Lanterns may have quietly planted the seeds for another major DC character, and fans are already hoping the clue leads somewhere bigger. Episode 3 features a subtle reference that viewers believe connects the TV series to one of Batman’s most notorious mob bosses.
Titled OutKast, the third episode includes an Easter egg early in the story centered on John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre. As Stewart arrives at an abandoned shopping mall, a weathered billboard for Janus Cosmetics can be seen faded in the background. While the logo may mean little to casual viewers, it carries serious weight for longtime DC Comics readers.
Fans on social media quickly pointed out the connection to Roman Sionis, who later becomes Black Mask in the comics. Roman inherited his wealthy father’s company, Janus Cosmetics, before taking on the life of a crime lord in Gotham City. In the comics, Roman fails to make the company profitable.
An X user @GroundhogJay_ wrote, “One minute into the new #Lanterns episode and it already has me pointing at the screen over the Janus Cosmetics Easter egg.”
Another account, @EverythingDCU_, flagged it directly as a “Reference to the Black Mask.” A third fan, @IanGrimm99, called it a “Black Mask reference in LANTERNS,” adding, “Love this series.”
While the background placement doesn’t officially confirm an appearance by Sionis in Lanterns, the closed and abandoned state of the cosmetics brand hints that the company is already failing in this timeline. That detail aligns with his comic backstory, leaving fans eager for a formal live-action entry in the DC Universe.
What Black Mask’s DCU debut in Lanterns could mean for The Brave and the Bold
Even if Lanterns doesn’t confirm his appearance, it does not rule out Black Mask making a debut down the line, most notably in The Brave and the Bold. Incorporating Sionis into the upcoming Batman feature, which centers on a new incarnation of Bruce Wayne alongside his son Damian Wayne, would make more sense.
Placing Black Mask as an established crime lord would give the Dark Knight a grounded, street-level threat for his DCU debut. In the comics, Sionis controls violent syndicates after losing control of Janus Cosmetics.
A struggling Roman’s company hints that Black Mask’s story could unfold alongside Bruce Wayne’s, bringing The Brave and the Bold a villain with ties already built into the world.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold currently does not have an official release date.
