Ever since October of 2012, The CW‘s Arrowverse has been a thriving television universe. The Arrowverse has consistently presented a vast lineup of DC Comics heroes and villains on the small screen. From epic crossovers to intriguing storytelling, the uniqueness of the Arrowverse shows continues to usher in scores of fans each week to see what will happen to their favorite characters.
While some of the shows have a varying degree of success with fans and critics, there is no denying the following that this shared universe has accumulated. And with new shows on the horizon, it seems as though the Arrowverse is here to stay.
10 Batwoman Had A Mid-Show Role Change (3.4)
Kate Kane’s Batwoman first appeared in the Arrowverse during the “Elseworlds” crossover in 2018. The character went on to get her own show in 2019, just in time for the Arrowverse’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths“. However, after just one season, Ruby Rose decided to step away from her role as Batwoman.
For season 2, The CW cast Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder, a new character that would take up the mantle of Batwoman. Despite what IMDb has to say about the show, Batwoman has already been renewed by the network for a 3rd season.
9 Freedom Fighters: The Ray Ran For Two Seasons (5.8)
After being introduced in the Arrowverse crossover “Crisis on Earth-X”, The Ray was given his own animated web series featuring the Freedom Fighters. The series ran for 2 seasons on The CW’s streaming service, CW Seed. Melissa Benoist reprised her villainous role of Overgirl from the live-action crossover. Additionally, Carlos Valdes voiced Cisco Ramon, his character from The Flash, as well as his Earth-X doppelgänger.
The Ray’s most recent live-action appearance was during the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover, when the Anti-Monitor destroyed Earth-X with antimatter.
8 Black Lightning Was Independent Until The 2019 Crossover Event (6.1)
In January of 2018, The CW began airing Black Lightning, a superhero series centered around the Pierce family. Jefferson Pierce fights crime in the city of Freeland as Black Lightning with the help of his two daughters, Anissa and Jennifer, who also become superheroes. By day, Jefferson Pierce works as the principal of Garfield High School.
The series was independent from the Arrowverse until 2019 when the show crossed over in “Crisis on Infinite Earths“. Unfortunately for fans, the show will come to an end after season 4.
7 Supergirl Ended After Six Seasons (6.2)
Melissa Benoist’s Girl of Steel became National City’s favorite superhero starting in 2015. Unlike most of the Arrowverse shows, Supergirl originally aired on CBS. However, beginning in season 2, Kara Danvers made her flight over to The CW and the show has been airing there ever since.
It was revealed in September of 2020 that the upcoming sixth season would be its last. There is always hope that some of the characters will show up elsewhere in the Arrowverse, such as in its spinoff, Superman & Lois.
6 DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow Was Renewed For A Seventh Season (6.8)
In 2016, Rip Hunter gathered the misfits of the Arrowverse with the goal of saving the world from a future threat. Though the team’s lineup has changed a few times since the beginning, their goal remains the same.
Led by Sara Lance, the Legends use their abilities and a time-traveling spaceship known as the Waverider to protect the world from past, present, and future perils. Ahead of its season 6 premiere, The CW went ahead and renewed Legends of Tomorrow for a seventh season.
5 Vixen First Premiered On CW Seed (7.1)
The Arrowverse’s first animated series arrived in 2015 when Vixen premiered as a web series on the CW Seed. Starring Megalyn Echikunwoke as Mari McCabe and Vixen, the show ran for 2 seasons that were made up of 12 episodes. Several Arrowverse actors reprised their roles in the series, including Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin.
Echikunwoke also played the live-action version of the character in a season 4 episode of Arrow. The web series episodes were later compiled and released as a film, entitled Vixen: The Movie.
4 Constantine Was Cancelled But The Character Made His Way Into Different Arrowverse Productions (7.5)
Matt Ryan began his tenure as John Constantine starting in 2014 on NBC. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after just 1 season consisting of 13 episodes. After the cancellation, the character was given another opportunity to play the character in 2015 on a season 4 episode of Arrow. He then appeared on Legends of Tomorrow in a couple of season 3 episodes before joining the crew full-time in season 4.
In addition to his live-action work as the mystical detective, Matt Ryan has voiced the character in multiple animated DC Comics projects.
3 Arrow Helped Usher In The Modern Age Of Superheroes On Television (7.5)
The Stephen Amell led show featuring a billionaire that shoots bad guys with a bow and arrows was an instant success for The CW, and a strong start to the Arrowverse. Throughout the course of the series, Oliver Queen gradually transformed from spoiled rich kid to murderous vigilante to hooded superhero, and finally into the Spectre, the hero of the multiverse.
Concluding in early 2020, Arrow ran for 8 seasons and helped to usher in the modern age of superheroes on television. Oliver Queen, you have not failed this city!
2 The Flash Has Already Been Renewed For An Eighth Season (7.7)
Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen first appeared in the second season of Arrow in 2013 before getting his own spinoff the following year. In addition to time travel, the show centered around the fastest man alive introduced the Arrowverse to meta-humans, individuals with extraordinary superpowers.
The Scarlet Speedster uses his meta-human abilities for good by protecting the citizens of Central City from the schemes of villainous meta-humans. The Flash has been running on our screens for 7 seasons and has already been renewed for season 8.
1 Superman & Lois Is Quite Popular Despite It Being A New Show (7.9)
The top spot on this list also belongs to the Arrowverse’s newest entry. With only 5 episodes released so far, Superman & Lois has already proven itself as a force within The CW’s lineup of DC shows. In fact, the series was renewed for a second season shortly after the first episode aired.
Tyler Hoechlin’s Man of Steel first appeared during the season 2 premiere of Supergirl in 2016 and has since appeared in the “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths” Arrowverse crossovers. With Arrow gone, hopefully Superman & Lois can help to fill the void for the fans.
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