‘Lanterns’ Ending Explained: How the Finale Sets Up John Stewart in ‘Man of Tomorrow’
The finale of *Lanterns* reveals that Kerry Kane shot Hal Jordan after he discovered the truth about her son Noah, who is part human and part Manhunter. It also sets up a wider conflict: Noah and Sinestro had been preparing to use a fear-tainted Lantern to target the Guardians of the Universe, with Guy Gardner as their first target.
Hal initially survives a house fire after Noah rescues and heals him, but Kerry kills him to protect Noah’s secret. Noah later falsely confesses, hoping to shield his mother, and John Stewart chooses not to punish either of them. Noah gives up Sinestro’s power source and plans to play university football, while John takes the Lantern and Hal’s ring, pointing towards his future in *Man of Tomorrow*.
- Kerry, not Noah, killed Hal Jordan.
- Noah is part human and part Manhunter.
- John takes up Hal’s ring and Sinestro’s Lantern.
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Lanterns is an animated series in the DC universe about the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force powered by mystical rings fuelled by willpower. The Guardians of the Universe, ancient cosmic beings, oversee this corps and hold tremendous authority across the galaxy. The series has focused on Hal Jordan, a human Green Lantern, and introduces John Stewart, another human who is now becoming central to the ongoing narrative.
Throughout the series, personal ties and cosmic conflicts collide, with characters like Kerry Kane and her son Noah caught between human allegiances and galactic events. The villain Sinestro represents an ongoing threat, seeking to challenge the Guardians' authority and exploit the power of the lanterns. By the series' end, John Stewart takes the central role in controlling the situation and becomes the key figure going forwards.
Understanding John Stewart's prominence is important because he will lead the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow. For viewers encountering this universe for the first time, knowing that Green Lanterns function as cosmic peacekeepers and that John Stewart now holds the primary role provides the essential context for following the story ahead, particularly as threats like Sinestro continue to loom.