Blackest Night #1 (2009)

In Gotham City, Black Hand languishes with Bruce Wayne's skull, talking to it and insisting that it will play a vital part in the events to come. In Sector 666, the Black Lantern Central Power Battery expels a large quantity of rings into the sky. Green Lantern Hal Jordan and the other members of the Green Lantern Corps are parading in Coast City, on the anniversary of the day Superman was killed by Doomsday, which has since become a national holiday for remembering fallen heroes. They are also remembering the millions of people who died when Mongul and Cyborg Superman incinerated Coast City a number of years ago. Hal Jordan also remembers the death of his father Martin Jordan and his predecessor Abin Sur. The death of John Stewart's wife Katma Tui and his accidental involvement in the destruction of Xanshi, the death of Kyle Rayner's girlfriend Alex DeWitt, and the death of Jade. He also recalls the death of Guy Gardner's girlfriend Ice, although she was later brought back to life and they have resumed dating. All across the world, heroes and villains alike pay tribute to the dead. In Smallville, Superman and Superboy in their civilian identities with Martha mourn the recent death of Jonathan Kent. In Pittsburgh, , Jason Rusch and Gehenna are at the grave of the original Firestorm who died several years ago. The Teen Titans at Titans Tower look over their memorial to fallen comrades such as Marvin White and Terra. Kid Flash talks to Wonder Girl about his recent death and resurrection. At a hidden location in Central City, the Rogues visit their secret graveyard and honor the deceased Captain Boomerang The old members of Justice League International visit the grave of Blue Beetle. The Justice Society of America honors Jade, , , , , the Atom, , , , the Crimson Avenger, and Human Bomb. Near the Curry Lighthouse, Mera and Aqualad overlook the grave of the first Aquaman. While Alfred Pennyworth attempts visit the grave of Batman in Gotham City, he is horrified to find it completely defiled, with Bruce's skull missing. After the remembrance parade, Hal meets up with the Flash at the Hall of Justice, and they look over the Justice League's morgue, which has been set up for special cases, and largely consists of supervillains. They keep the bodies protected since Nightwing uncovered a superhuman corpse-harvesting conspiracy. The only ones unaccounted for are the dead Rogues, who have their private cemetery that Wally West and Jay Garrick have yet to find. Barry Allen is curious as to who else died while he was trapped in the Speed Force, and Hal shows him the large number of heroic casualties through a display using his ring. Barry is shocked to see Ronnie among them, but he is particularly horrified by the deaths of both Ralph and Sue Dibny. They then receive a call from Alfred about the desecration of Bruce Wayne's grave. Elsewhere, Hawkman argues with Hawkgirl argue over their destiny, and whether or not they were destined to fall in love and be with each other as according to their mutual history of reincarnation. Hawkman is also angry that the Atom's wife Jean Loring is being honored as a fallen member of the community, despite her being revealed as a serial killer during Identity Crisis. On Oa, the Guardians of the Universe are heavily concerned over the currently raging War of Light, and believe they have in some sense failed their mission statement. Sensing the Black Lantern Rings flying across the universe, they realize that Ganthet was right, and that they can only prepare for the Blackest Night, and attempt to call for help. Before they can make a distress call, the Scarred Guardian appears and begins brutally murdering them, and even eats their hearts. The rings find Morro, crypt keeper of the Green Lanterns and bypass his protection to take the bodies of fallen Lanterns. They begin taking bodies from all over the universe. The rings cry out for flesh. Scar explains that they need to feed on hearts that are full, unlike those of the Guardians. Full of emotions, from all other colors on the Emotional Spectrum. And an army of resurrected zombies rise from the dead, from the Green Lantern crypts... the Black Lantern Corps. At Gotham City, Hal and Barry arrive, only to be confronted by the undead Martian Manhunter, now a Black Lantern who tells them they should both be dead. At St. Roch, Hawkman and Hawkgirl continue to argue, and they reach a breaking point of emotions. As Hawkgirl is finally about to admit her true feelings, the two of them are ambushed. And brutally murdered by two Black Lanterns, the Elongated Man and Sue Dibny. Dying from a spear wound to the chest, Hawkgirl is barely able to tell Hawkman that she loves him on her deathbed as he has been beaten to a pulp with his own mace by Ralph. As Hawkman swears to kill his assailants, his beating heart is ripped out by the Elongated Man, while Sue takes Hawkgirl's. Their rings then absorb the hearts, giving both rings 0.01% for each heart. Black Hand arrives, and gives the two corpses each a ring of their own, commanding them to RISE.