Lately there's been a lot of shake ups happening in the New 52 universe. The Justice League are in the midst of the Trinity War, which is leading into Villains Month and Forever Evil. While all this will be affecting most of the heroes on Earth, it turns out there's a lot happening outside of Earth as well.
October will be a busy month for the Green Lantern Corps. We're already saw some crazy things happen in GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #23 (did an entire Corps just get wiped out?). Relic is on a mission to destroy all the Lantern Corps and he's targeting their central power batteries. This could be the meaning behind the name of the mini-event, Lights Out.
The good or bad thing is we can find out a little about what happens after the month long event based on the solicits for November 2013. Normally we try to avoid them but one was pointed out and it re-defines what's going to be happening around Earth in the New 52.
The Green Lantern Corps will no longer be the protectors of Sector 2814.
That means Earth is no longer under their protection. We can only speculate what that must mean. Something happens during Lights Out that causes them to stop being able to protect the sector. It could be either their reputation gets even worse than it is now or, more likely, they are stretched so far after the battle they no longer have the manpower (alien power?) to appoint someone to watch over things. This seems a little odd considering the Green Lantern Corps new leader, Hal Jordan, along with John Stewart and Kyle Rayner are all from Earth. Who knows what will happen with Simon Baz or the new female Earth Lantern he trains.
Who will protect Earth and the entire sector?
You might have noticed one Earth Lantern off. According to the solicit for RED LANTERNS #25, Sector 2814 is now "the sole province of Guy Gardner and the Red Lanterns."
Guy Gardner may have good intentions deep down somewhere. He was supposed to infiltrate the Red Lanterns and operate undercover but trying to contain the power is likely having some ill effects upon him. They may be a force of rage and vengeance against those who wrong the innocent but their methods will definitely be called into question. Some might feel a stronger hand is needed when deadly supervillains are allowed to perform vile acts over and over with little repercussions from the heroes. It would be hard to believe Hal Jordan and the other heroes of Earth will be okay with the Red Lanterns watching over everything.
Will this, in any way, tie into Forever Evil? If we can assume the heroes are still missing, it wouldn't be hard to believe the Red Lanterns could be roaming around in space without anyone taking notice. Which raises another question, would the average citizen of Earth even be aware the Red Lanterns were protecting the sector they were in?
Earth is a little odd in having so many Earth-based Lanterns but whichever Corps was protecting it wouldn't have to zoom down to the planet often, unless they decide to become more proactive to all the problems that originate and are present on Earth. After all, how many of the problems in the DCU actually start off on Earth?
There is also the question of why this is happening. Why isn't the Green Lantern Corps protecting this sector? Are they protecting other sectors? The solicit for GREEN LANTERN #25 says "Hal Jordan makes a controversial decision that will change the mission of the Green Lantern Corps."
Is there a problem with the Central Power Battery? Have they decided enough is enough since so many in the universe now fear or have lost respect for the GL Corps after the Guardians messed things up? We'd assume the GL Corps would reclaim their role eventually but would the Red Lanterns be willing to give it back?
We'll have to wait and see. Perhaps this will lead to another crossover/event in the GL corner of the DCU.