It is the anniversary of Superman's death and all across the country people have chosen this day to pay respect to the courageous heroes who serve them and those that have fallen. From the gravesite of Jonathan Kent in Smallville to Valhalla Cemetery in Metropolis. From the secret burial ground of the Rogues to the final resting place of Arthur Curry (Aquaman) at Amnesty Bay, far away from his rightful underwater tomb in Atlantis. Everyone has lost someone. And they have gathered across the country in memorial. But at each grave site a strange occurrence seems to be taking place. Death seems to have permeated the very ground surrounding their loved ones graves - flowers, grass, even surrounding wildlife are dying around them.

In Space Sector 0, on Oa, the bodies of the fallen Green Lanterns are kept in a stasis crypt of sorts. And it's here that things begin to take a frightening turn for the worse. Within their chambers, the Guardians have finally come to accept that the War of Light has commenced and a great shadow has fallen over the entire Universe as a result. The foretold Blackest Night has finally arrived. Suddenly a wave of Black rings begin to rain down upon Oa, breaking into the crypt area and placing themselves on the bodies of the dead, re-awakening them as Black Lanterns! The Guardians attempt to make a call to arms but it's too late! Their ranks have been infiltrated. The Scarred Guardian leaps into action, attacking her fellow Guardians and ripping out their still beating green hearts - yellow blood spraying everywhere!

Countless Black rings disperse throughout space like flies zooming towards a corpse en route to Earth. But not all those who have fallen are buried in cemeteries. Ever since Nightwing uncovered a body harvesting scheme by Dr. Creighton Kendall, the JLA have been in the process relocating bodies to a new crypt beneath the Hall of Justice. And it's here that Hal Jordan finally sits down to tell his friend Barry Allen of the wave of death and the encroachment of evil that has taken place since he gave his life in the Crisis. The most tragic of which was Sue Dibny, whose death came at the hands of Jean Loring, the wife of the Atom Ray Palmer. And it's Ray's instinct to mourn the woman he once loved on this day of reflection that makes him a veritable pariah.

But Hal's tale is interrupted when he receives a frantic message from Alfred Pennyworth, dutiful butler of Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman. When Bruce died during the Crisis he was buried at the side of his parents at his request. But now it seems someone has desecrated Bruce's grave. Pieces of his skeletal remains are scattered around the gravesite - his skull missing.

Hal and Barry race to Gotham. But when they arrive there they are greeted by none other than their old Justice League colleague, J'onn J'onzz. But it isn't the Martian Manhunter they'd come to know over the years... he's now returned as a Black Lantern! He shouts at them, "You shouldn't be back. You should both be dead."

But if that's true, if the Black Lanterns truly seek to bring death to the DCU, what does that mean for those that have cheated death - returning to life like Hal and Barry had? And moreover, where do the Hawks stand? Hawkman and Hawkgirl? The star-crossed lovers fated to live out countless lifetimes, cursed to die each time they finally accept their love?

Alongside two of his newest Black Lanterns, Ralph and Sue Dibny, Black Hand enters the Stonechat Museum where the Hawks are currently residing. They watch from a distance while the two Earth beings cycle through emotions of both rage and ultimately love during an argument over Carter's refusal to stand by his friend Ray Palmer's side today. Be it fate or destiny, Kendra's acceptance of her love for Carter comes shortly before Sue Dibny's re-animated corpse shoves a spear through her chest. Caught off guard, Carter's helmet is removed and his head bludgeoned by one of his own maces. They die in pools of each other's blood - reaching out for one another while their hearts are ripped from their chests and incinerated by the Dibnys.

Black Hand, still clutching the skull from Bruce Wayne's grave, stands before their corpses and gives them one command, "Rise!"