Black Hand

Black Hand — real name William Hand — made his debut in Green Lantern #29 (1964), introduced as a cunning villain with a device capable of siphoning energy from Green Lantern rings. That silver age first appearance is a genuine key issue, representing the earliest roots of a character who would eventually evolve into one of the most cosmically significant threats in DC history. Collectors hunting complete Green Lantern runs know that copy is not easy to track down in high grade, making it a prized addition to any silver age DC collection.

For decades William Hand lingered as a recurring but relatively mid-tier Green Lantern rogue, defined by his obsession with death and darkness. That all changed with Geoff Johns' landmark event Blackest Night (2009), which recontextualized Hand as the literal embodiment of death itself — the avatar of the Black Lantern Corps and a servant of the ancient entity known as the Black Hand. Blackest Night #0 and #1 are must-own issues for collectors, as they mark the full transformation of Hand into a necromantic powerhouse capable of raising the dead as Black Lanterns. The event tie-ins generated an enormous wave of collector interest and remain some of the most sought-after modern DC books.

Black Hand's story took another sharp turn in the New 52 era, where he briefly appeared as a forced inductee of the Indigo Tribe, adding yet another layer to an already complex villain history. His arc across Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, and the various Blackest Night tie-in miniseries gives collectors a wide and rewarding reading trail to follow. His connections to Nekron and the mythology of the emotional spectrum make his appearances feel cosmically weighty in a way few DC villains can match.

For collectors, Black Hand represents exactly the kind of sleeper character that rewards long-term attention. His silver age key is legitimately scarce, his modern story arcs are critically acclaimed, and his role as the anchor villain of Blackest Night ensures lasting relevance in DC collecting circles. Whether you are chasing a high-grade Green Lantern #29 or completing your Blackest Night tie-in run, Black Hand books carry real hobby weight.