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Quote1 Kyle held the torch when no else did. When no one else could. Quote2
Hal Jordan src

Kyle Rayner is a high-ranking member of the Green Lantern Corps from Earth. After the rest of the Corps was destroyed, he alone was selected to bear the last power ring and carry on the title. Although he acted alone for many years, when the Corps was reformed, his skill level gave him a position as an Honor Guard, only behind Salakk and the Guardians in the chain of command of the Corps. He has also been a host for the Ion entity, and a member of the Justice League.

Early Life

Kyle Rayner 001

Kyle Rayner becomes Green Lantern

Before he acquired a Green Lantern ring, Kyle Rayner was a struggling-but-gifted freelance graphic artist. He lived and worked in Los Angeles initially. After Hal Jordan, grief-stricken over the destruction of his hometown of Coast City, went on a mad rampage, killing the entire Green Lantern Corps and most of the Guardians of the Universe who oversaw the Corps, Rayner was found by Ganthet, the last surviving Guardian, and given the last Green Lantern ring: the powerful weapon wielded by each Green Lantern, which allows them to conjure any form of matter or energy solely with their willpower. Ganthet's reasons for choosing Kyle to bear the ring have never been made completely apparent, aside from Rayner having been in the right place at the right time.[2]

The Last Green Lantern

Kyle, unsure of what to think about having this new power, went to his ex-girlfriend's apartment, Alexandra DeWitt, showing her that he now was a Green Lantern. She decided to help him, and after his first adventure where everyone thought he was Hal Jordan, she recommended he redesign his costume to distinguish himself.[3]

The new look did not stop Mongul from trying to destroy Rayner during his first week as a Green Lantern, however, when Mongul came looking for revenge against Green Lantern for his defeat in Engine City (see "Reign of the Supermen!"). Mongul decided any Green Lantern would do. With some help from Superman, one of his heroes, Kyle defeated Mongul. It took the alien warlord by surprise that Kyle's ring could work against his yellow skin. Superman was shocked when Kyle knew virtually nothing about Hal Jordan or the Green Lantern Corps.[4]

Kyle and Alex got back together, and she helped Kyle train for his new role as a superhero. Tragically, she was brutally murdered by the supervillain Major Force, who had been sent to learn the truth about the new Green Lantern after a few shadowy government operatives recovered a fragment of the final battery.[5] Force made the mistake of showing the fragment to Kyle during the fight, which turned into a Power Battery, allowing GL to recharge his ring at a crucial moment. Kyle stopped just short of killing Major Force when the authorities arrived. Kyle was then approached by Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern, who told him a little about the history of the Green Lantern Corps. He also told him about Hal Jordan's madness and warned that they would all soon have to confront Hal.[6]

Zero Hour

 Main article: Zero Hour

That day would come sooner than later, when Hal Jordan (now the villain Parallax) joined with Extant and used his awesome powers to try and reshape the universe itself. After a massive battle that nearly destroyed all of space and time, Hal was defeated by a coalition of heroes. In the battle, he disappeared with Kyle.[7] Kyle and Hal ended up on Oa, where Parallax attempted to absorb even more energy from the planet itself. Kyle was forced to detonate the planet to stop Hal's madness.[8] Lost in space, Kyle learned that his power ring would only work on him after meeting Adara, a former Green Lantern who briefly stole the ring from him.[9]

Shortly after returning to Earth, Kyle got involved with the Titans to fight Psimon, becoming a member of the team after the battle.[10] While on the team, Kyle started a romantic relationship with Donna Troy, who was a Darkstar at the time.[11]

Kyle briefly joined with another former Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, for a second shot at Major Force. This time, Kyle actively chose not to kill the villain, but Guy had no such hesitation (although Major Force turned up alive and well later).[12]

Parallax soon returned to Earth, demanding the last power ring, but Kyle proved during that battle that he was more than worthy to bear the name Green Lantern, causing Parallax to exile himself away from Earth.[13]

During a battle against Sonar, Kyle would meet The Flash (Wally West). Wally, having grown up with Hal and his uncle Barry Allen as Green Lantern and Flash, did not think very highly of the new GL at first. Their bickering almost allowed Sonar to overcome them. They managed to overcome their differences, however, and would go on to become good friends, continuing the legacy of the Green Lantern and Flash duo.[14] They also teamed up with their predecessors, Alan Scott and Jay Garrick against alien invaders, a meeting that made them realize they could become friends despite their continuous bickering, just like Alan and Jay.[15]

Kyle and Donna eventually had a brief breakup, as she was still in the aftermath of her divorce at the time, and they went their separate ways.[16] Following their breakup, Kyle began to question his abilities and what it truly meant to be a superhero. This lead him to seek out other heroes for advice, including Batman, Sentinel, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman. Kyle learned a lot from them, and rededicated himself to his new role.[17]

Kyle barely was able to rest after this "hero quest" when Donna Troy returned to Earth and asked him to come with her to Rann, where John Stewart and what was left of the Darkstars were rallied, preparing for an invasion by Grayven, the son of Darkseid. GL managed to hold the line, defeating Grayven in single combat, although John Stewart was gravely injured in the battle (and left paralyzed from it). Kyle took Donna and Stewart (both stepping out of the Darkstars) back to Earth, where John received medical attention.[18] After a date where they decided to resume their relationship, Kyle gifted Donna a jewel made of green energy, which would be solid as long as he loved her.[19]

