TWD: DEAD CITY: Last night's episode was tense. It took a while (like, the whole season) to build to this poiint, but I was on the edge of my seat. Next week is the season finale.
Well, it looks like the Manhunter was revealed in Lanterns Episode 4.
I won't say who it is.. I'll just say that I have my doubts.
If there's anyone who's doing what the aliens say Manhunters do -- insinuating themselves into a community and manipulating people -- I think it's someone else. Someone I'll name after some spoiler space... (Even though this isn't a spoiler, just speculation.)
So, despite what seems to be revealed in Episode 4, I think the Manhunter is actually... Laura Linney's Guardian. She's only appeared to John & his family. She's gained their trust. She's manipulating John against Hal. She's doing "job interviews" instead of standard GL recruitment. She doesn't even have another ring to give him! Why on earth do we think she's on the up and up?
Manhunters play the long game. Imagine that the GL ring legitimately tried to recruit John Sr. and he failed the question. What if the Manhunters found out about that, and decided to create a human agent -- something we've seen them do in the comics -- and groom him personally to be a Green Lantern. If they have a way of interfering with the real Guardians' communications with Hal (and he doesn't seem like someone who reads every email from the bosses) -- the could possibly be using John as a weapon against Hal, and eventually the whole GLC.
Anyway, that's my speculation, and I'll be watching for future evidence. Just thought I'd plant my flag on this longshot, before we find out one way or the other for sure.
Jeff of Earth-J > Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)September 8, 2026 at 5:35pm
Hmm... interesting theory.
Speaking of Lanterns...
I have a friend who is a big fan of Superman. I myself am a fan of Jim Starlin. One time, Starlin wrote an original concept series for DC, guest-featured Superman in it, and I suggested my friend check it out. At the time, perhaps dating back Dark Knight Returns, but possibly further than that, and certainly when this series came out, there was an over-used trope at DC that in order to show how badass a character was, he would be depicted kicking Superman's (ass, that it). When I asked my friend what he thought ot the Starlin comics, he replied, "It's just another example of Superman getting his @$$ kicked. Why would I like that?"
I'm seeing a number of articles online agreeing with you, Rob. They all point out the same "clues" about the "Guardian."
She can't control the rings.
She doesn't control the ring's selection process.
We never see any other Guardians.
Only the Stewart family has ever interacted with her, and she avoids Hal (or the ring).
Someone is feeding Sinestro information, and she's the only space traveler (aside from Hal) we've seen.
She doesn't understand human emotions, like a robot (granted, the Guardians might be that way as well).
She is deliberately manipulating John Stewart into killing Hal Jordan. (And Sinestro is trying to do the reverse.)
She showed up at the Stewart residence at the right time. (After Abin Sur arrived and Hal got his ring.)
The diamond she gave Stewart's mother is likely a Manhunter heart.
The way the Manhunters have been described fits this behavior to a "T." And whose to say she's the only Manhunter? Or that she's only impersonating one person? She might have numerous facades, all working in concert to cause the chaos Manhuters love.
And to go further out on this limb, it might explain Guy Gardner. If Stewart finds out that the "Guardian" is a Manhunter facade that's been manipulating him for decades into killing Hal Jordan, infilitrating the Corps and becoming a traitor, he might refuse to continue. Then, when Hal is killed, the ring finds the next best candidate -- Guy Gardner.
John Stewart is supposed to appear in Man of Steel. Doesn't mean he's a Green Lantern when he does. Although my preference is that somehow we end up with multiple rings, and the dead Hal Jordan in episode one is a shapeshifting alien -- maybe even the Manhunter.
At one point I suspected Sheriff Kane, because she's a newcomer to Rushville. But they've been dropping enough clues that she's related to Bruce Wayne's mother that I'm (temporarily) disabused of that notion.
Great list! I hadn't considered her working with Sinestro, but I can absolutely see it happening.
And I think you're right -- Guy could enter the mix when John refuses the ring. And then, hopefully, gets a second ring of his own. But I also sure hope Hal isn't dead.
Jeff of Earth-J > Captain ComicsSeptember 11, 2026 at 1:32pm
Lanterns is a well-written show and I'm enjoying it, but Green Lantern was once my favorite DC character and I'm not particularly happy that they made Hal Jordan such an @$$hole. Where's all the outrage from the folks who objected to "Emerald Twilight"?
I think it's there, but it's all coming from people I've muted on Bluesky.
