We’re formally midway by the primary season of Lanterns on HBO, and the collection has been one which places the cosmic facet of DC Comics on its head. In fact, this was anticipated, because the collection was lengthy teased as being extra impressed by the likes of True Detective and would middle on an Earth-bound thriller for the likes of Hal Jordan and John Stewart somewhat than seeing them tackle their Inexperienced Lantern Corps duties within the far reaches of Sector 2814. This week’s episode of Lanterns, although, places the plot into overdrive in a giant approach, as Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s investigation to seek out the Manhunter in Rushville will get taken up a notch.
Their investigation uncovers a slew of particulars about this weird little city and the quantity of element that the Manhunter has gone to to cowl their tracks and provides themselves quite a lot of cowl, which incorporates bringing in numerous different individuals to do their bidding and make the path to seek out them tough. Among the many people who Hal and John encounter was one title that ought to make each Inexperienced Lantern fan’s ears perk up…Hector Hammond, an iconic DC villain. Lanterns had one other twist up its sleeve, although.
Hector Hammond Makes DCU Debut in Lanterns, With a Twist
The seek for the Manhunter in Rushville will get lethal on this week’s episode when it seems that Zoe Macon (Poorna Jagannathan) seems to blow up from a random laser from area firing down on her automotive and blowing her up. Hal Jordan shortly finds the supply of the laser, although, flying as much as the ambiance to seize the satellite tv for pc, which Sheriff Kane identifies as Atlas Inc, an organization the database she checks reveals was based by…Hector Hammond.
That title ought to instantly elevate the eyebrows for longtime Inexperienced Lantern followers, partly as a result of Hector Hammond is a longtime antagonist for the character but additionally as a result of it may need followers assuming {that a} man with a large head is about to indicate up. When the character arrives, although, his head is a really regular dimension, and although he does his greatest to intimidate each Hal Jordan and John Stewart, the previous sees by him fully.
Because of an intimidating growl from Jordan, Hector Hammond and his normal-sized head reveal the reality to the Lanterns: his actual title isn’t Hector Hammond in any case; it’s Hector Gutierrez. Moreover, he works for the Manhunter and has for many years.
Lanterns Could Have Taken a DC Villain Off the Board Completely
Now, the truth that Lanterns has revealed this isn’t actually Hector Hammond, however as a substitute Hector Gutierrez, might imply that the present was hedging its bets and easily providing up an Easter egg to followers so {that a} “actual” model of the villain might seem down the road within the DCU. That might be the best clarification, however given the historical past already set by Lanterns, it appears extra doubtless that the collection has made it inconceivable for the character to indicate up anyway.
As established within the first episode of Lanterns, Hal Jordan has been the power-ring-wearing superhero for many years at this level. The truth that he didn’t react to the title Hector Hammond in any kind of approach signifies that Hal has by no means encountered the villain throughout his years of being Inexperienced Lantern. However on prime of that, utilizing the title for a throwaway gag within the present (clearly designed for followers to do the Leo meme on the display screen upon listening to it) implies that a correct use of Hammond down the road won’t really carry any weight.
Now, let’s be clear, Hector Hammond is an extremely goofy character to convey to life in live-action anyway, so treating him significantly could be tough. There’s additionally the truth that Lanterns has already put Sinestro in a selected place the place his story can solely get extra villainous. Because of this, it doesn’t appear to be an excessive amount of of a stretch to wager that Inexperienced Lantern tales within the DCU will both be A. Staff-focused, like Gardner in Superman, or B. Centered round alien and intergalactic threats. There’s a purpose Jordan had a jurisdiction battle with the sheriff in Lanterns‘ first episode, and it was as a result of he assumed it was an alien matter.
To that finish, it looks as if the way forward for Inexperienced Lanterns within the DCU will probably be centered on solely alien threats, maybe making characters like The Puppeteer, Main Catastrophe, Tattooed Man, and even Hector Hammond off the desk. That mentioned, Hammond’s origins do deal in alien-adjacent threats, so there’s at all times hope, however Inexperienced Lantern followers are in all probability hoping to see them face the opposite Lantern Corps on the large display screen somewhat than only a man with a giant head.