To become a member of DC Comic's Green Lantern Corps, a being must be willful beyond imagining and fearless to a fault. Should they meet that criteria and the time be right, one of the fabled power rings may just find its way to them.

In DC Universe Online, Sony Online Entertainment's super-powered massively multiplayer online role-playing game, gaining the power of the Green Lantern Corps costs $9.99.

The first in a series of paid downloadable content for DC Universe Online that will take the place of traditional MMO expansion packs, Fight for the Light expands the scope of the game beyond Earth and into the far reaches of the universe, for the first time giving players the ability to wield the green light of hope or the horrific yellow of the Sinestro Corps.

Does this mean you can finally become a member of the fabled corps? According to DC Universe Online creative director Jens Andersen, not quite.

During a roundtable interview announcing the upcoming expansion pack for DC Universe Online, Jens Andersen explained that while players would be getting rings and hard light powers, they weren't quite becoming Green or Yellow Lanterns.

"DC Comics doesn't want just anyone getting a power ring," Andersen explained, after I asked whether the iconic Lantern symbols would be available for player costumes. "In the comics, in times of great emergencies, power rings will duplicate themselves, recruiting temporary Lanterns to the cause."

Folks that purchase Fight for the Light will become the recipients of those emergency rings. Heroes and villains will be able to fight alongside the Green Lantern Corps and the Sinestro Corps respectively, either by starting a new level one character or respeccing their existing level 30 characters as light wielders.

"These hard light powers play very differently than the other powers in the game," Andersen told us. Players will be able to generate weapons with their rings, say a chainsaw, performing combo attacks as they would with any other melee attack in game. As they power up they'll unlock new constructs, and will be able to chain combos together. Imagine tearing into an enemy with a chainsaw, switching to a giant power drill to finish the job. Sounds like a Lantern fight to me.

Andersen said the players will become reservists, worthy of wielding the rings but not worthy of the symbol. To that end the two new iconic sets of armor high level players can earn based on Sinestro and Hal Jordan's Green Lantern will feature blank white circles where the symbols should be.

A recently converted Green Lantern fan, I found the news somewhat disappointing. Still, there's plenty of content coming in the pack to make Lantern faithful drool, so perhaps we can overlook this one tiny detail.

It's not just about the powers, but the places as well. For such a far-reaching comic book galaxy, DC Universe Online has stuck rather close to Earth. The introduction of Oa, home of the Green Lantern Corps, marks the game's first foray into the comic continuity's rich interstellar continuity.

On Oa four players will team up to help either quell or stir a riot in the Sciencells, the intergalactic prison of the intergalactic police force. As you can see in image above, big, dumb, and lovable Lantern Guy Gardner will be making an appearance during the jailbreak. He'll likely hit some things. He does that.

Things aren't going so well back on Earth either. Brainiac is attempting to create a pure logic battery that will cancel out all colors of the emotional spectrum, causing heroes and villains alike to flock to S.T.A.R. Labs to try and put a stop to it.

In Coast City, home of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, another color of emotion has flared up: Rage. The Red Lantern Corps led by Atrocitus is tearing up the town, and Hal can't have that. Expect a very bloody time in the old city when four players team up to take the redheads down.

So that makes Green, Yellow, and Red lanterns. Are the rest of DC's corps in the works? "The short answer is yes," said Andersen. "All of these guys are at our disposal to use in the future. Now that we have light powers it's very easy to expand in that direction."

So fans of the Blue Lanterns, Indigo Tribe, Star Sapphires, and all of those other color groups can sit tight, secure in the knowledge that there's a strong chance your favorite characters will be making an appearance.

Me? I'm a traditionalist. Expect to see me hitting bad guys with a giant glowing green fist later this summer, when Fight for the Light hits the PC and PlayStation 3 versions of DC Universe Online for $9.99.

D.C. Universe Online has launched something called the "DCUO Marketplace," and while its shelves are pretty bare, what it could portend down the line is worth paying attention, if not cash.

Currently all you can buy are "Proto Repair-Bots" (tune your gear without visiting a tech in HQ) and extra Vault Tickets. Given that you usually leave the Vault with $13 and a bunch of crap, there's little reason to visit this Marketplace now.

