Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #3 – In Blackest Night (1987)

April 19, 2020

Short stories can be a beautiful excuse for a creator to focus on the smaller details of a story’s lore. When you have a truly talented writer, they can be profound, or even shed some light on a situation that might not have been considered before. With collected trades dedicated to writers, we have the opportunity to look back and experience these often looked over tales. One such is In Blackest Night by Alan Moore and Bill Willingham. A 6-page story that asks a question regarding the absence of concepts such as colour or light when explaining the Green Lantern Corps.

The story begins with the Guardians of OA putting a Green Lantern, Katma Tui, on trial. They had tasked her with searching the Obsidian Deep to find someone to be that space sector’s protector. Asking how she apparently found someone, and yet there is still no Green Lantern protector. She recounts to them how she explored the Obsidian Deeps until she came across life, though barely being able to see anything beyond the light revealed by her ring. The world she stumbles across is sparse, but what life she does find appears to be entirely silicon based. One such life form she comes across; the ring does deem worthy of joining the Green Lantern Corps. When she attempts to speak to it however, the creature lets out an ear-splitting screech. Due to the complete darkness of the planet and the light from Katma’s ring shining, she realises that the creature is in fact blind and hadn’t realised she was there until she spoke.

The ring’s translation ability comes in handy as Katma tries to explain why she is there, learning that the creatures name is Rot Lop Fan. The pair discuss the world outside what Fan knows, and Katma invites him to become a protector of this sector. However, when Katman tries to explain the Green Lantern Corps, it can’t be translated, leaving Fan deeply confused. Katma explains to the OA Guardians that “it just couldn’t translate the words ‘Green’ or ‘Lantern’ in a language with no concept of colour or light”. Katma tries to create a construct while explaining the concept, but it’s still difficult to explain. Even when reciting the oat, it becomes difficult to understand. “In (untranslatable), in (untranslatable), no evil shall escape my (untranslatable). Let those who worship evil’s might beware my power, (untranslatable)”.

Fan tries to comfort her, still unsure of what she’s trying to say but understanding that it’s distressing Katma deeply. She decides to give Fan a ring to see if experiencing the power will get the point across. Katma asks Fan if he knows what a bell is, and if he can imagine one. Telling him to concentrate hard and imagine the shape and weight in his hand. Fan manages to conjure a construct in the form of a bell, and Katma asks him what sound is the most soothing to him. Upon deciding on F-Sharp, Katma explains to him that if he rings the bell, the sound wave admitted will form a solid form when he concentrates. While Fan can’t see where danger is, he is evolved to use sound. With some thought, Katma re-writes the oath for him.

“In Loudest din or hush profound, my ears catch evil’s slightest sound. Let those who toll out evil’s knell, Beware my power: The F-Sharp Bell!”

Before leaving, Katma designs him a new uniform using a bell in place of the Green Lantern emblem. The story concludes with Katma telling the Guardians that while she did appoint a protector, he doesn’t quite qualify as a traditional Green Lantern, but asks the Guardians to consider his status and to get back to him soon. Years later, Katma remembers the Guardian’s response. “Thank you, Katma Tui. We’ll try not to keep him in the dark too long”. The knowledge that a guardian had told a joke is something that leaves her deeply uneasy.

While the story is very short, only accounting for 6 pages, it does raise the question of what a Green Lantern means to those with no understanding of light or colour. But does put a lovely twist on the notion of constructs. Kyle Rayner expressed a deep fear during The Tower of Babel in regards to loosing his sight, granted, this is partly due to the fact that Kyle is an artist. But with the Lantern member Rot Lop Fan, Moore shows that it is indeed possible for someone to be a protector, even without the use of sight.