Summary
As theDCUbegins to lay the groundwork for their slate of films and television projects, including theupcoming James Gunn filmSupermanand the upcoming horror-themed animated seriesCreature Commandos, the recent casting of Kyle Chandler as legendary Green Lantern Hal Jordan has many looking forward to the forthcoming original MaxDCUseries, Lanterns. With a still-as-yet uncast John Stewart joining Hal on an Earth-based mission from the Green Lantern Corps, the story is meant to tackle a mystery much in the same light as Max’sTrue Detective. For a story that is rooted in murder mystery meets crime thriller inspiration, could the show be gearing up to introduce none other than 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 evilforce within theDC 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
William Hand was born into the Hand Family, a wealthy family in Coastville, a suburb of Coast City, California. However, William never finds himself wanting to be seen as just another member of the family, and he goes out of his way to distance himself from his family by beginning a life of crime. He studies and becomes a notorious criminal, constantly evading police detection.Much like Marvel’s Deadpooland She-Hulk, William Hand became known for breaking the fourth wall in his comic book appearances, often bragging about his plans to face Hal Jordan to the audience.
As he becomes aware of his status as the family’s black sheep, his villainous nature escalates, and he becomes a costumed villain, dubbing himself the Black Hand. Knowing he will eventually conflict with Green Lantern once his crimes get on his radar, Black Hand develops a device that can absorb and manipulate the energy from Green Lantern’s power ring anduses this energy similarly to Green Lantern, albeit for more nefarious purposes. At one point, he can use this device to convince the public that the items he stole had not been touched, allowing him to escape.
After attempting to leave a life of crime behind and failing, he lost one of his hands to the Spectre after trying to steal a spare Green Lantern ring from Green Arrow. William’s psychological breakdown carried him to the events ofInfinite Crisis, joining Alexander Luthor Jr’s Secret Society of Super-Villains. However, in the wake of that event, his origins were changed, making him the son of morticians, and he has an unhealthy obsession with death. The weapon he built in this new reality has now been built by Red Lantern leader Atrocitus, who believes Hand to be the one who will bring aboutBlackest Night. Atrocitus attempts to end William, butHal Jordan and the Green Lanternssave Hand. However, a voice begins to instruct Hand to take Atrocitus’s weapon and use it, fueling his sudden hatred of the Green Lanterns and becoming a villain.
It isn’t until the events ofBlackest Nightthat it is revealed the voice and power are calling to him from the dead planet of Ryut and The Black Lantern Corps. Given a mission, Hand returns to his home on Earth, ending the life of his siblings and mother before ending himself, which allows a Black Lantern ring to be born and reanimate him, becoming the physical embodiment of death he was meant to be. He helps recruit several deceased orformerly deceased heroes and villainsto become Black Lanterns, summoning the Black Lantern battery and allowing his master, Nekron, to rise. It is only through the combined might of the heroes using the newly made White Lantern rings to bring Hand back to life and sever his ties to Nekron thatBlackest Nightends with Hand in the custody of the Indigo tribe.
Black Hand in the DCU
With the futureDCUshow hinting at adarker plot that mixes police crime thrillerswith alien sci-fi action and mirroring themes found inTrue Detective, William Hand may be the best villain for this show’s first season. The series could explore more of Hand’s future actions inDC Comics, including beginning a cult dedicated to worshiping Death. The William Hand introduced in the aftermath ofInfinite Crisisis the scarier, more chilling version that would fit into this series and the theme of theDCU’sfirst chapter,Gods and Monsters.
His connection toBlackest Nightand Nekron may allow him to become one of the show’s antagonists. The creation of the Black Lantern Corps and his status as the embodiment of death will enable him tobe a force of reckoning in theDCUshow.Lanternscould capture the mystery and horror thatTrue Detectivedid, especially in that show’s first season, to create a sci-fi action yet haunting and atmospheric show that can show the best of two worlds of theDCU.
