‘Lanterns’ May Have Officially Revealed a More Dangerous Lantern Than Sinestro

DC’s Lanterns has covered a lot of ground in terms of establishing the world in just two episodes. Starting with a grounded murder-mystery plot, the show has already grown its cosmic legs and established key characters from DC lore. The latest episode introduced Sinestro, but may have secretly revealed another Lantern.

Episode 2 of Lanterns shows the character Antaan, played by Paul Ben-Victor, as a leader of a group of aliens pursuing the Manhunter, an extraterrestrial being who caused a g*nocide among his people. Many have speculated that the character could be Atrocitus in disguise, due to similarities he shares with the Red Lantern.

Who Is Atrocitus and Why Is He More Dangerous Than Sinestro?

Atrocitus | Credits: DC Comics

While there is no character called Antaan in DC Comics, the backstory shown in episode 2 of Lanterns is awfully similar to Atrocitus. In the comics, Atros is one of the few survivors of Space Sector 666’s destruction by the Manhunters. After seeing the death of his wife and child, Atros seeks to avenge their deaths. He joins the other survivors, Qull, Roixeaume, Orphram, and Dal Xauix, and together they come to be known as the Five Inversions.

Atrocitus blamed the Guardians who created them, and he channeled that grief into discovering the red energy of the emotional spectrum, fueled by rage, which he used to found the Red Lanterns. He intended to kill Sinestro after the Sinestro Corps War, and he even used some members of the Five Inversions to form the red power rings.

This is what makes Atrocitus scarier than Sinestro on paper. Sinestro, however brilliant a tactician, still operates within a recognizable system. He wants control, order, obedience. Atrocitus wants none of that. His Red Lantern power weaponizes uncontrollable hatred, and rings that emit literal blood-fire.

What makes Atrocitus more dangerous than Sinestro is that he is a man of action while Sinestro plans, even when he is imprisoned. Sinestro acts like a puppet master, but Atrocitus has no strings attached and goes head-first into battle.

What does Atrocitus’ Introduction in Lanterns Mean for the DCU?

Antaan in Lanterns | Credits: DC Studios

If Antaan is really Atrocitus, Lanterns is carefully setting up a cosmic threat to the DCU. With just two episodes, the show has expanded on one aspect of the franchise, which even Superman did not do despite having Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern. Plus, the fact that the show is called Lanterns means it will explore other Lantern Corps too.

James Gunn’s DCU has been carefully seeding future threats across its early slate, and a confirmed Atrocitus gives Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, and future Justice League-adjacent projects a fresh well of cosmic villainy to draw from.

It also raises the stakes for Sinestro’s own arc: if Atrocitus is waiting in the wings as a rage-powered wildcard, Sinestro’s Yellow Lantern fear tactics may end up looking almost restrained by comparison, positioning him as a lesser evil the show can eventually pivot away from.

What do you think about the latest episode of Lanterns? Comment below.

Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max.