Oa
Encyclopedia
Oa is a fictional planet that lies at the center of the DC Comics
universe
. Since its inception, Oa has been the planetary citadel of the Guardians of the Universe
and the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps
. It first appeared in Green Lantern vol 1 #1, when the Guardians summoned Hal's 'energy duplicate'
so they could hear of his origin.
. The Guardians administer the Green Lantern Corps
, a group of powerful universal police officers equipped by the Guardians with green-colored power rings—plus green lanterns with which to charge the rings. According to the story "Heart of a Star" in the Sandman: Endless Nights graphic novel, Oa's star is called Sto-Oa (the Light of Oa) by the children of the planet's inhabitants. Its location has been firmly established by numerous references in Green Lantern
comics over the years. It was formerly the centre of the Universe until the events of Infinite Crisis.
Oa's history is not clear; according to some stories, the Guardians originated on a planet called Maltus. These evolved Maltusians later moved to Oa and named themselves Oans. Oa became a convenient base of operations. Other stories had the Oans living there from the beginning.
Oa appears as a desert-like, lifeless planet. The main feature is the Guardian's city. Green Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan
, the Green Lantern of sector 2814 (i.e., Earth), under the influence of the evil entity Parallax
, kills all but one of the Guardians and most of the Corps before draining Oa's Central Power Battery of its energy. During the Circle of Fire
event, what remains of the planet served as a base of operations for the villain Oblivion.
The planet is reformed sometime later by Jordan's old friend and associate Tom "Pie-Face" Kalmaku in the graphic novel Legacy: The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan. The Central Power Battery is later recharged and the Guardians resurrected shortly thereafter by Kyle Rayner after he spends some time as the near-omnipotent "Ion
".
After attacks by Superboy-Prime
and the Spider Guild, the Guardians fortify Oa by creating a planetwide armor and defensive system to prevent attacks. The full capability of the new systems are still unknown. They were not, however, enough to prevent an assault by the Sinestro Corps
, which resulted in the deaths of many Green Lanterns. Afterward, the Corps doubled its defenses. However, a rogue Guardian, Scar
, weakened its defenses for an attack from the Black Lantern Corps.
It is revealed in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds that Sodam Yat
is the last Guardian of the Universe in the 31st century, while Rond Vidar
is the last remaining Green Lantern until he is killed by Superboy-Prime's Legion of Super-Villains
. Oa lies mostly in ruins, the power battery cracked, and the rings of the Corps lie in a pile, unable to locate new bearers due to the apparent death of Mogo
. Statues of legacy Green Lantern Corps, including Hal Jordan
, Guy Gardner
, John Stewart
, Kyle Rayner
, Arisia
, and Ch'p
, line the hall where the Guardians formerly met.
used Jordan's ring to rebuild Oa, Kyle Rayner
used his power as Ion
to resurrect the Guardians. The book of Oa is now restored.
The Forbidden Chapter of the Book tells the prophecy of the Blackest Night, the final destruction of the Green Lantern Corps at the hands of their greatest enemies as it was told to Abin Sur
by the demons of Ysmault.
Upon recruitment, a Green Lantern is expected to uphold certain principles of his/her/its duty. These principles include:
The book of Oa has been designated off-limits after being rewritten by the Guardians of the Universe to include ten new laws. Only the first four have been revealed:
When the new laws are written, the book is revealed to be written in Interlac
, which is the galactic universal language used by the 30th and 31st Century United Planets
and Legion of Super-Heroes
.
To enforce these principles, the Guardians closely monitor the activities of the Lanterns. If they feel a violation of Corps regulations occurred, they will summon the offender to Oa and hold a trial in which the charges are read and the Lantern is allowed to explain his/her/its actions. If the Guardians are not satisfied by the explanation, they have a number of disciplinary options which include:
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. Since its inception, Oa has been the planetary citadel of the Guardians of the Universe
Guardians of the Universe
The Guardians of the Universe, alternatively known as the Guardians or Oans are a fictional extraterrestrial race in the DC Comics universe. They first appeared in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #1 , and were created by John Broome and Gil Kane. Here they do not reveal their existence to Hal, bringing his...
and the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern Corps
The Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
. It first appeared in Green Lantern vol 1 #1, when the Guardians summoned Hal's 'energy duplicate'
Astral projection
Astral projection is an interpretation of out-of-body experience that assumes the existence of an "astral body" separate from the physical body and capable of traveling outside it...
so they could hear of his origin.
