protocol like that could put the Corps' in serious danger.
To be fair, the Lanterns are equipped with a ring that allows limitless possibilities. Coming up with a creative and nonlethal solution is in a Green Lantern’s purview. However, in dire emergency situations, this sort of hindrance could (and in the Sinestro Corps War’s case did) get people killed. Soranik got lucky that she evaded Sinestro, but her inability to dispatch Sinestro put her in a much dangerous position. That’s not to say that Lanterns should wantonly kill criminals and lawbreakers. But if a Green Lantern is put into a position where they can’t defend themselves, then they risk the worst occurring.
