10 Times the Arrowverse Was Inspired by DC Comics

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With the series finale of Superman & Lois, the final window on the DC Comics-inspired universe known as the Arrowverse closed. Beginning in 2012 with Arrow and eventually expanding to include nine separate series, it is the most successful and prolific corner of DC’s multiverse in live action. While the Arrowverse changed many characters and details to fit their story, the shared universe fully embraced the spirit of comic book storytelling.

DC purists will point out that many narrative and character details in the Arrowverse shows were significant departures from the source material. Oliver Queen was inspired by Batman as much as he was Green Arrow. Batwoman replaced Kate Kane with an original character after series lead Ruby Rose left the show. Superman & Lois began as part of the Arrowverse before changing course, but gave Clark Kent and Lois Lane two teenage sons. However, even when the Arrowverse departed from comics’ lore its stories and characters held onto the high concept, sometimes silly spirit inspired from every era of DC. This list highlights just a few of those moments.

9

The Showdown Between Two of The Flash’s Silliest Villains Was Great TV

The King Shark and Gorilla Grodd Fight Was an Arrowverse Highlight

King Shark and Gorilla Grodd are two of DC Comics’ sillier villains, but The Flash played the characters seriously. That either of them appeared on the show at all is a miracle. Shows on The CW traditionally have lower budgets than other network series, even those that use fewer visual effects. Thus, in Season 5’s big showdown, The Flash delivered multiple scenes of two fully computer-generated characters in a knock-down, drag-out fight.

A battle royale is a classic comics trope, especially between two “monster” characters. The Flash teased this match-up since at least Season 3, when Caitlin and Cisco joked about Gorilla Grodd and King Shark sharing a cell. Also, Nora West-Allen — a speedster from the future — believed she and Flash were immune to Grodd’s telepathic powers, which is a reference to an ability Barry Allen has in the comics.

Kate Kane Emulated Bruce Wayne’s Characterization, but Her Successor Was Like Robin

When Ruby Rose left Batwoman after one season, producers didn’t immediately recast the Kate Kane character. Instead, they created a brand-new character named Ryan Wilder, a Black woman who lived in her van rather than coming from wealth. Rose’s portrayal of Kane was very similar to most modern takes on Bruce Wayne. She was serious, brooding and burdened by her mission. Ryan put on the suit after finding it, and she had fun being a Dark Knight.

“[T]o see a Black female superhero? You don’t get to see it often. It’s so epic. I grew up on Batman and Catwoman and the Joker and Penguin. Now, to see blackness in that, I think it’s very inclusive.” — Javicia Leslie in an interview.

In her first scene as a caped crusader, she smiles, laughs and makes jokes as she fights two goons in an alleyway. Ryan brought more diversity to Batwoman in many ways, one of which was how the character behaved. Rather than a tortured vigilante, she was a hero who knew how to enjoy herself. Even though she wasn’t a Robin, Ryan’s attitude at wearing the cape and cowl was similar to when they fill in for Batman in the comics.

7

The Arrowverse Brought Back John Constantine After Series Failure

Taking Advantage of Great Casting, the Hellblazer Came to the Arrowverse

While the Keanu Reeves Constantine movie was fun, he wasn’t the version of John Constantine fans knew from the Hellblazer comics. Created separately from the Arrowverse in 2014, Constantine cast Matt Ryan in a series for NBC. The show was canceled in early 2015, but the character was brought into Arrow‘s fourth season later that year. The mage had history with Oliver, and showed up to help Sara Lance reclaim her soul.

This led nicely into Sara seeking out Constantine during Legends of Tomorrow Season 3, while the team dealt with demons and magic. He joins the Waverider crew fulltime in Season 4 as a series regular until the character’s death in Season 6. The character gave Hellblazer fans a more familiar adaptation of John Constantine, while also introducing him to a new generation of fans.

6

Helena Bertinelli Was the First Hint of the Arrowverse’s Potential

Only on Arrow a Short Time, She Symbolized Bigger DC Elements to Come

When Arrow debuted, the show was dark, violent and, most importantly, lacking superpowered heroes. However, the introduction of Helena Bertinelli’s Huntress was the first inkling of the Arrowverse to come. Oliver Queen had allies in John Diggle and Felicity Smoak, but neither wore costumes. In trying to convince Helena to join him, he gave her both her crossbow and her costume.

Jessica De Gouw played Helena Bertinelli in four episodes of Arrow, three in Season 1, one in Season 2.

Producers wanted her to return to the series (complete with new costume), but De Gouw was unavailable.

While Arrow‘s version of the Huntress never reached her full potential, it shifted the series in a more comics-focused direction. At first, Oliver’s alter-ego was more like Robin Hood than the Green Arrow. While Helena’s story differed greatly from her comics’ story, her appearance in costume proved Arrow would embrace the deep bench of DC characters as the series evolved.

5

The Arrowverse Brought Back the First Flash to Appear in Live Action

John Wesley Shipp Got a Heartbreaking Finale for His Version of Barry Allen

From the pilot episode of 2014’s The Flash, the presence of actor John Wesley Shipp as Henry Allen was gratifying for older fans. He played Barry Allen in a 1990 series, but it was canceled after a half-season. He also played Jay Garrick from another Earth. However, during the “Elseworlds” crossover he reprised his role as the Flash, complete with the velvety costume. It was a perfect way to connect the first two live-action iterations of the Flash.

