Lanterns Episode 3 Hides A Major Batman Villain Easter Egg In Plain Sight

HBO's Lanterns Episode 3, titled "OutKast", includes a subtle Easter egg related to the Batman villain Black Mask. The story primarily follows John Stewart's (Aaron Pierre) development as he undergoes training under the current Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler). The episode, which follows a non-linear storyline, begins with Stewart collapsing onto a pile of mattresses in a deserted mall.

As he follows directions that lead him to an interview with a Guardian of the Universe, his attention is drawn to an advertisement for a store visible in the background: "Janus Cosmetics." Although this name may not immediately trigger thoughts of superheroes, Janus Cosmetics holds significance in Black Mask's origin tale. Black Mask's backstory has been present in Batman comics since 1985 when he was introduced as Roman Sionis, a businessman turned gangster who grew up in the same social circles as Bruce Wayne.

Sionis eventually murders his parents, takes over his father's company, Janus Cosmetics, and later impales his face with a permanent mask following a confrontation with Batman. While Black Mask has appeared in various iterations, such as in 2020's Birds of Prey and The CW's Batwoman, the inclusion of the Janus Cosmetics ad in Lanterns Episode 3 hints at the potential for a crossover between the two franchises.

The presence of the ad, which takes place in an abandoned mall, suggests that Roman Sionis may have struggled to keep his family's company afloat, leaving room for speculation about whether his character will be introduced in the DC Universe.