The Arrowverse was one of the best live-action DC Universe ever made, featuring an impressive array of characters from comics, which meant several did not get the appreciation they deserved. Long before the DCU was formed, some of the best representation of DC heroes came from The CW. In 2012, Arrow premiered and highlighted one of the lesser known and appreciated heroes from DC to the forefront. Then in 2014, the Arrowverse expanded with the introduction of The Flash, and things began to accelerate from there.
With multiple DC shows, the potential for crossovers and expansion began. Grant Gustin's Flash became a friend to Stephen Amell's Green Arrow, and more heroes ed the fray to hold back the biggest threats to their worlds. However, over the course of over 10 years, with six TV shows in the official lineup and a handful of others that crossed over, not every character got a chance to truly shine. Despite their captivating performances and a heap of potential, these characters were underrated and underused by the Arrowverse.
10 J'onn J'onzz, AKA Martian Manhunter
The Heart of the Team
Kicking things off with one of the most powerful heroes from DC, Martian Manhunter. In comics, video games, and animated shows, Martian Manhunter's role as a member of the Justice League sees him working alongside the greatest heroes from DC. J'onn J'onzz is a Martian whose incredible intellect and wisdom make him an essential member of the team, and his power set is extraordinary, allowing him to compete with heroes like Superman.
10 Awesome Arrowverse Characters The Shows Did Nothing With
Amidst an enormous universe of iconic heroes and villains, several incredible characters were not used to their fullest potential in the Arrowverse.
However, when J'onzz appears in Supergirl, the character is relegated to a role. Despite hinting at considerable powers, J'onzz rarely gets a chance to show off his abilities, though his intelligence has persisted into the Arrowverse version of the character. Despite that, the character had a lot more potential, and it would have been great to see that tapped into more often.
9 Thea Queen, AKA Speedy
From Villain to Hero
Thea was never the main character in Arrow, but her journey was often just as interesting as her brother Oliver's. When Oliver was assumed dead alongside their father, Thea struggled with substance abuse and a rebellious streak that took her down dark paths. However, he managed to turn her life around and come back stronger than ever, becoming a businesswoman, a chief of staff, and even a vigilante hero alongside her brother.
However, her stint as a hero is short-lived due to a struggle to contain her bloodlust. Despite this, Thea still manages to be an active part of the team, and her arc in the show sees her progress to a point where she is arguably far more stable than her brother, who struggles to live a life beyond his vigilante efforts. Thea was an anchor in the show, but she is rarely given the credit she deserves considering how pivotal she was.
8 Curtis Holt, AKA Mr. Terrific
The Brains of the Operation
At a period in time when Arrow was struggling, and the tone of the show was in a seismic shift, Curtis Holt arrived as a ray of sunshine in the fog. While season 4 of Arrow is widely considered the worst season of the show, Curtis arrived at this point in time and added a lot to the story. Curtis had an integral storyline with both Felicity and Oliver, where he developed strong connections with both independently. He also became an important part of Team Arrow, and progressed from tech to full-fledged hero.
Melissa Benoist's Supergirl Gets The Superman & Lois Series Finale Cameo She Deserved In Arrowverse Scene Edit
A new Arrowverse edit of the Superman & Lois series finale sees Melissa Benoist's Supergirl getting the cameo everyone wanted for her in the episode.
Due to his arrival in a season that is widely disliked, Curtis often gets overlooked, and while he did stick around to the end of the show in varying capacities, it never feels as though he is fully embraced. His temperament, his strong sense of fair play, and his talents make him an interesting character to place alongside someone like Oliver Queen, who often blurs the lines of right and wrong. Overall, Curtis is a terrific addition to the team.
7 Rene Ramirez, AKA Wild Dog
A Relatable and Gritty Hero
Similar to Curtis, Rene Ramirez comes in late to the show, and things are not at their best when he arrives. However, building on the contrast between characters like Oliver and Curtis, Rene arrives, a vigilante who has a short temper and an intense sense of justice, just like Oliver. Despite having a lot in common with Oliver, however, the pair butt heads repeatedly. However, Rene does manage to play nice with teammates like Curtis and Dinah Drake when they go out and form a New Arrow Team.
Rene's arc is incredible and once again sees a character who is like Oliver be able to make real lasting changes and become a better man.
Rene's alter-ego, Wild Dog, also progresses from being a brute in a hockey mask to a fully fledged hero who is officially hired by Star City to protect and serve. Rene's arc is incredible and once again sees a character who is like Oliver be able to make real lasting changes and become a better man. And funny enough, he echoes Oliver's story when he decides to run for Mayor in the series finale.
6 Julian Albert, AKA Alchemy
From Villain to Ally
Tom Felton is a great actor who rose to fame through his role as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies. And interestingly, when he appears in The Flash, there are ties between the world of Harry Potter and the Arrowverse with his character, Julian Albert, managing to get his hands on a Philosopher's Stone. As Julian, he causes a lot of stress and discomfort for Barry, who is used to having a much more relaxed approach to his work, but Julian tries to keep him on a short leash.
