On September 5th, the release of GREEN LANTERN #0 will introduce a brand new Green Lantern to the DC Universe. Then starting in October, the monumental crossover event, “Rise of The Third Army,” will span the pages of GREEN LANTERN, GREEN LANTERN CORPS, GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS, and RED LANTERNS. To help you prepare for these exciting adventures, we’ll be putting a spotlight on the Green Lantern universe and the upcoming events that will change it forever each day this week on THE SOURCE.

Tomorrow, GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1 hits stores. Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver, this special oversized issue serves as a prelude to “Rise of the Third Army.” To help hold you over for one more day, we asked the Green Lantern group editors to tell us a little bit about the identities of thes first two armies: the Manhunters and the Green Lantern Corps.

“To combat the threat of the Third Army, Atrocitus needs to muster special soldiers of his own: the mechanical monstrosities known as the Manhunters,” explained Pat McCallum. “Originally created by the Guardians of Oa, what would drive Atrocitus to side with the same synthetic creatures that slaughtered his homeworld? And why would he need them if he already has his the ferocious Red Lantern Corps at his disposal? The stage is set in RED LANTERNS #13 when Atrocitus, Bleez and Rankorr go toe-to-toe with the Third Army, and then disturbing secrets will be laid bare in issue #14! And what happens when a Manhunter android is brought back on line not powered by Guardian science, but by the unpredictable raw power of Blood Magic?!? RED LANTERNS, the front line in the war against the Third Army!”

“The Green Lantern Corps has seen better days,” teased Matt Idelson. “John Stewart and Guy Gardner just witnessed the destruction of the Alpha Lanterns. Hal Jordan was kicked out of the Corps and replaced by Sinestro (who has since secretly given Hal a ring without the Guardians' knowledge). Kyle Rayner has his hands full trying to unite a disparate group composed of members of the other Lantern colors. There is no unity, there is no trust. It's almost like it's the last days of the Green Lantern Corps ... but if that's true, then what comes NEXT?”

“The Rise of the Third Army is actually the backdrop to what is ultimately some very personal stories with our Lanterns - Hal Jordan & Sinestro, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner and the New Guardians, John Stewart, Mogo and ultimately the new Green Lantern that will be introduced in GREEN LANTERN #0,” added GREEN LANTERN writer Geoff Johns. “It's an examination of all of these heroes, a reminder to them and us why they were chosen - they are the light, the hope and the heroism that the universe needs. They think and act with their hearts and they will be the ones who usher in a new era for the Green Lantern Corps.”

DC Comics announced at the DC Entertainment-All Access Sunday panel at Fan Expo Toronto that a new League will be forming.

Launching in 2013, DC Comics will publish a new ongoing comic book series, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by David Finch.
 
"This is a very different kind of team book,” says Geoff Johns. “On first glance, people might think the heroes of the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA stand in the shadows of Superman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the JUSTICE LEAGUE, but Green Arrow, Katana, Martian Manhunter, the new Green Lantern, Stargirl, Vibe, Hawkman and Catwoman thrive in the shadows. They're underdogs who have everything to prove and something to lose. They're a team of unlikely heroes who will help one another discover they're as A-List as anybody -- yes, even Vibe. Though getting there won't be easy. Why they're formed, why each member joins, what they're after and who the society of villains is they're trying to take apart will all be clear in the first issue when it hits early 2013. David and I are really focused on delving deep into what it's like to not be a member of the big seven and why, sometimes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.”

This month, DC Comics will release its next batch of Annuals. These special oversized issues will not only build off of the events in their respective series, but will also greatly impact the expanding DC Universe. Every day this week on THE SOURCE, we’ll be putting individual spotlights on each of these Annual issues by talking to various writers, artists, and editors to give you special sneak peeks at what’s to come! Next up is GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1, by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, which serves as a prologue to October’s GREEN LANTERN crossover event, “Rise of the Third Army.”

"Ethan has been a brilliant collaborator and co-creator since the beginning of GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH,” Johns told THE SOURCE. “Introducing new concepts and revealing huge, enigmatic, dangerous and heroic characters to the Green Lantern universe is what we do best together. And we're hoping to continue that with GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1. I'm not sure anyone realizes what we have in store for them ... and we like it that way."

"The joy of working with Geoff Johns is his unique insight into DC Comics' wide array of heroes and villains, and the development of those names and costumes into fully realized, complex characters,” added Van Sciver. “He gives hearts and souls to GREEN LANTERN's cast. And he's always got a plan.  It's always a pleasure to join him.”

GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1 flies into stores on August 29.

The “Rise of the Third Army” continues!

After Hal Jordan goes missing, many questions will be left hanging. Particularly for the Justice League, as they decide to go after the new Green Lantern to demand answers about their absent team member. Flying into stores on November 7th, GREEN LANTERN #14 comes to you from the acclaimed creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artists Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy.

“We’re going to be meeting a brand new Green Lantern in issue #0, and unlike his predecessors, he’s not the sort of guy you’d be expecting to wear the ring. That’s putting it mildly,” teased series editor Matt Idelson. “After the events of GREEN LANTERN ANNUAL #1, Hal Jordan is MIA in a very big way, and our new Green Lantern finds himself in a new role, though his troubled life isn’t going to go away in the slightest. In fact it’s the things he’s notorious for that in large part bring the Justice League into the picture—they want to know what’s happened to Hal, and what this guy thinks he’s doing filling the role of Green Lantern. It’s going to be intense, but also very, very cool.”

Below, take an exclusive first look at GREEN LANTERN #14 by checking out Doug Mahnke and Mark Irwin’s cover for the issue.