Hail, Hail, The Gang’s All Here
Psycho-Pirate: “Don’t worry, doctor. Everything is as it should be. The stage is set. Worlds will live. Worlds will die. And the universe will never be the same.”
Supergirl “Elseworlds Part 3” (Season 4, Episode 9)
The Arrowverse is approaching its Endgame. Ever since the first episode of The Flash, the Arrowverse has hinted that it would adapt the event series Crisis on Infinite Earths. Now the foreshadowing pays off, and the CW is pulling out all the stops.
We’ve written that adapting the Crisis and bringing back actors was the best way for DC to compete with Marvel. It seems that the CW took our advice as they’ve brought on several DC alumni to reprise their roles.
Who are the five most exciting guests? Let’s find out.
Scene Select
#5 Huntress
Original Series: Birds of Prey (2002)
Played by Ashley Scott
Helena: “Maybe I’m not Batman’s little girl anymore. Sometimes I feel like he’s watching… looking over my shoulder. Looking down on all of us.”
Birds of Prey “Devil’s Eyes” (Season 1, Episode 14)
Helena Kyle is the daughter of Batman and Catwoman. She never knew her father and was raised by Catwoman until her death at The Joker’s hands. Heleana decides to avenge her mother by becoming a vigilante called Huntress.
Helena moves in with Barbara Gordon (Dina Meyer), the paralyzed former Batgirl, and butler Alfred Pennyworth. Batman disappears, allowing villains to run amok. Helena responds by teaming up with newcomer Black Canary (Batwoman’s Rachel Skarsten) to form the Birds of Prey.
Unusually, this version of Huntress has superpowers, including super strength, agility, healing, and catlike eyes inherited from her mother. She primarily uses martial arts and a crossbow in fights. Combined with her ubiquitous black trench coat, Huntress looks like an extra from Underworld.
Helana’s role in Crisis on Infinite Earths is the easiest to discern. With Batmen that have disappeared, criminal relatives, and a willingness to kill in common, Huntress will likely be used to show what Batwoman could become. This could be good or bad for the fledgling vigilante.
#4 Bruce Wayne
Original Series: Batman: The Animated Series
Played by Kevin Conroy
Batman: “I am vengeance. I am the night! I am Batman!”
Batman: The Animated Series “Nothing To Fear” Season 1, Episode 10
This incarnation of Batman is the unofficial star of the DC Animated Universe. He debuted in Batman: The Animated Series when Batman grew from an untested vigilante to a capable Caped Crusader. He later appeared on shows like Superman: the Animated Series and Static Shock to set up a Justice League series.
This Batman’s journey ended when he suffered a heart attack during a mission. He had pushed his body too hard over the years and was forced to hold a crook at gunpoint to survive. Bruce Wayne languished through retirement until a chance meeting with his successor, Terry McGinnis. Bruce found a purpose training Gotham City’s newest guardian: Batman Beyond.
Kevin Conroy will play Batman in live action for the first time during the Crisis. Smart money is that he will play an older incarnation of Helena’s father and a mentor to Batwoman. He could also be used as homage to Adam West’s Batman, which is supported by our next guest.
#3 Robin
Original Series: Batman (1966)
Played by Burt Ward
Robin: “Holy toreador!”
Batman “It’s The Way You Play The Game” (Season 2, Episode 26)
Batman: “The word is “matador”, Robin. “Toreador” is a word of convenience used by Bizet in his classic opera Carmen.”
Robin: “Holy matador, then!”
Batman: “Very apt.”
Holy returning guest stars, Batman!
Burt Ward’s claim to fame is playing Robin, the Boy Wonder in 1960s Batman. Despite his crime fighting skills, he was portrayed as a child who needed Batman to teach him valuable life lessons. This might have been believable if Robin was a child, but it was silly with the nineteen-year-old Ward.
The Crisis on Infinite Earths will feature the first-ever live action, united Bat-Family. Burt Ward will most likely appear as a retired Robin. If so, there will almost certainly be a scene where he ruminates on his Batman’s death.
#2 Superman (Kingdom Come)
Original Series: Kingdom Come
Played by Brandon Routh
[Superman has returned from a self-imposed exile]
Kingdom Come
Norman: “He had not turned his back at us. He stands in the sky… faith rewarded. He is returned… and— [He has a vision of a screaming Superman,] —dear God. The threat of Armageddon hasn’t ended. It’s just begun…”
Kingdom Come is a graphic novel by Mark Waid and Alex Ross that tells the story of an alternate future on the brink of an apocalyptic superhero war. It is widely considered one of the greatest comics ever made.
The Joker goes on a killing spree at the Daily Planet, killing Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and the rest of Superman’s friends. The heroes hunt for Joker, who is executed by a new hero called Magog. Traumatized by the loss of his loved ones and the people’s reverence for Magog, Superman goes into exile at the Fortress of Solitude.
The superhero community collapses without Superman’s leadership. Batman becomes a totalitarian guardian of Gotham while Wonder Woman regresses into a murderous Amazon. Superman is coaxed from retirement when Smallville is nuked during a fight.
Superman reforms the Justice League to take control of the reckless new heroes and stop the villains. Batman forms a second faction called the Outsiders, primarily made up of tech-based heroes and vigilantes. Lex Luthor forms an army of villains called the Mankind Liberation Front to eradicate superheroes once and for all. And in the middle of it all, a priest and The Spectre bear witness, searching for a way to stop the apocalypse.
Brandon Routh played Superman in Superman Returns and reprises his role in Crisis while also playing The Atom. Kingdom Come Superman will likely spend his time with Supergirl and her supporting cast who will eventually inspire him to become a hero once more.
#1 Clark Kent (Smallville)
Original Series: Smallville
Played by Tom Welling
Lana Lang: “Nietzsche? I didn’t know you have a dark side, Clark.”
Smallville “Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1)
Clark Kent: “Doesn’t everyone?”
Lana Lang: “So what are you: Man or Superman?”
Clark Kent: “I haven’t figured it out yet.”
The CW’s prodigal son is home. The best guest star in Crisis On Infinite Earths is Tom Welling’s Clark Kent from Smallville.
Smallville focused on a young Clark Kent discovering he was an alien and learning to control his powers. As he trained, he contended with countless supervillains given powers by Kryptonite. Luckily, he has several allies who help him capture the villains, including his best friend Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum).
Smallville was the inspiration for the Arrowverse. Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) was an instant hit when he debuted in season six. Arrow was greenlit as soon as Smallville ended. There was also a proto-Justice League featuring Cyborg (Lee Thompson Young), The Flash (Kyle Gallner) and Aquaman (Alan Ritchson).
It’s a safe bet that Welling’s Superman will be one of the main characters in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. My guess is that he and Kingdom Come Superman will be the equivalent of Superboy Prime and the Earth-2 Superman from the CoIE comic.
Which returning guest star are you most excited for? Tell us in a comment.
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
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