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"You have great rage in your heart."

Emotion: Rage

Leader: Atrocitus

Base of Operations: Ysmault

Entity: Butcher

With blood and rage of crimson red
Ripped from a corpse so freshly dead
Together with our hellish hate
We'll burn you all— that is your fate!^*Dex-Starr! 'Dat's great!

Billions of years ago, the Manhunters malfunctioned and eliminated all life in Sector 666—or so they thought. Five denizens of the sector miraculously managed to survive the massacre, and together formed a terrorist cabal known as the Five Inversions. Over time, they founded The Empire of Tears, which was as much fun as its name implies. Eventually, the empire fell, and the Five Inversions were crucified on their throne-world. They're the ones who led to Abin Sur crashing on Earth, and seeded the prophecy of the Blackest Night. However, things didn't go as planned; their leader Atrocitus, in his rage, beat the others to death, and used their blood to form the Red Central Power Battery with his Blood Magic and create his own Corps.

A Red Lantern's blood and circulatory system is replaced by the ring's plasma energy, which makes them immune to attempts at heart-ripping (such as done by the Black Lanterns), but also leaves them dependent on their rings to live. Their powers are flight, personal forcefields, and ability to spew a corrosive plasma from their mouths that can drain the constructs of Green Lanterns. Atrocitus also designed the rings to incite the wearer into a state of constant rage, though those that either can resist this or have been exempted can create their own constructs as well.

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General Tropes

Anti-Villain: They default to this, as despite their antagonism towards the Green Lanterns, they usually have VERY good reasons to be pissed off (red rings are usually drawn to rage resulting from personal loss). On top of that, while they won't be particularly aggrieved about collateral damage, most of their actual targets are often people who deserve it.
Awesome, but Impractical: The idea of a Lantern Corps made of mindless and blood-crazed berserkers. The initial Reds are incapable of any organization or strategy above a pack mentality, have little self-preservation, and can't even form energy constructs. Atrocitus eventually realizes this and decides to grant intelligence to a select few. After Bleez and later Guy Gardner take control, they give everyone their minds back. Even then, it takes some time for them to all gain the ability to form constructs.
Ax-Crazy: Most Reds are mindless Blood Knights.
Bad Powers, Bad People: What morals a Red Lantern had before procuring their ring usually goes out the window considering they wield The Power of Hate to use it. Envisioning the power to vomit blood hot enough to burn in the vacuum of space doesn't scream "100% Heroism Rating" either.
The Berserker: Considering their power source is Unstoppable Rage, it's unsurprising this amounts to literally every one of them.
Blood Knight: All of them. Bleez and Zilius Zox perhaps fill this role a little more than the others, though — Ratchet and Skallox seem pretty chill as far as Red Lanterns go, and Atrocitus is more about the grand plan than the individual battle.
Blood Magic: Used to forge the battery and the rings, and Atrocitus can also use it to make divinations.
Bloody Murder: Their main weapon is to puke super-hot plasma blood at... well, anyone.
Body Horror: Internal example-the rings replace their own blood with burning plasma. There was another example earlier on when the Red Lantern Corps debuted. Originally, a Lantern's body would slowly be destroyed due to the influence of the red light within the body, and this damage started around the mouth. When Laira was chosen as the cover character for the Faces of Evil focus issue, she had cracks around her lips as if she was breaking apart.
- Retcon: The published illustration of Laira was edited to omit the aforementioned cracks around her lips, as the concept of the red light gradually destroying its users was dropped.
Breakout Character: The Red Lanterns got their own book in the New 52, and have a major presence in Green Lantern: The Animated Series. After Wrath of the First Lantern, the Corps' numbers were drastically reduced, and during Guy Gardner's reign as the Reds' unofficial leader Bleez, Rankorr, Ratchet, Skallox, and Zilius Zox received more focus and character development.
Breath Weapon: Their trademark ability.
Clingy MacGuffin: Because the Red Lantern rings replace their wielder's heart, removing one from the bearer will kill them without outside assistance. The Green Lantern: The Animated Series adaptation graciously left out this detail.
Despair Event Horizon: Hitting it attracts a red power ring, combined with the Rage Breaking Point mentioned below.
Determinator: Yeah, ripping out their hearts only makes them mad(der).
Disability Immunity: This also allows them to survive anything that targets their hearts since they don't actually need them.
- The writers themselves conveniently ignore this when they need to pull a ring from a character. Every single time they need a character to stop being a Red Lantern, they lose the ring offscreen with no side effects or explanation, especially given that Deus Exit Machina is pretty much nearly always in effect for the Blue Lantern Corps.
Feral Villain: Except for Atrocitus, they were all introduced as this; being blood-mad berserkers turned on his targets, it was only later that they were fleshed out and given character and moral ambiguity. Regaining one's faculties usually takes a baptism in a pool of blood and only gets worse from there.
Heel–Face Revolving Door: Guy Gardner's tenure as a Red Lantern ultimately resulted in the few remaining members of the Corps making peace with the Green Lanterns and being appointed as the official protectors of Sector 2814 (which includes Earth). But when Atrocitus came back into power, it didn't take him very long to undo all of Guy's achievements for the Red Lanterns and completely purge Guy's lingering influence from the Corps. How Atrocitus managed any of this is unknown (the last time we saw him before his sudden resurgence, he had been left powerless and on the brink of death, and the surviving Red Lanterns had developed a fierce loyalty to Guy), so it was probably just a straight-up retcon.
He Who Fights Monsters: Many were victims seeking revenge.
Incendiary Exponent: The red energy burns like napalm, making their force-fields and constructs even more dangerous. The flaming blood they spew is one of the few things that can overcome a Black Lantern's regeneration.
In It for Life: To prevent beings from leaving his Lantern Corps, Atrocitus designed the Red Rings so that taking them off would be fatal. Only the healing power of a Blue Lantern can prevent this.
Logical Weakness: Anger is on the far end of the emotional spectrum, so Red Lanterns are vulnerable to light from the other end. The Blue Light of hope can restart their hearts and separate them from the ring and love (which exists farthest from anger) can kill them instantly. Carol Ferris explicitly points this out to Atrocitus in New Guardians and warns him that of all the Lanterns, she is the one he should fear the most - and he doesn't deny it.
Magitek: Unlike the other Lantern Corps which were created through sufficiently advanced science, the Red Lantern rings and central battery were created through Blood Magic learned from demonic alien sorcerers.
The Power of Hate: They are fueled by hatred and rage, specifically hatred and rage driven by personal loss of someone emotionally close to them.
Atrocitus: "Do you hate? The most powerful hate is not born out of ignorance or prejudice or a perceived threat. Those three are fear in disguise. The fury that fuels my corps ignites from personal pain. Those whose lives were ravaged by greed, lust and control wield the crimson light. The rings replaced our damaged hearts. They beat for them. And they keep us alive only to hate. But at least we live."
Rage Breaking Point: As this Corps is fueled by rage, reaching this trope is what attracts a red ring to a character and turn him/her into a Red Lantern (usually overlapping with Despair Event Horizon).
Red Eyes, Take Warning: Red Lanterns are frequently depicted having red irises, red irises and pupils, or red Monochromatic Eyes.
Red Is Violent: Being a color that represents rage, violence and aggressiveness as well fire and blood, red is a VERY suitable color for this Corps.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Atrocitus claims that just having bad things happen to you is insufficient to be a Red Lantern. You have to have someone to blame. He even tells Rankorr that he's not a "true" Red Lantern until he takes vengeance on the one responsible for him taking up a Red Ring.
Sociopathic Hero: Well, "hero" is questionable, but Atrocitus does try to steer them towards noble causes.
Suspiciously Similar Substitute: To the mostly forgotten 90s Darkstars, who had a similar scope and Darker and Edgier attitude compared to the Green Lanterns.
That Man Is Dead: Many Red Lanterns hold this belief as regards the people they were before they took up a Red Ring, and the trope holds more weight than it usually does. The kind of trauma that attracts a Red Ring is a life-changing event without the intervention of alien Blood Magitek, you couldn't just go on with your life like it never happened. Physiologically, putting on a Red Ring pretty much kills you, shrivelling your heart and expelling your blood, replacing it with burning hot plasma pumped by the Ring. And since most Red Lanterns spend at least some time after getting their Rings as mindless berserkers, it's not hard to see why they might consider themselves little more than the animated corpses of the people they used to be. Which puts an interesting spin on the line "Ripped from a corpse so freshly dead". . . they might be talking about their own corpse.
Took a Level in Kindness: The survivors under Guy Gardner, for a while, particularly towards Kara, who they all treated as a little sister. Atrocitus rectified this.
Unstoppable Rage: It's what powers them.
Villains Act, Heroes React: In Red Lanterns #25, Guy notes how most heroes react to villains' actions and decides to make the corps more proactive.
Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: All of the Reds. They were all fairly decent people before the Universe decided to piss all over them! They are all victims of some of the cruelest acts ever inflicted and you’d want to give them a hug if they weren’t so dangerous!

