Quick TakeArticle at a glance
- DC Comics released the issue Wednesday, written by Jeremy Adams with art by Scott Godlewski and Vasco Georgiev, kicking off a crossover that AIPT Comics and ComingSoon.net both covered as a major jumping-on point for the long-running series.
- The issue opens with Kyle Rayner leading the rest of the Green Lantern Corps on a rescue mission: Hal Jordan is "in the fight of his life" against Krona, the ancient Guardian-turned-villain who made his first major reappearance earlier this year in The Starbreaker Supremacy .
- AIPT's review scored the issue 8.1 out of 10, calling it "an excellent jumping-on point" for new readers, with particular praise for the expanding Emotional Spectrum mythology and the deepening relationship between Kyle Rayner and Jade.
DC Comics’ Green Lantern First Light crossover launched on October 28 in Green Lantern #40, sending Kyle Rayner and the Green Lantern Corps to rescue Hal Jordan from the returning cosmic villain Krona and the Guardians of the Universe, who are hiding “a secret that will change the DCU forever.”
DC Comics released the issue Wednesday, written by Jeremy Adams with art by Scott Godlewski and Vasco Georgiev, kicking off a crossover that AIPT Comics and ComingSoon.net both covered as a major jumping-on point for the long-running series.
What Happens in Green Lantern #40
The issue opens with Kyle Rayner leading the rest of the Green Lantern Corps on a rescue mission: Hal Jordan is “in the fight of his life” against Krona, the ancient Guardian-turned-villain who made his first major reappearance earlier this year in The Starbreaker Supremacy. Krona and the surviving Guardians of the Universe are working to conceal a secret DC has not yet revealed, setting up the central mystery of the First Light event.
AIPT’s review scored the issue 8.1 out of 10, calling it “an excellent jumping-on point” for new readers, with particular praise for the expanding Emotional Spectrum mythology and the deepening relationship between Kyle Rayner and Jade.
Guy Gardner’s New Role as Narrator
Rather than taking a traditional role in the fight, Guy Gardner narrates the issue directly to an unidentified listener, recapping Hal Jordan’s history and his own new position in the Corps as if First Light had already happened. Gardner’s narration frames the crossover’s stakes before the rest of the cast catches up to them, and sets up a new status he’s referred to in solicitations as the “Allsight.”
| Detail | First Light / Green Lantern #40 |
|---|---|
| Writer | Jeremy Adams |
| Artists | Scott Godlewski, Vasco Georgiev |
| Colorist | Romulo Fajardo Jr. |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Release date | October 28, 2026 |
| Lead characters | Kyle Rayner, Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, Jade |
| Antagonists | Krona, the Guardians of the Universe |
Why First Light Arrives Right After Lanterns’ Record Finale
The timing isn’t a coincidence DC is shy about: HBO’s live-action Lanterns just wrapped its first season with its best audience yet. Deadline reported in October 2026 that the finale pulled in 10.5 million global viewers in its first three days, up 13% from the series premiere, with the season averaging 19.3 million global viewers. Guy Gardner and Hal Jordan were both major characters on the show, though their TV versions never actually crossed paths on screen — Gardner spent the season alongside John Stewart solving Hal’s murder mystery instead. Green Lantern #40 is a separate continuity from the show, but DC is clearly betting that Lanterns‘ audience is hungry for more Hal-and-Guy material, and the comic is the fastest way to deliver it.
If you watched the show first, our breakdown of who actually killed Hal Jordan in the Lanterns finale and the latest on Lanterns’ Season 2 renewal status both fill in context this comic doesn’t explain on its own. For the Corps member Gardner spent the whole season working alongside, see our John Stewart comics explainer.
What’s Next for First Light
DC has not announced how many issues First Light will run or which other Green Lantern titles will cross over, saying only that further details will roll out gradually. Green Lantern #41 is scheduled for November 25, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is First Light in Green Lantern comics?
First Light is a 2026 DC Comics crossover event that began in Green Lantern #40, in which Kyle Rayner and the Green Lantern Corps try to save Hal Jordan from the villain Krona and the Guardians of the Universe.
Who writes Green Lantern #40?
Jeremy Adams writes Green Lantern #40, with art by Scott Godlewski and Vasco Georgiev and colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Is Green Lantern #40 connected to the Lanterns TV show?
No. The comic is a separate continuity from HBO’s live-action Lanterns series, but it launched days after the show’s record-breaking Season 1 finale and features the same core characters, Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner.
When does Green Lantern #41 come out?
DC has scheduled Green Lantern #41 for November 25, 2026.
