Simultaneously, a green-wearing Sinestro and a de-powered Hal Jordan will be the focus of the relaunched Green Lantern by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke. And a brand-new Red Lanterns comic will be kicked off by Peter Milligan and Ed Benes.
As the Corps picks up the pieces after the war, we talked to Bedard about his two issues and what comes next for the ravaged Green Lanterns.
Newsarama: Tony, what does the Aftermath series concentrate on, now that the "War" storyline has ended?
Tony Bedard: As anyone who read that last chapter of "War of the Green Lanterns" can tell you, this storyline has fundamentally shaken up the Corps and delivered some major shocks to the status quo. Mogo is gone, Sinestro has a green ring, and Hal Jordan has been summarily booted off planet Oa and off the Corps! We have major repercussions to deal with in the two-part Aftermath special.
Nrama: How does the change in Hal's status affect the other Earth members of the Corps? Or the Corps itself?
Bedard: Hal is widely regarded as the greatest Green Lantern ever, and every single Green Lantern has to wonder: "if the Guardians dumped him, what might they do to me?" Even the ones who weren't Hal's biggest fans are shaken by this development. In a way, Hal's absence has a more shocking impact than his presence would have.
Nrama: Will the Aftermath series explore the ramifications of Sinestro's new status? How does the Corps react to that?
Bedard: Sinestro's new status is the biggest question mark of all right now. To a man, the Green Lanterns want him dead. Each of them knows someone who fell in the Sinestro Corps War. Each of them knows the man is a tyrant and he cannot be trusted.
But a green ring chose Sinestro, and that's a mystery that must be unraveled. So as the Guardians struggle to understand what this means, the shell-shocked Lanterns worry that he might worm his way back into their good graces, and some of them will do anything to keep that from happening.
And, of course, there's the whole question of what Sinestro thinks about this. As horrified as the other Lanterns are, he may be even more shocked by that green ring on his hand.
Nrama: Will you be exploring Sinestro's response? Or are these two issues more about the Corps?
Bedard: We do get into Sinestro's response, and the profound questions that arise with a green ring on his hand, but "Aftermath" is also about the other rifts and strained relationships in the Corps.
Nobody's very thrilled with John Stewart for taking the shot that killed Lantern Mogo. There's also a whole load of new Lanterns recruited by Mogo with no regard for their fitness to serve. Kyle Rayner and Soranik Natu have major issue to resolve if they want to save their relationship. Oa is half-ruined (again!) and everyone, Lantern and Guardian alike, is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after having been either possessed by ring entities or mind-controlled by Krona.
The Corps is in very rough shape right now and there's no telling if they can keep it together.
Nrama: Will we see more of the pieces put into place that were touched upon in the "War" story? Is there any element in particular you're exploring in more detail?
Bedard: Everyone's reaction to Sinestro is probably topic number one. Especially for Sinestro's daughter, Soranik Natu. Every minute that Sinestro is on Oa is torment for her, and she may have to finally do something about it.
There are also the Lanterns who feel like Mogo should be avenged. The poor planet-Lantern is now in pieces, orbiting Oa like a macabre asteroid belt, an ever-present reminder of what they've lost in the war.
And Ganthet is struggling with the loss of his right hand, along with his fellow Guardians' ever more erratic behavior.
Nrama: Mogo's death had larger ramifications though, didn't it? What did his death represent, and how will you be portraying the challenge of replacing his role?
Bedard: Mogo was the moral compass that helped guide power rings to their new wearers. He may be irreplaceable, and with him gone, the whole candidate selection process is in question. Exhibit A: Sinestro. Mogo's death will have further-reaching implications than you might think, and it is a major subject in "Aftermath."
Nrama: We now know who stars in Green Lantern #1 in September, but your new series,Green Lantern: New Guardians, is still a bit of a mystery. Will "Aftermath" set up Kyle's New Guardians team?
Bedard: When Green Lantern: New Guardians launches in September, everything you need to know will be there from issue #1, but the underlying question of whether the Guardians are fit to command the Corps is one that runs through "Aftermath" and will be a major component in New Guardians.
Nrama: Fans have more information now about the members of Kyle's New Guardiansteam, who are shown in full color on issue #2's cover. Is there anything else you can tell fans about the other members who work with Kyle Rayner?
Bedard: I think you can guess a lot from the covers that have been released, but I can say this is not the same lineup that Hal fought alongside. I actually want to remain mum beyond that — it's more fun to wait and see exactly why Kyle pulls together the team he ends up with.
Nrama: How will these "Aftermath" issues set up the Red Lantern series? Or any of the other new elements in September?
Bedard: There are certain moments in "Aftermath" that feed into Red Lanterns, Green Lantern, and Green Lantern Corps, but this is more about wrapping up "War of the Green Lanterns" and dealing with the emotional damage of that conflict.
Nrama: Then to wrap up, Tony, is there anything else you want to tell fans about "Aftermath" or what comes after?
Bedard: I think Geoff put such a great twist into the last chapter of "War of the Green Lanterns" that anyone who read it will want to pick up Aftermath. There are too many huge plot threads to follow, and you won't be disappointed when you see just how the many members of the Green Lantern Corps react to the worst conflict they've ever faced.