And then, on the other hand, Julian has his mind being controlled by the menacing Savitar due to his connection to the Philosophers' Stone, which turns him into the mystery villain, Alchemy. Over the course of season 3, Julian has a brilliant arc that sees him cause a lot of distress for Team Flash, before he manages to break free of the mind control and the team. He then has a brief romance with Caitlin Snow, but after an incredibly short stint on the team, he leaves, never to return, apart from in flashbacks in later seasons.
5 Wally West, AKA Kid Flash
A Speedster with a Heart
Despite ing the Arrowverse fairly early on, and appearing in both The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow as a prominent hero, Wally West manages to fade into obscurity. This isn't entirely his fault, considering he was competing with a bigger name like Barry Allen in The Flash, and a team of established heroes in Legends, but it is a shame considering what he could have become. In fact, his potential is even teased in The Flash when he appears in other timelines.
However, when Wally shows up in Central City, he struggles to fit in with a family he doesn't really know, due to his growing up with his mother.
Then, when he gets powers, he is too eager and makes mistakes. Eventually, he finds his footing and manages to be a hero, but even this only highlights his place as a lesser hero called Kid Flash. Ultimately, Wally struggles to stand out because he never had a permanent home with either Team Flash or the Legends, and he becomes a traveling character who is relegated to the background.
4 Mon-El, AKA Valor
A Noble and Loyal Companion
Mon-El is a Daxamite, whose planet previously had a contentious relationship with the Kryptonians. However, when he arrives on Earth and meets Kara Danvers, the pair find that they have a lot more in common than what separates them. Mon-El forms a close and romantic connection with Kara, and the pair prove to make for a powerful duo, but similar to Wally West, Mon-El's presence on the show may have distracted from Supergirls spotlight.
As a result, the hero who hails from the future is largely only seen in seasons 2 and 3, though he does appear briefly in other seasons. Despite this, he stands out as one of the most compelling and intriguing heroes introduced in the Arrowverse, and one whose character could have been explored in much greater depth. Unfortunately, that was not to be, and Mon-El disappeared from the main cast.
3 Rip Hunter
The Time Master
Arthur Darvill is an incredible actor whose stint on Doctor Who as Rory Williams was legendary. So, it was fitting that he should appear in the Arrowverse as a time-traveling legend by the name of Rip Hunter. However, despite being the catalyst who brought the Legends together, and having an intense central backstory which saw him tragically lose his wife and child, Rip's story seems to disappear into the time vortex.
While Rip is a pivotal leader of the team in season 1, he disappears in season 2 before returning halfway through, and then heroically sacrifices himself for the Legends in season 3. For the remainder of the series, Rip Hunter is a memory who is occasionally mentioned, while the team continues to pursue their own goals to protect the timeline and stop time pirates. It's just a shame that Rip was unable to continue being a part of that legacy.
2 John Constantine
The Dark Knight of Magic
In 2014, after Arrow successfully proved there was an appeal for the DC superhero shows, NBC decided to greenlight a DC series of their own with Constantine. In 2005, the film starring Keanu Reeves may not have performed incredibly well, but the years were kind and the movie established a cult following. So Matt Ryan was cast to play the part in the new series, and Constantine was back on the air.
The Arrowverse featured Matt Ryan's Constantine on several occasions.
However, the show was short-lived with just one season airing before it was canceled. In the years that followed, the Arrowverse featured Matt Ryan's Constantine on several occasions, thus connecting the timelines, but regardless, the character never got another big shot at leading his own series and having his story properly explored in the Arrowverse or otherwise.
1 Nora West-Allen, AKA XS
A Powerful Addition to the Flash Family
Nora West-Allen shows up in The Flash in season 4, and then plays a prominent role in season 5, but in order to save her loved ones from a dark impending future, she sacrifices herself in the season 5 finale. Unfortunately, as a time traveler who was due to be born as the daughter of Barry and Iris, her death bled through to become an even more extensive erasing from all reality. However, despite her brief time as a member of Team Flash, the impression she left was extensive.
However, Nora returns to The Flash in seasons 7 and 9 for brief moments, but it's difficult to conclude that this is exactly the same Nora that sacrificed herself in season 5. With this confusing timeline, and her timeline all over the place, Nora unfortunately gets skipped over when it comes to highlighting some of the best characters in the Arrowverse.
- Created by
- Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, Phil Klemmer, Geoff Johns
- First TV Show
- Arrow
- Latest TV Show
- Batwoman
- First Episode Air Date
- October 10, 2012
- Latest Episode
- 2023-05-24
- Cast
- Stephen Amell, Javicia Leslie
The Arrowverse is a shared universe centered on multiple television series airing on The CW and web series based on characters from DC Comics. It began with Arrow in 2012 and expanded to include shows like The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow, creating a vast interconnected narrative that includes numerous crossovers and parallel universes.
