Green Lantern Annual (Volume 5) #1 is an issue of the series Green Lantern Annual (Volume 5) with a cover date of October, 2012.
Synopsis for "Rise of the Third Army: Prologue"
The Guardians meditate on their next course of action. They once believed emotion to be the origin of chaos; which is why they created the Manhunters. However, without emotion, the Manhunters slaughtered an entire sector. They believed fear to be the origin of chaos; which is why they created the Green Lantern Corps. However, since then, other six Corps have risen, each is their own source of conflict. The Green Lantern Corps has only exacerbated it.
Now, the Guardians believe willpower to be the origin of chaos. Their mission is to erase free will from every single being in the universe. To do that, a Third Army must rise.
Meanwhile on Earth, Hal finds himself buried underground, his ring drained of energy. Remembering his love for Carol, Hal digs himself out of the grave and finds Sinestro buried in another grave. Grabbing a shovel, Hal begins to dig Sinestro out, but Black Hand appears to him.
Black Hand suggests Hal to leave Sinestro to his fate, as that would save him a lot of trouble. Hal refuses, but Black Hand shows Hal the grave of his father, Martin Jordan. Black Hand could bring him back if Hal abandons Sinestro, but Hal is unsure, as the resurrected man wouldn't be the father he knew.
Meanwhile, the Guardians travel through a vortex that leads them to the Chamber of Shadows. The vortex projects images of Black Hand, and the Guardians believe they can manipulate them to their own means. The Guardians reach the Chamber and quickly remove the energy chains. Within, the Guardians find a group of ancient Maltusians, the Guardians' own brethren. These Maltusians had agreed to remain in the Chamber and watch over the First Lantern. In case anyone wanted to release him, they would destroy them.
Reegal, one of the nameless Maltusians, asks if the Manhunters were successful. Ganthet reveals that the Manhunters failed and now they need to release the First Lantern. Seeing that the Guardians have lost reason, the Maltusians engage them in battle.
Black Hand prepares to revive Martin Jordan but Hal tries to stop them. During their struggle, Black Hand reveals that the Book of the Black said that Hal would be the greatest Black Lantern of all time. Suddenly, Sinestro digs himself off the grave and attacks Black Hand with the shovel. While Black Hand is incapacitated, Hal and Sinestro use the last of their willpower to summon Hal's battery. They manage to recharge their rings.
As the Guardians and the nameless Maltusians continue their battle, a Guardian injures Reegal and uses his energy to crack open the First Lantern's vault. As the Guardians enter the vault, they find the First Lantern, still alive and awake. The First Lanterns begs the Guardians to be freed.
As Hal and Sinestro fight Black Hand, the First Lantern's pleas are heard through their rings.
The Guardians take the First Lantern and seal the Chamber of Shadows, with the Malttusians still inside. The Guardians watch the battle between the Green Lanterns and Black Hand through the vortex. Amazed that Hal Jordan has gained a Green Lantern Ring and is working with Sinestro, the Guardians decide they must be dealt with. The Guardians teleport to Earth with the First Lantern and charge Black Hand up, temporarily becoming a mindless drone.
With his new power, Black Hand creates a massive black vortex that begins to suck Hal and Sinestro within. The vortex causes a distortion on their rings, making them believe their wielders are dead. The rings, suffering a malfunction, being to merge into one again. Before that can happen, however, Hal makes one last message for Carol. Hal and Sinestro are then absored by the vortex and the unified ring looks for a new wielder.
The Guardians, deducing that Black Hand is vulnerable to their power without Nekron to command him, seal him into the Chamber of Shadows until they need him again.
With Hal and Sinestro dead, the Guardians resolve to destroy the other Corps and create the Third Army.
Appearing in "Rise of the Third Army: Prologue"
Featured Characters:
- Hal Jordan (Apparent Death)
- Sinestro (Apparent Death)
Supporting Characters:
- First Lantern (First full appearance)
Villains:
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Chamber of Shadows (First appearance)
- Coast City
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Epilogue: The First Soldier"
A morning rain falls over Coast City and the Guardians prepare to being the next phase of their plan. The Guardians absorb some of the First Lantern's power and combine it with some of their own DNA, and thus a new creature, the First Soldier of the Third Army, is born.
A security guard working on the cemetary comes up to investigate what happened. The First Soldier, percieving the guard as a threat, attacks and injects him with its DNA. The guard's heart is thrown out and the guard becomes the Second Soldier. However, his eyes remain the same as they were when he was human. The Guardians are unconcerned, as the Soldiers' minds are connected to no one's mind but the Guardians'. Having created its first two Soldiers, the Guardians continue their plan to develop and expand the Third Army.
Appearing in "Epilogue: The First Soldier"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- First Lantern
Villains:
- Third Army (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
See Also