Originally a farmer on an alien planet in Sector 650, Ashel Sabian Formata's wife Tasha was killed by the "Long Teeth," a group of vampires. When Ash was chosen to join the Green Lantern Corps, he hunted them down with the power of the ring. Finally, Ash met his wife's killer. They fought, and the vampire was destroyed by Ash. With all the vampires seemingly eliminated, Ash questioned his need to remain a Green Lantern. Ash later discovered his wife's killers were followers of the cosmic vampire known as Starbreaker and he scoured his sector to eliminate the threat.
The Green Lantern Corps was destroyed due to the actions of the Parallax-controlled Hal Jordan. After Jordan sacrificed his life to reignite the Earth's sun, Ash was one of the few former Lanterns who attended the memorial for Hal Jordan. Ash joined other former Corps members such as Brik, Salakk, and Torquemada at the service for Jordan on the former site of Coast City.
Years later, when the Green Lantern Corps was reborn following Hal Jordan's return and the defeat of Parallax, Ash and a number of veteran Green Lanterns were given back their power rings. As experienced ring wielders, they trained the newest recruits as the Green Lantern Corps grew to 7,200 strong. The lanterns were soon put to the test as they fought to halt the rampage of Superboy-Prime.
One year later, the Green Lantern Corps fought one of its greatest battles as it faced the might of the Sinestro Corps. Ash's exploits in the war have yet to be documented. Following the war, Ash was given a secret mission by one of the Guardians of the Universe. The female Guardian known as Scar, scarred by the touch of the Anti-Monitor, sent Ash to find the corpse of the Anti-Monitor.
The trail led Ash into Sector 666, where he met a fellow Green Lantern. Saarek had also been sent to find the corpse of the Anti-Monitor. They found more than they ever expected on the planet Ryut as they woke Nekron and the Black Lantern Corps.
The details of their deaths have yet to be revealed, but Ash and Saarek were next seen wearing the power rings of the Black Lantern Corps. They accompanied the Black Lantern Central Power Battery to Earth but were ultimately destroyed.
