Can You Match The Screenshot To The CW Superhero?
- by Rose Moore
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Since launching Arrow in 2012, the CW has built an impressive live-action DC universe, adding The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl to the same interconnected world. This world continues to grow, and with each new season, new superheroes from the pages of DC comics have made their on-screen debut. At this point, the Arrowverse plays host to an impressively large roster of superheroes, with each show involving an entire team around the central hero, as well as cameos from other heroes who aren't part of the core group.
Big names like the original Flash, Jay Garrick, the Al Ghul family, the Suicide Squad and the Justice Society of America have all made appearances in this world, alongside the members of Team Arrow, Team Flash, and the Legends themselves. In fact, there are so many superheroes who have appeared on the CW that only a true fan would be able to recognize them all from just a single image. We've pulled together thirty-five screenshots of CW superheroes to see if you can identify them by only a single frame; a distinctive part of their costume, a single physical feature, or an image of them from behind. How many can you figure out?
This costume is worn by which superhero?
This superhero has gone through several costumes throughout their time on the CW, with each incarnation getting closer and closer to the one that fans know and love from the comics. They've also had more than one superhero alias over their time as part of the Arrowverse, but some things have remained the same throughout their journey. This hero has recently decided to try and clean up the streets of their city with a career in politics, as well as their work as a vigilante.
Whose reflection is this?
Our heroes aren't in suits all the time, of course. As well as their time fighting crime, most of the heroes on the CW have civilian lives and identities, and that means that most of them have shown up in a suit from time to time. Although it sometimes seems as though everyone knows the 'secret' identity of our heroes, the general public is still kept in the dark with carefully planned public appearances in a very different kind of costume.
Who wears this black mask?
This vigilante is determined to clean up her city and rid the streets of organized crime. Despite her lofty aims, the other vigilante heroes of the CW have not always seen eye-to-eye with her, and often take issue with her violent methods. She is willing to do whatever it takes to take down the people who are hurting her city, even if they are her own family. This is the CW's perfect example of what happens when a vigilante goes rogue.
Whose back is it in this image?
At first glance, this may look like the most dramatic possible way to get out of the bath, but fans of the Arrowverse will recognize that there is a lot more going on here. This superhero is actually being resurrected in Ra's Al Ghul's Lazarus Pit, a magical pool that keeps the Head of the Demon young and whole for centuries. Since it was first introduced to this universe, several characters have taken a dip to cheat death, although now the Pit has been destroyed.
Whose visor-slit is this?
This hero may not have any actual superpowers of their own, but that doesn't prevent them from doing everything they can to try and help the city they live in. Part of a team, this hero uses an impressively designed super-suit and a whole lot of tech to keep fighting crime on the streets - and did it without the knowledge of the main hero in their series for quite some time. Now, however, this hero's identity has been revealed to their friends, and they are fighting alongside the other heroes of the show.
Which superhero wears this cape?
Superheroes are synonymous with capes, but not many of the CW supers actually wear them. However, many of the flying heroes have been known to strap on a cape as part of their super-suit, including this powerful hero who is seen here giving flying lessons to a less-experienced super. This hero didn't appear in their true, heroic, form when they first showed up in the Arrowverse, but has since been revealed to be one of the most powerful heroes in this world.
Who is Brick choking in this image?
As a superhero universe, it's not surprising to learn that the heroes (almost) always defeat the bad guys, even if they have a little trouble at first. Brick, a gangster with superhuman durability, certainly gave some of the heroes a run for their money when he first showed up in the Glades. The team of superheroes who first took him on were shocked at how difficult it was to take him down, and although they did in the end, he nearly got the best of this blonde hero at the start.
Which speedster is this?
As well as having multiple archers, the CW's Arrowverse has more than its fair share of speedsters. Each of the speedsters wears a somewhat similar suit (lots of red and yellow for everyone), with many of the costumes designed by Cisco Ramon to be able to withstand the incredible stress of a body moving at high speed. Because of this, most of the suits look very similar, but eagle-eyed fans will be able to tell whose speed-force emblem this is.
Who is this winged hero?
Although many of the heroes don't actually have superpowers, and use suits and skills to fight crime, there are plenty of other heroes who definitely do have legitimate powers. This winged hero is a quasi-immortal Ancient Egyptian, trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation, and possessing powers of an ancient warrior-god. These powers include super-strength and talons, but also include an impressive set of wings (and the ability to take flight, of course). These wings are only revealed in battle, as the superheroic alter-ego.
Who is training in this image?
This hero had a long journey from civilian to superhero, and has since retired from vigilante life (almost) entirely. However, when they first started to become a fighter, it was with the help of an older mentor, who took them away and trained them how to fight, how to use weapons, how to calm their mind and even how to stop feeling pain. It was an intense training regimen, but it worked, creating a new superhero to join the team.
Which hero wears this furry hood?
