Every Time a Green Lantern Died in DC Comics & What Happened To Them

The DC Comics universe often revisits a core Green Lantern rule: only one lantern guards a given sector, creating recurring stakes when a bearer dies. With “Lanterns” premiering its pilot on HBO Max, the episode’s 2026 time jump confirms Hal Jordan—the Earth’s first Green Lantern—has died, a development tied to long-running storylines from the comics. The article compiles notable Green Lantern deaths across main continuity and Elseworlds, explaining how each death connects to key themes and characters that resonate in the TV series. It first details Abin Sur, whose final moments lead directly to Hal receiving the Ring. It then covers Tomar-Re, John Stewart’s counterpart to Abin Sur in the Corps.