The original Barry Allen’s return was a gift to both the fans and Shipp himself. He often spoke of how difficult making The Flash was, and he was relieved the show was canceled. Still, making the character part of the TV multiverse gave the character closure. In the original Crisis On Infinite Earths comic event, Barry Allen died. Rather than Grant Gustin, the crossover event honored that moment by having Shipp’s Barry step in.

4

The Arrowverse’s Infinity War Pitted a Demon Against a Muppet

The Fight Between Beebo and Mallus Was Unserious and Brilliant

The Arrowverse’s silliest series, Legends of Tomorrow, owned that title with pride in the Season 3 finale. The entire season the Waverider crew gathered “totems” evoking the Infinity Stones from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Only in this case, the heroes wielded them, not the villain. Avengers: Infinity War was released earlier that year, and this final fight against the demon “Mallus,” seems to deliberately evoke the battle in Wakanda. Only instead of a team of heroes against the demon, it was Beebo.

Beebo is children’s character not unlike Elmo, and his inclusion is more than just a joke. Facing off against an evil, the Legends used the totems to make their avatar a symbol of its opposite. The creature returned in subsequent episodes, and Beebo even starred in an animated Christmas special. While comics, especially DC’s, often tell serious, emotionally heavy stories, they also can be very silly. This final fight was a risky move that could’ve backfired with viewers, but instead they embraced the series even more afterwards.

3

The Masters of Disaster Were a Deep Cut on the Arrowverse’s Most Serious Show

Black Lightning Stood On Its Own, but It Still Honored the Comic Tradition

For most of its four-season run Black Lightningstood apart from the Arrowverse proper. Jefferson Pierce’s Freeland was merged onto Earth-Prime with Supergirl’s after the Crisis On Infinite Earths event. The series tackled heavy emotional and sociopolitical themes, something comics have done since Captain America punched out Adolf Hitler. Still, Black Lightning drew from the comics’ history by bringing in the Masters of Disasters in Season 2.

This group of supervillains first battled Jefferson Pierce, and then went on to menace his super-group the Outsiders. While the real villains of the season were the A.S.A and Tobias Whale, the Masters of Disasters gave Black Lightning an excuse to have a big-old superpowers fight in the Season 2 finale. It didn’t happen as often on this series as it did on other Arrowerse shows. Only a series like Black Lightning could bring these deep-cut DC villains to life.

The Man of Steel Became an Arrowverse Mainstay and Got His Own Show

The first season of Supergirl aired on CBS, and producers were forced to go to ridiculous lengths to include Superman without showing him. Season 2 moved the series to The CW, and Tyler Hoechlin was cast as the Man of Steel and appeared in the first two episodes. Debuting just a few months after Batman v. Superman, Hoechlin’s version of the character was very different from Henry Cavill’s. He was mor traditional Kal-El.

“I never dreamed of playing Superman or Clark Kent. I have no idea why this character found his way into my hands, but I’m so glad he did. I was given the chance to tell stories I believed in, and live through a character whose values I admired.” — Tyler Hoechlin on Instagram.

Obviously, Superman would return more times to Supergirl and the rest of the Arrowverse, eventually leading his own series. Superman & Lois is perhaps the best adaptation of the character, but his Supergirl introduction was a risk, at first. Once the Man and Woman of Steel flew into action together, it became immediately obvious how he elevated the series. He completed Kara’s family in the show, and began her journey to surpass him as Earth’s mightiest hero.

1

The Entire Crisis On Infinite Earths Event Was a Celebration of DC’s History

Often Called the Arrowverse’s ‘Endgame,’ the Crossover Was Bigger Than That

The end of The Flash pilot introduced the future newspaper headline about the titular speedster vanishing in a “crisis.” Five years later, all six DC series on The CW participated in Crisis On Infinite Earths, a crossover inspired by the 1985 comic. It united all the series into a single continuity on “Earth-Prime,” and teased the creation of the Justice League. Since the pandemic and subsequent end of the Arrowverse prevented further crossovers, it was both a kind of finale and new beginning for this shared universe.

“[T]he first time I was appearing as Superman [on set was the Batwoman episode]. And… I thought, ‘I’ve already done it… Even if this was the only scene I’m doing,’ the emotional wound or scar that was left by my experience on Superman Returns was mostly healed.” — Brandon Routh on Inside of You.

Along with the Arrowverse series, characters from other DC universes appeared in cameos or in repurposed footage. Burt Ward, who played Robin in the 1960s Batman series was included, and Robert Wuhl reprised his role from 1989’s Batman. Brandon Routh, whose Superman Returns failed at the box office, got the chance to play Superman again. Even Ezra Miller’s Flash showed up for a scene. His eventual movie failed to do what the Arrowverse did with Crisis on a tighter production schedule and lower budget. It remains DC’s crowning achievement in live-action.

Batwoman, Superman & Lois and Stargirl stream on Max, while the rest of the Arrowverse streams on Netflix.

“}]] Even when the shows departed from DC Comics’ lore, the Arrowverse was a multi-series celebration of everything great about comic book storytelling.  Read More