I don't know if anyone has ever talked about the differences and similarities for members of the each of the emotional spectrum corps. I think one such similarity, is certain lanterns experience a grave personal loss or tragedy. I thought it was interesting how grieving characters channel those tragedies in positive or negative ways:
The Bad
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Atrocitus - His family is slaughtered by the Manhunters. Driven more by revenge than rage, he plots to repay the Guardians for his personal loss. I actually think his entire race is destroyed, and he spends hundreds of years plotting how he will avenge this injustice. He meets the Four Inversions, betrays them and uses the power of Rage to form the Red Lantern Corps.
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Larfleeze - He is taken from his family and enslaved. While a slave, he had little-to-no personal possessions, but forms a weird telepathic both with his masters belongings. Later, he escapes and works for a thieves guild. From what I saw in the comics, he didn't seem very selfish (at least while he as was a slave). Eventually, he happens upon the Orange Lantern, and he becomes the meglomaniac we all know and love. Now he's driven by one thing only; Greed.
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Sinestro - I think the loss of his comrade in arms Abin Sur, his wife and daughter (she fled b/c she was afraid of what he'd become) and his decline in popularity on Kouragar did a number on him emotionally. While these losses didn't drive him to harness the yellow energy of Fear (I think it was his lust for power, and arrogance that he could do a better job than the Guardians), these events definitely had an impact on the way he caries himself going forward. There are moments when he connects with his daughter Soranik, that make you think his character can be redeemed. Then it becomes clear all he wants is power. Power to make things right and prevent further loss.
The Good
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Kyle Rayner - His girlfriend Alexandra is murdered, dismembered, and her remains hidden in Rayner's refrigerator by Major Force. I think Kyle discovers her by looking for a carton of milk. Pretty gruesome stuff. And it's something that will haunt him forever. Like Sinestro, he wasn't chosen for the GL Corps, for this reason, but it's a tragedy that influences his actions and perspective. I think it definitely plays a role when he becomes a White Lantern.
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Saint Walker - His wife and child (potentially children?), end up dying during a natural disaster on his home world. He ends up going through a pilgrimage up a mountain, where he is inducted into the Blue Lantern Corps by Ganthet. His tale reminds me a lot of Job in the Old Testament, as if he were being tested by God. In spite of everything that happened (and eventually happens to him), he never loses Hope.
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Indigo-1/Iroque - Not too much is known about her, but we do know she is responsible for the death of Abin Sur's daughter. She is eventually conscripted into the Indigo tribe. There is a period where she reverts to her old ways, but she does regret her actions. While she didn't initially have a choice, she later willingly serves the power of Compassion.
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Carol Ferris - Ok, this is kind of a stretch, but the best I can come up with. When Carol learns Hal desires Jillian "Cowgirl" Pearlman, over her, Carol is taken up by the Sapphire ring. She still cares for and Loves Jordan deeply, but realizes she has lost him. Eventually she is named Queen of the Zamarons after Ag'apo sacrificed herself to power their Central Battery.
All of the information above, I've taken by reading new-ish content. I'm obsessed with GL mythology, and find all of the characters so interesting. Furthermore, the way these characters react to personal loss and heartbreak and how it's affects their stories makes the content so engaging.
TL;DR - Superheroes and villains alike experience terrible things that make them who they are. It's interesting how these characters more or less experience the loss of their family and loved ones and end up being good or bad as a result. Forgive me if I got any of the facts wrong (I'm working mostly off memory), and please feel free to point out any mistakes. I would be happy to talk more about this with any fellow GL fans out there and nerd out further :-)...
Submitted February 25, 2017 at 11:04AM by mr_agucci http://ift.tt/2lFnJaH DCcomics
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