Lanterns has already thrown one mystery our way, so what's one more? As of Lanterns episode 2, the pool of candidates who could be the shapeshifting Manhunter has only gotten deeper. There are suspicious townsfolk galore, a Green Lantern who doesn't seem himself, and plenty of a wider cast who might be introduced as one of DC's most iconic alien constructs.
So, who could it be? Below, we run the rule over our prospective list of likely Manhunters – which is crucial to halting any confusion. Because, right now, we know precious little: only that there is only one Manhunter, and their intentions are unknown. Their identity is even more shrouded in secrecy, with even the creatives behind the HBO series not broaching that topic just yet.
Hopefully, our sleuthing will make things a little clearer. Or not. Writers Damon Lindelof, Tom King, and Chris Mundy are each known for their narrative misdirections, after all. When you're done trying to crack the case, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One, as well as our deep dive into the DCU timeline.
What are Manhunters in the comics?
In the DC comics, Manhunters are an alien race created by the Guardians of the Universe.
First introduced in the pages of Justice League of America in the 1970s, the group were initially envisioned by the Guardians as a proto-Green Lantern Corps, designed to keep the peace in the galaxy. Their plans soon spiral out of control, however, when Manhunters wipe out an entire sector.
The Manhunters are not to be confused with Justice League hero Martian Manhunter, though – in a puzzling change – the DCU's take on the Manhunters are shapeshifting aliens, which bears a striking similarity to J'onn J'onzz.
Who is the Manhunter in Lanterns?
Hal Jordan
The prime suspect? After all, 'Hal Jordan' is dead in 2026 – but that might be what the Manhunter wants us to believe. Couple that with several out-of-character outbursts and the fact that the 2006-era 'Halogram' is far more chill than his later-in-life counterpart, and there's plenty of evidence to suggest that Hal may have been swapped out for a Manhunter at some point in-universe in the past decade.
The second episode, though, sees Hal fly off to see Sinestro in a Guardians prison. Would a fake Hal even know about that? Or does the Manhunter take on its latest face post-2016 Lanterns' timeline? Right now, this seems to be the most obvious bet. Paradoxically, that means it's likely the biggest red herring as we inch closer to the truth.
Sheriff Kane
Kelly Macdonald's hard-nosed sheriff was handling the scene around Rushville's mass shooting a little too well, if you ask us. She was also quickly in pursuit of a separate alien species when it fled the scene. Good police work? Or something more? It's to Lanterns' credit that we're not sure what to believe anymore.
While it's undoubtedly true that Kane is keeping a close eye on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, her origins may lie elsewhere. According to some fans, she's a Gothamite, with the family name 'Kane' holding some serious sway in that iconic DC city. But her position as a community leader, as well as her odd marriage to Billy, raises just enough suspicions on our Manhunter-o-meter. One to watch, for sure.
William Macon
The patriarch of Rushville is nothing if not isolated, penning himself back in his ranch and making sure no one comes in – or out – of his property without his say-so and a small army's worth of rifles aimed at their heads.
Whatever is lurking in Casa Macon, it can't be good. Right now, we suspect William Macon is a little too straightforward of an answer when wondering who the Manhunter is. Regardless, actor Garret Dillahunt's age (early 60s) is a little out of step between those who play his son and daughter-in-law (mid-40s and early 50s respectively). Unless he's been horribly miscast, there's just enough evidence that he is not who he says he is.
Dillahunt hasn't exactly doused the flames of speculation, either, with his recent interviews.
"It might be a front for some other kind of character that's very familiar to you all," Dillahunt not-so-cryptically told SyFy. "I don't want to rule out the possibility that maybe 'William Macon' is just a secret identity that had to be created. It was fun to be able to create him from scratch – at least that facet of the character."
Zoe Macon
There's clearly something going on with the Macons. Whether it's an incredibly open marriage or something more sinister, William's wife Zoe clearly enjoys playing away from home – as shown by the premiere's car hook-up with John Stewart. But where does she even call home?
While it would put a very different spin on what a 'Manhunter' is, we have our suspicions that she's hiding something or, at the very least, has an ulterior motive for her jumping under the sheets so quickly with John.
Billy Macon
What about ol' Billy? The folksy small-town lawyer has done enough to put us off the scent. For now. Out of all the key suspects, he feels the least likely to be an alien in disguise, but we wouldn't put it past the Lanterns team to hide the Manhunter in plain sight through one of the more low-key Rushville residents. Let's hope we find out one way or the other very soon.
For more, here are the upcoming DC movies in the works. Plus, we have our list of prime suspects for Hal Jordan's murder.