Some of the costumes that the CW's superheroes wear are a little more practical than others - and a lot of the designs are based heavily on the originals from the comics. This furry hood is lifted straight from the pages of the comic books, although this character has developed in a very different way in the Arrowverse. As well as the hood, this villain-turned-hero wears tinted glasses to protect themselves from the effects of the weapons that they carry.
Who is this superhero crouched behind a chair?
One of the newer heroes in the Arrowverse, this vigilante wears his name on his chest, although he's still not too thrilled about the title that he's been given by his teammates. As well as fatigues and a sports team jersey, he wears a hockey mask and carries a gun. This hero has no powers of his own, but is a former Navy Seal, and uses his extensive military training to fight crime as a member of his superhero team.
Whose mask is this?
Every superhero has to protect their secret identity (unless they happen to be Tony Stark, of course!), and most do so with some kind of mask. Jokes about unrecognizable chins aside, each hero's mask looks a little bit different, and fits in with the rest of their costume. This mask is actual part of the entire one-piece suit that this hero wears, although they can pull it off their head when they need to - but whose eyes are behind it?
Who has this super-hair?
Blonde curls are the hallmark of more than one superhero on the CW - with some even donning a wig to go out crimefighting. Others seems like their super-powers include the ability to get through multiple fight scenes without messing up their 'do - definitely an impressive feat! This hero's hair is all her own, but she does tend to use it the way that others use their masks - to look completely different when fighting crime and going about her day, so that no-one would ever suspect her secret super-identity.
Whose star-spangled costume is this?
No, Captain America hasn't bridged the gap between Marvel and DC. This all-American hero and member of the Justice Society is an entirely different hero, and one who gains their powers through the golden staff that they use. After being sent back in time to guard a fragment of the Spear of Destiny, this hero took on the identity of Merlin at Camelot, using that staff and their superpowers to create a kingdom where they stood by the throne as a powerful magician.
Which archer wears this black and red costume?
Green isn't the only color that arrows come in in this universe - with multiple archers firing their own, color-coordinated projectiles. This costume belongs to one of the many bowmen on the series, a character who bears the name of a comic book hero, but who isn't quite the same as he is in the source material. He may be missing a metal arm, but he does still wear the same red crime-fighting costume that comic fans will recognize - with a few small differences.
Who uses this chestpiece to control their powers?
This character has gone through a few different incarnations since they first appeared in the show, and this is one of the earliest versions of the suit that this hero wears. The most important part of the suit is the quantum splicer worn on the chest - it allows this hero to split into his two separate personas, and to recombine safely in order to use their firey powers. The splicer is later built into a full protective suit, but who wore this version?
Who is this young archer?
This young archer only appeared in two episodes as an adult, although he has also shown up in multiple other episodes as a baby. He made his full vigilante appearance in an alternate version of 2046, where Deathstroke has taken over the city, Oliver Queen has disappeared, and he is the only vigilante left trying to keep the peace. It's not clear whether this future is still a possibility, but it's likely that no matter what the future holds, this young man will grow up to be a hero.
Who wears this black cowl?
While some superheroes don't bother with a mask at all, this superhero covers his entire face. A member of the Justice Society of America, this hero may have only appeared briefly in the Arrowverse, but was certainly memorable. He has the power to use shadows, create darkness around himself, and even become a form of living-shadow, with wispy black smoke under his control. He was one of the only member of the JSA to survive into old age, and to tell the Legends about the fate of the rest.
Which muscle-bound hero is standing next to Canary and Hawkgirl in this photo?
This photo reveals three of the original Legends of Tomorrow, including this muscle-bound hero who never really got a lot of screentime. After dying (more than once), this Ancient Egyptian ended up leaving the Legends at the end of season one, and heading out into the world to try and live a normal life with the woman that he loves. It was a short but sweet appearance in the Arrowverse, and there's always the possibility that he (and his lady love) will swoop back into the picture again in future.
Whose belt is this?
This hero had to wait quite a while to get their powers, let alone this awesome super-suit. But comic book fans knew from the start that he would eventually become a real super-hero, just based on his name (and connection to the bigger heroes in the show). Finally, it was through contact with the Philosopher's Stone that this hero gained his powers and started training - with a brand new super suit in red and gold, that almost matches that of his mentor.
Which hero’s face is behind this lighter?
None of the heroes on the CW smoke, of course, but that doesn't mean that they never play with fire. This character's obsession with fire started as a child, and took him on a path to becoming an arsonist and a criminal before finally becoming a true hero - although he's still a little rough around the edges. Part of a criminal team who became legends, this hero's name comes from his love of the flames - and tendency to use them in his weapons.
Who wears this red-fronted suit?