History
One of the oldest planets in the universe, Oa serves as the home and headquarters for a race of blue-skinned powerful humanoids who have dubbed themselves the Guardians of the UniverseGuardians of the Universe
The Guardians of the Universe, alternatively known as the Guardians or Oans are a fictional extraterrestrial race in the DC Comics universe. They first appeared in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #1 , and were created by John Broome and Gil Kane. Here they do not reveal their existence to Hal, bringing his...
. The Guardians administer the Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern Corps
The Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
, a group of powerful universal police officers equipped by the Guardians with green-colored power rings—plus green lanterns with which to charge the rings. According to the story "Heart of a Star" in the Sandman: Endless Nights graphic novel, Oa's star is called Sto-Oa (the Light of Oa) by the children of the planet's inhabitants. Its location has been firmly established by numerous references in Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
comics over the years. It was formerly the centre of the Universe until the events of Infinite Crisis.
Oa's history is not clear; according to some stories, the Guardians originated on a planet called Maltus. These evolved Maltusians later moved to Oa and named themselves Oans. Oa became a convenient base of operations. Other stories had the Oans living there from the beginning.
Oa appears as a desert-like, lifeless planet. The main feature is the Guardian's city. Green Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
, the Green Lantern of sector 2814 (i.e., Earth), under the influence of the evil entity Parallax
Parallax (comics)
Parallax is a fictional comic book supervillain in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks for Green Lantern vol...
, kills all but one of the Guardians and most of the Corps before draining Oa's Central Power Battery of its energy. During the Circle of Fire
Green Lantern: Circle of Fire
"Circle of Fire" is a story arc that ran through a two-issue, self titled comic book mini-series and five one shot comics starring Green Lantern Kyle Rayner that was published by DC Comics in October 2000....
event, what remains of the planet served as a base of operations for the villain Oblivion.
The planet is reformed sometime later by Jordan's old friend and associate Tom "Pie-Face" Kalmaku in the graphic novel Legacy: The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan. The Central Power Battery is later recharged and the Guardians resurrected shortly thereafter by Kyle Rayner after he spends some time as the near-omnipotent "Ion
Ion (comics)
Ion is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. Created by writer Judd Winick and artist Dale Eaglesham for Green Lantern vol. 3 #142, Ion was devised as the new superhero identity for Green Lantern protagonist Kyle Rayner. It was later revealed to be able to form mutualism with a host,...
".
After attacks by Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime, or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain, and one of several alternate Supermen. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 , and was created by Elliot S...
and the Spider Guild, the Guardians fortify Oa by creating a planetwide armor and defensive system to prevent attacks. The full capability of the new systems are still unknown. They were not, however, enough to prevent an assault by the Sinestro Corps
Sinestro Corps
The Sinestro Corps is a group of fictional characters, a villainous analogue to the Green Lantern Corps in the DC Universe. It is led by the supervillain Thaal Sinestro.-Before the Corps:...
, which resulted in the deaths of many Green Lanterns. Afterward, the Corps doubled its defenses. However, a rogue Guardian, Scar
Scar (comics)
Scar is a supervillain in the . She first appeared as an unnamed Guardian of the Universe in Green Lantern #25, and was first named in the February 2009 Origins and Omens backup stories.-Background:...
, weakened its defenses for an attack from the Black Lantern Corps.
It is revealed in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds that Sodam Yat
Sodam Yat
Sodam Yat is a fictional character, an extraterrestrial superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2 , and was created by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill...
is the last Guardian of the Universe in the 31st century, while Rond Vidar
Rond Vidar
Rond Vidar is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Adventure Comics #349 , and was created by Jim Shooter, Mort Weisinger and Curt Swan.-Fictional character biography:...
is the last remaining Green Lantern until he is killed by Superboy-Prime's Legion of Super-Villains
Legion of Super-Villains
The Legion of Super-Villains is a team of fictional supervillains that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. They are adversaries of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future...
