Below is a list of characters who originally appeared in the DC Comics multiverse prior to the episode's airing, by appearance.
The Flash (CBS)
Characters first appearing in The Flash:
- Barry Allen/The Flash ("Pilot")
- Linda Park ("Pilot")
- Nora Allen ("Pilot")
- Henry Allen ("Pilot")
- Iris West ("Pilot")
- Tina McGee ("Pilot")
- The Ghost ("Ghost In The Machine") *
- James Jesse/The Trickster ("The Trickster")
- Captain Cold ("Captain Cold")
- Samuel "Sam" Scudder/Mirror Master ("Done with Mirrors")
Comic book tie-in characters
- Kid Flash ("Meet Kid Flash") *
Referenced characters
In-universe fictional characters
Characters adapted as objects, concepts or groups
- Garrick Avenue ("Pilot")
- Margo Lane ("The Trickster")
Fully renamed characters
- Jay Allen ("Pilot") (partially fulfills the role of Jay Garrick)
- Desmond Powell/Nightshade ("Ghost In The Machine") (uses elements of several DC comics characters including Clipper, Wesley Dodds/The Sandman and Spaulding/Mikado)
- Curtis Bohannan (partially fulfills the role of Mason Trollbridge, the second Clipper)
Characters from other sources appearing in comics
- Genghis Khan ("Pilot")
Notes:
- Despite not being based on any particular character from the DC comics, Russell shares a lot of character traits with a few DC supervillains of the same name, particularly Alec Rois.
- While Everett is not based on any particular Kid Flash, he shares names and powers with most of them.
Birds of Prey
Characters first appearing in Birds of Prey:
- Helena Wayne/Huntress ("Pilot")
- Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle ("Pilot")
- Dinah Lance/Black Canary ("Pilot")
- Alfred Pennyworth ("Pilot")
- Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn ("Pilot")
- Bruce Wayne/Batman ("Pilot")
- Joker ("Pilot")
- Selina Kyle/Catwoman ("Pilot")
- Dinah Drake/Black Canary ("Sins of the Mother")
- Sandra Wu-San/Lady Shiva ("Lady Shiva")
- Carolyn Wu-San ("Lady Shiva")
- Cassius Payne/Clayface ("Feat of Clay")
Referenced characters
- Dick Grayson/Robin ("Slick")
- Jason Todd/Robin ("Slick")
- Tim Drake/Robin ("Slick")
Arrow
Characters first appearing in Arrow:
Comic book tie-in characters
- Khem-Adam ("Following")
- Ravan Nassar ("Haunted") *
- Lyle Bolton ("Assurances")
Novel tie-in characters
- Adeline Wilson (Arrow: Vengeance)
- Father Trigon/The Devil (Arrow: Vengeance)
- Wade DeForge (Arrow: Vengeance)
Referenced characters
In-universe fictional characters
- Blue Devil ("Time of Death")
- Blue Beetle ("Promises Kept")
Characters adapted as objects, concepts or groups
- The Fireflies ("Burned")
- Amazo ("City of Heroes")
- Metamorpho ("Broken Dolls")
- AK Desmond Group ("What We Leave Behind")
- Scorpions ("Promises Kept")
Fully renamed characters
- Mrs. Reston ("Legacies") (fulfills the role of Queen on Royal Flush Gang)
- Mr. Blank ("Home Invasion") (based on Onomatopoeia)
- Isaac Stanzler ("Guilty") (based on Vengeance)
- Laura Washington/Cyber-woman ("Invasion!") (based on LeTonya Charles/Cyborgirl)
- Eric Dunn/Lead Skull ("Vigilante") (fulfills the role of Atomic Skull as the leader of his crew)
Characters from other sources appearing in comics
- Robin Hood ("Pilot")
Notes:
- Thea is based on the comic book character, Mia Dearden, the second person to take on the mantle of Green Arrow's sidekick, Speedy, and the first to be a female. Though the name "Thea Queen" originates from the show.
