Continuing our journey through the emotional spectrum on the way to Blackest Night #1, releasing this week, we take a look at the Star Sapphires and their potential role in the DC event.
Emotion: Love
Home Planet: Zamaron
Creation: Back in the day of the DCU, when those little blue buggers we've come to know as the Guardians of the Universe decided to prohibit all emotion on Oa, a band of female Oans who found issue in this decree left the planet to pursue the strongest of all emotions, love. Settling on Zamaron, the splinter group discovered the Violet Light, and with it, the Star Sapphire gems, which they used to create the Violet Power Battery and subsequently, the Violet Power Rings. The band of former Oans became Zamarons, who formed an army of those who would bear the Star Sappgire Rings, seemingly for the goal of the conversion of others.
Key Players: Carol Ferris, Fatality, Queen Aga'po, Miri Riam
Powers/Weakness: Much like the Red Light, the Violet Light is on the far end of the emotional spectrum (ROY G BIV, kids!). As Geoff Johns has established, the further from the center of the spectrum a color is, the less control its wielder will have over it. That being the case, the Star Sapphires run the very real risk of being completely consumed by the Violet Light, with their thoughts soon becoming anything but their own. The Violet Rings also provide similar powers to most other corps (constructs, protective auras, flight), but they also have some more interesting capabilities. Perhaps the most unique is that they can create crystals that will trap their enemies on Zamaron and infect their prisoner's Power Ring with Violet energy, eventually converting them to a Star Sapphire. Also, the Violet Power Rings are able to lock onto a love that is in danger and transport the bearer there immediately. Perhaps more intimidating is the fact that much like the Blue Rings can determine what one truly hopes for, the Violet Rings are able to show a person their true love.
Potential Role in Blackest Night: With the entire underlying themes of Blackest Night revolving around emotion, it's not unsafe to say that the Star Sapphires will serve a great purpose. Thus far, we've seen Fatality, former member of the Sinestro Corps, be converted and almost immediately hunt down John Stewart, a major player in the upcoming event. Beyond that, aside from perhaps fear, love seems the most obvious choice for a focal point in regards to the plot of the story. With people returning from the dead, the living's love for the dead is an interesting theme that could potentially be explored here. Not to mention, Hal Jordan's eternal flame Carol Ferris is now a part of this party, so that gives the Star Sapphires a huge jump in importance coming into the story.
