HBO's "Lanterns" is charting a unique course for the iconic DC hero, focusing on a grounded, buddy-cop mystery in Rushville, Nebraska, rather than immediate superhero spectacle. However, episode two begins to unravel the deep mythology of the Green Lantern Corps, introducing two pivotal villains from the comics: the Manhunters and Sinestro.
The Origins of the Manhunters
The episode sees trainee John Stewart abducted by aliens seeking a "Manhunter," an entity described as one of the most dangerous beings ever created. These Manhunters are revealed to be synthetic beings, capable of building new bodies and infiltrating societies, with a history of wiping out entire planets in their quest for a twisted form of justice. Antaan, the alien leader, shares the harrowing memory of a Manhunter-induced holocaust on his home world, a tragedy that indirectly led to Hal Jordan becoming Earth's Green Lantern after the presumed death of Abin Sur during a prisoner transfer. Antaan tasks John with finding the Manhunter, now in human form, within 48 hours, threatening to destroy Rushville if he fails.
The Manhunters predate the Green Lantern Corps itself. They were the first attempt by the Guardians of the Universe, an ancient alien species from Oa, to establish universal order. Programmed to combat evil, these androids eventually developed their own consciousness, turning against their creators and deeming organic life, with its emotions, as the source of all crime. While the Guardians ultimately destroyed most of them, some Manhunters survived by going into hiding.
Sinestro's Troubled Past
Meanwhile, Hal Jordan, recovering from an injury, is revealed to have spoken Sinestro's name in his sleep. Sinestro, a former Green Lantern, is introduced as a complex figure who attempted a coup against the Guardians, resulting in the death of one of them before Hal intervened. In the comics, Sinestro was once a celebrated Green Lantern, second only to Hal, but his increasingly authoritarian methods led to his banishment and the formation of his own fear-powered Sinestro Corps.
It is implied that Sinestro was Hal's mentor, and his betrayal significantly impacted Hal's current cynical outlook. This past trauma likely explains Hal's reluctance to involve the Guardians and his diminished faith in the Green Lantern oath. The episode concludes with Hal visiting a highly secure prison to consult with Sinestro about the Manhunter threat. Sinestro ominously labels the Manhunters as the "second greatest threat" Hal faces, hinting that the Guardians may not be the benevolent arbiters they present themselves to be. The introduction of these classic villains sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the Green Lantern universe's conflicts and moral complexities in future episodes.