As a comic nerd, I want the stories I read to be true and faithful to the source material when portrayed on the big or small screen. Recently, I had been thinking about the Sam Raimi
Spider-Man Trilogy. In the first film of the series, Spidey faced off against the Green Goblin. Awkwardly enough, the Goblins alias was Spider-Mans best friends father. At the end of the film, Peter drops the body of Norman Osborn off at his home. It is here that we see Harry, Normans son, spot him. In the closing moments of the first film, within the funeral scene, Harry swears a vendetta to kill Spider-Man. We see this pursuit all the way throughout the second film. He finally learns who Spider-Mans alias is, in the third film, he vows to take up the mantle of his father and become the new Green Goblin. This is faithful to the comics; it is taken from the Legacy of Death story arc. Which brings me to an interesting theory about televisions
Arrow. For those, who have read my stuff they know I write a column on here about the history and mythology of Green Arrow found within the series. I wanna analyze something really fast: The Dark Archer. Another alias of this villain was Merlyn. Yet, if you look into the characters mythology prior to the series no one named Malcolm Merlyn exists. In fact, the character is actually named Arthur King. The character was originally intended as nothing more than a ridiculously good marksman. Hes pretty much the same thing as Green Arrow, only hes an evil assassin. Hes battled both Green Arrow and Black Canary on several occasions throughout the history of the comic books. In the comics, Merlyns attention was caught from Oliver Queens robin-hood inspired personas reputation. At this time in the mythology, he had taken the stage name of Merlyn the Magician. He has this prideful attitude about him being the best; an attitude that is carried equally to the Malcolm character in the series. In the earlier years of his character development, he gives an open challenge to Green Arrow for an archery duel. However, this plan of his backfires a bit when Green Arrow showed Merlyn up. This made the character turn bitter and go into seclusion. This bitterness in him created something new, something dark. He started using his skills to become a hired assassin. Merlyn worked very hard to make his skill level better to take up the mantle of the worlds greatest assassin. Plus, Im pretty sure it wouldnt hurt if he ran into Green Arrow again, this time hed be prepared. To say the writers of
Arrow arent faithful to the mythology of the character and the DC Universe is an understatement. In this season, weve heard references to The Flash, Bludhaven, Batman, Green Lantern and thats just to name a few. Specifically this Dark Archer character is one that is very crucial to the mythology of the character. The character was first introduced into the
Arrow universe in the ninth episode of the first season. The episode entitled Years End aired right before the shows six week hiatus in December of last year. The Dark Archer was making it look like The Hood was coming back to kill targets. Adam Hunt, the first Hood target of the series, is killed before the first set of commercials started to roll. Detective Lance refers to the job as copycat work. Obviously, here we see that the Dark Archers attention was caught by The Hood. Why else would this mysterious marksman come out of nowhere? So, the mythology is right thus far. Heres where it gets interesting though. Towards the end of the episode, the two archers duke it out. Yet, unlike the comics, Oliver loses. In the follow-up episode, we see, Oliver literally going out of his way to avoid taking up The Hood. The loss against this Dark Archer really got to him. In the comics it was however the other way around. It is that competition that actually causes the Dark Archer to become a villain. I think the writers are brewing something bigger though. The Dark Archer in the comics had a motive. He was convinced he was the best marksman in the world, until losing to Green Arrow. From what we can see thus far into the show, Malcolm was no motivation. Malcolm catches on to The Hood targeting the list while towards the end of the episode, Damaged (Season One, Episode Five). This Dark Archer has no real motivation behind doing what he was doing in targeting The Hood. Perhaps, it was to wipe him out before he caught onto The Undertaking. It has been noted that throughout the course of this season, Malcolm will do whatever necessary to keep this project a secret. We learned recently in the The Undertaking the reason why Malcolm is so hell-bent on this project is because the glades took his wife from him. For those who dont know what the glades are, they are the seedy portion of Startling City. Malcolm is more concerned with getting even with the glades than bringing down The Hood. My theory is that Tommy will take up the mantle of The Dark Archer and be a main villain throughout the shows seasons to come. You see in the New 52, when the character Merlyn was reimagined he was no longer Arthur King. His name now was Tommy Merlyn. He was reintroduced, not as a rival, but as close friend to Oliver. We see that already in the series. Weve learned these characters were introduced as growing up together, partying together, both Queen and Merlyn families being close.
Arrow portrays a relationship between Tommy Merlyn and Dinah Laurel Lance. Wait, thats not right. Its supposed to be Oliver Queen and Dinah Laurel Lance together. I believe in the second season will see, that relationship grow accordingly to the comics and their mythology of the Green Arrow and Black Canary characters. I believe in Home Invasion, Tommy left specifically for us to see that come together in the second season. I believe the writers also did that as a way for Tommy to take up the mantle of The Dark Archer. This gives the character motivation to do so. The vendetta of Merlyn, in the comic books, was hating Oliver Queen. Well, thats what we are starting to see here. In Dead to Rights, Oliver shares his identity with Tommy in an attempt to save Malcolms life. This kind of throws Tommy off. We see his anger and the hurt of betrayal throughout the course of The Huntress Returns. Tommy knowing the secret of The Hood changes the complete direction of this lifelong friendship. Almost the way losing the archery battle changed the way Merlyn felt about Green Arrow. Weve seen a tone shift in their friendship and in the way they speak to one another. Even in Unfinished Business when Tommy quits the position of General Manager of Olivers night club, he goes to get a job to work with his father. If you know anything about this television show, then you know the relationship between Tommy and Malcolm has been a rocky one at best. In the beginning of the series, Tommy is living wealthy from his fathers hard work and rather large bank account. Muse of Fire proved otherwise when Malcolm cuts Tommy off financially. We see attempts throughout the season for what seems like a genuine effort to rekindle the relationship from Malcolm. I did say attempts because he always comes with a hidden agenda at every effort hes ever made.
Within the episode of this season or even quite possibly the first few episodes of the second season, we will see a battle between The Hood and the Dark Archer. The Dark Archer will fall and die. Paying attention to Olivers conducts, since their first battle The Hood character has gotten faster in speed. Tommy wont know that his father is The Dark Archer, but he will come and find the bow and outfit in his office. He will put the two and two together. I believe the way the writers have written the Digg character to have a vendetta with Deadshot for the death of his brother; we will see the same here with Tommy and his father. The second season will portray Tommy learning archery in order to take up the mantle of his fathers villainous ways. The writers could either do that or could do it in a way in which something backfires with The Undertaking and Malcolm dies in that. Only time will tell. What are your thoughts? Catch
Arrow Wednesday nights at 8pm on The CW and the season finale airing May 15th.