Notable Red Lanterns

Atrocitus

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-Red_Lanterns-1_Cover-2_Teaser_9960.jpg

AKA: Atros

Homeworld: Ysmault (originally Ryut)

First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol 4 #25 (January 2008)

The leader and only survivor of the Five Inversions (the others died by his hand). The demonic Atrocitus was directly responsible for the death of Abin Sur and, later, Sinestro's turn to evil. His is the rage that fuels the entire Red Lantern Corps, for he forged the Red Central Power Battery by his own hand. There is a reason for his anger, however: the unprovoked genocide of his people, including his beloved family, by the Manhunters in the Massacre of Sector 666.

Since Krona (the Guardian responsible for the Manhunter massacre) was slain by Hal Jordan, Atrocitus has been struggling with a purpose for himself and his corps. He is also working to reorganize his corps, selecting Bleez as his second and restoring her intelligence - though he quickly realizes this might have been a huge mistake.

As of Rebirth, he has once again taken away the intelligence of his corps, and wishes to create a "Red Dawn" on Earth.

Adaptational Villainy: Atrocitus isn't a good guy, but he's not entirely villainous either, with his goals being well-meaning, if a little too visceral and extreme. Adaptations featuring the Red Lanterns, especially Green Lantern: Emerald Knights and Green Lantern: The Animated Series emphasize more on the Red Lanterns' more unsavoury side and either downplay or remove their sympathetic qualities, with their motivations becoming too twisted and/or entirely self-serving. Atrocitus, in addition to being changed into those, also ends up becoming more callous, antagonistic, and unsympathetic in these adaptaions.
Ambition Is Evil: Subverted; he's certainly ambitious and more than dedicated seeing his goals fulfilled, no matter what, but despite his antagonism and looks, Atrocitus is not really evil, just someone who straddles between the line of anti-heroism and anti-villain due to both the good intent and the extremity of his goals.
Aliens Are Bastards: Zig-Zagged; Atrocitus is not a nice guy, to say the least and is among the most violent and brutal characters in the DC Universe. That said, despite his opposition against several heroes, he has an admirable goal to uphold justice and avenge the innocent. However, his way of justice is extreme vengeance and carnage, though no one would fault him for who he kills, seeing as they would have deserved it.
Alternate Company Equivalent: He's this to Frank Castle, and if anything, he fits this better than Jason Todd does. Both are men who had esteemed backgrounds with a decent relationship with their families, until something catastrophic happened that led to their families' deaths, which forms most of their motivation to exact vengeance and start a war against the wicked with no signs of stopping. Though Atrocitus's scope is far larger than Frank's, who usually tends to deal with street crimes and criminal conspiracies in contrast to the former dealing with mass-murdering alien robots and corrupt overseers of the universe.
Anti-Hero: He's incredibly brutal and uncompromising and thinks nothing of killing anyone who impedes him or the Corps, but his hatred towards the Guardians and Krona is very understandable, as is his general kindness towards those who have gone through situations similar to those of Corps members.
- Less so during the "Atrocities" arc, where he's willing to rampage across planets for revenge.
Anti-Villain: Atrocitus is a fearsome-looking individual who resorts to using violence and brutality as his way to establish himself and his corps and hence, he finds himself in opposition against the other Lantern Corps. However, his main motivation is to exact justice upon the wicked, particularly those who have not been condemned for their actions.
Arch-Enemy: He personally sees the Manhunters as this, seeing as they were the ones who killed his family and his entire race, thus becoming the very impetus of Atrocitus's rage and wanting to ensure that no one suffers like he did. He also has this feeling towards Krona, who was the one responsible for turning the Manhunters into ravaging killing machines, though he does hold the Guardians of the Universe in equal contempt due to their lack of acknowledgement and neglect of the many tragedies and destruction that happened because of Krona and the Manhunters.
Artifact Domination: The Red Lantern's Central Power Battery is what channels a Corps member's powers and abilities, but it's also the reason why they're mostly designed to render them as rageful and vicious as they can. Turns out, Atrocitus was the one who programmed it that way. He can shut down the factor that drives a member feral, but he hasn't bothered to do that.
Ax-Crazy: While more reasonable and mentally sound than the other members of the Red Lanterns, Atrocitus does have his moments of going all-out on his rage, viciously butchering and slaughtering whatever gets in his way. And like most in his Corps, he's a notable Blood Knight.
Badass Crew: The Red Lanterns are filled with rageful, but ultimately capable and powerful beings who inspire almost as much terror as Sinestro does, and Atrocitus is the leader of them.
Batman Gambit: In Brightest Day, Lobo attacks Atrocitus, trying to get the bounty on his head. The White Lantern Battery orders Hal Jordan, Carol Ferris, and Sinestro to help Atrocitus, so they do. After Lobo is driven off, the four of them vow to work together to find the missing emotional entities. Atrocitus hired Lobo to attack him in the first place and take a dive, in order to get the others to trust him. As payment, Lobo is given a Red Lantern Ring.
The Berserker: A customary for anyone who is a Red Lantern, provided that they are powered by rage. That said, Atrocitus has shown himself to be among the most proficient and skilled member regarding his use of his berserker rage, keeping himself tempered and focused whilst still showing himself off to be a rampaging destroyer towards the reprehensible.
Beyond the Impossible: Killing Guardians without a power ring, not to mention just how much he can survive without his heart or ring.
Big Bad: For the Reds during Guy Gardner's tenure in their numbers, especially during the "Atrocities" arc.
The Big Guy: Atrocitus ends up serving as this to the other Lantern Corps leaders during the Blackest Night, being the largest and most physically strongest out of the alliance, alongside being the most offensive in regards to taking on the Black Lanterns head-on.
Big Red Devil: His appearance is pretty evocative of your standard depiction of a demon or the devil. He's got bright red skin, has sharp teeth and claws, has powers that would normally be associated with a villain, and normally is in opposition against the many heroes that reside in his universe. That said, he doesn't come across as a Satanic Archetype, if mainly because Atrocitus has ostensibly noble goals that he wants to fulfil.
Blood Knight: Atrocitus relishes on the prospect of having to do battle and lay upon his wrath towards the truly evil in the universe. That said, he's a lesser example than, say, Dex-Star and Bleeze, and tends to focus more on the long-term effects of his objectives.
Blood Magic: Part of a Red Lantern's power asset includes the ability to enchant and magically enhance and control blood based on what the wielder desires for their usage. Atrocitus, being the Corps' founder and leader, also uses it for divinations towards his organization and its influence.
Bloody Murder: Given the Red Lantern Ring's power to manipulate blood and the organization's nature as violent berserker vigilantes, Atrocitus is not above using blood as a way to slaughter his foes as well as using their blood as improvised weaponry in the middle of battle against another horde or adversary if need be.
Blue-and-Orange Morality: Atrocitus' moral code is very simple: Killing and destroying whoever or whatever has made you mad. After reading his mind, Sheko notes that he's a monster by her people's standards and laws, but he's utterly convinced that his actions are righteous and necessary.
Breakout Character: While he did play a notable role in Blackest Night, Atrocitus was, at best, a supporting character with most of the focus being on Hal Jordan. And his Earth friends, alongside Sinestro. Later on, he would be given more exposure thanks to his popularity and his character would be explored and expanded upon. It culminated with him and his Corps getting their own comic storyline and issues in the New 52.
Breath Weapon: As a Red Lantern ring significantly alters one's inner physiology, their own blood can be weaponized into liquid plasma that can burn almost anything upon contact. Given that this is one of the Corps' most infamous abilities, Atrocitus has used it countless times.
Burning with Anger: Just like the other members of the Red Lantern Corps, Atrocitus's rage also amplifies their blood to become an acidic sort of plasma that they use very offensively, most notably as a lethal puke or to create constructs and barriers with an added lethal enhancement.
Chest Insignia: Just like most members of any Lantern Corps, Atrocitus has the Red Lantern Emblem emblazoned onto the chest, much like the other Lantern Corps leaders.
Clingy MacGuffin: Because he wields a Red Lantern Ring, Atrocitus's biological functions are affected so that his organs and blood are mostly replaced with boiling plasma. While it guarantees a large level of invulnerability, the removal of the ring would kill Atrocitus as it's now bound to his consciousness and biological functionality.
The Corruptor: It should be noted that Atrocitus tends to be the only sane member of his own Corps and that the other members end up devolving in savage beasts who would waste no time assaulting and brutalizing whoever Atrocitus commands them to attack. It turns out that Atrocitus himself built the Red Lantern Central Power Battery to operate it's power and influence to every member sans himself. As a result, what appears to be The Corruption is actually the doing of Atrocitus, seeing as this fuction can be stripped, but he doesn't bother with that.