. Oa lies mostly in ruins, the power battery cracked, and the rings of the Corps lie in a pile, unable to locate new bearers due to the apparent death of Mogo
Mogo
Mogo is a fictional character and planet in the DC Universe, a member of the Green Lantern Corps. It first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2 #188 , in a story titled "Mogo Doesn't Socialize." Mogo was created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons....
. Statues of legacy Green Lantern Corps, including Hal Jordan
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
, Guy Gardner
Guy Gardner (comics)
Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern...
, John Stewart
John Stewart (comics)
John Stewart is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2, #87 , and was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams.-Publication history:...
, Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
, Arisia
Arisia (comics)
Arisia Rrab is a fictional character, a superhero featured in comic books published by DC Comics. Arisia is a humanoid alien with golden-yellow skin, hair and eyes, and has pointed, elven ears....
, and Ch'p
Ch'p
Ch'p is a fictional character, a member of the Green Lantern Corps in the . Like all H'lvenites, he resembled a somewhat anthropomorphic combination between a squirrel and a chipmunk. He was created by Paul Kupperberg and Don Newton....
, line the hall where the Guardians formerly met.
Green Lanterns Corps Headquarters
- Dining Hall: The dining hall can accommodate any Green Lantern's nutritional needs. The executive chef, Greet, specializes in replicating dishes from across the universe. He, unfortunately, has trouble replicating the vast number of foods from Earth.
- The Foundry: forge of the Green Lantern rings and the Green Lantern battery. It is underground about two miles from the Central Power Battery and is guarded by an alien creature with old creations of the Guardians.
- Hall of Great Service: housing the massive Book of Oa - the corps lawbook and bible - the hall of great service is a library of the stories and deeds of the finest Green Lanterns of all time. Like his father before him, Tomar-TuTomar-TuTomar-Tu is a fictional character, a Green Lantern featured in comic books published by DC Comics. He is a tall, well-muscled humanoid alien with reddish-orange skin and a partially bald head. Other distinguishing features include a fish fin running down the center of his head, lupine ears and a ...
recently took the position of archivist superior, filing every tale as it comes in. - Hazard Simulation Facility: All rookie Green Lanterns endure a series of tests to determine their viability in the field. The hazard simulation facility allows for safe, non-lethal training scenarios to be enacted.
- Meeting Hall: Lanterns receive their briefings and assignments in the central meeting hall.
- Memorial Hall: A memorial erected to Green Lanterns who lost their lives in the line of duty. A Green Lantern named Morro, and his pet dratures, are its cryptkeepers.
- Guy's Place: A new restaurantRestaurantA restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
owned by Guy GardnerGuy Gardner (comics)Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern...
, serving Earth's American fast foodFast foodFast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
s, dinnerDinnerDinner is usually the name of the main meal of the day. Depending upon culture, dinner may be the second, third or fourth meal of the day. Originally, though, it referred to the first meal of the day, eaten around noon, and is still occasionally used for a noontime meal, if it is a large or main...
s, and both non-alcoholic and alcoholAlcoholIn chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
ic beverages. - The Sciencells: The sciencells were constructed to contain the most ruthless criminals in the universe. They currently hold such prisoners as Lyssa DrakLyssa DrakLyssa Drak is a fictional alien supervillainess published by DC Comics. First appearing in Green Lantern vol. 4 #18 , she was created by Geoff Johns and Dave Gibbons.-Fictional character biography:...
, Evil StarEvil Star-Guy Pompton:Guy Pompton, owner of Ace Movie Rental Agency and a crime lord, dons a costumed identity in 1948 to stop a movie studio from completing a film using a script that will expose his criminal activities...
, Igneous Man, GrayvenGrayvenGrayven is a fictional deity and supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern v3 #74, , and was created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks.-Fictional character biography:...