A microtransaction basis for an MMO is, naturally, the way to take that thing to free-to-play. No one's saying that will happen with DCUO, which released in January, but hey, it's already there.

D.C. Universe Online Launches In-Game Market [Massively]

New comics arrive in comics shops every Wednesday. New and old ones hit online comics apps on Wednesdays, too. After a week's break from E3, I'm back to recommend a few, though, I'm sorry to say that this week is light on promising new books.

Here are my recommendations as well as the normal run-down of video game comics. Happy, comics reading!

Comics You Should Consider Buying (from comics shops)

Kirby Genesis #1 The team behind Marvels, writer Kurt Busiek and painter Alex Ross, are joined by artist Jackson Herbert to launch a new series based on concepts created by the great Jack Kirby (creator or co-creator of characters ranging from the Fantastic Four and Captain America to the Demon and Darkseid). Official summary: "A message to space has been heard and answered—but what has come to Earth isn't what anyone would expect! As cosmic visitors begin to be revealed to the world, a deadly battle begins—and three ordinary people are caught up in it. Featuring: Captain Victory, Silver Star, the Glory Knights and more—and this is just the beginning!" (Note: the image atop this post shows one of the limited-edition Alex Ross covers for the first issue.)

Comics With Video Game Connections (new this week in comics shops)

DC Universe Online #10 Official summary: "! Lex Luthor has saved the day and done what Superman couldn't by rescuing the Daily Planet and foiling Brainiac's plans. Now, Superman must answer to the JLA for his dereliction of duty, and it won't be pretty!"

Deus Ex #5 Official summary: "Adam Jensen closes in on his former ally Durant...but who's pulling the psycho cyborg's strings? Is this all a feint to undermine Sarif Industries? If so, who's behind it?"

Gears of War #17 Official summary: "Best-selling author Karen Traviss continues to explore the years prior to 'Emergence Day.' It's the end of boot camp and the start of the real war for new recruits Marcus Fenix and Carlos Santiago. Marcus immediately establishes his reputation as a hard-charging Gear and natural leader, while his father struggles for a breakthrough in his orbital laser research, codenamed Hammer of Dawn."

Level Up (graphic novel) Official summary: "Dennis Ouyang's parents want him to become a doctor. But Dennis just wants to play video games. What happens when fate takes a hand - in the form of four adorable, bossy, and occasionally terrifying angels—to lead Dennis down the straight and narrow path to gastroenterology?"

Sonic Universe #29 Official summary: "Inside Job' Part 1. Step aside Sonic; this arc stars Scourge! The vicious 'Evil Sonic' is under heavy lock-down in Zone Jail. Can it be that the would-be world conqueror has been beaten into submission? And when some unlikely allies arrive, will his ego allow him to accept their help?"

And Over On The iPad/iPhone/Droid…

The ComiXology Comics app has a batch of new comics, as always, including most (but, oddly, not all) of Paul Cornell's recent Action Comics. That run featured Lex Luthor on a quest for power that had him crossing paths with many classic comics villains as well as, shock of shocks, Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Also at ComiXology... Grant Morrison and Jae Lee's four-issue Fantastic Four: 1234 debuts on the store. I haven't read it in a while, but I recall it being smart and a bit melancholy. One of Morrison's overlooked works. Recommended. If you have Green Lantern fever, the first 21 issues of the 1960s comic series that debuted Green Lantern Hal Jordan are also now in the shop, though, in brightest day, beware the price of these old comics … for $2 an issue? They've been reprinted for cheaper. The full 12-issue run of Mark Gruenwald's 1980s Marvel series Squadron Supreme is also on the shop. I have heard good things about that, but also heard this team was simply Marvel's take on the Justice League. Worth reading? You tell me.

Best Comics I Read Last Week

Captain Britain and MI: 13 #1-8 I bought this series on my iPad a while ago, after hearing great things. I knew nothing of Captain Britain (his earlier 80s comics is one of my few Alan Moore blindspots) and had never ready any of the Secret Invasion storyline that the first four issues of this recently-cancelled short-lived series cross over into. Nevertheless, this series has been a fantastic read.