Crusading Widower: Well, part of the reason he's lashing out under the guise of "righteous vengeance" is because his wife was among the victims of Ryut's attack by the Manhunters. To say that Atrocitus didn't take her death well would be a sore understatement.
Dark Is Evil: On his worst days, Atrocitus can be antagonistic and pretty nasty to deal with, not willing to take compromises and simply wanting to get his objectives done, even if it means oppressing heroes and manipulating his own Corps members to his own advantage.
Dark Is Not Evil: Usually. He is incredibly violent and ruthless, but he's not really evil and has a decent goal with understandable reasons behind it. This is emphasized in Blackest Night when it's shown that he joined the combined Lantern corps without having to be bribed or motivated by a quest for glory; he wasn't lying when he claimed that he fought to protect life. It's also important to note that while Atrocitus is the head of the Red Lanterns - beings who are fueled by anger and rage - it's established that Atrocitus is at the very least very justified for the anger he feels, as he is the sole survivor of the extermination of his entire sector by the Manhunters. His breakdown shows that - while not completely innocent - his sector did not deserve the punishment wrought upon it.
Dark Messiah: Plays himself up as this in the "Atrocities" arc.
Despair Event Horizon: He went through a very harrowing one after having to see his family and planet get ravaged by the Manhunters. Said despair then forms the very basis of Atrocitus's rage, making him a suitable candidate to become a member of the Red Lantern Corps and ever since, it's been an established rule that for one to become a Red Lantern, one rage needs to stem from feeling personal loss and tragedy.
Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: With Krona dead, Atrocitus' rage no longer has a target... but it's still there.
Determinator: Despite not representing it or being a member of the Green Lantern Corps, Atrocitus has actually displayed incredible willpower and resolve throughout his time as a Red Lantern. His determination and committment to rage is such that once his heart was removed, he still kept on going, even more angry than before, despite the fact that the ring's removal should have killed Atrocitus.
Empowered Badass Normal: He was outrageously a badass billions of years before he created the Red Power Battery, enough to kill hordes of Manhunters with his bare hands, and torture and kill Guardians of the Universe. He and the other four Inversions founded an empire that extended throughout three entire galaxies.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: While he barely tolerates most of his subordinates for their treachery, weakness, and incompetence (both perceived and actual flaws depending on the Lantern) he has a soft spot for Dex-Starr. He even stated that he is the only Red a Lantern whose death he would mourn. He also loved his wife and his children before the massacre of Sector 666.
Evil Is Bigger: Atrocitus is one of the more physically bigger Lantern Corps leaders and easily one of the more relentless, vicious and antagonistic ones, albeit he is someone with good intentions. Amusingly, he contrasts nicely with Sinesteo, who qualifies more for Lean and Mean.
Evil Sounds Deep: Adaptations tend to give Atrocitus a growling, deep voice to further emphasize his authoritative and fearsome nature.
Evil Virtues: He has several of them, which further reinforces his position as an Anti-Villain. To boot, Atrocitus possesses an astute ambition, does take the well-being of his Corps quite seriously, can be honorable and reasonable, is determined and dedicated to his cause, is surprisngly smarter than he appears, and is more than willing to fight to the bitter end for his, even if it means dying.
The Extremist Was Right: He absolutely abhors the Guardians of the Universe just as much as Sinesteo does, given that the Manhunters they created were responsible for the death of his family and race. Despite being a hardcore extremist in regards to upholding justice and vengeance, Atrocitus is absolutely justified in his hatred towards the Guardians; most of them are lazy and negligent, even withholding several limitations to the Green Lanterns in regards to their effectiveness and how much is the universe really in stake, and they did nothing to really help anyone from helping others in their time of grief. It also didn't help that one of their kind happened to be Krona, who deliberately engineered the Manhunters to act hostile towards all life.
A Father to His Men: Zig-Zagged. A really good way to piss Atrocitus off is to harm one of Red Lanterns. . . and given he's fueled by pure rage, this won't end well for the one who did the hurting. Though it swings between this trope and "the Red Lanterns are my toys, I am the only one who gets to break them." (Though when he does go all Bad Boss, he usually has a pretty good reason.) At other times, he'll get downright Darwinian, claiming a slaughtered Red Lantern wasn't strong enough to be a "true" Red Lantern, or they would not have been slaughtered. That said, this is played entirely straight in regards to Dex-Starr, who he never has to forcibly take control of because the cat's love and devotion to him is always unyielding, with Atrocious returning the sentiment in kind.
Foil: He is one to Sinestro; both are two of the Green Lantern's greatest enemies, both had a history with Abin Sur, with Sinestro being his best friend and Atrocitus being his killer, and both of them have their own extreme unscrupulous ideas of how to make the universe a better place. However, their motivations and ends are different, as Sinestro wants to bring peace to the universe by enforcing his way of order, whereas Atrocitus opts to hunt down and kill anybody who endangers innocents and perverts justice. Both are feared adversaries, though Sinestro is the only one who powers himself up from it whereas Atrocitus gets his strength from sheer rage.
From Nobody to Nightmare: Used to just be another guy, with a wife and family. Then the Manhunters came and leveled his planet.
Full-Frontal Assault: He was naked when he killed Abin Sur and fought back against Sinestro and a rookie Hal Jordan's efforts in recapturing him. It wasn't until he forged the ring and power battery of the Red Lantern Corps that he started wearing a uniform.
Genius Bruiser: With the possible exception of Sinestro, he's easily the most intelligent of the Corps leaders. To that end, he has manipulated the Guardians, Sinestro, Guy Gardner, the other leaders, and Lobo to fit his schemes, often without the others even being aware. Before the Massacre of Sector 666, Atrocitus was a student of psychology, which may account for his manipulative abilities.
- He's smart in other ways as well. He knows the weakness of Blue Lantern Rings without needing to be told, is proficient in the use of Blood Magic and constructed a cosmic divining rod capable of absorbing Green Lantern Ring energy out of spare parts from a gun shop on Earth.
Hair-Trigger Temper: Given that he's the leader of a faction that's empowered by rage, it's pretty easy to set Atrocitus off.
Hard Light: As with anyone possessing a Lantern Ring, Atrocitus can use his to create red light constructs of whatever he lives to visualize. Considering his affinity to rage, his constructs are used more offensively than the other Lantern Corps.
Heel–Face Turn: He undergoes this in the Post-Crisis timeline after Blackest Night. Out of all the outright antagonistic Lantern Corps that also includes the Orange^notereally, just Larfleeze and Sinestro Corps, the Red Lanterns are the most genuine in their attempt to change, which also cements Atrocitus's reputation as an Anti-Villain.
Hero Antagonist: Often borders on this. He just wants his revenge against the Guardians and has no time for anyone who gets in his way, but he's so sympathetic and has such a heartbreaking backstory that it's hard to even really call him a villain at times.
Hero Killer: He's responsible for Abin Sur's death, due to him mortally wounding Abin by slashing him in the chest and his destructive escape leading to Abin's lethal crash landing. Him being an example of this trope is also how Hal Jordan came to become a Green Lantern, and it's most championed member.
He Who Fights Monsters: Deliberately used by Atrocitus in recruiting new Red Lanterns, since he believes true rage comes from personal pain (which led to his forming the Five Inversions, as he also lost his family in the Manhunter massacre).
Incendiary Exponent: His plasma blood is incredibly hot and is even applied to whatever constructs he creates, further enhancing their offensive and lethal capabilities. Atrocitus would make sure to use this as much as he can.
In It for Life: Atrocitus's Corps works like this, albeit in a lethal sense. The Red Lantern Rings grant users to be invulnerable to whatever can legally harm them physically, but their life force would then be tied to their ring, hence it's removal would result in death. Atrocitus designed it this way as a way to further his grip and control over his organization, with the only cure to this being the healing powers of a Blue Lantern Ring.
In Love with Your Carnage: Seeing Mera barbecue her zombie son leaves him in awe.
- "Earthwoman. I have nothing to say but - welcome to the Red Lantern Corps."
Knight Templar: He'll take his revenge come hell or high water and doesn't care who he has to kill to get it.
Last of His Kind: His entire race was wiped out by the Manhunters.
The Leader: He leads the Red Lantern Corps under the virtue of being it's oldest, most experienced, and usually most powerful member. That said, he has seen his leadership being challenged at times.