Once returned to Earth, GL met the new Green Arrow (Connor Hawke) and the two easily became friends (as they were both in the same situation, two young men recently thrust into the life of a superhero and trying to fill the shoes of someone with a long, proud history).[20][21]

The Final Night

 Main article: The Final Night

Soon after, Earth's greatest heroes were unable to stop the Sun-Eater from enveloping the Sun. In desperation, Kyle sought out Parallax and found him at the Source Wall. Kyle pleaded with Hal to return and save the Earth. Parallax did come back, and after seeing the immense danger Earth was in, decided to try and redeem himself. Hal was successful at destroying the Sun-Eater and restoring the Earth to the way it was--but the cost was his own life.[22][23] A memorial was held in Coast City for the former hero.[24]

Shortly after, Kyle became one of the charter members of the new JLA after the team saved Earth from a renegade band of White Martians. The new Justice League established their new base, the Watchtower, on the surface of the moon.[25]

Kyle again had to contend with a former villain of the Green Lanterns coming to Earth for revenge. This time, it was a woman named Fatality, an alien whose home of Xanshi had been destroyed partially because of the actions of John Stewart. Fatality did not know who was responsible for the destruction of her world, only knowing that a Green Lantern was, and so she blamed all Green Lanterns and began to hunt them down all over the universe. Even after the Corps was destroyed, she continued her vendetta against its former members. Learning the last GL was on Earth, she arrived and battled Kyle across not only New York City, but also on an alien planet. Kyle managed to defeat her--but in the process she learned that John Stewart was the one she was seeking the most.[26]

Back at his apartment, Kyle found a green skinned woman in his shower -- it was Jade, who asked if she could crash at his place for a while. Kyle agreed--much to the chagrin of his still-girlfriend Donna Troy (as well as Jade's brother Obsidian).[27] Kyle took Donna to meet his mother in L.A., having fallen very much in love with her, but when Donna's ex-husband and son were killed in a car accident, she broke up with Kyle, explaining that she just needed some time apart to sort things through. Kyle took the breakup very hard.[28]

Emerald Knights

Just as Kyle was getting settled into his role, Hal Jordan would return--although this time, it was not Parallax, but rather Hal Jordan from approximately ten years before, plucked out of his own time and accidentally brought to the present with Kyle. The Justice League was happy to have the old Hal back, causing some resentment in Kyle as he felt he was being replaced. However, an "old version" of Parallax would show up, traveling through time from before a cosmic crisis, and after a battle between the two Hals, both of them were returned to their proper times. Before he left, however, Green Lantern Hal gave a copy of his power ring to Kyle, since his had the ability to duplicate itself, while Kyle's did not. At this time, Kyle and Jade also became romantically involved.[29]

With Hal's ring, Kyle decided the time had come to try rebuilding the Green Lantern Corps. After Alan Scott, Guy Gardner, and John Stewart all turned down the offer for a new GL ring, Kyle gave one to Jade (who had recently lost her powers) and left her in charge while he decided to go into space and find some new recruits.[30] Jade assumed the Green Lantern name and classic costume during her tour of duty. Fatality soon returned to Earth, however, continuing her vendetta against the Green Lanterns. Kyle returned to Earth during the battle, and once again the fight started on Earth and ended on a distant world, but with some help from John Stewart, Fatality was defeated once again.[31] Kyle's efforts in space to restart the Corps were not successful.[32]

Day of Judgment

 Main article: Day of Judgment

Kyle would get some more heartache when he finally bumped into Donna Troy again. Donna explained that her existence then was possible solely because of Wally West's memories of her, causing her to doubt herself and her own feelings and explaining that they could probably never be together again. Jade, angry over feeling like she was nothing more than Kyle's silver medal, dumped him. All this happened while Kyle had to literally go to Hell and back-- and in the aftermath, Hal Jordan would emerge as the new Spectre.[33][34]

Shortly after the breakup, Kyle came under the influence of the Controllers, an alien race who had created Effigy, who attempted to take control of Green Lantern by creating a myriad of different hallucinations. Through sheer force of will, Kyle was able to defeat them and return home.[35]

Kyle finally got a steady job doing a bi-weekly comic strip for a magazine called Feast. The job came with an assistant, a 16 year-old boy named Terry Berg. Kyle barely finished the first assignment when he was attacked at his home by a rogue group of Manhunters.[36] This particular batch of Manhunters had become self aware, formed a collective consciousness and came after Kyle for his power ring. They intended to "assimilate" Kyle and have him use his ring as a power source in their quest to further evolve. They nearly succeeded, but Kyle managed to free himself and destroy them.[37]

Kyle's new career began to take off, but even as it did so, Fatality returned again--this time equipped with a yellow power ring. After a fierce battle with Kyle, she went after John Stewart and Merayn. Kyle managed to stop her, but after she tried to surrender the power ring, it exploded, taking her arm with it. The Qwardians who had given her the ring decided to give it to Alex Nero instead. Kyle finally brought Fatality to justice.[38] Fortunately, in the aftermath of the fight, Kyle and Jade managed to have a heart to heart conversation, and over the next few weeks they got back together. Nero then showed up in New York City with his ring. Utterly insane, he created legions of yellow "demons" that plagued the city (although they were more of a disruption than a threat) and Kyle had to call in the JLA for help. A massive battle ensued across Manhattan. In the end, haunted by the ghosts of his past, Nero apparently self destructed. Green Lantern was hailed as the hero of the hour by the mayor of New York.[39]

