While Marvel may be killing it on the big screen, DC has been the undisputed king of TV for quite some time now. Ever since shows like Batman: The Animated Series first debuted, Warner Brothers Animation has continued to produce some incredibly high quality content featuring some of the world’s greatest heroes. From there, DC has also built a largely successful universe of their own with live-action shows like Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl.
For years now, the shows on The CW network have been some of the most celebrated superhero shows out there. With so many different interpretations at hand, fans have many different versions of characters to enjoy. Since the DCAU and the Arrowverse are some of the largest universe’s DC has built on TV, here is our list of 5 characters that the DCAU nailed, and 5 that the Arrowverse did better.
Batman (DCAU)
While Batman has actually yet to appear on the CW’s Arrowverse, there is still confirmation that he exists within it. Not only has he been alluded to several times on Arrow alone, but the recent Batwoman TV pilot confirms that the Dark Knight was around. Though it may seem a bit unfair to judge the two versions in this regard, the DCAU still did Batman better.
Though his absence is currently a mystery within the Arrowverse, it doesn’t make much sense for Batman to simply up and vanish from Gotham City. Furthermore, Batman’s portrayal by Kevin Conroy in Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League: Unlimited, are easily some of the most celebrated interpretations of the Dark Knight. Even after factoring Christopher nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy into the mix, some fans will still say that they prefer the animated version. As a result, it is pretty clear that the DCAU did better with Batman.
Hawkgirl (Arrowverse)
After she was first introduced, the Arrowverse’s version of Hawkgirl did take awhile to grow into her own as a character. After a tedious amount of character development on The Flash, Hawkgirl finally began to spread her wings (literally) and become a version of the character that was a bit closer to her comic book counterpart.
Though she is no longer part of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, the amount of growth she did has arguably made her a stronger character than the DCAU’s Hawkgirl. Though this version of the character isn’t perfectly in line with the comics, she is still more relevant to the Arrowverse than she is to the DCAU.
Superman (DCAU)
Like with Batman, Superman’s portrayal in the DCAU really understood what the character is all about. Actor Tim Daly does an excellent job voicing the character and the showrunners also captured a lot of classic story elements from Superman’s history.
While Tyler Hoechlin still does a great job as the Man of Steel, his performance doesn’t actually do much to distinguish him from others who have played the part. Granted, he only appears every so often, but it is still safe to say that the DCAU has done a better job thus far. Hopefully, Hoechlin will really get a chance to make his mark with the upcoming Superman and Lois TV series.
Black Canary (Arrowverse)
Of course, with several versions of Black Canary to choose from, it makes sense that the Arrowverse would have done her better. Granted, the DCAU actually did a fantastic job of portraying a more light-hearted side of her relationship with Green Arrow. However, with many different versions of her in the Arrowverse, fans at least have other things to choose from.
Despite the changes made to Black Canary’s role in the comics, the Arrowverse has still found a way to make every interpretation into a compelling character. While this may not be the most accurate portrayal of the character, it is still an incredibly challenging feat to pull off. Though the DCAU may have a more accurate representation, Black Canary is far more relevant to the larger DC Universe within the Arrowverse.
Vandal Savage (DCAU)
Vandal Savage is easily one of the deadliest villains that DC has to offer. As an immortal being, Savage’s evil plots are incredibly difficult to put a permanent end to. Likewise, though both platforms did a great job with the character, the DCAU still did a better job with the character overall.
The Arrowverse actually used Savage far longer than the DCAU ever did, and yet the DCAU still managed to capture a version of Savage that is far more faithful to the comics. While the premise of the two versions remain the same, Savage felt like a much weaker character within the confines of the Arrowverse. Though he did better as a main villain, a lot of his initial story felt overly stretched out in the beginning, proving that the DCAU once again truly understands DC lore.
Atom (Arrowverse)
Brandon Routh has done a phenomenal job as Ray Palmer for the last several years. The actor captures a great sense of humor along with the pure brilliance that is typically associated with Palmer. Furthermore, he is actually very close to The Atom’s portrayal within the DCAU.
Like with Canary though, Atom is far more relevant within the Arrowverse. Likewise, he is utilized far more often. Since his portrayal is fairly close to the animated version, Atom has definitely received better treatment within the Arrowverse.
Huntress (DCAU)
Huntress actually appeared briefly on both Arrow and Justice League: Unlimited. However, she just seemed to work so much better in Justice League: Unlimited. In the DCAU, she was typically seen alongside The Question.
Despite the two’s different personalities, they actually made for an incredibly great pairing. The few episodes featuring the duo are both incredibly well done. Though her portrayal within Arrow still works within the character’s comic book history, something about it just doesn’t quite measure up to what she did in the DCAU.
Flash (Arrowverse)
While many people enjoy Michael Rosenbaum’s classic take on Wally West in the DCAU, Grant Gustin has definitely earned his role as The Flash in the Arrowverse. Despite being two different versions of the character entirely, Grant and the supporting cast of The Flash have managed to carry the entire solo series for 6 seasons now.
Though he was still a major part of the DCAU, Flash still felt like a supporting character. The CW series has also done a lot of good with the source material, finding new ways to do their own thing while still pulling inspiration from the books. Overall, despite its faults, Arrowverse’s Flash is arguably much better than the one in the DCAU.
Lex Luthor (DCAU)
John Cryer actually did a surprisingly good job as Lex Luthor within the Arrowverse. However, much like with Kevin Conroy’s Batman, Clancy Brown’s Lex Luthor is easily one of the best interpretations of the character around. Brown’s version of the Superman villain captured just the right balance of sophisticated and insane that Lex is in the comics.
Furthermore, seeing the villain have far more influence than he did on Supergirl also helps his case. Like Hoechlin’s Superman, Cryer will hopefully get another chance to continue playing the villain. However, he will likely continue to have trouble measuring up to the work that Clancy Brown did.
Green Arrow (Arrowverse)
Considering how the Arrowverse is named after him, it would make sense that Green Arrow would have received better treatment in the Arrowverse than in the DCAU. While Arrow was initially criticized for its darker and grittier approach to the character, it still became one of the most popular shows on the network.
Furthermore, Mike Grell’s run with the character also took a darker approach to Oliver Queen, giving the show a lot of inspiration. Though it has deviated more and more from the comics with time, Arrow still shows exactly what a character like Oliver Queen can do in a world with superpowered beings. While it may not be the most accurate portrayal ever, Arrow still did a lot of good for the character overall.
