The Arrowverse in Chronological Order (So Far)

The Arrowverse has been a present part of popular culture for nearly seven years. Formed in that relatively brief span of time is a vast universe of characters, worlds, and intriguing events. Curiously, all of the above begins prior to the events of Arrow’s arrival in 2012.

In fact, the Arrowverse as we know it, in of its own chronology, dates back several thousand years. The following list delineates the franchise’s most pivotal moments in chronological order. It’s worth noting, of course, that not every little detail will garner a mention.

HAWKS AND VANDAL IN ANCIENT EGYPT (CIRCA 1700 BCE)

It seems the Arrowverse’s first instance of “the impossible,” as Barry would deem it, is traceable to Ancient Egypt, when Chay-Ara, Khufu, and Hath-Set are exposed to a strange meteor shower element.

Their exposure essentially turns them into the reincarnating immortals, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, and Vandal Savage, respectively. Unfortunately, this bit of Arrowverse history has remained on the sidelines since the end of Legends of Tomorrow’s pilot season.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA FORMED (EARLY 1940S)

Similar to its place in the DC Universe, and comics at-large, the Justice Society of America is the Arrowverse’s first team of superheroes. Founded by meta-humans in the early 1940s, the JSA worked in secret with the US government on covert operations.

Though they proved a well-oiled machine, their rise to fame influenced the arrival of the Dominators in the 1950s, as the aliens worried whether Earth’s access to superpowers would threaten the universe.

KRYPTON'S DESTRUCTION

krypton on supergirl Arrowverse Chronology List

As far as dates are concerned, it’s difficult to discern when exactly in the Arrowverse Krypton’s destruction occurs.

Yet, given how other events unfold, such as Kara's arriving on Earth-38 during Clark’s tenure as Superman, it seems safe to presume Krypton exploded after the Justice Society of America had been formed in the early 1940s.

SUPERMAN AND BATMAN BECOME HEROES (EARLY 2000S)

With regards to Superman, this counts for Earth-38 only as neither Superman nor Supergirl are present on Earth-1. Considering legends of the Batman persist on Earth-1, despite his multi-year absence, it seems both versions of the vigilante rise to prominence around the same period.

Thus, as Oliver Queen laments in “Elseworlds,” Batman is likely the Arrowverse’s first modern vigilante.

KARA'S POD CRASH LANDS ON EARTH (2003)

Supergirl Young Kara is leaving Krypton in her pod

Since the Arrowverse takes place in time relative to our own, it’s clear Kara becomes Supergirl in 2015 when the show premieres. During the preceding 12 years, she lived on Earth-38 amongst regular folk, keeping her power usage to a minimum, whilst Superman performed Kryptonian heroics.

Therefore, her pod must have exited the Phantom Zone and entered Earth-38’s atmosphere sometime in 2003.

THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT SINKS (2007)

In 2007, the Queen’s Gambit left what was then known as Starling City, heading for China. Aboard it were a single crew member, Robert and Oliver Queen, and Sara Lance.

Upon the Gambit’s being sunk several hours after its departure, only the latter two people would survive. As Sara aptly states in the “Invasion” crossover, it’s hard to believe this whole thing started with just them. It’s impressive, really. Out of a singular moment, the sabotaging of a yacht, came an expansive universe.

THE HOOD ARRIVES IN STARLING CITY (2012)

Following his staged rescue on Lian Yu in the South China Sea, Oliver Queen returns home with one goal--to save his city. With a hood and bow in hand to honor his mentor, Yao Fei, Oliver adopts the mantle of The Hood and begins exacting vigilante justice on Starling City’s most corrupt businessmen.

Who could have guessed his actions, extreme as they may be, would eventually inspire Barry Allen to become a hero in his own right?

BARRY IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING (2014)

After taking a trip to Starling City during Arrow’s sophomore season, Barry returns to Central City and is soon struck by lightning. Against even more odds, said lightning also gives him superpowers. Thus, The Flash is born.

Inarguably, Barry’s transformation into the Scarlet Speedster represents one of the Arrowverse’s most pivotal moments. Barry introduces sci-fi elements to the world of Arrow, making way for the advent of Supergirl, the Legends, and more.

KARA BECOMES SUPERGIRL (2015)

To save her sister’s life, Kara risks exposing herself as a Kryptonian. Her incredible feat of heroism, thwarting a plane crash, results in her being deemed National City’s new savior, Supergirl. Though it happens on Earth-38, Kara’s embracing her power opens the Arrowverse to spectacular possibilities.

Notably, Kryptonians are thrown into the mix; so, too, are all manner of other aliens. Moreover, DC’s fascinating cosmic universe is now being explored on The CW shows, thanks in part to Supergirl’s debut.

MULTIVERSE DISCOVERED (2015)

When Eddie Thawne kills himself in The Flash’s Season 1 finale to prevent Eobard Thawne’s birth, a black hole opens in reality. As time tries to correct the dissonance between present and future events, a bridge to other universes forms.

This bridge ushers in what is now known as the Multiverse, in which a reportedly infinite number of Earths exist beyond the one originally established on Arrow.