On top of the world, Kyle proposed to Jade (with a GL power ring no less). Worried that he was rushing into things, she turned him down, wanting to take time to work on their relationship. Terry was visibly upset about the news, leading Kyle for finally figure out that his assistant was gay and harboring a crush on him. Realizing how troubled the kid was with his own feelings, Kyle had a long talk with him and they became close friends.[40]

Jade may have turned down the ring as an engagement one, but she did accept it to become a hero again. She also went with Kyle when he was requested for services as a goodwill ambassador to an alien planet. Things went bad while he was there, however, and a mission of peace quickly turned into a firefight.[41]

Circle of Fire

 Main article: Green Lantern: Circle of Fire

Over that time, it was discovered that a cosmic entity named Oblivion was the embodiment of Kyle's fear, unknowingly created after Alexandra's murder. It was not until later did Oblivion come to "merge" with Kyle. The JLA tried to stop Oblivion, but during the battle, Kyle was sent back to Earth to get reinforcements.

When he reached Earth, Kyle recruited Power Girl, The Atom, Firestorm, Adam Strange and the Circle of Fire — ostensibly a group of Green Lanterns from alternate realities and different time periods. In reality, Kyle created all of these Green Lanterns. The Circle of Fire consisted of Kyle's late girlfriend Alex, a pair of juvenile cousins (Hunter and Forest Rayner), a descendant of Wally West and Kyle Rayner who possessed both the Flash and Green Lantern's powers but could only use one of those powers a day (Green Lightning), a reprogrammed Manhunter robot (G.L.7177.6), and a Green Lantern from the Middle Ages (Emerald Knight).

This group was split up to handle different crises caused by Oblivion, or in some cases to search for a way to defeat him. Eventually they all realized that Kyle had created the Circle of Fire because he needed help. When they realized this, they decided that the created Green Lanterns should return to Kyle's mind. Doing so allowed Kyle to unlock more power from the ring that he had not used before. In a confrontation with Kyle, Oblivion revealed that he was a distillation of Kyle's doubts and darker impulses, made manifest through the power of the ring. After facing up to this, Kyle was able to defeat Oblivion and restore the JLA.

Ion

Ion 017

Kyle Rayner as Ion.

For a brief period Kyle achieved godhood as Ion, when he absorbed the leftover energy in the sun after Hal Jordan sacrificed his life, energy which had merged and grown with energies released after Oblivion's defeat. With his new powers, Kyle could bend time, space, and reality. Kyle could even be in many places at once. Kyle's trans-godlike powers had drawbacks however: Ion was one with everything, but Kyle Rayner could no longer sleep or separate himself from the overwhelming responsibilities. Kyle was now in the exact same position that Hal Jordan had been in when he had become Parallax.

Rather than sacrifice his humanity, Kyle abandoned omnipotence, bleeding off the vast power, recharging the Central Power Battery on the planet Oa (the headquarters of the Guardians), and helping to create a new group of Guardians in the process. Before he purged all of the power though, he modified his ring. Once again limited only by his willpower and imagination, Rayner's ring can still affect yellow, does not have a set time limit on its power, and is keyed directly to him. Kyle modified the ring so that it would always return to him, and so that it would always have a lifeline of power available (although the ring still required charging to get up to full power).[42]

After the brutal beating of his young assistant and friend Terry Berg, Kyle went on a lengthy self-imposed exile into space. Before leaving, he placed John Stewart, recently fully healed from his paraplegia and given a new power ring, into his spot in the JLA. Upon returning to Earth, he discovered that Jade had begun seeing someone new, and was doing so in his own apartment. He left New York and spent some time trying once again to find his place on Earth, and ended up staying with his mother for a brief time.

Green Lantern: Rebirth

 Main article: Green Lantern: Rebirth

After being tricked into believing his mother had been murdered by Major Force, Kyle fought with the villain. Knowing Major Force was essentially immortal, Kyle decapitated him and sent his head off into outer space. Feeling that he was a danger to those he cared for, Rayner once again left for the far reaches of space. Soon after, the Guardians of the Universe sent Kyle on a special mission to retrieve the corpse of Hal Jordan and he developed insight into the true nature of the Parallax entity. Following which, he ceased to operate solely on Earth. He was given his first official Green Lantern Corps assignment from Kilowog, and met with the Guardians, along with Guy Gardner, about his role in the Corps. There, he was given special status amongst the Guardians, who consider him the "Torchbearer," the Green Lantern who carried the legacy through the Corps' darkest period.

Infinite Crisis: Return of Ion

 Main article: Infinite Crisis

Jade died during a mission in the Rann-Thanagar War. Her power (the inherited Starheart-come-Green Lantern power) was transferred to Kyle Rayner, vastly increasing his power, and instigated Kyle's second metamorphosis into Ion.

One year after Jade's death, Green Lantern Torquemada and his rookie partner, Garmin Vid, are investigating Sector 3521 and discover Kyle amidst the wreckage of an evacuation fleet from the Quinilon System. An incoherent Kyle blames himself for the fleet's destruction, but repeatedly admits that he did not mean for it to happen. The two fellow Lanterns attempt to aid Kyle and bring him back to Oa, but Kyle violently lashes out, nearly killing Garmin Vid before fleeing the scene.