Captain Britain is Britain's top costumed icon. He leads a team of super-heroes on behalf of the British government to battle supernatural threats. Arthurian threats. Evil spirit. That sort of thing. On the Captain's team, at various moments in the serues, is a shape-shifting alien who takes the form of John Lennon, a nurse who can rip bodies apart, a man who may or may not possess a sword that is trying to turn him evil, a super-heroine who is sort of secretly a vampire and Blade, the Wesley-Snipes-famous vampire-hunter who, as soon as he joins the team, stabs the vampire-lady with a wooden stake. Clever, surprising and entirely comprehensible even if you know little of Marvel's lore. The series is delightful (and only 15 issues long).

Tell me what you're reading this week and which great comics I'm missing.

New comics show up in comics stores (and on many of your favorite portable devices) every Wednesday. But which ones are worth buying?

As always, I have some suggestions.

Comics You Should Consider Buying (from comics shops)

Celluloid I wish I could tell you if this $35 book was good. I don't know, because I don't have it. But I have good reason to include it. First, the official summary: "Dave McKean's first original graphic novel since his landmark book Cages brings to bear the astonishing range of illustrative and storytelling skills that have served him so well on his collaborations with Neil Gaiman and elsewhere. Celluloid is a rare 'erotic' graphic novel that is also a genuine work of art." Cages was great, I can attest to that. And anyone who ever admired a cover to Gaiman's Sandman was admiring McKean's art. Can't say I'm excited about this being an "erotic" work of art. That's not exactly what I need in my life, but it is McKean. (It appears that this book is being released this week alongside a few other heavy hitters from publisher Fantagraphics: Congress of The Animals from Jim Woodring and Isle of 100,000 Graves by the always-excellent Jason, who—a note of caution—only draws, but doesn't write this new book.)

Criminal: Last of the Innocent #1 Ed Brubaker writes reliably excellent crime comics. This is the first issue of his newest one.

Doctor Who Classics: Seventh Doctor #5 I know so little about Dr. Who that I can't even tell you the guy's first name (does he have one?). I do know that this reprint series includes a story written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Bryan Hitch, two of the most acclaimed creators in the business. For that alone, I'll buy this.

Fear Itself: The Deep #1 Marvel's big crossover continues this week with a new issue of Fear Itself, but I'm more interested in this spin-off mini-series that involves an underwater attack on the Sub-Mariner that brings the mystic Dr. Strange to his rescue. The selling point for me is writer Cullen Bunn, whose work I recently discovered via a superb Captain America back-up story and a strong run in Superman/Batman that involved the DC icons in a future where the forces of magic reigned. I've not read enough of Bunn to say his work is guaranteed to be good every time, but I've liked all that I've read of his so far.

Flashpoint Batman: Knight of Vengeance A new issue of DC Comics' big crossover series Flashpoint is out today, along with the first of dozens of spin-off issues, most of which will form a batch of three-issues mini-series. All occur in an alternate version of the standard DC universe of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, a version where everyone but the Flash and Booster Gold are somewhat different. Of all the tie-ins released this week, the Batman one is the most deserving of attention, for two reasons: 1) It appears that, in this universe, Batman's alter ego is Bruce Wayne's dad and 2) the creative team of writer Brian Azzarrello and artist Eduardo Risso are among the finest duos working in comics. Readers of 100 Bullets can confirm this.

Comics With Video Game Connections (new this week in comics shops)

DC Universe Online Legends Official summary: "Coping with his failure to save Metropolis and the loss of Lois and the Daily Planet, Superman makes a tactical mistake that could cost the JLA dearly. Plus, a new hero has emerged to save the day on Earth—and his name is Lex Luthor!"

Sonic The Hedgehog #225 Official summary: "One Step Forward...' Sonic's 25th-anniversary celebration begins here with a double-sized gatefold cover! Dr. Eggman's newest creation threatens all of Mobius, forcing Sonic to team up with the evil Ixis Naugus. It's a race against time with a world-changing ending you won't believe! The prelude to 'Genesis' starts here with this anniversary issue!"

