Who Are the Manhunters in HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ and Their Connection to Martian Manhunter

In the realm of DC comics, the term “Manhunter” can lead to confusion due to its association with various characters and concepts over the years. HBO’s latest DC series dives into this ambiguity, presenting a shapeshifting alien threat that has fans eager to understand what they are witnessing.

‘Lanterns’ follows seasoned Green Lantern Hal Jordan and newcomer John Stewart as they investigate a mysterious event in Rushville, Nebraska, which unfolds into a broader cosmic enigma. Central to this mystery are the Manhunters, introduced as the season’s main antagonists, whose name has understandably perplexed viewers familiar with a different DC hero.

This confusion primarily revolves around J’onn J’onzz, better known as Martian Manhunter, a beloved member of the Justice League. The phonetic similarity and shared shapeshifting abilities have led many fans to speculate about a possible connection or even a live-action debut of J’onn in this series.

However, the Manhunters featured in ‘Lanterns’ are a distinct concept from Martian Manhunter, with no confirmed casting or appearance of the character in the series. Within the show’s narrative, the Manhunters are depicted as “the most dangerous beings to ever exist in the galaxy,” originally created as a robotic police force by the Guardians of the Universe long before the Green Lantern Corps came into existence.

This backstory aligns closely with their comic book origins, where the Manhunters served as the Guardians’ first artificial intelligence police force. They patrolled the universe until they turned against their creators, leading to their replacement by the Green Lantern Corps.

The show reveals a brutal history involving the Manhunters, including the annihilation of an entire civilization, which initially drew the attention of the Green Lanterns. This history is intricately tied to the show’s mythology, with a significant reveal confirming that a Manhunter was responsible for the death of Abin Sur, the original bearer of Hal Jordan’s ring.

The shared name and shapeshifting abilities of the Manhunters and Martian Manhunter are not entirely coincidental. Comic book lore has indicated that the robotic Manhunters derived their name and much of their technology from an ancient Martian civilization that once safeguarded their homeworld, linking them to J’onn J’onzz’s origins.

This connection has made it easy for casual viewers to mix up the two, especially since both groups share the same name and shapeshifting powers. Fans who primarily recognize Martian Manhunter from his appearances in shows like ‘Justice League’ and ‘Justice League Unlimited’ may find the confusion particularly understandable.

With ‘Lanterns’ confirmed to connect to James Gunn’s broader DC Universe, including John Stewart’s upcoming role in ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ some fans speculate that the Manhunter storyline could pave the way for J’onn J’onzz’s introduction in the future. However, this remains mere speculation, as nothing released so far directly links the current storyline to Martian Manhunter or hints at any casting.

Given DC Studios’ intentional connections across its “Gods and Monsters” chapter, it wouldn’t be surprising if this lore connection eventually comes to fruition in a future project. Until then, the robotic Manhunters stand as their own unique threat, deeply rooted in classic Green Lantern comic history, separate from J’onn J’onzz’s narrative.

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