, and Alexander Nero. Superboy-PrimeSuperboy-PrimeSuperboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime, or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain, and one of several alternate Supermen. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 , and was created by Elliot S...
was the only inmate who wasn't imprisoned in a sciencell. The Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps sent him to a quantum containment field, surrounded by a red Sun-Eater and guarded by fifty Green Lanterns. The Green Lantern Voz acts as warden of the sciencells. No inmate has ever been rehabilitated successfully. - Sector Houses: These safe houses allow Lanterns to hold criminals as they await escort back to the Oan sciencells. Limited recreational facilities are available to accommodate Green Lanterns in their travels.
Book of Oa
After Thomas KalmakuThomas Kalmaku
Thomas Kalmaku is a fictional character, a supporting character associated with Green Lantern in comic books published by DC Comics. He was created by writer John Broome and penciler Gil Kane.-Fictional character biography:...
used Jordan's ring to rebuild Oa, Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
used his power as Ion
Ion (comics)
Ion is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. Created by writer Judd Winick and artist Dale Eaglesham for Green Lantern vol. 3 #142, Ion was devised as the new superhero identity for Green Lantern protagonist Kyle Rayner. It was later revealed to be able to form mutualism with a host,...
to resurrect the Guardians. The book of Oa is now restored.
The Forbidden Chapter of the Book tells the prophecy of the Blackest Night, the final destruction of the Green Lantern Corps at the hands of their greatest enemies as it was told to Abin Sur
Abin Sur
Abin Sur is a fictional character and a superhero from the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Showcase #22 : "SOS Green Lantern". He was a member of the Green Lantern Corps and is best known as the predecessor of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, whom Abin Sur's power ring chose as his replacement...
by the demons of Ysmault.
Upon recruitment, a Green Lantern is expected to uphold certain principles of his/her/its duty. These principles include:
- The protection of life and liberty within the assigned sector.
- Following the orders of the Guardians without question.
- Noninterference with a planet's culture, political structure, or its population's collective will.
- Acting within local laws and obeying the local authority within reason. (Presumably, The Guardians' orders can overrule this when necessary).
- Taking no action against anyone or anything until they are proven to be a threat against life and liberty.
- Avoiding the use of equipment, resources or authority of The Corps for personal gain.
- Showing respect for and cooperating with other members of the Corps and the Guardians.
- Showing respect for life which includes restraint of force unless there is no reasonable alternative.
- Giving top priority to the greatest danger in the assigned sector.
- Upholding the honor of the Corps.
The book of Oa has been designated off-limits after being rewritten by the Guardians of the Universe to include ten new laws. Only the first four have been revealed:
- Lethal force is authorized to be used against the Sinestro Corps.
- Lethal force is authorized against all enemies of the Green Lantern Corps.
- Physical relationships and love between Green Lanterns is forbidden within the Corps. This law is later repealed and relationships between Green Lanterns is allowed following the Blackest Night event.
- The Vega System is no longer outside of Green Lantern Corps' jurisdiction.
When the new laws are written, the book is revealed to be written in Interlac
Interlac
In the DC Comics fictional universe, Interlac is the designated communication language of the 30th century United Planets.In its basic form it is a simple one-to-one substitution cipher. The Interlac alphabet corresponds perfectly to the twenty-six letters of the Latin alphabet and the numbering...
, which is the galactic universal language used by the 30th and 31st Century United Planets
United Planets
In the , the United Planets is a fictional governing body, traditionally depicted as active in the 30th and 31st century.-History of the published versions of the United Planets:...
and Legion of Super-Heroes
Legion of Super-Heroes
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
.
To enforce these principles, the Guardians closely monitor the activities of the Lanterns. If they feel a violation of Corps regulations occurred, they will summon the offender to Oa and hold a trial in which the charges are read and the Lantern is allowed to explain his/her/its actions. If the Guardians are not satisfied by the explanation, they have a number of disciplinary options which include:
- Probation
- Personal supervision by the Guardians on Oa
- Temporary exile from the Lantern's homeworld
- Ritual Trial of Endurance (a Lantern must attempt a dangerous passage through the Anti-Matter Universe)
- Expulsion from the Corps
- Prime Duty (when Superboy-Prime was an Oan prisoner, guard duty was used for punishment)