Thanks partially to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, followers have come to anticipate superhero initiatives to attach to one another and crossover once they can. To this point, James Gunn’s tackle the DC Universe has completed {that a} bit, with Superman and Supergirl showing in one another’s films, Rick Flag Sr. as an overarching villain of kinds, and now with two new Inexperienced Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart, in Lanterns to associate with Man Gardner’s look in Superman. Lanterns has an excellent probability of increasing this DC Universe due to its cosmic parts, the idea of the Inexperienced Lantern Corps, and the upcoming cameo from Man Gardner. Nevertheless, the already acclaimed sequence has completed an excellent job of not overwhelming the narrative with connections to different initiatives, which might typically really feel pressured. The most recent episode, “OutKast”, pulled off a connection tease in a refined but spectacular manner.
“OutKast” was an episode designed to inform us John Stewart’s historical past and clarify how he ended up working alongside Hal Jordan. It was brilliantly dealt with and included a nod to a notable Batman character. This connection might open the door for additional connections within the DC Universe.
Lanterns Featured An Easter Egg For A Batman Villain
The start of “OutKast” noticed John Stewart falling onto a pile of mattresses at an deserted mall. We don’t see the place he fell from or study what particularly was happening till later within the episode, however John will get up and walks to a gathering. As he’s strolling, you possible wouldn’t have seen the Batman Easter egg, but a more in-depth look reveals that he handed a retailer within the background referred to as Janus Cosmetics, which has a connection to a notable villain from Batman’s rogues gallery.
Janus Cosmetics is owned by Charles Sionis, a businessman whose son, Roman, was a childhood buddy of Bruce Wayne. As an grownup, Roman killed his father and took over Janus Cosmetics, which he then bumped into the bottom by way of shady investments. Lucius Fox acquired it for Wayne Enterprises, which led to Roman spiraling and turning into a criminal offense lord who goes by Black Masks. He ran the False Face Society and have become recognized for his fixation with masks and torture. The Janus Cosmetics signal can also be subsequent to a poster of somebody whose face is half coated, which may very well be a nod to Black Masks.
There at present isn’t a Batman in Jame Gunn’s DC Universe, however there The Courageous and the Daring is within the works, which is ready to be a movie concerning the Bat-Household. Black Masks would make for an intriguing villain for that story. Andy Muschietti is directing and his previous in horror (It and It: Chapter Two) suggests he can inform a darkish story properly, which might work with Black Masks. Roman Sionis can also be a villain who hasn’t appeared in a Batman film regardless of so many iterations of the character on the large display up to now.
This might assist The Courageous and the Daring really feel contemporary, which is one thing any Batman film wants in spite of everything these years. The one time we’ve seen Roman Sionis in a movie was in 2020’s Harley Quinn flick, Birds of Prey, with Ewan McGregor doing a unbelievable job within the position. He’s additionally appeared in episodes of Gotham and Batwoman. In fact, there’s at all times an opportunity that the inclusion of Janus Cosmetics is only a enjoyable Easter egg and nothing extra,
Black Masks Has A Historical past With The Inexperienced Lanterns
One other chance is that Janus Cosmetics will imply one thing for the way forward for Lanterns, Though Roman Sionis is famously a Batman villain, he has come throughout the Inexperienced Lantern Corps through the years. There’s a well-known storyline in Blackest Night time that sees a deceased Roman Sionis get resurrected by the villain Nekron as a Black Lantern. The Black Lantern Corps are villains who resemble clever zombies and symbolize an area outdoors of the emotional spectrum, which matches in opposition to what different Lantern Corps have been recognized for.
Within the story, Sionis goes after Catwoman till Poision Ivy manages to cease him with a mutated plant that dissolves his physique every time it makes an attempt to regenerate. Whereas that story is unlikely to ever make it to the large or small screens, it might merely be hinting at one thing huge for Lanterns. Even when we don’t ultimately get Black Masks in any mission, this might all be a tease for the Black Lanterns getting concerned in John and Hal’s future. No matter occurs, it’s at all times enjoyable for comedian e book followers to find connections just like the Janus Cosmetics register Lanterns.
You’ll be able to take a look at new episodes of Lanterns each Sunday night time on HBO Max!