The 20 Biggest Arrow TV & Comic Book Differences

TV Show: Actor David Ramsey’s character John Diggle is created for the show and became a fan favorite. John Diggle started as Oliver’s bodyguard. He later became like an older brother and sometimes joined The Suicide Squad.

Comic: Oliver’s bodyguard did not exist in the comic. However, Green Arrow: Year OneWriter Andy Diggle’s last name appeared on the show as a nod to the creator. Diggle appeared in the comics during Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino’s run.

p class="MsoNormal">TV Show: Felicity Smoak, played by Emily Bett Rickards, started as an IT rep at Queen Industries. Oliver consulted her for technical help. She later joined Ollie and Diggle in their fight against crime in Starling City. She is Oliver’s unrequited love and often breaks tension with a self-deprecating joke.

TV Show: Willa Holland's Thea Queen is Oliver Queen's troubled younger sister. Thea spent most of Oliver's absence and return partying, enjoying life as a spoiled heiress. Falling out with Oliver in the first three seasons led Thea to her (newly found) father, Malcolm Merlyn. Malcolm trained Thea in the League of Assassins ways.

TV Show: Captain/Detective/Sergeant/Officer Quentin Larry Lance, played by Paul Blackthorne, is Laurel and Sara Lance's father. He is the hot-tempered cop who often deals with the vigilante Arrow. Initially aiming to stop the vigilante, he comes to trust the Arrow and helps him stop bad guys when possible.

TV Show: Sara Lance, played by Caity Lotz, is Laurel's younger sister. She was thought lost at sea with Oliver when their boat sank. After Anthony Ivo captured her, she left Oliver again and trained with Nyssa al Ghul in the League of Assassins. Returning to Starling City, she helps Oliver clean up the Glades and stop Slade Wilson.

TV ShowSlade Wilson, played by Manu Bennett, was Oliver's friend on Lian Yu. They became like brothers and stopped Edward Fyers' plan. After Anthony Ivo killed Shado, Wilson blamed Oliver and sought revenge in Starling City. Slade used his martial arts skills from ARGUS and ASIS, not just the Mirakuru serum's strength and reflexes. Oliver jammed an arrow into the soldier's eye, blinding him on his left side.

TV Show: John BarrowmanMalcolm Merlyn, also called the Dark Archer, constantly opposes Oliver Queen and is Thea Queen's father. Merlyn first appeared as a rich businessman leading the group that destroyed the Glades. Merlyn returns to pass the blood debt from the League of Assassins onto Oliver's family.

Lian Yu Get's More Screen Time: The island Oliver washes ashore on when missing takes on its own identity during the series. Oliver learns to survive there with Yao Fei and Slade Wilson. Oliver returns to Starling City several times; he visits the ARGUS prison or seeks comfort from his failures.

Moira Queen: Susanna Thompson plays the Queen family matriarch, CEO of Queen Industries, and former Starling City mayoral candidate. Moira holds many secrets and tries to serve her family.Moira Queen, played by Susanna Thompson, heads the Queen family and Queen Industries. She ran for mayor of Starling City. Moira creates conflict for Oliver and the Arrow and hides many secrets to protect her family.

Green Arrow Shoots Way More Trick ArrowsThe first season ofArrowOllie used arrows for killing and maiming in the first season. Later, Oliver used smoke screens and explosives on arrow tips to reduce lethality. Still, TV's Arrow keeps sharpened points he uses to slow down enemies.

Green Arrow's Costume Get's An Upgrade: Oliver Queen's uniform includes his iconic hood (from Lian Yu), a green leather jacket and pants, and combat boots. This costume shows a practical, source-material-honoring approach to a superhero look. A green mask from Barry Allen appears late in season two.

Suicide Squad: Task Force X, led by Amanda Waller, has criminals do dangerous ARGUS missions for shorter jail time. The TV Squad includes Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, John Diggle, Lyla Michaels, and Bronze Tiger.

Speedy: Oliver calls his sister Thea 'Speedy' as a nickname, but no hero on the show officially uses this code name.

Green Arrow: The Social Crusader: In the first season, Oliver targeted people in his father's notebook for their role in destroying Starling City. Afterward, Oliver changed his ways, stopped killing, and became a vigilante against bigger crimes. The Arrow protects Starling City citizens, but the show avoids big political issues.

Batman #244 was Season 3's Mid Season FinaleBatman #244 was Season 3's Mid Season FinaleArrowArrow writers used the Batman story for their season 3 mid-season finale. Oliver fought Ra's al Ghul to the death with a sword on a mountain. The fight left Ollie with a sword wound in his chest and kicked off the mountain.

Green Arrow's Van Dyke BeardStephen Amell wears a five o'clock shadow. Some see a goatee there. However, there is no Van Dyke with curled chin whiskers and a stylized mustache.

TV ShowStarling City, the Arrow's hometown and Queen Industries' main set piece, shares GPS coordinates with Seattle. The city features the Queen's mansion and the dangerous Glades neighborhood. New resident Ray Palmer plans to rebrand the city "Star City" to fix its image.

TV ShowThe first Count was a young, cackling sociopath. He pushed Vertigo drugs in the club scene in Starling City. The second version was Werner Zytle. Zytle, a gifted chemist and martial artist, throws Vertigo-filled darts at his victims.

TV ShowKatie Cassidy's Laurel differs from her comic book self. The character started as an attorney for CNRI. She later became Starling City's assistant district attorney. Laurel is Oliver's turbulent ex-lover and has seen her life changed by the Arrow. After Sara's death, Laurel takes her sister's identity as Black Canary.

TV ShowBrandon Routh's Ray Palmer arrives in Starling City seeking new money to revive the ruined city. Palmer is an amazing businessman and a tech genius, only surpassed by Felicity Smoak. After losing his fiancée, Anna, to a violent crime, Palmer develops a powered suit to stop crime himself.