Warning: Spoilers for Green Lantern #18Green Lanternhas faced many formidable foes over the years, but only one holds the title of his most unnerving enemy to date, and that’s none other than the Predator. The Predator’s complicated history withStar Sapphire- a Violet Lantern and the love interest of Hal Jordan - makes him a problematic figure in DC history, and his return to Green Lantern lore marks a critical moment of growth for her.
InGreen Lantern#18 by Jeremy Adams, Xermánico, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Dave Sharpe, a cosmic war has broken out in the DC Universe, and the Green Lanterns are at the center of it. While Hal Jordan and his allies face off againstLord Premier Thaaros' Dark Star power-up, Star Sapphire has been separated from them and instead contends with her own nemesis in the form of the Predator entity.
The Predator has made a long-awaited return to Green Lantern lore, looking more terrifying than ever, and Star Sapphire alone has the power to defeat him once and for all.
Star Sapphire’s “Toxic Ex”, The Predator, Returns to Green Lantern Lore
Carol Ferris Faces Off Against the Ultimate Cosmic Villain
Existing since theEmotional Spectrum’s creationat the dawn of time, the Predator is essentially the embodiment of violent love. Each facet of the Spectrum that a Lantern Corps draws from has a sentient being that embodies its emotion, such asIon for the Green Lanterns' willpower, so the Predator fills that role for the love-fueled Violent Lanterns.By latching onto a host, this otherworldly entity can unleash their inner aggression and transform their feelings for another into obsession.Love is a complex emotion, and the Predator uses that complexity to his advantage in order to feed off of it like a parasite.
The Justice League Officially Replace Green Lantern with a New Most Powerful Lantern
Star Sapphire has joined the Justice League to take Green Lantern’s spot in the roster, and she’s already proven to be the team’s strongest Lantern.
Back whenStar Sapphire was a villainin opposition to Green Lantern, she was inhabited by the Predator and imbued with insurmountable powers fueled by that toxic form of love. Carol eventually gave up her powers, though, and thus gave up the Predator’s influence alongside them. Now that she’s reclaimed her powers on her own terms, depicted inGreen Lantern#12 when she equips a power ring to save Hal, she has embarked on a journey to become a hero instead of a supervillain.Rather than relying on the Predator’s toxicity to fuel her Violet Lantern powers, Star Sapphire now gains her strength from genuine love.
The Predator is none too pleased with this development, of course, and his intentions with Star Sapphire inGreen Lantern#18 are to win her back to his side so they can properly reunite. This entity reveals that he’d sent her theViolet Lantern ringshe claimed in a previous issue, then professes his love for her in a moment that feels all too real.The possessive love that the Predator represents defines his dynamic with Star Sapphire as he tempts her back into an unhealthy relationship.Star Sapphire’s convoluted history with the Predator further enhances this dynamic, hammering home his problematic aspects.
Who Is The Predator? A History of Green Lantern’s Controversial Foe
The Predator Has Taken Various Forms Throughout DC History
While the Predator is presently portrayed as a supernatural entity, his past form is somehow more confusing. In his initial design, the Predator appears as a typical man who attempts to seduce Carol Ferris. InGreen Lantern#192 by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton, Star Sapphire - who, at the time, is an alternate personality Carol has no memory of - informs Green Lantern thatthe Predator is a manifestation of her masculinity that’s split off into his own body. His interest in Carol is thereby a bizarre form of self-love that’s taken to an uncomfortable degree, considering he goes as far as impregnating Star Sapphire.
Yes, you read that correctly; Carol Ferris did technically get herself pregnant via her Predator and Star Sapphire alter egos, as unveiled inGreen Lantern#42 by Gerard Jones and Mark D. Bright.
Needless to say, this iteration of the Predator isn’t one that deserves to be preserved, so Star Sapphire’sconnection with the Predator was later retconnedto be less creepy. In the updated version of Green Lantern lore, the Predator had possessed Star Sapphire rather than being spawned from her. Making him a separate being removes the controversial nature of his character and improves his purpose. His pursuit of Star Sapphire isn’t a bewildering manifestation of her “masculine” love for herself - whatever that might mean. Now,the Predator pursues Star Sapphire so that he can manipulate a powerful Violet Lantern host in parasitic fashion.
Star Sapphire Finally Defeats the Predator, Proving She’s Become a True Hero
The Predator’s Possessive Form of Love No Longer Affects Star Sapphire
With Star Sapphire’s defeat of the Predator, she’s proven that she no longer abides by his twisted idea of love and will never succumb to him again. In her speech as she vanquishes him, she declares that love is"not a parasite that only takes, it’s the power that gives". Carol’s thoughts on love reflect how much she’s changed since the Predator’s former takeover of her in DC lore, and serve as a capstone to her evolution from villainy to heroism.
Currently,Star Sapphire has joined the Justice Leagueas one of the team’s core members, putting her love-fueled abilities to use on behalf of righteousness. The Predator will no longer be a threat toGreen Lanternthanks toStar Sapphire, as she’s shown that she doesn’t need to rely on him anymore to channel her emotions into power.
Green Lantern#18is available now from DC Comics.
Green Lantern
Green Lantern is the name given to multiple enforcers of intergalactic justice in the DC Universe. Green Lanterns can harness the cosmic energy of willpower, and create unique spectral objects to face off against their enemies. Though some Green Lanterns have assisted with the Justice League, they primarily belong to the Green Lantern Corps.