I think we'll see another side to Hal eventually. I suspect some of his persona is an act because he doesn't trust John, and wants to keep him off balance and at a distance.
I'm one of those people. I am just burned out on DC, particularly where it comes to Green Lantern. Way too much inconsistency about what being a Green Lantern is supposed to be or mean.
I just can't afford to care much more than DC does.
Replies
I haven't made my mind up about Lanterns yet, but I can tell you that last night's episode of TWD: Dead City was a complete and utter waste of time.
LANTERNS: It's better than the movie.
TWD: DEAD CITY: Last night's episode was tense. It took a while (like, the whole season) to build to this poiint, but I was on the edge of my seat. Next week is the season finale.
Well, it looks like the Manhunter was revealed in Lanterns Episode 4.
I won't say who it is.. I'll just say that I have my doubts.
If there's anyone who's doing what the aliens say Manhunters do -- insinuating themselves into a community and manipulating people -- I think it's someone else. Someone I'll name after some spoiler space... (Even though this isn't a spoiler, just speculation.)
So, despite what seems to be revealed in Episode 4, I think the Manhunter is actually... Laura Linney's Guardian. She's only appeared to John & his family. She's gained their trust. She's manipulating John against Hal. She's doing "job interviews" instead of standard GL recruitment. She doesn't even have another ring to give him! Why on earth do we think she's on the up and up?
Manhunters play the long game. Imagine that the GL ring legitimately tried to recruit John Sr. and he failed the question. What if the Manhunters found out about that, and decided to create a human agent -- something we've seen them do in the comics -- and groom him personally to be a Green Lantern. If they have a way of interfering with the real Guardians' communications with Hal (and he doesn't seem like someone who reads every email from the bosses) -- the could possibly be using John as a weapon against Hal, and eventually the whole GLC.
Anyway, that's my speculation, and I'll be watching for future evidence. Just thought I'd plant my flag on this longshot, before we find out one way or the other for sure.
Hmm... interesting theory.
Speaking of Lanterns...
I have a friend who is a big fan of Superman. I myself am a fan of Jim Starlin. One time, Starlin wrote an original concept series for DC, guest-featured Superman in it, and I suggested my friend check it out. At the time, perhaps dating back Dark Knight Returns, but possibly further than that, and certainly when this series came out, there was an over-used trope at DC that in order to show how badass a character was, he would be depicted kicking Superman's (ass, that it). When I asked my friend what he thought ot the Starlin comics, he replied, "It's just another example of Superman getting his @$$ kicked. Why would I like that?"
I'm seeing a number of articles online agreeing with you, Rob. They all point out the same "clues" about the "Guardian."
The way the Manhunters have been described fits this behavior to a "T." And whose to say she's the only Manhunter? Or that she's only impersonating one person? She might have numerous facades, all working in concert to cause the chaos Manhuters love.
And to go further out on this limb, it might explain Guy Gardner. If Stewart finds out that the "Guardian" is a Manhunter facade that's been manipulating him for decades into killing Hal Jordan, infilitrating the Corps and becoming a traitor, he might refuse to continue. Then, when Hal is killed, the ring finds the next best candidate -- Guy Gardner.
John Stewart is supposed to appear in Man of Steel. Doesn't mean he's a Green Lantern when he does. Although my preference is that somehow we end up with multiple rings, and the dead Hal Jordan in episode one is a shapeshifting alien -- maybe even the Manhunter.
At one point I suspected Sheriff Kane, because she's a newcomer to Rushville. But they've been dropping enough clues that she's related to Bruce Wayne's mother that I'm (temporarily) disabused of that notion.
Great list! I hadn't considered her working with Sinestro, but I can absolutely see it happening.
And I think you're right -- Guy could enter the mix when John refuses the ring. And then, hopefully, gets a second ring of his own. But I also sure hope Hal isn't dead.
Lanterns is a well-written show and I'm enjoying it, but Green Lantern was once my favorite DC character and I'm not particularly happy that they made Hal Jordan such an @$$hole. Where's all the outrage from the folks who objected to "Emerald Twilight"?
I think it's there, but it's all coming from people I've muted on Bluesky.
I think we'll see another side to Hal eventually. I suspect some of his persona is an act because he doesn't trust John, and wants to keep him off balance and at a distance.
I'm one of those people. I am just burned out on DC, particularly where it comes to Green Lantern. Way too much inconsistency about what being a Green Lantern is supposed to be or mean.
I just can't afford to care much more than DC does.
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