And Over On The iPad/iPhone/Droid…

The most interesting new releases on ComiXology's iOS/Android/browser app for downloadable comics this week are: The four-issue run of Nova, a Marvel sci-fi series written by Keith Giffen, whose Marvel sci-fi work was universally strong; another batch of Walt Simonson Thor issues, and the first three issues of Paul Grist's The Weird World of Jack Staff. (Can anyone vouch for Garth Ennis' Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe? Any good?)

Best Comics I Read Last Week

Wolverine #9 by Jason Aaron. This was a standalone issue featuring a very angry Wolverine fighting the shape-shifting Mystique, while they both suffer the interference of a new character named Lord Deathstrike. This new character, a master assassin, is introduced early in the issue when he murders a man in China by aiming a powerful gun that he is holding in Argentina and shooting it into the ground at just the right angle. Ridiculous? It works. It's a great issue that shows why Jason Aaron is one of the best writers of monthly comics today.

About that DC re-boot thing…

The top people at DC Comics announced on Tuesday that they'll be re-numbering their super-hero comics and launching 52 new first-issues in September, as part of a revision of their super-hero universe that will introduces changes big and small across their line. A Kotaku reader asked what I thought of this.

My reaction is mixed. It disappoints me to see a comics publisher use the easy crutch of new first issues to grab readers, and I'm concerned that some of DC's pockets of excellence, Grant Morrison's stunning Batman Inc. run, Scott Snyder and Paul Cornell's strong Detective and Action Comics, and even Paul Levitz's delightful Legion of Super-Heroes will be disrupted unnecessarily. As a fan of those comics I'm unhappy that DC hasn't yet bothered to explain what will happen to them. On the other hand, I'm eager to see fresh talent on DC's books and hope that these re-boots/re-launches/whatever will allow some of comics' better writers to shine. It's impossible to tell, and it's not a guarantee, given DC's inability or unwillingness to keep superb, young writers like Jason Aaron and Nick Spencer from going to Marvel. So here's hoping DC puts deserving talent on its new books (including that old-timer Keith Giffen, who was writing circles around most of his peers in his recently-cancelled Doom Patrol.)

I'm most excited by DC's promise to release new issues of its super-hero comics digitally on the same day they're sold in comics shops, starting this September. Some see it as an insult and possibly an injury to retail shops. I do believe it's the latter. I will probably shift most or all of my DC super-hero comics purchasing to digital. I'll happily to support my local comics shop by purchasing graphic novels and collections of the best stuff I read, but for most monthlies, I would prefer purely digital versions. My home has finite space, space I don't want to over-stuff with comics any more than I want to with CDs or cassette tapes. This is the way things are going.

Tell me what you're reading this week and which great comics I'm missing.

There are new comics in comic books shops every Wednesday, plus new ones on the iPad and other portable devices with nice screens. Some of these comics are about video games, some aren't. I'm here to recommend a few.

Comics You Should Consider Buying (from comics shops)

Rocketeer Adventures #1 Why is the Rocketeer popular? I don't know. Is he even actually popular, or is he just like the Green Hornet, a character who is repeatedly revived because three people think it's a good idea? Well, none of this matters, not when you've got an anthology issue containing stories by MIke Allred, Kurt Busiek, John Cassady and Michael Kaluta, along with a Mike Mignola pin-up. Doesn't matter what the subject matter is. That's something I'd buy.

Flash Omnibus Vol 1 Back when Geoff Johns was first writing the Flash series, back before he brought back Barry Allen for reasons that have yet to have amounted to a great story, he was doing quality Flash comics like these. This $75 volume collects a lot of his work with the Wally West version of the fast-running hero: Flash 164-176, The Flash Our Worlds at War, The Flash: Iron Heights and The Flash Secret Files #3. Official summary: "In this volume, Wally West finds himself without his super speed in a darker, mirror version of Keystone City. Can a powerless Flash defeat Captain Cold and Mirror Master to save the city he loves? Plus, The Flash is shocked to learn that a strange cult is killing all the people he has ever rescued. Featuring art by fan-favorites Ethan Van Sciver, Scott Kolins and more!"