Torquemada returns to Oa with his wounded ally and informs Kilowog that "something is terribly wrong". Meanwhile, Kyle awakens on Earth in Kaaterskill's Notch, a secluded village refuge for artists. Kyle has no memory of the incident with Torquemada or Vid, nor does he remember the destruction of the evacuation fleet. While staying at Kaaterskill's Notch, Kyle is greeted by his landlord, an old man named Schuyler, and attempts to introduce himself to the newest tenant, a reclusive mute girl name Marissa Rochelle.

Later, Kyle is attacked by a Thanagarian bounty hunter named Tarra Karn and is forced to defend himself. Kyle eventually forces her to reveal why she has chosen him as her prey and Kyle learns of the evacuation fleet's destruction and his apparent role in it.

On Oa, the Guardians have forbidden Kilowog and the other Lanterns from aiding Kyle, apparently wanting him to fight whatever it is that has possessed him. Indeed, it seems that something or someone is manipulating Kyle, causing memory lapses, bouts of violent anger and a lack of control over his actions and powers.

After visiting the wreckage of the evacuation fleet, Kyle loses control again and ends up on a world called Alytt where he impacts with a gladiator arena, unintentionally rescuing a warrior woman from a ferocious alien opponent via collateral damage. There, he freaks out again, nearly breaking her arm before flying off again and then finding himself in orbit over Mogo, the sentient Green Lantern planet.

Ion (Kyle Rayner)

Kyle Rayner becoming Ion once again.

Confronted by his own delusions and inner demons, in the form of his former girlfriends Alex, Donna and Jade giving aid and suggestions, and Major Force as the embodiment of all his fears, Kyle ultimately realized the meaning of his "new life". He acknowledges, thanks to "Jade," that the Ion entity is a living conduit able to channel and harness both the Starheart and the Central Power Battery willpower energy. In space, Ariana, the mysterious alien girl, still angered for the massive devastation Rayner laid on her planet is encountered by Hal Jordan, who was sent to check on Kyle by Kilowog. The Guardians forbid anyone to leave Oa to help, but did not say anything about off-worlders going after him. It helps that Hal Jordan has gone through changes in his past, and would be the best to help.

Upon finding Ion decimating yet another world, Hal chooses to step in and speak with Kyle. The conversation is short lived and Ion lashes out at Hal Jordan. The battle continues on until Hal defeats Kyle. However, upon requesting his ring to scan for any mental abnormalities that might explain Kyle's erratic behavior, the ring instead reveals the rampaging Ion to in fact be Alex Nero. Meanwhile, on Mogo, Kyle exits a green cocoon and heads out into space. Kyle catches up with Jordan, and Nero claims that his connection with Kyle and new powers are the result of a third party's interference.

With Nero in tow, Kyle confronts the Guardians and asks what they knew about his becoming Ion, why Nero was wreaking havoc as Ion, and why they ordered the Green Lantern Corps to not assist him. The Guardians claim they ordered the other Green Lanterns not to help because he needed to pass one final test for them to be sure he can handle his power. They explain that they had planned for Kyle to hold an honored position among Green Lanterns, but that he now possesses the power to revive the Green Lantern Corps, should it ever be destroyed again. The Guardians tell Kyle that he will no longer be required to patrol, but will be called in during situations that the Corps cannot handle by themselves. The Guardians admit that they only know that some unforeseen enemy has set Nero on a path of destruction to Oa. Nero unleashes a massive amount of energy, but Kyle dissipates the energy into what is presumed to be a "pocket universe".

Back on Earth, Kyle is met by a mysterious Monitor, who tells him that he is supposed to be dead. Kyle discovers that other enemies, like his old nemesis Effigy, are being put on his tracks. The captured Effigy could only say that Kyle's location was given to him in a subliminal way, and, as the Guardians discover while interrogating Nero, the knowledge of the enemy himself was expunged from his minions' mind.

Kyle returns to the planet scorched by Nero while using his name, and clears his reputation. Later Guy Gardner meets him to tell "bad news" about his mother who was in a hospital dying with no known medical cause. After comforting her, Kyle is once again contacted by a Guardian who tells him he must return to Oa at once. Before leaving Earth, he is assaulted by two superpowered individuals, a male and female who claim to be the Atom and the Flash respectively (both are characters from DC's Tangent Comics event). After a brief fight, "Atom" gains the upper hand and knocks Kyle out. They then place the Lantern previously seen at the end of Infinite Crisis on his chest. After a brief flash, the Tangent Universe's Green Lantern appears, holding the Lantern.

Kyle awakens in "the Bleed," encountering the two children that found the Tangent Comics' lantern, as well as aiding Captain Atom, who is still sporting the Monarch armor, in a battle against Daemonites. Kyle enlists Captain Atom's help in escaping the Bleed, re-absorbs the Tangent Comics' superheroes back into the lantern, and returns to the [Guardians of the Universe (New Earth)|[Guardians of the Universe]], who send him on a mission to Sector 3888.

At a satellite base inside of an asteroid in sector 3888, Kyle discovers a number of dead Qwardian Weaponers, as well as Donna Troy. Able to find Grayven, and battle him, but unable to make him confess anything on the mysterious conspiration, he was again faced by one of the Monitors, and once again spared, his future to be reconsidered again.