- Even though Laurel is the direct adaptation of Black Canary in Arrow, her younger sister, Sara Lance, who is an original character specifically created for the show and was previously known as "The Canary", is also based in part on the same character. Sara is also an adaptation of another comic book character, the White Canary.
- Felicity's code name had been used in the comics only once, but by another character. It was introduced as "Overwatch-One", the code name of Terry Sloan in Earth 2: Society series.
- Even though Malcolm is the direct adaptation of Merlyn in Arrow, Tommy Merlyn, who is in part an original character specifically created for the show, is also based on the same character. Both Malcolm and Tommy were later canonized in the comics as parts of the Dark Archer/Merlyn legacy. The show's Earth-X version of Tommy is more closely modeled after the original comic book character.
- Due to the several iterations of the Royal Flush Gang, both versions of King and Ace are considered to be adaptations of the many iterations of each of the characters from the comics, respectively.
- Both characters are based on the original Black Canary from the comics, Dinah Drake-Lance. However, on the show, the character is split into two unrelated and altogether separate individuals.
- In the comics, Isabel is also known as "The Queen". Ravager, which is the alias she is informally given on the show, is the alter ego of several comic book characters, most of them related to Slade Wilson.
- Sebastian's parents are both based on comic book characters as well. Sebastian Sangre is based in part on Sebastian Blood VIII who is the father of Sebastian Blood IX, with "sangre" being the Spanish word for blood. Maya Resik is based in part on Mother Mayhem. Both women who adopted the title, Anna Resik and May Bennett, were mothers of different Sebastian Bloods.
- Sin's real first name on the show has been revealed to be Cindy with her last name being still unknown. In the comics, her name is Cynthia and she got the surname "Lance" after she got adopted by Black Canary.
- Richard is based on The Seattle Slasher, an otherwise unnamed serial killer from the mini-series Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters.
- Steelgrave is seemingly based on the comic book character, Professor Steelgraves.
- Even though Werner Zytle is the direct adaptation of Cecil Adams in Arrow, the drug dealer, known as "The Count" or "Cecil Adams", who is in part an original character specifically created for the show, is also based on the same character.
- Even though his first name was changed to "Curtis" for the show, he is based on the comic book superhero Michael Holt, the second Mr. Terrific.
- Paul is a reimagining of Michael Holt's spouse, who in the comics is a female and is named Paula Holt.
- Evelyn Sharp is an amalgamation of two characters; Evelyn Crawford/Starling and the vigilante, Artemis.
- In the comics, Adrian Chase is known as the crime-fighter Vigilante. However, on the show, Vigilante appears as a totally different character, Vincent Sobel, while the name "Adrian Chase" is used only as an alias by Prometheus.
- Sampson was also likely named after first chronological Green Arrow villain ever by appearance, Ezra Samson, who opposed Oliver Queen and Roy Harper in More Fun Comics #73's story Case of the Namesake Murders. He shares some similarities with Sampson beyond name, as well.
- Even though the character originates from the mainstream DC comics, his last name was never revealed, as he was only known by his first name. Unlike the comics, in Arrow: Season 2.5 he is given a last name as well, Nassar.
- Even though in the comics his first name is unknown, he is based on a character known as Master Jansen who first appeared in Flash #218.
