Lanterns episode 4, "The Weenie," delivers one of its biggest surprises yet, with Hal Jordan and John Stewart's investigation leading them to a character who is one of Green Lantern's most notorious villains: Hector Hammond.
Comic book fans will know Hammond as a formidable telepath and longtime enemy of Hal, but the HBO series has put its own spin on the character...and not necessarily in a way that some fans approve of.
DC Studios has potentially wasted one of the Green Lantern mythos' greatest bad guys by turning him into a decoy, "Hector Gutierrez," for the Manhunter Zoe. However, the door has been opened to us potentially seeing the real Hector Hammond down the line.
So, who exactly is Hector Hammond, what are his powers, and how has he tormented Green Lantern over the years? More importantly, could this unexpected introduction be setting the stage for a much bigger role in Lanterns and the wider DCU? Here's everything you need to know...
Hector Hammond's Introduction And Powers
Hector Hammond has one of the strangest origins in the entire Green Lantern mythos. Created by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane, the character debuted in Green Lantern #5 in 1961 and was quickly established as one of Hal Jordan's most dangerous recurring enemies.
In the comics, Hammond was originally a petty criminal who discovered fragments of a strange meteorite. Exposure to its radiation transformed four scientists into super-intelligent beings, and Hammond exploited their enhanced intellects to build advanced technology and amass wealth. His own exposure ultimately left him with an enormous head, an incredibly powerful intellect, and formidable psychic abilities.
Hammond's powers have varied over the decades, but they typically include telepathy and telekinesis. He can read and manipulate minds, control people, move objects with his thoughts, project psychic attacks, and, in some stories, interfere with or redirect Green Lantern's energy.
Lanterns takes a very different approach. The apparent Hammond introduced in "The Weenie" is actually Hector Gutierrez, a rancher equipped with alien technology by William Macon. He appears to be another piece of the show's elaborate Manhunter mystery rather than the genuine comic-book villain. Still, the series may be planting the seeds for the real character to emerge later.
Hector Hammond's Clashes With Green Lantern
Hammond has been a thorn in Green Lantern's side for more than six decades. As we've established, the villain's greatest weapon has long been his intellect and ability to attack his enemies psychologically.
His rivalry with Hal Jordan has taken several forms over the years, with Hammond repeatedly attempting to manipulate Hal, exploit his relationships and find ways around the limitations of the Green Lantern ring. The character's obsession with Carol Ferris has also been an important part of his history, adding a disturbing personal dimension to his conflict with Hal.
In later stories, Hammond's abilities have become increasingly powerful, and he's been connected to larger cosmic developments. At one point, he became the host of Ophidian, the embodiment of avarice and the Orange Lantern Corps' entity, gaining access to Orange Lantern powers without requiring a traditional power ring. During "The New 52" era, he became one of Superman's foes.
While Hector Hammond is no Sinestro, he has remained a persistent part of the mythology and was obviously front and centre in 2011's Green Lantern movie. Lanterns has given audiences a reason to recognise his name, even if it hasn't necessarily given them the real Hector Hammond yet.
What Does This Mean For Lanterns And The DCU?
Lanterns' fourth episode appears to deliberately play with fan expectations. Those familiar with Green Lantern comics hear the name "Hector Hammond" and expect the giant-headed psychic villain. Instead, the show introduces Hector Gutierrez and uses him as another potential suspect in the Manhunter mystery.
It seems that "Hector Hammond" is a fake alias—created in 1986—to hide the fact that Zoe is the Manhunter Hal and John are searching for. Still, this feels like the sort of deep-cut reference that could allow Lanterns to establish the wider Green Lantern rogues' gallery without immediately turning the series into a traditional superhero show.
The character could also fit Lanterns' grounded approach better than his more outlandish comic-book appearance initially suggests. A version of Hammond could begin as a brilliant scientist, industrialist or government consultant before an encounter with alien technology unlocks his latent psychic abilities. That would allow the series to preserve the essence of the character while avoiding what we saw in 2011.
For now, though, it is probably best to regard Episode 4's Hector Hammond teaser as a deliberate fake-out. The name has been planted. Whether the real Hammond eventually steps out of the shadows remains to be seen, though we'd hate for him to be wasted.