Returned home, he tries to reanimate his mother's dead corpse using his Ion powers, but after a tearful farewell she refuses, asking Kyle to let her pass. He agrees, and he is left again in mourning in his new home, unable to sort out both his life, both the mysteries surrounding his recent misfortunes and encounters, seemingly tied together.

Sinestro Corps War

Parallax Kyle Rayner 03

The new Parallax

 Main article: Sinestro Corps War

Kyle discovered a yellow power ring flying through space. He brought it to Oa to show to the Guardians, but before he was able to see them, the ring transported him to the Anti-Matter Universe world of Qward. Here, he found Sinestro speaking before throngs of members of the newly-formed Sinestro Corps. Overpowered by their numbers, Kyle was captured. Sinestro ripped the Ion entity from his chest and announced the true reason for his mother's death - the virus and Sinestro Corps member Despotellis. In that moment of fear, Sinestro unleashed the Parallax entity on Kyle, transforming him into a new Parallax and herald of the Anti-Monitor.[43]

Trapped within his own mind, Kyle tried to break free, but when Parallax absorbed Hal Jordan into him, he helped Kyle expel Parallax from him. Ganthet and another female Guardian, Sayd, imprisoned Parallax in the Earth Lanterns' power batteries, and Ganthet gave Kyle a new power ring. Kyle helped Hal defend Coast City from Sinestro, engaging in a fist fight which ended when Hal finally defeated Sinestro.

On Oa, Kyle confronted the Guardians over their deceptions regarding Ion, and their perceived abandonment of him on Qward. The Guardians explained that Kyle was a temporary host for Ion, made possible by Jade's death during the Infinite Crisis, which was unexpected. They also explained that they knew Hal and the other Earthmen would rescue Kyle, and offered to let him keep the ring Ganthet gave him. Kyle had a talk with Sodam Yat, the new host of Ion. During their discussion, they were attacked by Nero, but Sodam was able to take control of Nero's constructs (something Kyle, while as Ion, never thought he could do) and defeat him. Meeting up with Hal, Guy and John, Kyle revealed that he was now a member of the Green Lantern Honor Guard. Soon afterwards, Kyle moved to Oa.

The War of Light

 Main article: War of Light

As part of his duties with the Honor Guard, Kyle began working with other members of the Corps, including Guy and Soranik Natu, growing closer to her. He joined the hunt for the Quintet, a family of Sinestro Corps siblings who were murdering the families of rookie Green Lanterns. Following this, Kyle and Soranik joined KT21 and the Pree couple to locate Kryb, a Sinestro Corps member who was murdering Green Lanterns and stealing their children.

In Sector 1111, they met up with Kryb, but damaged the Sector House. As he saw one of the murdered Lantern's bodies burn up on reentry, Kyle snapped and launched a violent physical assault on Kryb. The other Lanterns attempt to restrain him allowed Kryb the chance to expose them to a chemical agent she secreted that took control of their minds, causing Kyle, Soranik, KT21 and Matoo Pree to attack Amnee Pree and force her to go into labor. Kyle was able to overcome the agent's effects and free the others. He and KT21 attacked Kryb while Soranik and Matoo helped Amnee give birth. The Lanterns were assisted by Miri Riam, the newest member of the Star Sapphire Corps. Although KT21 was killed when she tried to kill Kryb, the monster herself was defeated, and Amnee gave birth. At the same time, the Lanterns were informed that romantic relationships were forbidden between Green Lanterns from this point on. Miri announced that she was taking Kryb to Zamaron to rehabilitate her, and Kyle dismissed her plan, admitting that he had lost too many to give love another chance. Miri then had her look into her crystal to see his true love, and what he saw was Soranik. Kyle left the choice with the Prees, who had decided to resign following the new rule's implementation and chose to give Miri's plan a chance.

Kyle and Soranik

Love conquers all?

Returning to Oa, Kyle and Guy discussed the Guardians' recent law, which Kyle felt was like they were trying to micromanage their souls. Soranik then stopped by and asked to talk with Kyle alone. Heading to Guy's Place, the two discussed what they saw within the crystal, and shared a passionate embrace. Soranik then noticed the drawing Kyle was working, a rendition of KT21's death. Kyle showed her his scrapbook, revealing that he was drawing the deaths of recent Lanterns as a way of mourning them. Soranik felt that he needed to celebrate their lives, and convinced him to make a mural of the history of the Green Lantern Corps. In Kyle's apartment, he and Soranik share a kiss. Kyle tells her about the progress he has made on the mural. Soranik encourages Kyle's work. They discuss their newfound relationship and how it goes against the third law. Kyle reassures her that if what they felt for each other put the Corps at risk, he would gladly give up his ring. Soranik left to tell her people about Sinestro's recent escape.

Kyle is one of the Green Lanterns on Oa when Scar releases the prisoners in the Sciencells. Kyle along with Guy, Kilowog and Salaak, lead the Green Lanterns to battle the escaped prisoners. During the riot, Kyle rescues Kanjar Ro and enlists his help in recapturing the other prisoners by offering to talk to the Guardians about reducing his sentence. As the Green Lanterns capture the escaped criminals, Oa's protective shell is destroyed by Scar. Kyle and Guy strongly oppose the Guardians' authorization of allowing the Alpha Lanterns to execute all the prisoners with no trial. Because of this insubordination, the Guardians suspend Kyle and Guy and order them back to Earth, but decide to honor their promise of leniency and spare Kanjar and Bolphunga.

