The CW’s DC four-way crossover event is finally here as The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow unite in an epic battle against a villain unlike any they’ve faced before. It’s heroes vs. aliens as the Dominators invade. But who are the Dominators and what could they change in the Arrowverse? For those unfamiliar with these comic book villains, let’s review the real story of the Dominators and what might be in store for the crossover…
The Dominators in the Comics
The Dominators first appeared in 1967 in Adventure Comics issue #361. Created by Jim Shooter, their story was set in the 30th century, and they served as villains against Superboy and the Legion of Superheros. The Dominators did not appear again until 1970 when they served in a larger storyline with the evil Dark Circle, the often villainous Khunds, and even the sorcerer Mordru. However, even after a few appearances, it wasn’t until 1989 when DC widened their focus in the three-issue limited series Invasion! In this series, they were the leading faction behind a massive alien invasion of Earth.
In Invasion!, the Dominators team up with several alien species and send them after Earth’s heroes. However, the true masterminds of the attacks have a secret plan to negate humankind’s metagene. Their belief is that given time, too many humans will have their metagene activated and then humans will become unstoppable. In the end, the Dominators’ Gene Bomb detonates, and dormant metagenes of countless non-powered humans activate, causing exactly what they did not want to happen.
The Dominators’ Imposing Presence
The Dominator’s fearsome look comes from their tall, lanky frames, bright yellow skin, and long sharp teeth and nails. According to Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim, they’ve made use of “cutting-edge prosthetics and computer effects to achieve a feature film-quality look.” We can’t wait to see more of the dominators. In a universe filled with oddities and aliens the Dominators are definitely some of the strangest and scariest creatures we’ve seen.
What Could This Mean For the Arrowverse?
MILD SPOILERS: The crossover begins Monday night, November 28 on Supergirl — though not in earnest until near the end of the episodes, as Barry and Cisco show up on Kara’s Earth to recruit her help against the mind-controlling villains.
Executive producer Marc Guggenheim explains it this waya: “Last year, Supergirl established that Flash was able to make his way to what I call Earth-CBS, and it stands to reason that, with the proper breach technology, the reverse can happen,” Guggenheim said to Entertainment Weekly. “[So] once the heroes [in the Arrowverse] realize that they’re up against aliens, they decide that they need an alien on their side. Fortunately, Barry knows a really nice one.”
The Flash, airing Tuesday, is when things get real as the Dominators begin their worldwide invasion with the intent of wiping out all metahumans on the planet. With the heroes assembled, it seems that a Flashpoint-related secret is revealed that complicates matters.
And it would appear, at least based on the promos, that things get REALLY real on Arrow when Oliver is captured and seemingly held under the influence of the Dominators’ mind control. Expect numerous appearances by major characters from the show’s history (ahem, Deathstroke!) — this is Arrow‘s special 100th episode — as Oliver “wakes up” in a life in which the Queen’s Gambit never capsized.
Finally, on Legends of Tomorrow, it’s up to the crew of the Waverider to defeat the Dominators, as Professor Stein discovers a vulnerability which the team hopes to exploit.
Want to know more? Watch all week, and stay with us on Fandom for our coverage of the Arrowverse four-night crossover on Fandom all week!
