Lanterns Episode 6 Features The DC Universe’s First Live-Action Batman Reference

Mild spoilers ahead for “Lanterns” Season 1, Episode 6, “Bad Optics.”

Sometimes, it feels like “Lanterns” is a stealth DC Universe Batman movie prequel. From the very beginning, the show has been referencing Gotham, Batman, his associates, and even some legendary rogues, all of which points toward some sort of bigger reveal down the line. For now, we still don’t have such a reveal, but “Lanterns” Episode 6 has given us our first direct reference to the Dark Knight since we saw him briefly in animated form courtesy of “Creature Commandos.”

Since that all too brief glimpse of Batman, we’ve gotten references to Gotham City in “Peacemaker” Season 2 and road signs for that same city in “Superman.” “Lanterns” has carried on these subtle allusions to the DCU’s Caped Crusader, with Episode 2 revealing that Sheriff Kerry Kane (Kelly Macdonald) hails from Gotham. That revelation immediately made a line from Episode 1, in which Kane speaks to someone on the phone and mentions “Barb,” much more significant, suggesting that she could have been referring to Barbara Gordon (aka. Batgirl and later Oracle in DC’s comic books). After that, “Lanterns” Episode 3 featured a Batman Easter egg in the form of a Janus Cosmetics promotional poster. In the comics, Janus was once owned by Roman Sionis, who ultimately became the Batman villain Black Mask.

Clearly, the “Lantern” writers wanted this show to reassure viewers that Gotham is very much part of the newly-established DCU. Now, Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan has given us our first direct reference to Gotham’s greatest son.

After its third installment, “Lanterns” Episode 4 teased the arrival of a Green Lantern villain before Episode 5 completely changed John Stewart’s Green Lantern story and delivered an epic showdown in Rushville, Nebraska. For those two episodes, then, the show took a break from teasing us with Batman references, but in Episode 6, we’re right back to it.

In the episode, John gets a call from his mother, who tells him Hal Jordan wants to apologize for the events of 10 years prior. So, John returns to Rushville to meet up with Hal in the local diner. Instead of an apology, though, he gets the same old Hal: a cocky, stubborn piece of work who’s apparently convinced John is as much at fault for the near destruction of Rushville as he is. Then, after their initial clash, Hal changes the subject to Earth’s new Green Lantern: Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion). Or, as Hal calls him, the “gym teacher from California.”

According to Hal, that gym teacher “ripped off that Bat guy over in Gotham” by installing the Green Lantern equivalent of the Bat signal in Rushville. This confirms that Batman is already active in the DCU by 2026. Later, John uses the Lantern signal to summon Guy following Hal’s death. Unsurprisingly, the Rushville citizens aren’t all that wild about the Green Lantern corps, so when we first see the signal in question, it’s covered in graffiti — something that would no doubt please Hal, who evidently isn’t all that impressed with Guy. Yet, unlike the Bat Signal, it seems anybody can use Gardner’s beacon, although nobody in Rushville ever does.

Hal Jordan’s reference to Guy Gardner being a gym teacher in “Lanterns” Episode 6 is interesting, if only because it shows the series’ writers are borrowing from the character’s full comic book history. Guy first appeared in 1968’s “Green Lantern” #59, wherein he was established as Hal’s backup. It’s this iteration of the character who taught gym. It was only after 1985’s “Green Lantern” #190 that Guy became known for his egotism and hot-headedness, attributes preserved in the DCU version of the character. During his gym teacher era, by comparison, he had a much more affable personality. In other words, the DCU appears to be borrowing elements of Guy from across the spectrum of comic book history.

Meanwhile, we’re left to wonder if “Lanterns” is ever going to give us more than a brief reference to the DCU’s Batman. We’ve now had three — likely four — Dark Knight and/or Gotham references in six episodes, and with Sheriff Kerry Kane being so closely connected to Bruce Wayne’s hometown, it seems as though this series could very easily become the gateway to Gotham for James Gunn’s shared universe.

For now, we have no idea when we’ll actually get to see the Batman of the DCU. The upcoming “Clayface” movie will give us our first look at the DCU Gotham in live action, but it reportedly won’t feature Gotham’s avenger. What’s more, at this point, nobody seems to know what’s happening with the planned “Brave and the Bold” movie, though it’s said to still be on the DCU docket. That means “Lanterns” is as close as we’re getting for now, and with two episodes left to go, we’re hoping the final installments bring us a little closer.