A Lighter Shade of Black: He straddles between anti-heroism and anti-villainy. While certainly one of the more brutal characters the Green Lanterns have had to face and one of the most vengeful beings in the DC Universe, Atrocitus stands out as being one of the more moral and sympathetic "bad guys", mainly because his main motivation of exacting vengeance stems from losing his family and home and that he has every to call out on the Guardians for their neglect and recklessness as well as letting the Manhunters run rampant in the universe. Of course, there's also him allying with the other Lantern Corps to stand a chance against Nekron during the Blackest Night.
Logical Weakness: Because Red and Rage is on the far-left side of the emotional spectrum, Atrocitus and his Corps are vulnerable to the light and powers of the opposing spectrum. For example, Blue and Hope can negate several of a Red Lantern Ring's functionality and Violet and Love is more than capable of killing a Red Lantern without much of a resistance.
The Lost Lenore: While not referenced too often, Atrocitus did have a good relationship with his wife (unnamed in the Post-Crisis timeline, while she is named Ferta in the Post-Flashpoint universe) and her death, alongside their children is a major reason for why Atrocitus desires revenge against the Manhunters and the Guardians.
Kindhearted Cat Lover: Kindhearted would be a massive stretch and Atrocitus desires a good goal with extreme measures, but if there's one thing that is wholly positive about him, it's the fact that he's very fond and affectionate of Dex-Starr, which makes sense as both of them can relate to seeing their loved one die callously, which ended up becoming the main basis for their rage. It even goes to the point where Atrocitus acts on instinctual rage if he finds out that Dex-Starr gets hurt.
Knight Templar: This is a trope trait that, for all their difference, Atrocitus shares with Sinestro. He's adamant in his belief that injustice needs to be dealt with and that whoever spreads, commits, and advocates it should be condemned to be killed by the Red Lanterns. While he goals are understandable, Atrocitus's nature of being way too militant about exacting vengeance makes him butt heads against a lot of people, who think that he's being too extreme for his cause.
Manipulative Bastard: For all his Unstoppable Rage, Atrocitus is a surprisingly subtle and deep thinker. Those plotting against him (like Bleez) will frequently find, to their surprise, that Atrocitus was a step ahead of them (if barely).
Mars Needs Women: After fighting side-by-side with Aquaman's wife Mera, many have noted that he is attracted to her. He won't admit it.
Monster Is a Mommy: He had a daughter, but she was killed by the Manhunters.
Moral Sociopathy: He's committed to his cause, commands respect from his subordinates, and can display signs of honor, but these do not change Atrocitus from being a militant zealot who believes that the wicked deserves a death sentence by their own hands, at times finding it pretty hard to find a compromise. While he makes a point to Never Hurt an Innocent, he's not exactly too sympathetic towards them either, unless one could really relate to him.
Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Atrocitus, which brings to mind the word atrocity. Though it's actually a codename. His real name is Atros.
Never Hurt an Innocent: Very notable considering how he treats people that aren't. Although he does have a nasty habit of shifting blame (equating the crimes of the Guardians with every Green Lantern) and tends to shoot first and ask questions later.
Never My Fault: A constant negative trait for Atrocitus is that, while he's genuine about what he wants to do, he does have a knack of shift blames of confidence towards others, including members of his own Corps in an attempt to avoid any challenge to his authority and cause. This trait also contrasts to how Guy Gardner feels about not doing a good of leading the Red Lanterns during the eponymous series and Red Daughter of Krypton, though Atrocitus is responsible for many mishaps, Guy ends up blaming himself for the most part.
Nigh-Invulnerability: Atrocitus is durable enough to withstand knife attacks.
Noble Demon: His rage will burn one into a charred corpse. . . but he'll make sure you really deserve it first. He's been known to cogitate on what rage is more worthy of his attention, especially when it comes to conflicts rooted in Grey-and-Gray Morality. He goes so far as ordering his own death at the hands of his Red Lanterns, because he was given the opportunity to undo the massacre of Sector 666 and did not take it, making him (in his mind) responsible for it.
Atrocitus: By the code of the Red Lanterns, there must be no mercy. . . only vengeance.
"Not So Different" Remark: He and Saint Walker have had very similar histories, with a loving family and supportive community when they were suddenly ripped away from them, with this being a major motivation for the men that they've become in the present. The two acknowledge their similarities during a conversation with one another in Blackest Night.
Number of the Beast: He hails from Sector 666. Coincidentally enough, he himself looks like a demon.
Obviously Evil: He looks like a demon who came straight out of Hell, has rows of sharp fangs and clawed fingers, is in a perpetually furious mood, and is tied to a colour that is commonly associated with violence, bloodshed, horror, and occasionally villainy. That said, Atrocitus is actually an Anti-Villain with good intentions, albeit with more violent conclusions in mind
Only Sane Man: He's still an insanely angry berserker, but he can at least communicate.
Our Demons Are Different: He's not exactly a demon, but his appearance and general abilities are pretty evocative of one, so in a sense, he can be considered a space demon. He's got red skin, sharp claws and teeth, and possesses abilities that one would normally seen in a villain, not to mention that like Lucifer, he leads a rebellious team dedicated to revenge. That said, unlike Sinestro, Atrocitus isn't a Satanic Archetype as his motivations and goals are far more well-meaning.
Outliving One's Offspring: He had two children, and both of them died in an onslaught committed by the Manhunters who also killed Atepcitus's wife and everyone else in Ryut. Their premature demise is a major impetus in Atrocitus's rage.
Atrocitus: As my beautiful daughter dies so does something inside me. Hope. The hope of the future. The hope of happiness. The hope of their being a benign force in the universe. It all dies...
Papa Wolf: Is fiercely protective of Dex-Starr. Knowing he's been hurt is enough to piss off Atrocitus even more than he already was.
Pay Evil unto Evil: Atrocitus is more than willing to kill any oppressors of justice^notein his mind's perspective, at least, the most morally wicked, and those who commit injustice after injustice. While he can be incredibly extreme in what he does, Atrocitus does make it clear that whatever he does to his victims would be an indication that they really had it coming.
Pet the Dog: Literally, he's been seen stroking Dex-Starr and calling him "good kitty". In general, he seems to sympathize with the circumstances that brought his corpsmen to him. He also pointed out to The Spectre that The Butcher's host should not be punished for The Butcher's crimes.
The Power of Blood: The Red Lantern Ring allows a user to control and manipulate blood to their liking and intent. Atrocitus, being the founder, made it so that blood can be used in the most lethal and fearsome way possible, hence it's plasmic, yet corrosive nature.
The Power of Hate: More than fitting, considering one becomes a Red Lantern through sheer rage. That said, this is a unique take in that the Rage of a member comes from personal loss and tragedy, which is then weaponized in the most lethal and offensive way possible. Given what Atrocitus went through, it's safe to say that the massacre of his family and race was more than enough of a reason to tap into unbelievable levels of anger and become an emotional representative of rage
Atrocitus: "Do you hate? The most powerful hate is not born out of ignorance or prejudice or a perceived threat. Those three are fear in disguise. The fury that fuels my corps ignites from personal pain. Those whose lives were ravaged by greed, lust and control wield the crimson light. The rings replaced our damaged hearts. They beat for them. And they keep us alive only to hate. But at least we live."
Psycho Psychologist: Prior to Ryut's attack by the Manhunters, Atrocitus was once well educated in the subject of psychology. While he isn't a psychologist these can be possible factors behind how Atrocitus can be deceptively manipulative as well as a skilled tactician in battle.
Rage Breaking Point: As usual, this is customary for a Red Lantern, as well as a reason for why one becomes a Red Lantern in the first place. For Atrocitus, he's in a perpetual state of this, though one way to really tick him is if a valuable member of his Corps, especially Dex-Starr, gets hurt, his goals aren't met, or if he comes into contact with a Manhunter or a Guardian.
Red Eyes, Take Warning: As if the color red couldn't get any more obvious, Atrocitus also has eyes with that shade of color. That said, they aren't too noticeable, that is when he's really pissed off, when his eyes start glowing.
Red Is Violent: Atrocitus leads the Red Lantern Corps and they are literally powered by feeling the Rage that is bought upon by loss and tragedy. He's even got the appearance, attitude, and reputation to uphold the trope in spades. There is a reason he's currently the image provider of the trope.
Red and Black and Evil All Over: Atrocitus is red and his costume is also mostly red with black accents and a white outline for his Corps' symbol. That said, Atrocitus is more of an Anti-Villain with a goal of wanting to exact vengeful justice, undermining the "Evil" part of this trope.
