8 DC Comics Characters The Arrowverse Has Saved
Who cared about these guys before The CW came along?
The CW's Arrowverse - comprised of Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl (plus, Constantine and Vixen) - has given us plenty of great characters over the years.
Most of these had the bedrock of being based off a character who was already awesome in the world of DC comics. For instance, Barry Allen's Flash, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter and many more. Alternatively, others were completely original creations (Alex Danvers, Joe West, John Diggle etc), which meant they weren't held back by any baggage.
Some characters, however, were adaptations of those who actually weren't so great in the comic book universe. Be they a forgotten footnote in superhero history, a character usually left in the background, or just someone who was plain rubbish, these guys didn't make a whole lot of impact on the page.
Whatever their origins, the Arrowverse has had the honour of saving these characters and making them popular, fully-characterized people. Some of the following characters might not be your personal favourites, but - whether they are a supporting character, a season-long villain or even the star of the show - you have to admit they are stronger than they were in the comics.
8. Mon-El
Mon-El has not been the most widely acclaimed character on Supergirl. In fact, some fans outright hate him because of how much screentime he got in season two, arguably at the expense of the show's own heroine. Still, while how much you like Chris Wood's brand of dudebro charm depends on your personal tastes, it has to be said that Supergirl's take on the character is a much more fleshed out version of the character on the page.
Mon-El - whose real name is Lar Gand - is a long-running character in the comics, first appearing back in 1961. He went on to become a major member of the time-travelling Legion of Super-Heroes and a staunch ally to Superman. All that said, in terms of personality, he isn't a particular standout. Basically, he's just another version of Superman. The pair's likenesses are even almost identical.
With that in mind, Supergirl's decision to make Mon-El a spoiled, cowardly and kind of sexist prince who learns to become a better man and a hero over the show's second season was a radical but worthwhile rehaul of the character. Even if his real name being Mon-El on the show makes zero sense.