The Arrowverse introduced a whole shared universe of DC heroes onto tv screens for audiences in a method that the movie facet of the franchise by no means fairly achieved. Starting in 2012 with Arrow and shortly set to wrap up with The Flash’s closing season in May 2023, The Arrowverse tailored many fan-favorite characters together with Green Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman, and Black Lightning. The collection additionally excelled with bringing in heroes for supporting roles like Dreamer, The Atom, Vixen, Brainiac-5, and Speedy, simply to call just a few.
Yet for all the good diversifications of DC heroes, there have been just a few the Arrowverse dropped the ball on. Whether from scheduling conflicts with actors, shifting the collection in a unique course, or writing themselves right into a nook with a hero there are ten instances the place the Arrowverse let the hero down. Here are the ten largest heroes the Arrowverse fumbled with.
10 Doctor Light
Doctor Light was featured twice on The Flash, each instances as a villain. While there was a villain model of Doctor Light, each Flash variations are spins on the heroic incarnation of Kimiyo Hoshi. The first model is revealed to be the Earth 2 counterpart of Linda Park who was a girlfriend of Barry Allen on the time. The second model was following the brand new timeline created by Crisis on Infinite Earths and was Kimiyo Hoshi, however as a substitute of being a scientist hero, she is an murderer.
To make issues worse, Kimiyo Hoshi is a serious a part of the comedian storyline Crisis on Infinite Earths, however as a substitute of creating her a part of that occasion collection, she is saved for after and made right into a villain. There was a spot for her within the occasion, as they might have swapped her out for Ryan Choi.
9 Huntress
Helena Bertinelli aka Huntress was one of many first main DC heroes introduced into the Arrowverse. She appeared in season one in all Arrow as an ally and love curiosity for Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. Huntress departed in season one and whereas she would make a visitor look in season two the character was by no means seen or heard from once more.
It was a disgrace as Jessica De Gouw captured the depth of the character and has nice chemistry with star Stephen Amell and would have made for a pure member of Team Arrow within the later season.
8 Gypsy
Gypsy was reworked drastically from her DC Comics counterpart, right here imagined as a bounty hunter from a parallel universe within the multiverse with powers just like that of Cisco Ramone aka Vibe. The two start a relationship and even attempt making it work lengthy distance, however they break up.
Had that been the top it may need been okay, however the character is killed off-screen and used to encourage Cisco. What is much more irritating is that she was killed shortly earlier than the occasions Crisis on Infinite Earths and the character would have been an important a part of the crossover occasion.
7 Jesse Quick
Jesse Quick was launched in season two of The Flash because the daughter of Harry Wells and each hailed from Earth 2. Jesse ultimately acquired superpowers and have become an apprentice of Barry Allen’s Flash and was a recurring character on the present in seasons three and 4 as a protector of each Earth 2 and Earth 3 when Jarry Garrick was lacking.
Jesse sadly felt underutilized as a part of Team Flash and was then killed off-screen within the build-up to Crisis on Infinite Earths. Jessie Quick actress Violet Beane was the star of the collection God Friended Me which can have affected her schedule from reprising her position within the crossover occasion, however even following the occasion within the rewritten universe, the character continues to be useless. This was a poor resolution for one in all The Flash’s first sidekicks and in addition one of many longest-lasting heroes within the Arrowverse.
6 Hawkman
Hawkman was first launched within the crossover occasion between Arrow and The Flash in an try to construct as much as Legends of Tomorrow. Hawkman was with the staff for 2 episodes earlier than being killed off after which revealed as having been was a villain within the closing episodes of season one.
While he did return to the facet of the heroes, season one in all Legends of Tomorrow ended with Hawkman leaving the staff and would solely seem another time within the one centesimal episode of Legends of Tomorrow. Hawkman is likely one of the earliest heroes within the historical past of DC Comics and his arrival felt like an enormous deal, whereas his departure was a defeat.
5 Black Canary
Many heroes within the Arrowverse took on the mantle of Black Canary, however the one which was probably the most underutilized was Laurel Lance. Laurel Lance definitely acquired the shaft from the writers, as her journey into taking over the mantle of Black Canary from her sister Sara Lance was some of the inspiring. While Arrow dropped the concept of Laurel and Oliver being long-term romantic companions from the comics, it stored Black Canary as an essential member of his staff.
Yet Laurel was killed off in season 4, and whereas star Katie Cassidy would play Laurel’s Earth 2 evil counterpart Black Siren for later seasons of Arrow it felt like a poor substitution for the unique character. To make issues worse, Laurel shouldn’t be revived within the rebooted timeline that Oliver makes following Crisis on Infinite Earth.
4 Miss Martian
Miss Martian is a comparatively new character within the comics, first launched in 2006. She gained reputation as a result of her inclusion in the hit animated collection Young Justice. Miss Martian made the leap to live-action on Supergirl, however in a drastically totally different type. Instead of being Martian Manhunters’ niece, she is a separate Martian so the writers could make them love curiosity which definitely feels off. On prime of that the collection used her in a few episodes however for probably the most half forgot about her and wasted a fan-favorite character by giving her little to do.
3 Hawkgirl
Hawkgirl appeared poised to be a main facet of the Arrowverse at first. The character was name-dropped again in season one in all The Flash as a part of the heroes’ future, and he or she was a central character in a crossover occasion between The Flash and Arrow earlier than being spun off into one of many leads in Legends of Tomorrow.
Yet the collection by no means discovered something fascinating to do along with her, regardless of attempting to pair her up with the Atom. The character was written out of Legends of Tomorrow after season one and was by no means seen or heard from once more together with within the epic crossover occasion Crisis on Infinite Earths. Hawkgirl is a well-liked fan-favorite character and the Arrowverse sadly by no means knew find out how to use her.
2 Ragman
Ragman was launched in season 5 of Arrow, initially as a menace to the staff earlier than rapidly turning into an ally. A person with historical magical wrappings for a swimsuit, Ragman added a brand new sort of muscle for Team Arrow and his alter ego Rory Regan was a relaxed level-headed teammate to distinction with a number of the different members of the staff.
Yet Ragman was too highly effective for the street-level crimes of Team Arrow, and he was sadly written out of the collection. Instead of shifting the character over to Legends of Tomorrow and even The Flash, Ragman light into the background of the universe.
1 Kid Flash
Without a doubt, the character that sadly acquired the brief finish of the stick within the Arrowverse was Wally West aka Kid Flash. Wally West is likely one of the most essential characters in DC Comics as he turned The Flash following the dying of Barry Allen and for a whole technology of heroes he was The Flash.
The Arrowverse did a very good job planting the seeds for the character, bringing him in slowly and having him steadily develop into a member of Team Flash. Even when he acquired powers he was a serious a part of the collection, however the collection might by no means transfer the highlight from Barry Allen and struggled to discover a place for Wally West.
Wally West ultimately left and joined the Legends of Tomorrow, however even there the writers struggled to discover a place for him, and solely lasted one season. Wally West had loads of potential and star Keiynan Lonsdale introduced every part to the character giving him most of the trademark qualities followers would need from Wally West. Yet the character sadly was one in all many who the Arrowverse by no means quiet discovered a spot for. Hopefully, the closing season of The Flash will be capable of do the hero some justice.