Redemption Failure: Doesn't go very far at all. Like he had done to Bleez, Simon attempts to purge Atrocitus of his rage and restore him to the person he originally was. Simon only manages to piss Atrocitus off even more.
Revenge: One of the biggest and consistent aspects of his characterization is his drive to exact vengeance upon those who have wronged him by killing his family and obliterating his planet without any provocation. While the Manhunters caused the destruction, this was mainly because of the Guardians of the Universe not being careful and considerate enough to look into and fix their creation's flaws. This ultimately made both the main targets for Atrocitus's right for vengeance.
- Later on, it was revealed that Krona was the one responsible for deliberately making the Manhunters morally malfunctional and going out to attack whatever is in their sight. Even with this revelation as well as a new target for revenge, Atrocitus still holds the Guardians in contempt because their way of maintaining order is lazy and counterproductive, not to mention they didn't do a good job in stopping Krona. The saddest part through all of this is that Atrocitus really does have a point to make.
Revenge Before Reason: Because he registers vengeance as the best way to achieve solutions, Atrocitus is often blind to the fact that many other issues can simply be solved through other emotional reactions and offers, such as forgiveness, compassion, and even fear. This ends up being one of the biggest reasons why Atrocitus ends up having to fight against other Lantern Corps, despite his own well-intentioned goals.
Right-Hand Cat: Dex-Starr serves as one for him and, appropriately enough for the first two words, he's Atrocitus's closest confidant and the Red Lantern he has the best relationship with, to the point that harming is a sure-fire way to piss Atrocitus off more than usual.
The Rival: He winds up serving as this to Guy Gardner in regards to who gets to lead the Red Lantern Corps during their eponymous comic issues and Red Daughter of Krypton. Atrocitus wants to keep his Corps as traditional as it could be under his watch whereas Guy wants to steer them to a more heroic cause as well as better bind with them, given his own tenure as a Green Lantern.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Ever since the destruction of Ryut, Atrocitus has been on a mission to annihilate the Manhunters and punish the Guardians of the Universe ever since. On another note, he also advocates this trope to members of his Corps as well as those who have went through great loss in an attempt to make them feel rage and be tempted to join him in his rampaging crusade against those who have made countless wrongs on the innocent.
Shadow Archetype: He and his Corps is this to the Green Lanterns and he wants to enforce this notion. Both the Green and Red Lanterns are intergalactic organizations out to stop and prevent evil and injustice from spreading. However, unlike the Green Lanterns who abide to a strict code of law and regulations, Atrocitus seeks to lead the Red Lanterns without any restraints. Lastly, the Green Lanterns are not allowed to kill, courtesy of how the Guardians want the rings to act, that is until the Sinestro Corps War, whereas the Red Lanterns make it a goal to kill others, though not without good reason and justification.
- Atrocitus himself is this to Saint Walker. Both went through incredible hardships and both lost their families and reached a Despair Event Horizon once they saw themselves as the last ones remaining out of their company. However, where Walker was inspired to embody and represent hope, becoming an All-Loving Hero and someone who is more than welcome to aid the Green Lanterns as leader of the Blue Lantern Corps, Atrocitus dabbled into rage, grief and hate, and made it his life's work to avenge the innocent by viciously butchering anyone who shamelessly spreads injustice and evil. Essentially, both had similar circumstances and tragedies, but with different outcomes and perspectives, with Atrocitus being the cynical to Walker's optimistic.
Shut Up, Hannibal!: He ends up on the receiving end of this by Guy Gardner, of all people, in Red Lanterns #34.
Atrocitus: Oh, the things I have planned for you, Guy Gardner. You and anyone who stands with you.
Guy Gardner: Get in line, pal. You ain't the first, and I guarantee you won't be the last. Worse than you have tried to take Guy Gardner down! And you know what? You know what? I'm still here, you bastard! I'm still here!
Skull for a Head: Depending on the Artist, he ranges from just being an ugly, pink-skinned alien with lots of sharp teeth to looking like a beefier version of Red Skull.
Sociopathic Hero: He can be this occasionally. He does want to do good, albeit in his own warped way, but he can be really callous, brutal, and uncompromising and is not above creating swathes of collateral damage in his constant war to exact "righteous vengeance" upon evil beings in the cosmos. Really, it's his warped thinking that's led Atrocitus into making a lot of enemies and oppositions who happen to be heroes.
Start of Darkness: His family was killed and his planet was destroyed by a group of genocidal aliens who were originally programmed to uphold order, not to mention that their creators were too lax and neglectful to keep them reigned. Of course, the most logical outcome for Atrocitus was to lash out and become a being powered by and representing rage, all to exact revenge.
Super-Strength: Before he got his ring, he was strong enough to smash through ring constructs and pick up a bulldozer.
Sympathy for the Devil: During Blackest Night, Atrocitus ends up having a heart-to-heart with Saint Walker, as they commiserate that the paths that led them to their respective corps are actually quite similar. Mind you, Atrocitus points out just how different he thinks they are by showing that unlike Walker, he knows that specific individuals are to blame for his misery, and that they haven't ever been brought to justice.
Time Abyss: Atrocitus is one of the oldest members of any Lantern Corps, being around 4.5 billion years old.
This Means War!: Atrocitus destroys the Red Power Battery to declare war on Guy and his Red Lanterns.
Took a Level in Badass: A few of them. First he becomes the sole survivor of a murdered system, then becomes a blood magician, then creates a power battery and becomes a Red Lantern.
Tragic Villain: He saw his wife and children die because of an attacked committed by a group of robots that malfunctioned and their creators did nothing but watch. Not only that, but his planet was razed to oblivion as well, leaving Atrocitus as the only survivor. It's not hard to see why he would be considered one of the most tragic and sympathetic villains in the DC Universe. The fact that his rage is based on the fact that he had lost what he held dear to to his heart also furthers his tragic nature.
Unstoppable Rage: A universal trait for Red Lanterns and what drives them in their actions. In Atrocitus's case, wrath, mixed with sorrow and grief is what fuels his powers, goals, and desires and because of it, he's usually in a rageful and vengeful state with a desire to uphold his violent code of standards and deliver his brand of justice towards the wicked. While a major source of his power, it has been a Fatal Flaw on a few occasions as Atrocitus is sometimes unwilling to reason with other willingly, which contrasts with most Red Lantern members who have been molded into being subservient to their own rageful desires and wrath. He will stop at nothing to exact his revenge towards the Manhunters and the Guardians and he isn't going to stop from committing attacks and slaughters to those who he sees as morally reprehensible. His rage is so strong that even having his heart and his ring removed doesn't kill him so much as he's more pissed off. All in all, Atrocitus channels his rage and his nature as a Determinator to showcase just how far and willing he will go to achieve his means.
Villainous Friendship: Him and Dex-Starr. The two genuinely care about each other and will always watch the other's back.
Villain Respect:
- He ends up developing this towards Mera during the event of the Blackest Night. It turns out that underneath her steely demeanour, Mera is someone who can and will go into rage whenever something she cares for is under threat, and Atrocitus was quick to notice that. It's further enforced when Mera herself is deputised as a Red Lantern, and responds to her undead husband's taunts and zombified infant son by barbecuing them both.
Atrocitus: Earthwoman. I have nothing to say but - welcome to the Red Lantern Corps.
- Despite having the exact contrasting personality and disposition, Atrocitus actually respects Saint Walker for his compassion and for the fact that the two can relate to one another's past circumstances, even if the two clash against one another on different occasions.
Villainous Valor: He's not one to go down with without a fight. Atrocitus's desire to exact vengeful justice is never going to stop in his perspective and, if need be, he will go down fighting for it. He's also shown the capability to display resilience and willpower that rivals that of a Green Lantern.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: Every once in a while, goes into this territory.
"Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: As shown in the Distant Finale section of Wrath of the First Lantern, Atrocitus continues to lead the Red Lanterns in their quest to avenge the wrongs of the universe, though he does it with the knowledge that he'll never truly be free of the pain of the past, and its implied he's made his peace with that.
Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: He can destroy planets if he really wanted to, and would do so of every member of its inhabitants are irredeemable scumbags. However, he's doing this as a way to exact what he sees as "righteous vengeance" and given what he went through to become a Red Lantern, it's hard not to see why he's in a perpetually raging state.

