The second episode of HBO’s Lanterns introduced Antaan, a character portrayed by Paul Ben-Victor who leads a group of aliens seeking vengeance for their people’s destruction. The character made his debut when he and his followers captured Green Lantern trainee John Stewart to explain how a Manhunter decimated their entire civilization. His official description emphasized his desire for justice outside the law and his profound rage against those responsible for his people’s fate.
Online fan communities quickly drew comparisons between Antaan and Atrocitus, an established Green Lantern villain from DC Comics lore. Both characters share similar origin stories: they are extraterrestrials whose home sectors were obliterated by Manhunters, and both channel their hatred toward the Guardians of the Universe who created the Manhunters as peacekeeping forces. Atrocitus eventually becomes the first Red Lantern, commanding the Red Lantern Corps, whose power derives from rage rather than willpower like their Green Lantern counterparts.
While the parallels are striking, the show has offered no definitive confirmation that Antaan represents an adaptation of Atrocitus. Key differences exist between the two characters, most notably Antaan’s distinct name and the fact that he commands more than four survivors from his world, whereas Atrocitus was among only five survivors. Without a dramatic transformation into a red rage creature, viewers cannot yet determine whether Antaan will evolve into his comic book counterpart.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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