When I was recently handed the editorial reins to GREEN LANTERN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS and GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS, it felt admittedly daunting. I was coming on board just as all three titles raced into the massive crossover story, “War of the Green Lanterns.” It was an intimidating prospect.

At our first story conference back in December, the experience was unlike any I’ve had before. The creative energy between writers Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and Tony Bedard just sizzled with electricity. And riffing along with them were editors Eddie Berganza, Adam Schlagman, Darren Shan and myself.

In the considerably tiny conference room, huge ideas were put forth. Giant sheets of paper were taped to a wall, and with every cool moment or scene written down with markers, we had the makings of a major turning point in the lives of Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart and Kyle Rayner. I was simply stunned at how committed the team was with pushing boundaries, asking taboo questions and taking real creative risks.

And while every single Green Lantern gets affected by the story’s outcome, none shine more brightly than franchise star Hal Jordan. Hal meets this enormous challenge the only way he knows how—head on with a healthy dose of fear that he needs to overcome. That he MUST overcome. Simply put, Hal makes choices throughout the “War” that will both thrill and chill, and that is not hyperbole. Not at all.

The post-“War” worlds of all three GREEN LANTERN titles look very little like they did before it started. Again, I stress, not hyperbole. I wish I could tell you more, but I have to save SOME surprises for you guys!

I hope you guys enjoy it as much as the teams that put it all together do.

Hi everyone! Brian Cunningham, here—editor of such titles as TITANS, R.E.B.E.L.S., POWER GIRL and more.

When I’m not editing or shirking responsibility, I like to put stuff I like in my office. Some of the stuff is kinda neat, and some of it is admittedly kinda weird. But I like it, and since I gotta look at it all day, that’s most important. I like having stuff around me that inspires me or even relaxes me during those stressful days of deadline doom.

Take my stash of gum, for instance. Anyone who knows me understands that I always have a pack of gum at the ready. It can be at a convention, in the office, anywhere. You need gum, I got gum. Much like wielding a Green Lantern power ring, one can never underestimate the might of minty fresh breath. So I put out a pack of gum on my desk to help out my fellow editors should they feel they need it.

Now if only my generosity would inspire Matt Idelson to share some of his unlimited quantities of oatmeal…

In an earlier blog post a couple months ago, I waxed poetic about my 1976 DC Comics calendar I have hanging up. But what I held back—since I can be cagey like that—was that I also have a vintage 1986 DC COMICS CALENDAR POSTER. I got one’a these suckers for Christmas in 1985 and I don’t think I took it off my bedroom wall until well in 1988, that’s how much I loved it. I mean, c’mon—Pérez Titans! Rogers and Giordano Batman! Giffen Ambush Bug! How could I ever get tired of seeing this?

And, needless to say, 1986 was a HUGE year for DC—what with DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and WATCHMEN, among many other classics—so I like to have “1986” in the back of my head when I edit. I’ll never stop reaching for those lofty heights.

The thing that gets me the most comments in my office—aside from “Uhh…why don’t you have some of your own gum…?”—is my collection of DC Direct BATMAN: BLACK and WHITE statues. I don’t have all of them, mind you, just the ones that I happen to really dig. They range from the Bob Kane version to Brian Bolland’s to my favorite, the Mike Mignola one (which captures Mike’s art so perfectly in a three-dimensional form). What’s really sick and twisted is that I’ve placed them all in chronological order—an off-hand suggestion by Alex Segura, who has quite a B:B/W statue collection of his own! Alex had no idea how brilliant that idea was, and how tailored it was to my O.C.D. mind. Makes me wish I knew exactly where the multi-era George Pérez one should go…

And that’s just a taste of the assorted stuff I have around me. Perhaps next time, if I’m feeling up to it, I may even show you my growing collection of various body parts that my boss Dan DiDio helped me acquire. We’ll see.

My magic blogging eight-ball just said “Blogging Will Be Light,” so I’m going with that. Oh, and it’s a holiday weekend. So, yes. This’ll be it for today. But, we bring you some more fun news from the DCU editorial gang. Specifically, TITANS editor Brian Cunningham. What say you, BC?:

“When is Tempest coming back?”

More often than not, that’s been the question fans have asked since TITANS launched last year. A fair query, since Tempest has been AWOL from the DC Universe for seemingly longer than the Jonas Brothers have been alive.

So when we here at DC started discussing the mega-event called BLACKEST NIGHT with writer Geoff Johns, we all figured, “Let’s bring back Tempest in style.” So, bam, he’s smack in the early pages of BLACKEST NIGHT #1. If that’s not style, I don’t know what is. (This coming from a guy who still wears shirts from 1996. But let’s stay on topic here.)

Okay. So, Tempest is in BLACKEST NIGHT. Huzzah! But then we figured, “Wait. Let’s find out where he’s been first. What’s kept him from appearing all this time?” That’s where TITANS #15 comes in. We find out exactly where he’s been and what he’s been doing. It’s pretty heavy and not for non-swimmers.

With the spiritual guidance of Geoff Johns, writer J.T. Krul plumbs the depths of Garth’s soul, while also setting him up for his future in the DC Universe, which we’ll see in BLACKEST NIGHT and in the BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS mini-series. With gorgeous art by José Luis and J.P. Mayer, I really feel that we’ll surprise people. The last page of TITANS #15 alone should certainly provoke a strong reaction.

So mark you calenders for July 15 when TITANS #15 goes on sale in comic stores. In the meantime, check out this exclusive excerpt below. It’ll whet your appetite for more Tempest. And quite possibly some shellfish.

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Did you know there are two comic conventions happening this weekend? No? For shame.

Not only are there two shows -- Wizard World Philadelphia and Charlotte's Heroes Con --but DC will have a presence at both. Our very own Dan DiDio will be holding the fort down at Philly, while Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler and Editor Brian Cunningham will be trekking to Charlotte. So, if you have a burning question about anything DCU or just want to talk about comics with some of your favorite creators, then swing on by. You can visit the Wizard and Heroes Con sites for more ticket, talent and event info. Don't miss it.