Bleez

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-Red_Lanterns-3_Cover-1_Teaser_9592.jpg

Homeworld: Havania

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

From a race of beings with angel-like wings, Bleez was considered one of the most beautiful women in seven systems. Her mother, wanting grandchildren, set her up with countless suitors, annoying her to no end. One day, a Sinestro Corps member arrived, murdered her mother, then took her prisoner on Ranx, the Sentient City. She was repeatedly tortured and gang-raped, and her wings were removed. Her rage attracted a red ring, and she quickly killed the one who kidnapped her. She used her ring energy to create new skeletal wings, and a mask so that her beauty could never be used against her again. She joined the Red Lantern Corps, on a mission of revenge against the entire Sinestro Corps. Her hatred is so great that when Atrocitus kidnapped Sinestro, she tried to kill him right away, ignoring Atrocitus' plan.

Atrocitus has since restored her intelligence, intending her to be his Number Two. She hasn't exactly been the loyal soldier he'd hoped. She's picked out subordinates of her own: Ratchet, Skallox, and Zilius Zox. She was also part of the New Guardians team.

As of Rebirth, she is once again questioning her existence as a Red Lantern and is searching for a way to quit the Corps without it meaning her death. She had better figure it out quickly if she values her own well-being, though, as Atrocitus is already suspicious of her.

Angelic Aliens: Comes from a species that look like angels.
Beyond the Impossible: Downplayed but still an 'impossible act'. She was The Starscream before she regains her intelligence. While the other Red Lanterns are growling, "Kill, burn, stab, eat, hate, rage" she was going "Kill... Atrocitus....". In other words, while wearing a ring that turns its host into a mindless berserker, she held onto enough intelligence and focus to choose a specific target.
The Big Guy: She and Arkillo share this role in New Guardians. Fatality lampshades this by stating that she had been depending on Bleez to spearhead their attack on Invictus.
Break the Haughty: Part of the reason she is raped by the Sinestro Corpsmen. It's about one half that she's hot and they can, and one half that she thinks she's so much better than everyone else.
Cool Mask: Wears a black mask that covers the upper part of her face.
Cruel Mercy: Attempted. When she tracks down the two suitors who send the Sinestro Corps member after her, she kills one, but spares the other to live the rest of his days in fear of her, informing him that she may return and track him down one day, and he will always live looking over his shoulder. Atrocitus then just murders him yelling at Bleez that they must be pitiless, and subtle acts of revenge aren't tolerated.
Dating Catwoman: Enters this relationship with Guy Gardner during his stint with the Red Lanterns.
Deadpan Snarker: "Oh contain my joy. I hear Atrocitus calling."
Demoted to Extra: In the animated series.
The Dragon: She serves as Atrocitus' right hand... despite the fact that she'd REALLY rather not.
Fallen Angel: Comes from a species that looks like angels, so she evokes the imagery.
Fantastic Racism: Havanians mocked those who cannot fly, one reason why her kidnapper tore off her wings. It's still unsure whether her current wings are red-light constructs or not — if they are, it would show that, even mindless with rage, she was still determined to retain them in a last-ditch effort to feel superior.
Good Wings, Evil Wings: Starts off with feathery angel wings, ends up with skeleton wings that glow red.
- The franchise really loves this trope, especially in Green Lanterns: Simon heals her of her Rage, causing her to have a Heel Realization - and in the process, his healing actually gives her back her intact feathered wings. When this winds up being temporary, she instantly regains her skeletal wings, for no apparent reason other than to emphasize that she's turned back from the side of good
Green-Skinned Space Babe: Bleez had blue skin since her first appearance. In the New 52 however, her skin color was white.
- And then Green Lanterns has her back to blue again.
Heel–Face Turn: After Simon Baz showed her she was letting her rage blind her.
It's All About Me: When Atrocitus took her back to Havania after restoring her intelligence, she reveals that she blames her mother for putting her in the path of the Sinestros in the first place, which also means that the red ring wasn't drawn to her because of what the Sinestros did to her family, it was because of what they did to her.
I Want Grandkids: Her mother set her up with suitors against her wishes precisely because she wanted grandchildren.
The Lancer: To Guy Gardner's Red Lanterns.
Ms. Fanservice: It's often been pointed out that she's frequently drawn in ways that emphasize her curvaceous rear end (though it's worth noting that this was most prominent when Ed Benes was drawing her). On top of the focus given to her Hartman Hips, she wears a skintight Leotard of Power, cut high on the hip and paired with thigh-high boots, and the Most Common Superpower. This leads to a particularly amusing moment when she pins down the teenage Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle in an unintentionally suggestive position, at which point his teen boy hormones take over and he gets an erection, creating a very awkward situation for the both of them.
Only a Flesh Wound: "Pain is power for a Red Lantern." Bitch.
Origins Episode: Her backstory was only given a vague mention when the Red Lantern Corps made their debut, but the full details of her trauma at the hands of the Sinestro Corps and her inducting into the Red Lantern Corps would later be given in the second issue of Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps.
Pay Evil unto Evil: When Atrocitus revealed that two of her former potential suitors directed the Sinestro corps member that raped her to her, she killed one and attempted Cruel Mercy with the other one before Atrocitus killed him himself.
Rape as Backstory / Rape as Drama: Specifically, gang-rape and mutilation.
The Smurfette Principle: After Wrath of the First Lantern the Red Lantern Corps' numbers have been drastically reduced and she's the only female Red Lantern left.
So Beautiful, It's a Curse: She was kidnapped and gang-raped because of her beauty.
The Starscream: Began sowing seeds of discontent among the Red Lantern horde once the ongoing series started, which partially resulted in Atrocitus restoring her intelligence. She's made her ambitions much more apparent since then.
Token Good Teammate: Is this to the Red Lanterns after Simon Baz kickstarted her Heel–Face Turn.
Took a Level in Kindness: Becomes a Jerk with a Heart of Gold during the "Atrocities" saga, when interacting with Kara and Rankorr.
- Had this happen in Green Lanterns as well; in fact, she has an outright Heel Realization/My God, What Have I Done? moment when Simon cures her of her Rage, going on about how she had thought that she was "fighting injustice" but had been actually "perpetuating it", and very nearly killing herself in remorse for her past actions. It didn't seem to last at first, but it turns out she was just pretending so Atrocitus wouldn't kill her.
Waterfall Shower: Bleez was fond of taking these on her homeworld before she was abducted by the Sinestro Corps.
Winged Humanoid: Though her current wings may or may not be constructs.
World's Most Beautiful Woman: Though not Earth as said world.

The Butcher

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-Green_Lantern_The_Brightest_Day-61_Cover-2_Teaser_8705.jpg

Homeworld: Varies (originally Earth)

First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol 4 #52 (May 2010)

The Rage Entity—the embodiment of the Red Light, given life and strength from the burning anger of every sentient being. Born from the very first killing not done for survival. Butcher feeds on hatred and fury the way most lifeforms eat food. Anyone he takes as his host will go on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge. When the anger begins to subside, he'll abandon his current host and seek out a new one to ease his insatiable hunger. The Spectre, spirit of God's wrath, sees the Butcher's existence as a perversion of his own divine mission.

Archenemy: The Butcher and the Spectre have a history, with the latter ominously informing the Butcher that he has warned it before that Earth is his domain.
Brutish Bulls: In this case, a being of incarnate rage and violence that takes the form of a huge, demonic bull.
Brutish Character, Brutish Weapon: The Butcher, the embodiment of the Red Light of Rage, uses an axe when he's inhabiting the body of a lifeform capable of wielding it properly.
Bull Seeing Red: Inverted via Visual Pun; his true form resembles a bull, but he is red instead of seeing something red.
Demonic Possession: He seeks out people with a great amount of anger and gives them the power to take revenge.
Emotion Eater: He draws power from anger.
Evil Counterpart: The Spectre sees it as this to himself, and as a perversion of his divine mission.
Names To Run Away From Very Fast: Self-explanatory. He's called The Butcher after all.
Rule of Symbolism: He's implied to have been created by Cain's murder of Abel. One wonders what would happen if it ever met Vandal Savage.
Sentient Cosmic Force: Again, he's "the embodiment of the Red Light, given life and strength from the burning anger of every sentient being."