Blackest Night

 Main article: Blackest Night

Kyle attends a parade in Coast City with Hal, John, and Guy to honor the citizens who died in Mongul's attack. After the parade, Kyle goes to Valhalla Cemetery with Alan Scott to visit Jade's grave. He and Guy Gardner return to Oa, where Kyle confides in Guy that when he looked in Miri Riam's sapphire, he had not seen Soranik, but Jade, and was feeling guilty for lying to Soranik. The two then meet up with Soranik and Princess Iolande, who have been out of touch since the Sciencell riot.

Kyle Rayner dies

Temporary sacrifice

As they approach the planet, black rings descend upon Oa where they travel to the crypt of fallen Green Lanterns, transforming them into undead Black Lanterns, and Kyle finds himself face to face with Jade, now a Black Lantern.

Jade tries to seduce Kyle, claiming that his love for her is what brought her back, but Kyle quickly realizes that the Jade before him is only a soulless corpse - not the Jade he once loved. Enraged, he attacks her for disgracing Jade's memory, only to see her recover and attack him with black constructs resembling those that he failed to save, in an attempt to further stoke the emotional fire that is already sweeping through him.

Eventually, the conflict on Oa came to a climax and the Black Lanterns gathered around the Central Power Battery to summon Nekron and destroy the willpower at its source. Knowing that somebody had to stop them, Kyle grabbed a Alpha Lantern Power Battery and plunged himself with it directly into the core, detonating it and triggering a massive explosion destroying all of the Black Lanterns in its wake. Although his ploy was successful, the sacrifice cost him his life. He did not hesitate for a second, except to tell Soranik that he loved her and Guy that he had been a brother to him.[44] Enraged at the death of his partner, Guy succumbs to his emotions and becomes a member of the Red Lantern Corps, unable to control himself. However, as Soranik rushes to Kyle's side, the power of their love draws Sapphire Miri Riam to the spot, and she uses her powers to help revive him.

Resurrected, Kyle is re-inducted into the Corps and ready to get back to the fight.[45] However, when confronting Guy, the red power ring's influence has becomes so overwhelming, that he even attacks Kyle and eventually the rest of the Green Lantern Corps after Mogo destroys every Black Lantern in Oa's vicinity. After the Green Lantern Corps, Indigo Tribe, and Star Sapphires subdue and free Guy from the red ring, they all receive a message from leaders of each respective Corps instructing them head to Earth to stop Nekron, the lord of the Black Lantern Corps, and his growing undead army.

All seven corps travel to Earth to battle Nekron's Black Lantern Corps. He remarks that the Guardians would probably leave out the Corps' Alliance from the Book of Oa. Kyle was then confronted by Alex, who had also transformed into a Black Lantern. Alex tries to convince Kyle to kill himself, but by realizing that she was not the true Alex, Kyle was able to defeat her. With the Indigo Lantern Munk's help, Kyle was able to finally lay Alex to rest. He then helped battle the Anti-Monitor alongside the other Lanterns trying to destroy him and the Black Lantern Central Battery. While they are successful in knocking out the Anti-Monitor, he was still trapped inside the Battery itself.

He helped the battle against Nekron along with the other members of the seven corps. He believed they can defeat Nekron by working together, something that Guy is doubtful they can do. After Nekron is defeated, the Entity resurrects many dead heroes and villains, Jade being among them. Much to his surprise, Jade kisses him in front of Soranik.

Brightest Day

 Main article: Brightest Day

Some time later, Kyle encourages Jade to stop dwelling on the past and to live again. He and Soranik leave Jade to dwell on his words and fly back to Oa. On Oa, Kyle helps his fellow Lanterns rebuild after the Black Lanterns' rampage. He and Guy discuss the series of events following the Sinestro Corps War up to the latest crisis, while on their way to the memorial for fallen Lanterns being held on Mogo. He, along with Guy and Arisia, force their way to the Guardians' Citadel after the Guardians canceled the group's scheduled meetings. They berate the Guardians on their lack of emotions and trust in the Green Lantern Corps. Kyle voices his disapproval of the Third Law, citing that many experienced Lanterns resigned because of it. He warns the Guardians that they (the GLs) will not go back to the way things were before, and tells them that they will have to earn the Corps' trust again.

Kyle Rayner vs Varix

Green Lantern Vs Alpha Lantern

He and Ganthet visit John, who is helping to rebuild Oa. During his conversation with John, it is revealed that Kyle's apartment was destroyed. John questions Kyle on where he is staying as he has not seen him in the barracks. Kyle tells him that he is staying with Soranik until he can find a new place. John tells him not to rush things, to which Kyle responds that Soranik is different from his previous girlfriends and that "no one rushes that girl into anything."[46] Later that night Kyle had a dream about Jade and wake up screaming her name next to Soranik, Kyle tries to explain but the more he explained the worse it sounds, but they are interrupted by Ganthet, who says the all the Alpha Lanterns had departed Oa, Kyle remembered that John is on a mission with Boodikka, so they go to Grenda. In Grenda they see Horoq Nnot is now an Alpha Lantern.[47] she starts draining their power, so they flee, and realize the Alpha Lanterns is compromised, Ganthet makes a distraction leaving Kyle a chance to rescue John, but having to leave Ganthet behind to deal with Cyborg Superman, Soranik was being attacked by Varix, to saved her, Kyle cuts both of Varix's hands off, and said if he had to kill him to save her he would. So Kyle, John and Soranik take refuge in the cave, they see the guardians in the cave,[48] and encourages them to fight against the Cyborg Superman, in the mean time they called Hannu, but their message is detected by the Alphas, Boodikka goes to investigate and draws out all of Kyle's power, but Hannu shows up and breaks her free from Henshaw's control, to prove to them that she is on their side she let them recharge their rings.[49] Kyle's idea was attacking like a tidal wave using the guardians to make Henshaw lose his control over the machines, John and Kyle faced Henshaw while Soranik rescued Ganthet and Stel, with the help of the other Lanterns Kyle and John destroys Henshaw's body, but he was really stopped by Boodikka's willpower.[50]

