Spanning four shows, a multiverse, and literally all of time, the Arrowverse has given us dozens of heroes, villains, and everyday citizens. Whether cultural icon, comic book curiosity, or original creation, some live in the constant spotlight, while others work in the shadows. Too many come and go before we can truly know them. The deep bench of colorful characters has yielded many fan favorites. Yet with so expansive a world, some wonderful characters don’t always get the attention they deserve, including these six great, yet underrated characters.
Joe West (The Flash)
Superheroes need a good relationship with law enforcement, lest they are labeled vigilantes and hunted like the criminals they fight. Thanks in large part to Detective Joe West, Barry Allen has solid support from Central City PD, allowing the people of Central City to see the Flash as the hero he is.
As Barry’s surrogate father, Joe has always played a key role in Barry’s life. A normal guy in an abnormal world, he gets lost in the superpowered shuffle of The Flash. Joe, with his practical wisdom and devotion to family, keeps Barry – and the show – grounded. In a world with dimensional rifts, time-traveling supervillains, and hyperintelligent gorillas, that’s no small feat.
Rory Regan/Ragman (Arrow)
Rory Regan came to Star City after the destruction of his hometown and the death of his family. He wears mystical rags passed down through his ancestors, and through a mental link, he controls the rags, allowing him to fight alongside Team Arrow. As one of the most unique and powerful members of Team Arrow, his stay in Star City promised to be long and memorable. Then the rags lost their powers, and Ragman left the team.
Some fans might overlook his time on the show, despite his compelling backstory. The nuclear missile that destroyed his town and killed his family hit Havenrock through the actions of his future teammate, Felicity. He had to accept the fact that the death of his family saved countless lives while working with the woman who made that happen. The memories may be too much for him to return to Team Arrow, but he’d make a great addition to the Waverider crew. After all, you can never have too many Rorys.
Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (Legends of Tomorrow)
You know how it is: one day you’re working in a coffee shop misspelling costumers’ names and trying not to burn yourself on the milk steamer. The next day, you discover you’re a reincarnated high priestess destined to die repeatedly at the hands of an immortal stalker. Hawkgirl’s origin created the basis for Legends of Tomorrow, reason enough to appreciate her. Unfortunately, she left before the show hit its stride and before fans could see her full potential.
Despite her magical origins, she never stopped reminding us – and herself – of her barista days and the humble life she left behind. On a show filled with larger-than-life characters, we could relate to Kendra because she never lost her sense of wonder for traveling through time and saving the world.
Winn Schott (Supergirl)
From Felicity and Cisco to Curtis and Gideon, the Arrowverse has always stressed the importance of technical savvy. For every hero risking it all, there’s a computer whiz making sure she gets back alive. Winn Schott has had Supergirl’s back since day one, setting up tech support in a spare CatCo Office, protecting her identity, and even designing her suit.
The quintessential IT guy, Winn competes for fan attention with the metahumans and sentient computers that make up much of the Arrowverse’s tech squad. Even on Earth 38, he fights to stand out among the alien powerhouses and the army of tech support within the D.E.O. Despite the competition, Winn has proven he can go toe-to-toe with anyone, even a hyper-intelligent alien cyborg from the future.
Connor Hawke (Arrow)
In the not too distant future, Connor Hawke takes on the mantle of the Green Arrow after Oliver Queen’s departure left Star City in need of a protector. The young son of fan favorite John Diggle, Connor’s future took a dark yet fascinating turn as his city crumbled around him. In 2046, he fights singlehandedly for what’s left of Star City.
He’s only appeared in one episode of Legends of Tomorrow, but his episode and his mission to keep Star City alive was a highlight of the first season. If the show brought him back, Connor could easily become a favorite. Sure, Sarah and Rip took measures to prevent Star City’s dark future, but having never existed is a small obstacle for the crew of the Waverider.
Jesse Quick (The Flash)
The daughter of the doppelganger of the man Barry Allen’s archenemy had impersonated, Jesse Wells, aka Jesse Quick, defines the term outsider. With a genius IQ, Jesse already had something to offer Team Flash. Once the dark matter unlocked her speedster abilities, she became a legitimate superhero. However, having powers identical to the title character has always kept her from grabbing the spotlight.
Her busy life and other-universe origins make Team Flash little more than a side gig for her. As a result, she hides in the shadow of Barry, Wally West, and the other speedsters darting in and out of Central City. Energetic and fun, Jesse could easily headline her own series. With her ability to travel the multiverse, she would have little trouble showing up in Earth 38’s National City sometime.
