32 Years Later, DC Undoes Its Worst Green Lantern Death That Received Unholy Backlash

One of DC Comics’ most controversial deaths has been reversed after 32 years. Alexandra DeWitt, whose brutal murder in 1994 became synonymous with the infamous “Women in Refrigerators” trope, has returned in Green Lantern #40. The revelation brings Kyle Rayner’s former girlfriend back into the spotlight decades after her death sparked an enduring debate about the treatment of female characters in superhero comics. But DC hasn’t given Alexandra a conventional second chance. Instead, her resurrection transforms the tragedy that once defined her into something far more dangerous.

DC Resurrects Alexandra DeWitt as the New Black Hand in Green Lantern #40

Credit: DC Comics

Released on October 28, 2026, Green Lantern #40, written by Jeremy Adams with artwork by Scott Godlewski and Vasco Georgiev, reveals Alexandra DeWitt as the new Black Hand. The comic’s reveal panels shared on X explicitly identify Alexandra, confirming that Kyle Rayner’s murdered girlfriend has returned in a supernatural form. Her suffering appears central to the transformation, with the revelation suggesting that her painful history has made her worthy of inheriting the Black Hand identity.

The twist arrives as the “First Light” storyline begins, bringing Kyle back to the Green Lantern Corps amid major changes to its hierarchy. Guy Gardner has become Allsight, while the Alpha Guardians now host powerful Emotional Entities. The Chrome Lanterns, also known as Guardian Lanterns, can channel multiple colors of the Emotional Spectrum. Alexandra’s new identity introduces a dangerous counterweight to those abilities. Black Hand’s powers are associated with death and necromancy, potentially threatening Lanterns whose strength depends on emotional energy.

AIPT’s October 28 review also highlights the arrival of a new Black Hand as a major development. For Kyle, the threat is deeply personal. Alexandra’s murder shaped his earliest days as Green Lantern, and her return could force him to confront a tragedy he has carried for decades. DC had already revisited their relationship in March 2026 through Green Lantern #33, the milestone 600th issue. Its “City of Angels” story, by Adams and V. Ken Marion, explored Kyle’s early relationship with Alexandra.

As SuperHeroHype reported, the story raised questions about whether DC was reconsidering her original fate. Now, Green Lantern #40 confirms her return to the ongoing narrative. However, her resurrection does not establish that the original murder has been erased from continuity.

Why Alexandra DeWitt’s Death Sparked the Infamous Fridging Backlash

Credit: X@DCU Updates

Alexandra DeWitt debuted in Green Lantern #48 in January 1994. As photographer and Kyle Rayner’s girlfriend, she helped him adjust to his unexpected responsibilities as Green Lantern. Her story ended violently in Green Lantern #54, written by Ron Marz. While Kyle was away, Major Force murdered Alexandra and concealed her body inside a refrigerator. Kyle’s subsequent discovery became one of superhero comics’ most infamous scenes.

The controversy extended beyond the brutality. Alexandra’s death primarily served to intensify Kyle’s emotional journey, leaving her with little agency over her own story. In 1999, writer Gail Simone launched the Women in Refrigerators project, documenting a recurring pattern of female characters being killed, injured, or stripped of agency to motivate male superheroes. Alexandra’s murder became the defining example, inspiring the term “fridging,” which later entered mainstream storytelling discussions.

As FandomWire previously explored in its coverage of Green Lantern’s notorious fridging controversy, the term eventually received recognition from Merriam-Webster. The backlash wasn’t simply about a beloved character dying. It concerned how her suffering became a plot device for another character’s development. That history makes DC’s latest decision particularly significant. Alexandra previously appeared as a Black Lantern during Blackest Night, but that return didn’t permanently restore her place in Green Lantern’s ongoing story.

Her transformation into Black Hand offers a different opportunity. Rather than existing solely as Kyle’s tragic memory, she could become an influential character with her own motivations and decisions. However, if her resurrection merely creates another source of suffering for Kyle, DC risks repeating the same narrative mistake that made her original death controversial. Whether DC finally gives her the agency she lacked in 1994 will determine if this resurrection truly does justice to her legacy.

Do you think DC has finally made things right by bringing Alexandra back, or does her new identity repeat the original controversy? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow FandomWire for more DC Comics updates.