15 Ways The CW's DC Heroes Differ from Comics

Green Arrow in the comics has a good sense of humor. Both versions survived being stranded on an island for a long time. However, the comic book version did not return planning to enforce law through fear or killing an entire village, only half-heartedly agreeing to a no-kill policy.

Speedy inArrowSpeedy becomes Thea Dearden Queen, Oliver Queen’s sister. She faces hardship, including drug addiction, losing her mother, and learning her father is Malcolm Merlyn. She also deals with the bloodlust effects from the Lazarus Pit.

Thea always overcomes obstacles. Comic books show this is not true. Speedy has no family ties to Oliver Queen or Merlyn. Mia Dearden runs from an abusive father, lives on the streets, turns to prostitution, and faces exploitation in child pornography. Green Arrow rescues her, takes her in, and trains her. Mia gets HIV, and it takes time for her to tell her comrades, who accept her.

In the comic book storylineRise and FallAt Roy Harper’s daughter Lian’s funeral, he blames her for his daughter’s death. Mia left Lian alone while he went to stop Electrocutioner from planting bombs in Star City. He failed, and a bomb killed Lian.

Despite training by Wild Cat inArrowThe CW’s Black Canary still shows inexperience. She displays sloppy fighting and makes many rookie mistakes. Damien Darhk eventually murders her.

The comic book Dinah Lance is one of the best martial artists in the DC universe, able to match Batman. She is an experienced tactician and once led the Justice League. Her Canary Cry came naturally because she is a meta-human, not from a high-tech collar. The CW briefly adapted this for her Earth-2 counterpart, Black Siren, inThe Flash.

Mr. Terrific of the Arrowverse needs to live up to his comic book version. The character looks awkward, has a small build, and has a "T" painted on his face. He still needs to fix his tech and fighting skills.

Mr. Terrific in the comics did not want to be a superhero because he likedthe Green Arrow. Michael Holt hit a low point after losing his wife and unborn child in a car crash. While thinking about suicide, the Spectre visited him and told him about the first Mr. Terrific, Terry Sloane. He was a member ofthe Justice SocietyMichael Holt carried on the Mr. Terrific mantle, inspired by his tale in America. Terry is a calm, cool, collected, and confident crime fighter. He has 14 PHDs, holds black belts in six martial arts, won an Olympic gold medal, and is a self-made billionaire. He is also the third-smartest man globally.

SupergirlJ’onn J’onzz became a refugee from the Martian Civil War. He replaced Hank Henshaw as head of the D.E.O. after killing him in self-defense. Martian Manhunter leads the organization in a less xenophobic way and becomes Supergirl's mentor.

In comics, Dr. Saul Erdel brings Martian Manhunter to Earth using an experimental teleportation ray. After seeing J’onn in his natural form, the scientist dies from a heart attack. With his way home gone, J’onn must adjust to human society, eventually becoming Detective John Jones. He then becomes a charter member of the Justice League.member of the Justice Leaguebut struggled to fully reveal himself to the world.

SupergirlSupergirl introduces Miss Martian as a bartender who joins underground alien cage fights. Sparks fly between her and Martian Manhunter when she meets him.

The live-action Miss Martian followed her comic book path. Both versions show her as a White Martian, infamous for genocide against green counterparts. M’gann M’orzz in comics is younger than J’onn. When J’onn learns her true origins, he sees her need for revenge. He acts as a mentor while she pretends to be a Green Martian. Miss Martian also joins the Teen Titans.

The CW’s Ray Palmer wears a high-tech Atom suit. This suit lets him change size, primarily for its laser cannons and flight.

In comics, Palmer’s shrinking tech is a belt. His size change comes from 100% control over his entire body, including its atoms. He increases strength by manipulating mass. He can rearrange molecules to become invisible or turn into Kryptonite.

The use of flight and lasers likely comes from his time as an Indigo Lantern.

Legends of TomorrowLegends of TomorrowProfessor Stein and Jax Jackson merge as Firestorm but can separate. When apart, they keep a psychic link. Firestorm is often the core of the Legends.

In comics, Jax Jackson was just a supporting character to Ronnie Raymond, the other half of Firestorm who died in The CW’sThe FlashOnce Professor Stein and Ronnie merged as Firestorm, the union stayed permanent. UnlikeLegendsFirestorm’s transmutation abilities appeared lightly in 'Firestorm Could Not Un-Firestorm.' Comics explored this ability more. They also explored his potential to kill Superman by turning oxygen into Kryptonite.

