Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for Lanterns Episode 5.
This week’s Lanterns episode seemingly concludes the 2016 storyline viewers have followed since the show began, as Zoe (Poorna Jagannathan) is revealed to be the Manhunter all along. There’s also more confirmed about Antaan (Paul Ben-Victor), who was seduced by the Manhunter on his alien world, leading to the decimation of his entire race. This is what has brought him to Earth, and while that’s an interesting foundation for his arc, it’s a reminder that the character already exists in DC Comics under a different name. If Lanterns had been brave enough, Antaan would’ve been a different Green Lantern antagonist all along.
Antaan Should’ve Been Atrocitus in ‘Lanterns’ — and All the Pieces Were Right There
If you’re a newcomer to the Green Lantern mythos, we’re talking about one of the more recognizable GL foes created in the last few decades. An alien warlord from Sector 666, Atrocitus was imprisoned on the planet Ysmault after he attempted to retaliate against the Guardians of Oa for their past crimes, eventually becoming the famed leader of the Red Lantern Corps. In the comics, he was actually responsible for Abin Sur’s death, ultimately leading to Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler on the HBO show) becoming the next Green Lantern of Sector 2814. The character’s backstory is essentially 1:1 with Antaan’s in that his entire planet was likewise wiped out by the Manhunters, leading him to desire unparalleled revenge against the Guardians for their misfire. Atrocitus’ hatred grew so strong that his rage formed a red lantern, driving his every move. That similar rage can be found in Antaan, as he is willing to become the alien equivalent of a suicide bomber if it means killing the Manhunter who destroyed his people.
Because of their inherent similarities, many Lanterns viewers wondered if Antaan and Atrocitus were one and the same, with the character only going by a different name as a cover — similar to how the Manhunter disguises itself as Zoe. Unfortunately, with Antaan’s demise in “Lights Out,” the opposite has proven true. What could’ve been a harrowing alien reveal has become a missed opportunity. Lanterns could’ve finally revealed the true form of the extraterrestrial terrorists closing in on the American heartland, but instead the alien extremists maintain their human forms throughout. Antaan’s death in Episode 5 is so anticlimactic, so unmemorable, that it’s hard not to wonder why he was such a focus to begin with. Yes, his backstory is tragic and helps establish the threat of the Manhunter, but it amounts to so little in the end that maybe it’s better that he wasn’t Atrocitus at all.
While Antaan is not a direct adaptation of Atrocitus, the similarities are so apparent that he was likely a source of inspiration for creators Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. Fortunately, for fans looking for a more straightforward and authentic interpretation of the Red Lantern leader, Atrocitus is featured quite heavily on Green Lantern: The Animated Series. On the short-lived Cartoon Network series, he was a foundational villain who is the primary cause of Hal Jordan’s intergalactic adventures as he seeks revenge on the Guardians for their sins with the Manhunters. For the last two Green Lantern adaptations to utilize many of the same story beats, it’s strange (though perhaps not at all surprising) that it was the animated series and not the high-profile HBO drama that gets it right.
‘Lanterns’ Is a Well-Made TV Show, but Something Is Missing
HBO’s Lanterns has been both an exciting prospect for fans and a challenging one. On one hand, it’s nice to see Green Lantern — who was made the butt of every joke after the failed Ryan Reynolds-led flick in 2011 — be taken seriously again by folks outside the comic book community. Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre‘s John Stewart have been praised by many as complex and engaging adaptations of their DC counterparts. But while Lanterns takes a grounded approach to this intergalactic hero, the Green Lantern movie better represents the space-operatic nature of GL lore, which has largely been missing from HBO’s adaptation.
Perhaps that’s why Antaan’s death is so frustrating; this character who, in almost every respect, was set up to further open the door to Green Lantern’s cosmic side, is literally tossed aside instead. Call it a subversion or a plot device all you want, but it comes off as simply irritating for anyone hoping to see some actual Green Lantern action. (Say what you will about Zack Snyder‘s DCEU, but this series may have fit in a bit better there with its more deconstructive take on DC superheroes.) With three episodes left, we’ll see how Lanterns plays out in the end — perhaps there are still more intergalactic exploits to be had before the season concludes.
New episodes of Lanterns air Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.
