Created by Mike W. Barr, Len Wein and Joe Staton, the character, who exists as an embodiment of Death, first appeared in Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2 (June 1981).

[8][9] He is also revealed to have orchestrated the miraculous resurrections of several superheroes in the past, which were thought to be a consequence of Brother Blood tampering with life and death.

[10] According to Black Lantern Jean Loring, Nekron was an avatar of darkness who was formed out of the nothingness in existence before the creation of the universe an antithesis to the White Light.

[16] In Brightest Day, Nekron's personality enters and corrupts Swamp Thing before Alec Holland and the elementals (Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Firestorm, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter) defeat him.

He has displayed the ability to raise the dead, kill anyone with a touch, generate black lightning, and grow to a colossal size.