Adapting Captain Cold and Heatwave from crooks to heroes felt like a welcome change for the characters in 'Legends of Tomorrow'.Leonard Snart gave his life in the Season 1 finale of 'Legends of Tomorrow' to stop the corrupt Time Masters. He saved his friends while Mick Rory took responsibility, becoming the Legends' second-in-command.Leonard Snart gives his life in the Season 1 finale to stop the corrupt Time Masters and saves his comrades. Mick Rory carries the burden for both, slowly becoming the Legends' second-in-command.

An alternate Leonard Snart became Citizen Cold during the 'Flashpoint' crossover to protect Central City without the Flash. He acted as a controversial crime fighter because he intended to kill his enemies. Mick Rory in the comics temporarily dropped his Heatwave role, working as a consultant for firefighters and even with the FBI. The Top brainwashed him. After the conditioning ended, Rory struggled between good and evil.The CW’s Flash gets much of his persistence from a strong support system. This group includes the Wests, Kaitlyn Snow, Cisco Ramon, multiple Harrison Wells figures, and his biological father whom he freed from prison after proving he did not murder his mother.A crossover comic event shows an alternate Leonard Snart become Citizen Cold to defend Central City without the Flash. This alternate Leonard Snart was a controversial crime fighter because he killed his enemies. Mick Rory in the comics temporarily dropped the Heatwave mantle, consulting for firefighters and working with the FBI. The Top brainwashed him. After the conditioning ended, Rory struggled between good and evil.

The CW’s Flash relies on a strong support system. This group includes the Wests, Kaitlyn Snow, Cisco Ramon, multiple Harrison Wells figures, and his biological father whom he freed from prison after proving he did not murder his mother.

Comics showed Barry had fewer people to turn to. His father died in prison, and he found a strong support group only after joining the Justice League. Before that, Ira West helped create the Flash suit and the storage insignia ring. Having many loved ones to rely on likely explains why The CW’s Flash lacks the comic book trait of thinking and processing thoughts at super speed, which powers much of his reaction time and strategy.

The CW’s Jesse Quick eagerly sought to become a crimefighter after the Speed Force blessed her. This angered her father, Earth-2 Harrison Wells. Dr. Wells wanted his daughter to live normally but later supported her inauguration as the new Flash of Earth-2.

In comics, Jesse got her powers from her father Johnny Quick, who wanted her to be a superhero. Jesse wanted to focus on school instead. Wally West, the second Flash, asked for her help, which convinced her. However, the team-up was part of a plot to make Wally’s sidekick, Impulse, take his superhero role seriously. Jesse never forgot this trick.

Red Tornado made its live-action debut in the SupergirlEpisode "Red Faced" shows Red Tornado as a new military weapon built by T. O. Morrow. Morrow created Red Tornado to stop Kryptonians; the creator controls the android like a drone. Supergirl wins by using a full-power Heat Vision that destroys the android.

Comics show Red Tornado is an android made by Morrow. It later gains sentience and joins the JSA and the Justice League. Red Tornado becomes a respected member of both teams, fighting foes like Lex Luthor and Brainiac.

The CW’s Hawkman and Hawkgirl helped Vandal Savage gain immortality. Savage murders them in every resurrection to keep his life going.

The Golden Age comic origin showed this, but the third party was the Egyptian priest Hath-Set, not Vandal Savage. The couple now has alien origins and works as space cops from Thanagar. They arrive on Earth hunting an intergalactic criminal and join the Justice League and respect Earth's law enforcement.

Season 2 ofLegends of TomorrowThe show introduces Nate Heywood, an eager historian joining the Legends to study history's sudden shifts. Nate has hemophilia; any cut can kill him, so he initially avoids fighting. After injuries from techno Nazis, Ray Palmer uses villains' super-soldier serum to make a new compound. This allows Nate to turn his body into steel on command.

Citizen Steel from the comics suffers great loss before gaining his powers, even though The CW’s Steel has an adventurous origin story. Nathan Heywood, a former college football star, ended his career with a kneecap injury. Later, his leg got infected and they amputated it. Metahuman Nazis, led by the villain Reichsmark, massacred most of his family during a reunion. Vandal Savage ordered Reichsmark to kill every member of the Commander Steel bloodline. Nathan fought to save his kin, severely wounding Reichsmark. Reichsmark spat his liquid metal blood onto Nathan’s prosthetic. This blood spread through Nathan’s body, giving him his organic steel skin.

Cisco Ramon acts as the nerdy comic relief for Team Flash. He names almost all the Flash villains and helps other Arrowverse heroes develop their tech, like the neckband that gave Dinah the Canary Cry. The shockwave from the Particle Accelerator event affected him. He gained the ability to step into moments in time and open portals to other dimensionsand takes the name Vibe.

Comics show Cisco Ramon gets little respect. Vibe leads a Detroit gang before joining the Justice League. His loose cannon nature upsets his new teammates. Vibe's comic powers are limited; he only emits sonic vibrations.