10 Arrowverse Villains Who Were Actually Heroes

The Dark Archer set the bar high for Arrowverse villainy, with his intimidating presence and John Barrowman's engaging presence placing the character as both a fantastic villain and a last-minute but well crafted hero.

Malcolm Merlyn's journey from grieving widower to vengeful villain - and later antagonistic supporting character - had its bumps along the way, but was wrapped in a fitting and somewhat tragic tale.

Born Arthur King, Malcolm's life before the events of Arrow was just as storied as his later years. From joining clandestine society the Hidden, to joining the League of Assassins after the death of his wife, Merlyn gained knowledge and skills that cemented him as a formidable foe and ally to Oliver Queen and his fellow heroes.

Merlyn's personal connection to Oliver gave their clashes and scattered alliances weight that most villain-hero team-ups lacked, especially as he was Thea Queen's father.

This softened Malcolm somewhat, as he tried to win over his daughter's affections. But this was no small feat, as Merlyn's more sinister side constantly pushed Thea away. However, the Dark Archer proved himself to be a caring (in his own way) father as he saved Thea from a landmine during Oliver's final stand against Adrian Chase.