Green Lantern #7
Green Lantern #7 is one of the most consequential single issues of the Silver Age because it introduces Sinestro — the character who would become Hal Jordan's defining arch-enemy and, decades later, one of the most complex figures in the DC Universe. Written by John Broome and drawn by Gil Kane, the issue delivers not just a first appearance but a complete origin in a single story, establishing Sinestro's dictatorship over Korugar, his expulsion to the antimatter universe of Qward, and his alliance with the Weaponers of Qward — a framework that remained essentially intact through every subsequent retelling. It also marks the first time Hal Jordan is permitted to retain his memory of meeting the Guardians of the Universe after a summoning, a small but meaningful expansion of the series' growing cosmic mythology. The character introduced here went on to headline a 2011 major motion picture, inspire decades of crossover events including the Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night, and in 2009 was ranked by IGN as the 15th-greatest comic book villain of all time.
In "The Day 100,000 People Vanished!", Green Lantern faces his most desperate mission yet when Sinestro kidnaps 100,000 people from Valdale, forcing the hero to journey to the alien world of Qward to save them. Written by John Broome and brought to life with dynamic art by Gil Kane and inks by Joe Giella, this pivotal 1961 issue delivers high-stakes action and cosmic tension. The cover by Gil Kane and Joe Giella captures the scale of the crisis with striking intensity.
When Sinestro kidnaps 100,000 people from Valdale to lure Green Lantern into a trap, the Green Lantern Corps springs into action. With the Guardians' warning ringing in his ears, Green Lantern races to Qward, determined to save the captured townspeople before Sinestro's scheme reaches its terrifying conclusion.
In "Wings of Destiny!", Green Lantern finds himself in a surreal twist when a dream leads to an accidental transformation—Pieface becomes a bird. Later, tasked with meeting Terga at the airport, Green Lantern must use his willpower to thwart a hijacking, all while navigating the unexpected consequences of his dream’s strange aftermath.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The Silver Age Green Lantern title was the product of writer John Broome, artist Gil Kane, and editor Julius Schwartz — the same team that had launched Hal Jordan in Showcase #22 in 1959 and spun him into his own series in 1960. Kane designed Sinestro's visual appearance by modeling the character's face and distinctive mustache on British actor David Niven, consistent with his practice of basing GL-universe characters on Hollywood figures (he similarly based Hal Jordan's looks on Paul Newman). The issue went on sale May 23, 1961, with a cover date of July–August 1961, and its pencil, ink, and page-count credits have been confirmed from Julius Schwartz's own editorial records preserved by DC Comics. In the original Pre-Crisis telling, Sinestro and Jordan are strangers when they meet here; it was not until the 1991 miniseries Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II that their relationship was retroactively deepened into a mentor-and-student bond, making this issue the seed of a far richer dynamic than Broome originally planted.
Trivia · 9 facts
- First appearance and same-issue origin of Thaal Sinestro, a renegade Green Lantern of Sector 1417 from the planet Korugar, who used his ring to enslave his own people before being stripped of his power and banished to the antimatter universe of Qward.
- Also contains the first appearance of Terga (later consistently spelled Tegra) Kalmaku, childhood sweetheart of Thomas 'Pieface' Kalmaku, who would eventually marry him in later continuity.
- The issue marks the first time Hal Jordan is allowed to retain his memory after being astrally summoned by the Guardians of the Universe — a small but notable expansion of the series' rules.
- Cover date: July–August 1961; on-sale date: May 23, 1961. Published by DC Comics. Cover price: 10 cents. Page count: 36 pages.
- Full creative credits — confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records: script by John Broome; pencils by Gil Kane; inks by Joe Giella; letters by Ira Schnapp and Gaspar Saladino; colors by Jack Adler/Tommy Nicolosi; editor Julius Schwartz.
- Gil Kane modeled Sinestro's appearance — including his trademark mustache — on British actor David Niven.
- In this debut, Sinestro does not yet possess his trademark yellow power ring; he first acquires and uses it in Green Lantern #9.
- The lead story, 'The Day 100,000 People Vanished!', has been reprinted in DC Special #8 (1970), DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #15, Green Lantern Archives Vol. 2 (1999), Showcase Presents: Green Lantern Vol. 1 (2005), The Green Lantern Chronicles Vol. 2 (2009), Green Lantern Omnibus Vol. 1 (2010), Green Lantern: A Celebration of 75 Years (2015), and Green Lantern: The Silver Age Vol. 1 (2016), among others.
- The Pre-Crisis version of events established here — in which Sinestro and Jordan are strangers at first meeting — was retconned after Crisis on Infinite Earths by Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn II (1991), which reimagined Sinestro as Jordan's Corps mentor before his fall from grace.
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Rymdmannen #2/1962 (1962), Groene Lantaarn Classics #2706 (1970), DC Special #8 (1970), Die Grüne Laterne #7 (1976), DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #15 (1981), Grüne Leuchte #8/1983 (1983), Green Lantern Archives #2 (2000), Showcase Presents: Green Lantern #1 (2005), Green Lantern: In Brightest Day #[nn] (2008), The Green Lantern Chronicles #2 (2010), The Green Lantern Omnibus #1 (2011), Green Lantern: A Celebration of 75 Years #[nn] (2015), Green Lantern: The Silver Age #1 (2016), Green Lantern: The Silver Age Omnibus #1 (2017), Batman #163, Top Comics Die Grüne Laterne #100
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