Kyle was covering Soranik's sector, when he was attacked by a Weaponer of Qward,who called himself The Weaponer, he defeated Kyle easily and kidnapped Soranik, and told him if he wanted to see her again he would have to bring Sinestro to Qward. Kyle then flies to earth to tries to convince him,[51] but Sinestro refuses to help and starts a fist fight with Kyle. Kyle goes to Oa and asks for the Green Lantern Honor Guard to help him rescue Soranik.[52] In Qward The Weaponer defeats the Honor Guard, Kyle rescues Soranik and together they go to help their teammates, the whole Sinestro Corps arrives except for Sinestro.[53] Kyle stayed between the fire of the Sinestro Corps and the Thunderers of Qward, he tells them that if they do not use the rings the truce will not shatter.[54] During this Firestorm shows up asking if Kyle had seen a black lantern version of him, Kyle said he had not and Firestorm stays to fight alongside the Lanterns.[55]

War of the Green Lanterns

 Main article: War of the Green Lanterns

Blue Lantern Kyle Rayner 001

Blue Lantern

When Kyle and the Honor Guard come back to Oa, they see all the Alpha Lanterns offline. The Power Ring tells them that the impurity is back. Kyle, Ganthet and John do not suffer the effects but the rest of the Corps do, as Ganthet states that Parallax is back in the Central Battery. All the others Lantern start to regroup in there, and Kyle worried about Soranik loses control to Parallax and starts a fight with John, Ganthet manages to break them free from their corrupted rings, and tells Kyle that he was not given the last ring at random, and says that he was his best hope then and he is now.[56]

John and Kyle later encounter Hal and Guy, and Hal says that when the Book of the Black absorbed the New Guardians,[57] the book left the rings. So the four get to choose one the rings. Guy chose the Red Power Ring, Hal the Yellow Power Ring and he gives John the Indigo Power Ring, and Kyle chose the Blue Lantern Ring.[58]

John and Kyle were training with their new rings, but they both were struggling with their rings. The two were suddenly attacked by the Green Lantern Corps, and unwittingly Kyle's blue ring starts to supercharge the Green Lanterns. Kyle and the others fly to find Ganthet fighting the Corps. Ganthet is disappointed to see them using other rings, when they are attacked again. Ganthet tells Kyle to focus on their minds instead of their rings, when he starts thinking he got them Mogo shows up and blasts them.[59]

When Kyle and the others runaway from the Corps, they go underground and Hal tells that they have to take Parallax off the Central Battery, but John replies that Mogo is more dangerous and he has have to be dealt first. Guy, John and Hal start argue, but Kyle says to put on a vote, so they go to Central Battery combining their rings to dig up to the Battery, they reach the center of Oa and find where the Guardians hide their darkest secret. They see Krona's gauntlet and Guy takes it, but a very old Green Lantern appears and fights them. Kyle stops the fight and says that they are all green lanterns causing the Green Lantern to leave after he see that they are indeed allies, but the computer shows that Mogo is creating several rings and sending them to the sectors. Kyle and John decide to deal with Mogo, before Krona can create an infinite army of Green Lanterns. John uses his ring to teleport him and Kyle to Mogo.[60]

Getting there, John and Kyle try to contain the rings but without success they try to reach Mogo's mind, and John sees that Mogo cannot help himself. John taps into the Black Lantern energy that remains of the last purge of Oa[61] and uses it to kill Mogo, before Kyle's eyes.[62] In the fallout, the two regroup with Hal, Guy and Ganthet, using the full power of the emotional spectrum to crack open the Battery and release Parallax. Their job done, the Lanterns regain their original green rings, in preparation for the final confrontation with Krona.[63] Hal during the fight ask Kyle to rescue the New Guardians drawing the pages of Book of the Black, which set them free.[64]

After Krona's defeat Kyle tries to reconcile with John Stewart unsuccessfully. Still during the aftermath Kyle stops Soranik Natu and other Green Lanterns from trying to breaking in into the Oan Citadel to kill Sinestro now wearing a green ring. The Guardians thank Kyle, but said that will be best if he go home after his disagreement with Stewart and his break up with Natu. Before he went, Rayner and the Green Lantern Honor Guard toss Mogo's remains into the Oan Sun making the sun showing a green lantern symbol.[65]

Superman Prime Earth 0002
This history is continued in The New 52 at Kyle Rayner (Prime Earth).
The DC Universe was rebooted in 2011 as part of the Flashpoint event. This was an attempt to simplify continuity, and make DC Comics more accessible to new readers. Prior to this, mainstream comics took place in New Earth continuity since the Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985. The continuity established following Flashpoint is Prime Earth.


