As a self-proclaimed comic book aficionado, I’ve spent countless hours diving into the captivating world of superheroes and their tales. My collection boasts a long box filled with cherished X-Men comics, nestled under my bed, and I’ve never shied away from sharing my fiery opinions on Nightwing’s character. Yet, despite this passion, last night’s fresh episode of Lanterns on HBO left me utterly perplexed.
This confusion stemmed from an unexpected blind spot revealed during Lanterns Episode 2. Apparently, my otherwise comprehensive understanding of superhero lore has a glaring gap: the enigmatic Manhunters. It turns out I know next to nothing about these elusive adversaries.
**Spoilers for Lanterns Episode 2, now streaming on HBO Max**
In this gripping second episode of Lanterns, viewers witness a group of aliens, cleverly disguised as humans, abducting John Stewart (played by Aaron Pierre). Their nefarious plan involves using an intricate cosmic device to force John into reliving the excruciating genocide of their home planet. But that’s not all—they demand that he locate the elusive Manhunter hiding undercover in Rushville, Nebraska. Should he fail in this task, the entire town faces annihilation.
Though bound by a vow of secrecy, John confides in the current Green Lantern, Hal Jordan (portrayed by Kyle Chandler), about the looming threat of the Manhunter. Determined to uncover the truth, Hal embarks on an interstellar journey to Oa, the Guardians’ home planet. There, he daringly infiltrates a space prison to consult with his former mentor, Sinestro (portrayed by Ulrich Thomsen), seeking vital information on these notorious enemies.
Cut to me, sitting on my sofa, watching all this go down, and thinking the stupidest question imaginable: is Martian Manhunter a Manhunter?
Like, this is DC Comics, you know? Martian Manhunter, aka J’onn J’onzz, is in the Justice League. But Martian Manhunter is…from Mars? But he’s a Manhunter, too? And he’s been known to shapeshift???
Finding myself utterly confused, I did the only sensible thing and messaged the Green Lantern expert in my life: Decider contributor (and Lanterns recapper) Sean T. Collins:
That cleared up, I find myself realizing that other people out there might be confused about Manhunters in Lanterns. With that in mind, here are four key questions I had about Manhunters while watching Lanterns this week…and the answers my diligent research provided.
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What Are Manhunters in Lanterns?
Manhunters are a race of superpowers robots who can shapeshift into any form. They were the Guardians of the Universe’s first stab at creating an intergalactic police force to protect and defend the innocent all over the universe. However, as they grew in power, they began to hurt more than they helped.
All of the Manhunters are supposed to be dead, but it seems that one has survived and they are hiding in Rushville.
Again, Manhunters are not nice, they are not our friends, and they are, in the words of Sean T. Collins, “bad news.”
Is Martian Manhunter a Manhunter in Lanterns?
No! Martian Manhunter is a Martian. A super-powered, shape-shifting Martian, who simply goes by the moniker, “Martian Manhunter.”
Also Martian Manhunter isn’t even in Lanterns! But if he were in Lanterns, Martian Manhunter would be our friend. I’m pretty sure of it!
Who is the Manhunter in Lanterns?
Well, well, well… That’s the big mystery, isn’t it? Supposing there’s a Manhunter hiding in plain sight in Rushville, it could be anyone from Jason Ritter’s chipper Billy Macon to his particularly paranoid father, William (Garret Dillahunt).
We don’t know who the Manhunter is in Lanterns, so feel free to drop your theories in the comments!
Is Michael Mann’s Manhunter on Streaming?
Yes! In fact, Michael Mann’s Manhunter is currently streaming on Prime Video in the United States.
Am I just thinking about the movie Manhunter because Sean pointed out how Sinestro’s introduction at the end of Lanterns Episode 2 mirrors Hannibal Lekter’s that film in his Lanterns recap? Yes, I am. But I’m also always thinking about Manhunter. Great picture! Michael Mann rules. So does Manhunter.