Uncanny X-Force #10 About two months ago, I bought my first X-Force comic ever. It was good, which stunned me, because I thought the X-Force had no reason to exist, let alone put me out $4. This is what I learned: These guys are secret X-Men. Wolverine is their leader. They do dark stuff. OK. And issue #8 was good. Then, last month, I read #9. Not good. Had the world corrected itself and made X-Force irrelevant to my life again? Maybe, but the summary for the new one is intriguing: "A reporter prepares to release photographs of X-Force killing military personnel leaving the squad with one of the hardest choice of their lives, how to deal with her? Nothing can prepare you for the ending, or the ramifications as X-Force are forced to unite with a former servant of Apocalypse! Ramping up to one of the biggest chapters in X-history, and yes, you've heard it before— but nothing will ever be the same." (By the way, this comic is written by Rick Remender. He also wrote Bulletstorm.)

Comics With Video Game Connections (new this week in comics shops)

DC Universe Online Legends #8 Official summary: "Inspired by the best-selling SOE game, the epic series continues! After an epic disaster is inflicted on Metropolis, Superman works to pick up the pieces - literally. But can he overcome his concern over Lois's disappearance? And as Brainiac and Luthor regroup, their plans start to coalesce in a surprising direction as the war for the future begins!"

Deus Ex #4 Official summary: "The danger rises to explosive levels as the psychotic cyborg Durant continues his war against Sarif Industries. With the future of human evolution hanging in the balance, Adam Jensen engages in a relentless hunt for his former friend and current nemesis."

Sonic The Hedgehog Archives, Vol 15 Official summary: "Let the World Tour begin! Dr. Robotnik may still be missing, but that doesn't mean life is easy for Sonic the Hedgehog! It's adventures and mysteries galore as Sonic has his first encounter with the cyborg simian—Monkey Khan! Also featuring the beginning of the epic 'World Tour' saga as Sonic and Tails take off to find the vile wizard Ixis Naugus! You can't pass up on this volume full of first appearances and major turning points for hero and villain alike!"

Sonic Universe #28 Official summary: "Fractured Mirror,' Part Four. The Freedom Fighters have fallen! Now the only one left to save this dark world is Silver the Hedgehog! It's psychic power versus chaos power as our hero from the future goes all-out against the terrifying Enerjak! Don't miss the cataclysmic conclusion to the Silver Saga!"

Star Wars: The Old Republic Volume 2: Threat of Peace Official breathless summary: "A look at the era of Star Wars: The Old Republic, written by one of the writers behind LucasArts and BioWare's wildly anticipated massive multiplayer online game, Threat of Peace unveils a galaxy on the brink of destruction three hundred years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic! For decades, the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire have been at war. The Sith have gained control of the Outer Rim, but their efforts to penetrate the Core Worlds have so far been thwarted. Now, representatives from both sides attempt to negotiate a peace treaty-but deception by the Sith puts the Jedi in an unfortunate position. Collects Star Wars: The Old Republic #1-#27, which appeared originally online at swtor.com."

And Over On The iPad…

The Comics app from Comixology, which works on the iPhone or iPad and on Android and your computer too, lists a new batch of comics each week, some brand-new, some slightly old. There aren't any huge additions to the shop this week, mostly just new issues to strong ongoing work. There are a couple more issues of Grant Morrison's superb Batman & Robin run, the Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips noir issue of Hawkman from 2004, another collection of Invincible (the 13th; I haven't read the series, but I know it's well-liked), more of Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers, more Sandman, more Scalped, more Alan Moore Swamp Thing, more Nick Spencer T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, a whole lot more Peter David Young Justice (was it any good?) and very recent issues of DC and Marvel's big War of the Green Lanterns and Death of Spider-Man stories. Also: Keith Giffen's fun Starlord mini-series is now in the shop, along with a book called Days Missing from Archaia (I don't know that publisher but the Comixology people seem excited to have them on board; I'll let you know how it is in next week's column.)

I should also mention that the Dark House iPad app is now stuffed with comics. They don't make it easy to figure out what's new in a given week, but they do have a lot of books in there, including 42 issues of B.P.R.D., 33 issues of Hellboy, both full Mass Effect mini-series and a whole lot of other comics I haven't read. Someone, tell me what's good in there!