The Green Lantern Corps has at least 7,200 members! It would be easy to be just one among many, living in the shadows of brighter stars like Hal Jordan or Kyle Rayner. Despite initially being forced to accept the famous ring and join the Corps, Jessica Cruz quickly made a name for herself with DC Comics readers.
For her co-creator Geoff Johns, Jessica Cruz is all “about fear.” In a Comic Book Resources interview, he explained that her character was about “a lot of emotional fears and someone dealing with crippling anxiety, depression, and worry. That was a totally different type of fear to tackle.” Jessica Cruz embodied this, starting with the ring as a curse—from Earth-3’s Power Ring—and eventually overcoming her own fears and personal struggles to earn a Green Lantern ring. Johns felt it was “a compelling story and a very different one than the other Lanterns.”
Jessica Cruz wasn’t the most willing member of the Green Lantern Corps, but she has left her mark, becoming an inspiration to readers facing anxiety. Like many DC superheroes and fellow ring-bearers, her journey is full of challenges, obstacles, and the determination to face her fears.
Discover now our Jessica Cruz reading order, guiding you through the essential comics and story arcs featuring the first female human Green Lantern!
Jessica Cruz Comics to Read
Jessica Cruz New 52 Comics
Created by writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver, Jessica Cruz debuted during the New 52 era. She is first mentioned by name and partially seen (one hand) in Green Lantern (Vol. 5) #20 before making a full cameo in Justice League (Vol. 2) #30, where she faces the ring that chose her. Her first full appearance follows in Justice League (Vol. 2) #31, where her story truly begins. Jessica Cruz is chosen by the Ring of Volthoom, which forces itself onto her, setting her on a journey to eventually become an official member of the Green Lantern Corps!
- Green Lantern (Vol.5) #20 (first cameo)
Collected in Green Lantern: The End - Justice League Vol. 6: Injustice League
Collects Justice League (vol. 2) #30–39 - Justice League Vol. 7: The Darkseid War Part 1
Collects Justice League (vol. 2) #40–44 and a sneak peek from Divergence - Justice League Vol. 8: The Darkseid War Part 2
Collects Justice League (vol. 2) #45–50, Justice League: Darkseid War #1
Jessica Cruz Rebirth Comics
After the Darkseid War, Jessica Cruz is now officially a member of the Green Lantern Corps and is forced to work with Simon Baz, another new Earth Green Lantern. By order of Hal Jordan, the duo also joins the Justice League where they have a supporting role.
- Green Lanterns Vol. 1: Rage Planet
Collects Green Lanterns: Rebirth #1 and Green Lanterns #1-6. - Justice League Vol. 1: The Extinction Machine
Collects Justice League: Rebirth #1, Justice League (vol. 3) #1–5 - Green Lanterns Vol. 2: The Phantom Lantern
Collects Green Lanterns #7-14 - Secrets of Sinister House #1 (story “Fear 101”)
This uncollected short story was published in 2019 for the Halloween season and deals with Jessica’s anxiety at an earlier stage in her career. It seems fitting to put it here, close to a Halloween celebration but you can read it at another time. - Justice League Vol. 2: Outbreak
Collects Justice League (vol. 3) #6–11. Jessica appears in issues #6-7 & #11. - Justice League vs. Suicide Squad
Collects Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1-6, Justice League #12-13 and Suicide Squad #8-10 - Green Lanterns Vol. 3: Polarity
Collects Green Lanterns #15-21. Follows the events of Justice League vs. Suicide Squad. - DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1 (“The Epiphany” story)
Collected in A Very DC Rebirth Holiday
- Justice League Vol. 3: Timeless
Collects Justice League (vol. 3) #14–19 - Justice League Vol. 4: Endless
Collects Justice League (vol. 3) #20–25 - Justice League Vol. 5: Legacy
Collects Justice League (vol. 3) #26–31
- Green Lanterns Vol. 4: The First Ring
Collects Green Lanterns #22-26. - Green Lanterns Vol. 5: Out of Time
Collects Green Lanterns #27-32. - Green Lanterns Vol. 6: A World of Our Own
Collects Green Lanterns #33-39 - Green Lanterns Vol. 7: Superhuman Trafficking
Collects Green Lanterns #40-43 and Annual #1 - Green Lanterns Vol. 8: Ghosts of the Past
Collects Green Lanterns #44-49
- Justice League Vol. 6: The People vs. the Justice League
Collects Justice League (vol. 3) #34–38 - Justice League Vol. 7: Justice Lost
Collects Justice League (vol. 3) #39–43.
