Your handy guide to every DC Comics reference in Arrow season 3 is here!
This article containsArrowspoilers in every possible variety.
Dont read if you havent watched season three!
Regular readers of my weeklyArrowreviews know about my obsession with chronicling every DC Comics reference crammed into each episode.
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For easy organization, this is organized mostly chronologically.
However, stuff that was clarified in later episodes will be explained in the entries for the earlier ones.
This way, Im not repeating myself like Im caught in a time loop.
To keep things simple, I put the bulk of their information in the most appropriate episode entry.
Oh, and if you want to read full episode reviews, just tap the titles!
For one thing, they got his name right, Werner Zytle.
Vertigo has been hanging around since 1978, and yes, he was always a Green Arrow/Black Canary villain.
The Zytle name change came with the characters DC New 52 reinvention.
Tatsu Yamashiro will become Katana before the season ends.
Theres lots of nods to Ferris Air and Hals hometown of Coast City throughout this season.
They finally gave fans a plethora of Green Arrows trademark trick arrows to play around with.
Still no boxing glove arrow, though.
And speaking of Jeff Lemire, theres a reference to the address of Third and Lemire.
Try and forgive/forget the Shaquille ONeal movie.
They even mention Tom Weston, a minor DC Comics annoyance.
Theres definitely an element of the comic book Black Canary origin hidden throughout the general Canary arcs on display.
It would take an entire article just to trace the various Black Canary similarities and deviations, though.
This isnt the time for it!
Arrow Season 3 Episode 3: Corto Maltese
Get your fictional DC Universe geography lessons here!
Qurac gets a mention, and we get a look at Corto Maltese.
I cant believe I just typed that sentence.
You people are my only friends.
And yes, Ted Grant/Wildcat did indeed train Black Canary in the comics.
The kid that Ted Grant is protecting with his story about sparring was Tom Bronson.
Thea uses the name Mia when shes in Corto Maltese.
Theas middle name also happens to be Dearden.
See how this all works out?
Well, just in case…
Ras al Ghul first appeared inBatman#232 (1971).
The fictional city of Nanda Parbat actually pre-dates Ras by several years, first appearing back in 1967.
You just have to go with it.
Myron Forest is actually the doctor who created Brother Eye in the original Jack Kirby comics.
You know…hybrids.
That sound you hear is everyone I know asking each other why they even talk to me.
We also saw Ray Palmer checking out the blueprints for OMAC tech in an earlier episode.
Santa Prisca gets a name check.
Was that a first?
You know youre bad news when youstartin prison.
And yes, evil boyfriend was wearing a Starro shirt.
A kind of artsy-looking one that I would totally wear.
But Im not an evil hacker.
Starro is a DC villain/creature that sticks to your face and makes you evil.
Maybe it was the shirt that did it.
Keep in mindRay Palmer was originally supposed to be the Blue Beetle… Hes 96 andjust got a lifetime achievement Eisner Award.Irwin Hasen is a treasure.
Think he got some extra royalties for this character showing up in live-action?
I bet he did.
Spend it well, Mr. Kreisberg…and may we never have to see Cupid again.
This is a terrible character and this was a horrid episode.
Ray and Felicity meet with the Gardners.
Could this be a reference to future bowl-cut wearing asshole Green Lantern Guy Gardner?
Probably not, but you never know.
Theres talk of someone in the Suicide Squad being even crazier than Cupid.
Theyre talking about Harley Quinn.Who well never get to see on this show ever again.
Well, guess what?
They created Captain Boomerang in 1960sThe Flash#117.
The Arrowcave and Arrowmobile jokes werent just jokes.
Back when Green Arrow really was a half-assed Batman these were actual things in DC Comics continuity.
The boys are sent to the corner of Infantino and Adams.
I thought Lyla did a nice job working the whole brave/bold dichotomy into the episode, too.
Then becomes Kid Flash.
Then becomes The Flash (briefly).
Then goes back to being Kid Flash (I think).
We wont have to deal with this nonsense for a long time.
Could we be working towards some kind of anti-life equation storyline down the line?
Maybe after Greg BerlantisSupergirlTV series joins the party?
I wouldnt hold my breath, but you never know!
If you want to read more of my ramblings about Ras al Ghulclick here.
He also wrote a longer run onJustice Leaguethat put Roy Harper in the spotlight.
The dude knows his DC lore.
Believe me, I looked.
Theres another Bludhaven mention in this episode.
They had better give us Dick Grayson inArrowseason 4!
This is not by accident.
He wroteGreen Arrow: Year One, a book that had considerable influence on the tone of this show.
Totally worth a read if you digArrow, by the way.
Marc Singer shows up as Matt Shrieve.
Shrieve is the leader of the Creature Commandos.
Dont expect this to go any further.
In the comics, ARGUS stands for: Advanced Research Group Uniting Superhumans.
In this episode we learn it stands for: Advanced Research Group United Service.
Both are terrible acronyms.
Arrow Season 3 Episode 16: The Offer
That was a Lazarus Pit healing Ras.
Call it whatever you want, but thats what it was.
Ah, but theres a curveball here.
Technically, hesnotimmortal, but thereisa Lazarus Pit.
We even get to see it work.
We didnt get that in Christopher Nolans Batman movies, thats for sure!
This was a significant step for the series.
Its the most purely supernatural thing I think weve ever seen at work onArrow.
Thats a big step.
If ever there was a character screaming for a back door pilot, its Deadman!
Alright, maybe not screaming, but at least having his agent make polite inquiries or something.
I think I do wanna die, Deadshot quipped.
Yes…I feel about the same way every time Cupid shows up.
Its the same reason were saddled with Cupid instead of Harley Quinn.
They rose to prominence during Marv Wolfmans often forgotten early 80s pre-Crisis run on Superman inAction Comics.
Hes about as exciting as he seemed here.
Ray and Ollie fight at the Meltzer Power Plant.
Expect much more of this inLegends of Tomorrow.
He originally appeared in Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordways World War II-era Justice Society title,All-Star Squadron.
Opal City is the stomping grounds of my favorite incarnation of Starman, Jack Knight.
Jake Deathbolt Simmons old address was listed as Dixon Canyon.
Speaking of Chuck Dixon, wheres Roy off to?
Could he possibly be headed totheTitansshow that TNT is developing?Nah…probably not.
But that would be kind of awesome.
The thing is, its from the Batman comics.
Here, he uses Theas death (and life) as leverage.
And really, young Damian Wayne is the Heir to the Demon when you get down to it.
The thing is, Bats never took the bait, while Oliver did.
Or it could just be, yknow, a name.
I dont think well be spending much time here
Theres another mention of Ferris Air in this episode.
I swear, no more 52 references.
None of them are named Mera, for example.
One is Alana, which I guess recalls Adam Strange love interest, Alanna Strange, but Im reaching.
We all know Ray Palmer isnt dead, and just (finally) shrank himself.
Dont worry, hell be back in time forLegends of Tomorrow.
Is Nelson Plaza in Starling City a reference to classic DC Comics Silver Age writer E. Nelson Bridwell?
Id like to think so.
