Lanterns: Should Black Hand Be The Show’s Antagonist?

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Lanterns: Should Black Hand Be The Show's Antagonist?

Key Takeaways

  • Kyle Chandler’s casting as Hal Jordan has fans excited for the upcoming Max DCU series, Lanterns.
  • The show may introduce Green Lantern villain Black Hand, known for his connection to dark forces.
  • Black Hand’s involvement could bring mystery, horror, and ties to Blackest Night to the DCU series.

As a lifelong comic book enthusiast and a self-proclaimed Green Lantern connoisseur, I can’t help but feel my heart racing at the prospect of Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan gracing our screens in the upcoming DCU series, Lanterns. The potential introduction of Black Hand, a villain steeped in mystery and horror, could be just the dark twist this universe needs to keep us on our toes.

As the DC Universe (DCU) prepares to establish its collection of films and television shows, such as James Gunn’s Superman and the horror-themed animated series Creature Commandos, fans are eagerly anticipating the original Max DCU series, Lanterns. Kyle Chandler has been cast as Hal Jordan, legendary Green Lantern, with John Stewart (as of yet uncast) joining him on an Earth mission for the Green Lantern Corps. The narrative is expected to delve into a mystery similar to Max’s True Detective, raising speculation that the show might introduce the notorious Green Lantern villain, Black Hand.

Black Hand, aka William Hand, is a longtime foe who uses technology developed to harness and manipulate Green Lantern energy into his power source, often redirecting the power back to the Green Lantern Corps. However, his power has evolved over the years, at one point directly connected to a truly powerful and evil force within the DC Universe. With such a storied history in the comics and being an Earth-based villain, could Black Hand be the Lantern series antagonist?

Black Hand in the Comics, EXPLAINED

Born into the affluent Hand Family of Coastville, a suburb of Coast City, California, William Hand didn’t aspire to blend with his family’s crowd. Instead, he chose an unconventional path, immersing himself in criminal activities to create distance. Reminiscent of characters like Deadpool and She-Hulk from Marvel comics, William Hand gained notoriety for his unique antics, frequently addressing the readers about his schemes against Hal Jordan.

As he realizes his outcast role within the family, his wicked personality intensifies and he transforms into a costumed villain, self-proclaimed as the Black Hand. Aware of his inevitable clash with Green Lantern once his criminal activities are discovered, Black Hand invents a device capable of siphoning and controlling the energy from Green Lantern’s power ring. He employs this energy much like Green Lantern, but for malevolent intentions. At one instance, he is able to use this device to persuade the public that the stolen goods were untouched, thus allowing him to elude capture.

Following his unsuccessful effort to abandon a criminal lifestyle, William encountered the Spectre and lost one of his hands during an attempted theft of a backup Green Lantern ring from Green Arrow. This incident led him to the events of Infinite Crisis, where he joined Alexander Luthor Jr’s Secret Society of Super-Villains. Post-Infinite Crisis, William’s backstory was rewritten, making him the son of morticians with an abnormal fascination with death. The weapon constructed in this altered reality has since been developed by Atrocitus, the leader of the Red Lanterns, who sees Hand as the key to triggering Blackest Night. Atrocitus tried to eliminate Hand, but Hal Jordan and the Green Lanterns intervened. However, a mysterious voice now encourages Hand to seize Atrocitus’s weapon and employ it, igniting his newfound animosity towards the Green Lanterns and transforming him into a villain.

In the gripping tale of Blackest Night, I, a gamer immersed in this universe, discovered that a haunting voice and power were beckoning me from the shrouded planet of Ryut, home to The Black Lantern Corps. With a mission thrust upon me, I found myself compelled to revisit my Earthly abode, where I tragically ended the lives of my beloved siblings and mother. This grim deed gave birth to a Black Lantern ring, transforming me into the embodiment of death I was destined to become.

Black Hand in the DCU

The upcoming DCU show seems to be shaping up with a grittier narrative, blending elements of police crime dramas, sci-fi action, and alien themes similar to True Detective. It’s possible that William Hand could make an outstanding antagonist for the initial season due to his potential for darker exploration, such as starting a cult revering Death in future episodes. The version of William Hand we see post-Infinite Crisis, with his more terrifying and ominous characteristics, would align well with this series and the ominous theme of the DCU’s debut, Gods and Monsters.

As a diehard fan, I can’t help but speculate about the potential role Deathstroke could play in the upcoming DCU show. With his ties to Blackest Night and Nekron, he might evolve into one of the series’ main adversaries. The formation of the Black Lantern Corps and his status as a symbol of death make him a formidable force that could shake up the DCU.

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2024-10-06 17:05