Romances

  • Alexandra DeWitt: Kyle's first love. Before becoming Green Lantern, Kyle had a breakup with Alex, but they reunited when he earned the ring. The new status quo led them to become a team: he did superhero stuff while she took photos of him. Unfortunately, when things started to go well between them, Major Force killed Alex in an attempt to get to Kyle.[5]
  • Donna Troy: Kyle always had a crush on Wonder Girl ever since he was a kid. They finally met when he helped the Titans fight Psimon (Donna was a Darkstar at the time, so he didn't recognize her as Wonder Girl at first).[66] Kyle joined the Titans, and he developed a close friendship which soon evolved into a romantic relationship with Donna.[11] Eventually, Donna's son Robert and her ex-husband Terry died in a car accident, which devastated her. Not knowing how to cope with her feelings, Donna broke up with Kyle.[67]

Powers

Abilities

  • Indomitable Will: Like many Green Lanterns, he possesses an incredibly strong will. He has been able to resist Queen Bee's hypnotic pollen (through some coaxing from Huntress) which no one has been able to resist in the past. In addition, Mageddon (Weapon of the old Gods) tried to disable his ring but the Ultimate Warbringer was no match for Kyle's will.
  • Green Lantern Ring Mastery: Kyle's constructs are amongst the most powerful. Kyle's constructs are much more elaborate than those of any other green lanterns, often fading into view like a sketch refined into an illustration.
  • Artistry: Kyle is a skilled and creative artist. He has been an artist since he was born and has an equally long history of creativity. He has drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, inked, colored, designed, and created thousands of works of art with or without his Rings.
  • Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced): Kyle has been shown to hold his own even without his ring.[68][69][70] He was trained by Martian Manhunter.[71] Kyle's time being a part of the Justice League of America has taught him how to fight, since he first began with the League.[72]

Equipment

Weapons


"In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power...Green Lantern's light!"

  • If the Multiverse had continued to exist after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Rayner would have been a native of Earth-Eight.[76]
  • Kyle Rayner has changed his costume almost a dozen of times not due to a time change or outside forces but instead due to his artistic nature. He has designed and redesigned his costume for various aliases as well as helped others design their costumes.
  • Kyle Rayner was often called the Torch Bearer by Ganthet and other members of the Green Lantern Corps.
  • As Ion, he had the sum total of all the energies contained by the Guardians of the Universe, the Central Power Battery, and the Starheart.
  • As Parallax, he had the powers of the Sinestro Corps as well as the enhanced abilities possessed by the being itself.
  • When Kyle was a kid, he watched Jaws and was so scared that he had nightmares for weeks. That fear lingered enough in Kyle's mind that when he faced off against Aquaman and was bitten by a shark, Kyle panicked for a moment before conquering his fear.[77]

Related

Footnotes

  1. Green Lantern 80-Page Giant #2
  2. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #50
  3. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #51
  4. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #52-53
  5. 5.0 5.1 Green Lantern (Volume 3) #54
  6. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #55
  7. Zero Hour: Crisis in Time (Volume 1 0)
  8. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #0
  9. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #56
  10. New Titans #116 - #118
  11. 11.0 11.1 Green Lantern (Volume 3) #59
  12. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #60
  13. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #63-64
  14. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #66-67
  15. Green Lantern/Flash: Faster Friends #1 - Flash/Green Lantern: Faster Friends #1
  16. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #70
  17. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #71-73
  18. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #74-75
  19. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #78
  20. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #77-78
  21. Green Arrow (Volume 2) #110-111
  22. Parallax: Emerald Night #1
  23. The Final Night #4
  24. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #81
  25. JLA #1-4
  26. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #83-85
  27. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #86
  28. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #88-91
  29. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #100-106
  30. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #107
  31. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #108-112
  32. Green Lantern: The New Corps #1
  33. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #118-119
  34. Day of Judgment (Volume 1)
  35. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #120-124
  36. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #129
  37. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #130-131
  38. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #132
  39. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #133-136
  40. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #137
  41. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #138-139
  42. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #145-150
  43. Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1
  44. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #42
  45. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #43
  46. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #48
  47. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #49
  48. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #50
  49. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #51
  50. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #52
  51. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #53
  52. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #54
  53. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #55
  54. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #56
  55. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #57
  56. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #58
  57. Green Lantern (Volume 4) #64
  58. Green Lantern (Volume 4) #65
  59. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #59
  60. Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #9
  61. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #44
  62. Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #60
  63. Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #10
  64. Green Lantern (Volume 4) #67
  65. War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath #1
  66. New Titans #116
  67. Green Lantern (Volume 3) #91
  68. JLA #23
  69. JLA #34
  70. Green Lantern Annual (Volume 3) #9
  71. JLA 80-Page Giant #1
  72. Identity Crisis #3
  73. Green Lantern Annual (Volume 3) #9
  74. JLA Classified #14
  75. JLA Classified #15
  76. Infinite Crisis #5
  77. Aquaman (Volume 5) #10


Green Lantern Corps 001
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This character is or was a member of the Green Lantern Corps, chosen by the Guardians of the Universe to act as their sector's Green Lantern and to protect it from interstellar threats with a Power Ring.
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Blue Lantern Corps member
This character is or was a member of the Blue Lantern Corps, a carefully selected group of individuals who had the ability to instill great hope, and were equipped with a Power Ring.
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