Dex-Starr

AKA: Dexter

Homeworld: Earth

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

Originally Dexter, an ordinary cat from Earth. A lonely woman took him in as a pet, and they loved each other very much. His owner was murdered, then two street punks put him in a bag and threw it into a river for their sick amusement. His rage attracted a red ring, which he wears on his tail. He loyally joined the Red Lanterns, battled the freaking Anti-Monitor during Blackest Night, and gave Atrocitus a tour of Earth during Brightest Day.

Abandoned Pet in a Box: Part of his backstory. Dexter & his siblings are shown in a box labelled "FREE" on the day of Dexter's adoption. When his adopted owner is killed in a home invasion, Dexter is thrown into the street and nearly drowned by two thugs who throw him into the river — at which point he is recruited into the Red Lanterns and becomes Dex-Starr.
Amazing Technicolor Wildlife: An earth-native Felis catus who has blue fur. Notably, the coloration made everyone assume he was simply a felinoid alien until The Reveal that no, he's from Earth and using this trope.
Animal Species Accent: Dex-Starr tends to stretch out certain letters, especially S's, when he speaks. This mimics the hissing of a cat.
Animal Superheroes: Supervillain, maybe? Hard to say with this group.
Badass Adorable: He's a tiny blue cat. He's also a Lantern, so don't expect that he can't kick your ass.
Badass Boast: "I find one who hurt you. I kill. I good kitty."
Brooklyn Rage: A rare animal example. He is from Brooklyn, after all.
Cats Are Mean: You would be too if you went through what he did. Supposedly, Dex-Starr is the most sadistic and vicious of the Red Lanterns. However, before the Red Lantern Ring found him, he averted the stock "sentient cats only see their owners as manipulable food sources" and genuinely bonded with the woman who adopted him. Even after the Ring attached to him, he still vows to find her killer.
Cute Kitten: Invokes this◊ to get close enough to attack.
The Dragon: To Atrocitus' Big Bad during Guy Gardner's tenure as a Red Lantern.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: He's said to be the most sadistic and vicious of the Red Lanterns, but genuinely loved his previous owner, just as he genuinely loves Atrocitus.
From Nobody to Nightmare: From ordinary housecat to the most rage-filled creature within several lightyears of Earth.
Horrifying the Horror: The other Red Lanterns downright fear him.
Right-Hand Cat: Atrocitus has always been particularly fond of Dex-Starr, even personally stepping in to rescue him, tending to his wounds, and referring to him as a "good kitty". When most of the Red Corps was (very temporarily) killed by Lobo Dex-Starr was the only slain member whom Atrocitus mourned and swore to avenge — all the rest of Lobo's Red Lantern victims were casually brushed off by Atrocitus, who called them "weak" and thus "deserving of death."
Talking Animal: Thanks to the Translator Microbes in the power rings. One of his greatest regrets is that he couldn't talk to his owner, as her final words to him were: "You make my life better you silly cat, and I know if you could talk, you would tell me the same thing."
Undying Loyalty: To Atrocitus. After Guy takes control of the Corps from him, Dex-Starr is the only one who stays by his side, saving his life and aiding him in plotting his revenge. Hell, his love for his owner is why he has enough rage to become a Red Lantern in the first place.
Used to Be a Sweet Kid: An ordinary, if unusually blue-colored, cat until robbers broke in and killed his owner then tried to kill him. Now he's one of the most pissed off creatures in the universe.
Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: After all the shit he's been through, you just want to give him a hug. Or at least you would if he wouldn't melt your face off.
You No Take Candle: His internal monologue at the end of his origin story has him speaking in broken English.

Rankorr

AKA: John Moore

Homeworld: Earth

First Appearance: Red Lanterns #1 (November 2011)

The first human Red Lantern, John always repressed his rage until he witnessed his brother being beaten to death by the police, drawing a Red Power Ring to him. Oddly, he can resist the ring's influence and is struggling with the Ax-Crazy mindset it tries to invoke.

Beyond the Impossible: Unlike other Red Lanterns, he can create constructs due to the fact that he managed to overcome his Unstoppable Rage without dipping into the Blood Ocean. Other Red Lanterns can do the same if they sample his blood, but he's not letting them. In Red Lanterns #21, Dex-Starr laps up some of Rankorr's blood when he wasn't looking and also gains the ability to make constructs.
Emotion Suppression: Unlike almost every other Red Lantern (except Judge Sheko), he managed to overcome his rage without dipping into the Blood Ocean. As a result, he can make constructs.
The Heart: In Guy Gardner's Red Lanterns. Generally, he's the nicest guy in the group, even after most of them Took a Level in Kindness.
Intelligence Equals Isolation: Mocked for being weird at school.
Only Sane Man: Tries to resist the ring's attempts to control his mind. He's notable for being the only Red Lantern to not need a dip in the blood ocean to regain his mind.
Police Brutality: The beating of his brother ignited his rage, making him a candidate for the ring.
Revenge: He kills his grandfather's killer using his new abilities.
Token Human: The comic makes a big deal about the fact that they brought in a human Red Lantern. Rankorr becomes conflicted between his humanity and being a Red Lantern. Eventually, he decides that he is no longer human and embraces the Red Lantern Corps. He no longer is the only human Red Lantern when Guy rejoins the Corps. Having another human around brings back some of his humanity, but it doesn't last as he immediately reverts back to his original Red Lantern self after Guy leaves the Corps and Atrocitus becomes the boss again.

Ratchet

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

Ratchet comes from an alien race which refrains from all kinds of physical contact. He broke this rule which led to his imprisonment; the rage he felt turned him into a Red Lantern.

Body Horror: His form was mutilated by the authorities on his home planet, and the Red Lantern ring did the rest.
Break the Cutie: All he wanted was to be loved.
Character Development: He is the most devout of the Reds and is very loyal to Atrocitus. When Guy Gardner defeats Atrocitus and becomes leader, he starts to resent the Corps, but doesn't leave with Dex-Starr. He finds the new direction Guy is taking them a disgrace to the Red Lantern ways. He is so ashamed, that he actually starts to lose his rage and his ring wants to leave him.
Heroic Sacrifice: In issue 26, he and the other lanterns are captured and are about to be executed by a planet's dictatorship. His friends being in danger gives him the strength and rage to break free and he takes the bullets for his friends. This allows the other lanterns to escape and free the planet from its tyranny so he would not die in vain. His Killed Off for Real status seems to have stuck, too, since unlike Skallox and Zilius Zox, who were also KIA during the conflict between Atrocitus and Guy, Ratchet did not make a miraculous return from the dead.
I Just Want to Have Friends: This is what most likely leads to him becoming a Red Lantern, as his culture makes it religious heresy to physically interact with each other outside of special environment suits.
Starfish Aliens: He looks like a warped cross between an octopus and a brain. Before he was a Red Lantern, he looked more like a humanoid octopus with a visible face.

Skallox

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

Once a hardened criminal, Skallox was betrayed by his employer and cast into an oven to be burned alive. His rage burning like a fire, a red ring smashes through the oven and the rest is history.

The Big Guy: Of Guy Gardner's Red Lanterns. He's a Gun Nut and is often eager to use whatever weapons he has at his disposal.
Body Horror: His face was horribly burned, transforming his face from that of a goat to a goat skull-like face.
Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Atrocitus seems to think so, as Skallox has betrayed him, and then later betrayed Guy. However, he was actually Guy's Double Reverse Quadruple Agent.
From Nobody to Nightmare: Went from being a low-rent thug to a member of the Red Lantern Corps.
Gun Nut: He developed a love for guns in his criminal life. When the Reds find a cache of guns in their newly acquired ship in Red Lanterns #24, he gets excited and can be seen carrying a gun every now and then.
Mook: Was once originally one of these to a crime boss.
Neck Snap: How Atrocitus kills him.
- Retcon: He's suddenly alive again and back to being Atrocitus' toady.

Zilius Zox

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/redlanternzzox_348.jpg

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

Cephalothorax: He's practically all mouth.
Has a Type: In the Supergirl storyline Red Daughter of Krypton, Zox has a type: round females. When Guy Gardner jokingly asks him and his partner Skallox if they're developing a crush on Supergirl, Zox replies: "Meh. Not nearly spherical enough."
Heroic Sacrifice: Sacrifices himself and the Kaalvar to stop a Brainwashed and Crazy Rankorr during the Atrocities.
- Retcon: He has inexplicably returned to life — and also to his original status as Atrocitus's obedient sycophant.
Hidden Depths: Red Lanterns #24 reveals that he has a knack for repairing spaceships. As a kid, he and his dad used to work on rockets. When the Reds acquire a spaceship, he takes joy in fixing it.
Jerkass: Comes off as a huge jerk, even among Red Lanterns.
- Under Guy Gardner's leadership, Zox was actually one of the more amicable members. With Guy's departure from the Corps, Zox has since become a jerk again.
The Smart Guy: Of Guy Gardner's Red Lanterns.

