HBO’s Lanterns introduced the threat of the ominous Manhunters in episode 2. Hal Jordan and John Stewart learned that a dangerous being from a race of species-killing robots has been hiding in plain sight. It can shapeshift and pass by undetected, making it an existential threat for any planet it's on.
But wait…a shapeshifter called Manhunter? That sounds familiar, and if you’re thinking about Martian Manhunter from the Justice League animated series, then you wouldn’t be wrong. However, that’s exactly the reason why Lanterns’ Manhunters are such a hot topic these days.
The thing is, the Manhunters in Lanterns are the main antagonists, portrayed as killers who wipe out entire planets by infiltrating societies. Although they were considered to be extinct, there are rumors of one on Earth, specifically in Rushville, where John and Hal are investigating. So, are these Manhunters the same species as our friendly green alien from the cartoon? Let’s find out.
Manhunters are sentient beings in DC comics
From the comic standpoint, Manhunters are a race of retro-looking androids created by the Guardians of the Universe way before the creation of the Green Lantern Corps. These sentient beings were supposed to keep justice and peace in the universe, but they ended up preserving justice in the most brutal manner.
They eventually morphed their original mission and turned against their creators. They eventually became one of the most significant antagonists in the Green Lantern franchise. These beings massacred countless others in different corners of the universe, becoming a plague that destroyed species without discrimination.
The androids could manufacture extremely advanced technology, allowing them to conquer worlds easily. Their only mission was to create a world without free will because they believed choice paved the way for crimes. When their atrocities became unbearable, the Guardians created the Green Lantern Corps to replace them and eventually put an end to their cruelty.
So, coming back to HBO’s Lanterns, the term Manhunter was first heard in an episode when a race of aliens kidnapped John Stewart, thinking he knew about them. In the series, the Manhunters have more or less the same origin story as the comics, but the details haven’t been revealed as of yet.
It turned out that Manhunters mysteriously appeared one day in the name of keeping justice, but they went haywire and started massacring entire planets. Then, just as mysteriously as they appeared, they disappeared, but one remained. Antaar told John that the Manhunter disguised itself as one of them and lived in their society while secretly planning a holocaust.
A Green Lantern was sent to take care of the Manhunter, but Antaar had reason to believe that the android escaped and had been living among humans for quite some time. They believe it’s in Rushville and will stop at nothing to destroy it. Now, Hal and John must do everything to identify the Manhunter before it destroys everything.
Martian Manhunter is not the ‘Manhunter’ in Lanterns
Our first thought when we heard about a shapeshifting alien was that it was the famous Martian Manhunter, a member of the Justice League. However, if that were the case, the guy would definitely be on the good side. Therefore, it’s understandable why many people have been confused about who exactly the Manhunter is in Lanterns.
We can confirm that it’s not Martian Manhunter, who is a super-powered Martian from Mars. However, the one in Lanterns hasn’t been identified yet, so at this point, it can be anyone from William Macon to Sheriff Kerry. There’s definitely something odd about the town, especially after Hal’s hospital visit. However, the real mystery is how one Manhunter is controlling an entire town.
No one in Rushville finds anything remotely outlandish, including dead aliens and unpacked hospital equipment. This can mean only one thing: either they are being mind-controlled, or they have somehow been convinced by the Manhunter to do its bidding.
Who could be the Manhunter in Lanterns?
Well, there are several contenders, and they all belong to the Macon family. So, the number-one spot on the suspect list goes to none other than the Macon patriarch, William. Although he insists that everything he has belongs to his benefactor, that seems too convenient.
He ticks all the boxes; he knows about aliens and is obsessed with them trying to ‘colonize’ humans. He has an entire militia, and on top of that, he has advanced technology that Hal thinks is impossible for a human to possess. A Manhunter would have that kind of tech and support if it wanted to protect itself from hostile aliens, but William is an obvious choice.
It’s hard to imagine Lanterns going into obvious territory with no twist up its sleeve, and that leads us to suspect number two, Sheriff Kerry Kane. She’s been too nonchalant with the whole alien fiasco and even finds an empty hospital with unpacked machinery not weird. She is the one who wants Hal and John gone the most, and that alone raises a red flag.
She’s basically an outsider who moved from Gotham to Rushville, so it makes sense to suspect her of being an alien. But then again, there’s also Zoe Macon, who is equally mysterious. She seems elusive and secretive, especially after her situation with John. She explains that she loves her husband, but when she wants a break, she gets it—nothing about that sounds ordinary.
Ultimately, we’ll have to wait to unravel this mystery.
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