Another hero whose appearance in the Arrowverse was short-lived, this alien hero struggled with their own identity, and with hiding who they really were - on multiple levels! A shape-shifter, this hero was able to use their powers to hide their true nature for a long time, but eventually they were found out when they sacrificed their secret to save a friend. Now, this hero is off-world once again, looking for other aliens like themselves, who want to find peace for their people.
Who wears this red and yellow suit?
An earlier version of this suit has already appeared in this list, but who wore the updated version? This suit was created to not only hold the quantum splicer that lets this hero use their powers properly, but to protect them from the flames that they create - and can survive temperatures of up to 15 million degrees. It also appears only when this hero merges with his counterpart, neatly dealing with the issue of taking the suit on and off when it's crime-fighting time.
Whose hands are these?
Another hero whose 'suit' simply appears when they activate their powers, this hero is a recent addition to the Legends of Tomorrow team. When he first joined, he didn't have any super-powers, but was an incredibly intelligent historian who was able to keep the team on track hunting down time aberrations. Later, however, he was injected with a serum that gave him super-abilities, and became a full-fledged member of the team, able to transform his skin into a metallic substance.
Which hero is this?
A member of the Justice Society of America, this is another hero who made only a brief appearance in the Arrowverse. He appeared first in the past, as a member of the JSA with the ability to see perfectly in the dark (a useful ability when used in conjunction with that of his colleague who could create darkness). Later, he reappeared in the year 3000, where he posed as a cybernetics researcher in order to guard a piece of the Spear of Destiny.
Which hero loves to wear sweatervests?
This hero is never seen in a super-suit, as he disappears when his powers are activated. However, he also has an incredible brain, and intelligence at such a level that it could be considered a superpower all of its own. One of the oldest heroes in this universe, his style definitely matches his age, and he has a penchant for sweater vests and sensible shoes - but we've seen his wild side come out from time to time as well.
Who is this latest addition to the CW?
This new hero will be joining the CW this fall, as the star of a new DC comics series (although it won't be connected to the Arrowverse proper just yet). A retired superhero and high school principal, this vigilante has the ability to control electricity. He'll be putting his costume back on in the new series to fight the 100 gang that is terrorizing his neighborhood, and the series is sure to add a whole new set of heroes to the CW world.
Who is this plain-clothes superhero?
This hero is part of more than one crime-fighting team, but he never wears a costume. Instead, this hero prefers to be behind a computer screen, whether at the DEO or in his specially-created van, telling the other heroes that he works with exactly what they should be doing. He's gone out into the field once or twice, but is definitely more comfortable behind a desk. Still, that doesn't make him any less of a hero, or a valuable member of the team.
Which superhero’s costume has white shoulders?
Another superhero whose primary power is their intellect, this hero has gone from being a tech nerd and friend to a real member of a super-team... with lots of difficult training in the middle. Their choice of mask is black facepaint, and their costume is black with red and white accents. In addition to their intelligence and recent training, this hero loves to create gadgets to help fight crime, like the two orbs that are being held in this image.
Who wore this mask in Doomworld?
This hero doesn't wear a mask in the main timeline of the Arrowverse, although they do have a code name and are a vital part of a super-team. However, when the Legion of Doom took over the world and changed everything, this character was one of the last heroes standing. They wore a dark purple costume, including this mask that features some impressive (and homemade) technology. This hero may not have survived Doomworld, but many fans would love to see the costume make an appearance in the main continuity.
Whose gun is this?
With so many heroes running around the Arrowverse without real powers, it's no surprise that there are some pretty impressive weapons on display instead. Some of the guns used shoot fire or can freeze their targets, but this is a straight-up laser gun, which is pretty impressive. However, it doesn't look too futuristic. The owner has a connection to the 'wild west', after all, so their gun is created to look like an old six-shooter, even if it doesn't deal in real bullets.
Which member of the JSA is this?
This was the first member of the Justice Society of America to appear in the Arrowverse, when he greeted the Legends at the end of season one. The leader of the JSA, this hero travelled through multiple timelines to work with the Legends, and to warn them away from their deaths at the hands of Reverse Flash. Sadly, however, he met his own end courtesy of that same villain, and his death sent Amaya on board the Waverider to try and avenge his death.
Who wears this necklace?
Two characters in the Arrowverse have actually worn this totem necklace, but both have the same superhero name. This legacy hero has the power to take on the abilities of any animal through her totem necklace. She can only take on one animal at a time, however, and if the necklace is removed, she becomes powerless. Despite travelling with the Legends for a while, she has to return to the main timeline, to fulfill her destiny and pass on the totem to the next generation.
Whose chest is this?
Let's wrap things up with an easy one - and a chest that bears one of the most recognizable emblems in comic books. This symbol is worn on the costume of more than one superhero in the Arrowverse, with matching costumes created for the cousins who wear this symbol when they are fighting crime. This show-stopping superhero isn't a regular part of the Arrowverse, but he has shown up from time to time, both to help his cousin, and to fight her.