Judge Sheko

First Appearance: Red Lanterns #30 (June 2014)

Badass Bureaucrat: Though she's likely now a former bureaucrat for what she did under the Ring's influence, she is apparently a Lantern powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with Supergirl when she was also empowered by a Red Lantern Ring, and Sheko didn't appear to have any powers beforehand.
Emotion Suppression: She's so skilled with the Red Ring that she suppressed her Unstoppable Rage immediately, a feat no other Red Lantern to that point had accomplished. Even Rankorr, who managed it on his own, had a period of rage.
Judge, Jury, and Executioner: She was a judge initially, becoming a Red Lantern added the executioner part. The first people she killed where the prince and the corrupt bailiff who killed her, then she turned on everyone else for letting things go as far as they did.
My God, What Have I Done?: Sheko is not above holding herself accountable, and kills herself after declaring herself guilty.
Never Mess with Granny: Very old by the time the Ring was drawn to her.
Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Inverted Even when judging the prince of her world for his crimes, she refused to let him get off for what he had done. When the man supposed to execute the prince tried to kill her instead, her fury drew a Red Lantern Ring to her.

Other Red Lanterns

Antipathy

First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol 4 #25 (January 2008)

All There in the Manual: Her name is known from an interview rather than by it appearing in the comics.
Fiery Redhead: She's a Red Lantern with auburn hair. Fiery is an understatement.
Green-Skinned Space Babe: She's pretty humanoid, has blue skin and if she wasn't a Red Lantern, rather attractive.

Fury-6

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

Extra Eyes: Has three eyes, the third of which is in the middle of his forehead.
Lamprey Mouth: Possess a round spiky circle of a mouth.

Guy Gardner

On three separate occasions Guy has donned a red ring. One during Blackest Night and again during the War Of The Green Lanterns. The third time is when he willingly joins the Red Corps to become The Mole and keep them from declaring war on the rebuilding Green Lanterns. See GL - Green Lantern Corps for more.

Becoming the Mask: His undercover stint doesn't last very long after he challenges and beats down Atrocitus to take his ring. He embraces the Red Lantern life, and chooses to stay as one — at least for a time.
- Subverted. For reasons left unexplained, Guy eventually renounces his red ring and returns to the Green Lantern Corps, and Atrocitus regains control of the Red Lanterns and effectively reverts them back to a state where you'd think Guy Gardner's tenure as a Red Lantern never happened.
Big Brother Mentor: Became one to Supergirl, helping her find herself and manage her anger before she decided to renounce her red ring and return to her normal self.
The Leader: Unofficially, but the other Reds saw him that way.

Haggor

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

Extra Eyes: They've got six eyes.

Hal Jordan

During the "Rage of the Red Lanterns" story, after Sinestro murdered Laira despite Hal beginning to talk her out of her enraged state, Hal himself ended up being taken over by a red ring and attacked Sinestro in revenge for her death. Walker was able to calm him out of it and break him free of the ring's effects.

See GL - Green Lantern Corps for more.

Itro

First Appearance: Red Lanterns #25 (January 2014)

Itro is a massive Red Lantern whose species was wiped out by other inhabitants on his planet. His rage attracted a Red Lantern ring, which he used to destroy the race that did the same to his. Afterwards, Atrocitus and Dexx-Star find him, planning to use him in their quest to take back the Red Lantern Corps from Guy Gardner by killing Itro and using his ring to re-power Atrocitus.

Last of His Kind: He's the last of his species after they were exterminated by another race. His species were consuming a vital resource and would have killed the planet if left unchecked. Atrocitus kills him for his ring, so now his species is extinct.
Our Giants Are Bigger: Itro is hundreds of feet tall; standing over skyscrapers.
Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: After decimating the species that drove his to extinction, he just sits down with his head in his hands; not knowing what to do now that his friends and family are all dead.

Laira Omoto

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/laira.jpg

First Appearance: Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #6 (September 1993) (joins the Red Lantern Corps in Green Lantern Vol 4 #28 (April 2008))

A former Green Lantern who was inducted into the Red Lantern Corps.

Heel–Face Door-Slam: Not that she was intentionally evil, but just as Hal begins to snap her out of her rage state, Sinestro shoots her dead.
Killed Off for Real: She doesn't make it.

Mera

Mera was temporarily deputized during Blackest Night.

Nite-Lik

First Appearance: Red Lanterns #1 (November 2011)

Alien Hair: Nite-Lik has a split ridged crest instead of hair.
Canon Immigrant: Was made as a toy first. Nite-Lik's first scheduled comic appearance came and went without him showing up. It took about a year, but Nite-Lik finally showed up in Red Lanterns #1.
Humanoid Aliens: Vaguely humanoid but would certainly never be mistaken for one.
Retcon: Was killed during Blackest Night, but as of the New 52, never seems to have died.

Shaa

First Appearance: Dog Days of Summer (May 2019)

A diminutive alien bear who became a Red Lantern in the Dog Days of Summer one-shot during Dex-Starr's story "Tourist Season", allowing her to get even with the Khundians for hunting down her kind.

Skeletons in the Coat Closet: She wears a Khundian skull on her head after becoming a Red Lantern.

Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/supergirl_as_red_lantern.png

Superman's cousin Supergirl became a Red Lantern in Supergirl #28, with her first appearance with the Reds being in Red Lanterns 28. She has been through some hard times and after a battle with Lobo, her rage reached the point of attracting a ring of red. See "Supergirl (New 52/Rebirth)" in her character page for more info.

Beyond the Impossible: At the end of her Red Daughter of Krypton arc, she managed to destroy her ring and remove it without dying, which up to that point was considered completely impossible due to the ring replacing the blood flow of the heart. The fact that she removed it whilst inside the sun might have had something to do with it.
Morality Pet: Was one to all of the Red Lanterns under Guy's command, but especially to Guy and Bleez.
Sixth Ranger: Of Guy Gardner's Red Lanterns.
Superpower Lottery: She's a Kryptonian who had the powers of a Red Lantern on top. This made her one of the most powerful Lanterns out there for the brief time she held onto the ring. In blind rage, she was able to fight several Lanterns at once, both Red and Green, before being restrained once she was brought to Ysmault.

Veon

Sector: 435

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

Cyclops: Has a single large eye.

Vice

First Appearance: Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns (December 2008)

Ax-Crazy: Even compared to the other Red Lanterns
Retcon: Was killed during the Sciencell riot immediately prior to Blackest Night, but like Veon, does not seem to have died as of the New 52.

James Kim

First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol 4 #61 (February 2011)

A man who lost his daughter to a murderer, he was briefly a host of the Butcher.

Rage Breaking Point: At the execution of his daughter's killer, when the killer sadistically says she liked it, he loses it completely and gets the Butcher's attention.
Redemption Equals Life: He is eventually freed from the Butcher's hold with no ill-effects.

Vladimir Sokov

First Appearance: The New Golden Age #1 (January 2023)

The Red Lantern of the Golden Age, he was a Soviet rival to Alan Scott.

Evil Counterpart: He serves as this to Alan Scott, down to having a similar costume and a daughter named Ruby (countering Scott's own daughter named Jade).
Retcon: He was inserted into the Justice Society of America mythos around 2022.

Characters / GL - Red Lantern Corps
aka: Green Lantern Atrocitus

Notable Red Lanterns

Atrocitus

Bleez

The Butcher

Dex-Starr

Rankorr

Ratchet

Skallox

Zilius Zox

Judge Sheko

Antipathy

Fury-6

Guy Gardner

Haggor

Hal Jordan

Itro

Laira Omoto

Mera

Nite-Lik

Shaa

Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)

Veon

Vice

James Kim

Vladimir Sokov

Alternative Title(s): Green Lantern Atrocitus

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Index

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Characters / GL - Red Lantern Corps aka: Green Lantern Atrocitus

Edit Locked

Notable Red Lanterns

Atrocitus

Bleez

The Butcher

Dex-Starr

Rankorr

Ratchet

Skallox

Zilius Zox

Judge Sheko

Antipathy

Fury-6

Guy Gardner

Haggor

Hal Jordan

Itro

Laira Omoto

Mera

Nite-Lik

Shaa

Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)

Veon

Vice

James Kim

Vladimir Sokov

Alternative Title(s): Green Lantern Atrocitus

Previous

Index

Next

Characters / GL - Red Lantern Corps
aka: Green Lantern Atrocitus