- Green Lanterns Vol. 9: Evil’s Might
Collects Green Lanterns #50-57
Jessica Cruz in the DC Universe! The DC Universe is an extension to the Rebirth era, but this is at this time that Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV became the creative force behind the Justice League title that will lead us into Dark Nights: Death Metal (and the end of the Rebirth era).
Following Justice League: No Justice, several teams are created, each one dealing with one specific element. Green Lantern Jessica Cruz is made a member of the Justice League Odyssey, among Starfire, Cyborg, Azrael, and, yes, Darkseid. Their work is to bring order to the newly created space sector known as the Ghost Sector. The first issues are written by Joshua Williamson (with artist Stjepan Sejic), then by Dan Abnett (with art from Will Conrad).
- Mysteries of Love in Space #1
Jessica Cruz appears in the story “Galentine’s Day” - Justice League Odyssey Vol. 1: The Ghost Sector
Collects Justice League Odyssey #1-5 - Justice League Odyssey Vol. 2: Death of the Dark
Collects Justice League Odyssey #6-12. - Justice League Odyssey Vol. 3: The Final Frontier
Collects Justice League Odyssey #13-18. - Justice League Odyssey Vol. 4: Final Frontier
Collects Justice League Odyssey #19-25. Leads directly into Dark Nights: Death Metal.
The Rebirth era come to an end with Dark Nights: Death Metal, the follow-up to Dark Nights: Metal! Jessica Cruz plays a small role in this event, making some small appearances in a few issues of the main event (and two ties-in) as one of the superheroes part of the action!
Before entering a new era, celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Emerald Knight with this collection of stories highlighting the many ring bearers, from Alan Scott to the recent recruits, Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz!
- Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1
Jessica Cruz starts in the story “The Voice” which can be read at any time.
Jessica Cruz Infinite Frontier/Dawn of DC Comics
- Infinite Frontier #0
- Green Lantern Vol. 1: Invictus
Collects Future State: Green Lantern #1-2 and Green Lantern #1-4. - Green Lantern Vol. 2: Horatius
Collects Green Lantern #5-12 and Green Lantern 2021 Annual #1.
When the series concluded, Jessica Cruz just became a Yellow Lantern. Don’t bother searching for a resolution to that arc, there is none, as it was simply completely abandoned by DC Comics, with no follow-up of any sort at the moment. Jessica is back with a piece of green jewellery, in the company of other Emerald Knights, for a few appearances in Dark Crisis, then as a supporting/background character in Blue Beetle: Graduation Day.
This is the Green Lanterns vs. The United Planets! After the events of Dark Crisis, The Guardians of Oa have vanished, leaving the opportunity for the United Planets to seize control of the Green Lantern Corps. They then declared Sector 2814 a liability and reassigned the Lanterns of Earth to different sectors. Soon, it is revealed that the United Planets are making a play for gaining more power in the universe by any means necessary. A war is on the horizon and the resistance is emerging. Jessica Cruz is among the Lanterns taking part in this conflict…
- Green Lantern Vol. 2: Road to War
Collects Green Lantern (vol. 7) #7-12. Jessica Cruz takes center stage in the backup story in #9, then as a supporting player for the rest.
Events collide in the DC Universe when Amanda Waller successfully eliminates metahumans in Absolute Power! While Jessica Cruz is not part of this event (but Hal Jordan is!), this shook the DC Universe and created a new status quo with DC All In!
The story continues…