Posted in: Comics, HBO, Max, Movies, TV | Tagged: lanterns

Lanterns: Why Paul Ben-Victor's Antaan Could Be a Really Big Player

We've got a clearer picture on Paul Ben-Victor's role in HBO and DC Studios' Lanterns; here's what it could mean for the show's future.

With the second episode of Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King's Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre-starring Lanterns hitting tonight, viewers were introduced to an intense and impactful character who clearly has an agenda in play – and is clearly no fan of the Guardians and anyone associated with them. Back in April 2025, the news broke that Paul Ben-Victor (Nobody Wants This) had been tapped for the recurring role of Antaan, described at the time as "an extraterrestrial devoted to exposing the truth and exacting vengeance against those who wronged his people. Consumed by a deep and unrelenting hatred for the law, he is determined to deliver justice on his own terms." Based on the description, a lot of folks are making the connection between Antaan and the DC Comics character Atrocitus – someone who could be a major player moving forward.

While Hal (Chandler) continues investigating the aliens who were killed, John (Pierre) is sent back to Coast City to recover a charging battery. After securing the battery, John gets kidnapped (after a pretty sweet road battle) by a group whose leader lays out to him the origin of the Manhunters and the devastation that they caused. The group has tracked the Manhunter to the town, but its members were killed trying to get a read on the Manhunter. Guess who they were? But John does more than hear the story – he's made to see and experience the devastation that the Manhunters caused. Antaan then tells John he has 48 hours to discover who the Manhunter is and notify them – otherwise, they're ready to blow the town to smithereens. Where could this all be leading? Here's how the story matches over the comic book universe side of things…

Created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver in January 2008's Green Lantern (vol. 4) #25, Atros was one of only a handful of survivors to escape the slaughter of Space Sector 666 by the rogue Manhunters – losing his wife and children in the process. Atros joined the remaining survivors and formed the terrorist organization the Five Inversions – now going by the name "Atrocitus." Their mission? To destroy anything and everything having to do with the Guardians of the Universe – the creators of the Manhunters. Atrocitus's story would bring him into contact with Abin Sur, Sinestro, the mysteries of the "Blackest Night" (side note: could Garret Dillahunt's William Macon turn out to be William Hand, the herald of the "Blackest Night"?), and much more. But the biggest headline you need to know about Atrocitus is that he would go on to become the very first Red Lantern – a force powered by rage. Is that sounding like anyone we saw tonight?

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