Kilowog is a member of the Green Lantern Corps who has gone up against terrible threats in the universe and has been a primary instructor for new team members. He is the last surviving member of the Bolovax Vikians, a technologically advanced race whose planet was destroyed during Crisis on Infinite Earths. He has superstrength, speed, durability, and intelligence through his Bolovaxianite heritage, and possesses all the powers of the Green Lantern.

Steve Englehart and Joe Staton created Kilowog, introducing him 40 years ago in Green Lantern #201 (June 1986). Kilowog is a large, imposing figure with a bulldog-like face who worked as a genetic scientist on his planet before it was destroyed. The Guardians of the Universe recruited him for the Green Lantern Corps where he was trained by Ermey. His new trainer took him and other rookies into the field when the Green Lanterns were attacked by Sinestro. Ermey was fatally wounded in the battle and before he died, he told Kilowog that he’d make a great leader.

Kilowog became a full-fledged Green Lantern and spent his time patrolling his sector or on Oa, the Green Lanterns’ home planet. Soon, his skills at teaching new recruits on how to use their rings led to a regular position as the primary training instructor for Green Lantern trainees. He guided newcomers like Hal Jordan, and led the rookie Green Lantern to defeat Legion, the murderer of Hal’s predecessor, Abin Sur.

After Bolovax Vix was decimated in Crisis on Infinite Earths, he retrieved the Bolovaxians’ consciousnesses and protected them inside his ring. The battle with the Anti-Monitor resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Green Lanterns, and the Guardians chose to relocate to another dimension.

Since his sector was gone, Kilowog relocated to Earth with Hal Jordan and others, becoming the Green Lantern Corps of Earth. He lived in the US for a while, then relocated to the Soviet Union because it shared similarities with his home world. While there, he helped create their Rocket Red Brigade before he came to disagree with the communist system.

Kilowog found a planet that could serve as a second Bolovax Vik, so he brought forth the entire 16 billion-being population from his ring. The joy of their return ended in tragedy when Sinestro destroyed the world and permanently killed everyone that Kilowog had saved. The Green Lanterns rallied around Kilowog to help him grieve that loss.

Following the trial of Sinestro and other events, the Green Lantern Corps was dissolved and rings lost their power. Kilowog joined the Justice League since his superstrength was a natural part of his physiology, and he served as the chief mechanic for their security system. When Hal Jordan became Parallax during Emerald Twilight, he killed Kilowog and other Green Lanterns. Surviving team members used arcane forces to find Kilowog’s soul and turn him into the Dark Lantern to fight Hal. Once Hal turned into the Spectre, he asked his old friend Tom Kalmaku to help by using his power ring to rebuild Oa. Kilowog’s vengeful spirit was able to rest before Kyle Rayner and Ganthet resurrected him.