The Flash (The CW)
Characters first appearing in The Flash:
Characters from other media
- Dr. Wells ("Pilot")
- Anthony Bellows ("Tricksters")
- Black Siren ("Invincible")
- Julio Mendez ("Flashpoint")
- Kline ("The Once and Future Flash")
- Zoey Clark/Prank ("The Elongated Knight Rises")
Comic book tie-in characters
- Bliss ("The Strongman Cometh")
- Black Star ("Black Star")
Novel tie-in characters
- Madame Xanadu (The Flash: Hocus Pocus)
- Earthworm (The Flash: Johnny Quick)
- Johnny Quick (The Flash: Johnny Quick)
- Ultraman (The Flash: Johnny Quick)
- Superwoman (The Flash: Johnny Quick)
- Owlman (The Flash: Johnny Quick)
- Power Ring (The Flash: Johnny Quick)
- Dawn Allen (The Flash: The Tornado Twins)
- Don Allen (The Flash: The Tornado Twins)
- Roxxas (The Flash: The Tornado Twins)
- Charles Taine (The Flash: The Tornado Twins)
- Bert Larvan (The Flash: Green Arrow's Perfect Shot)
- Phantom Stranger (The Flash: Green Arrow's Perfect Shot)
- Anti-Matter Man (The Flash: Green Arrow's Perfect Shot)
Referenced characters
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In-universe fictional characters
- Rita Farr ("Things You Can't Outrun")
- Nighthawk ("Power Outage") *
- Cinnamon ("Power Outage") *
Characters adapted as objects, concepts or groups
Fully renamed characters
- Joe West ("Pilot") (fulfills the role of Ira West and William West in West family)
- Lewis Snart ("Family of Rogues") (based on Lawrence Snart)
Characters from other sources appearing in comics
Notes:
- Even though Eobard is the actual version of Reverse-Flash in The Flash, Eddie Thawne, who is in part an original character specifically created for the show, is considered to be partly based on the same character, due to the similarity of their names.
- Even though the character originates from the comics, his last name was never revealed, as he was only known by his first name or his alias. Unlike the comics, on the show he is given a last name as well, Gibran.
- In the comics, Baez's first name is actually Lashawn but it was changed to Shawna for the show.
- Brie is a reimagining of the villain known as the Bug-Eyed Bandit, who in the comics is a male and is named Bertram Larvan.
- Al Rothstein is also the name of a previous unrelated character, who was mentioned in "Power Outage".
- In the mainstream DC comics, King Shark's real name is Nanaue.
- In the mainstream DC comics, there are two different versions of Doctor Light, with the second one being a female of Asian heritage. Though it is not Linda Park but Kimiyo Hoshi.
- In the mainstream DC comics, Hath-Set and Vandal Savage are two separate characters, with only the former being involved in Hawkman and Hawkgirl's origin, but in this version they are combined.
- Even though the character originates from the comics, his real name was never revealed, as he was only known by his aliases, "The Turtle" or "Turtle Man". Unlike the comics, on the show he is given an actual name as well, Russell Glosson.
- In the comics, "Reverb" and "Rupture" are the aliases of Armando Ramone, the brother of Paco Ramone a.k.a. Vibe (a former version of Francisco "Cisco" Paco Ramon).
- For a large part of the second season, Hunter Zolomon masqueraded as "Jay Garrick" before the actual character's introduction on the show.
- In the comics, Albert Desmond is a man with a personality disorder, acting under two separate supervillain identities; Mr. Element and Dr. Alchemy. A number of people succeeded Albert in both these identities. This is adapted on the show as "Alchemy" is just an avatar of Savitar that he uses to possess people of different universes, with Julian being among them.
- Rosa is a reimagining of the villain known as the Top, who in the comics is a male and is named Roscoe Dillon.
- In the comics, the aliases of Nighthawk and Cinnamon were used by legendary bounty hunters, Hannibal Hawkes and Katherine Manser (reincarnations of Khufu and Chay-Ara), during the 19th Century. On the show, Hawkes and his unnamed partner do exist but did not use these names. The two aliases are used as fictional film characters on the present day instead.
- In the comics, Hunk Norvock was a crime boss an enemy of Jay Garrick's The Flash, affiliated with Clifford DeVoe. In the series, however, his first name is Matthew.
- In the comics, Kilg%re is an electro-mechano-organic lifeform, lacking a human-like form and name. Unlike the comics, on the show he is given an actual name as well, Ramsey Deacon.
- Mina Chaytan is a reimagining of the villain known as Black Bison, who in the comics is a male and is named Black-Cloud-In-Morning a.k.a John Ravenhair.
- Izzy is a reimagining of the villain known as the Fiddler, who in the comics is a male and is named Isaac Bowin.
Constantine
Characters first appearing in Constantine:
Referenced characters
- Alec Holland/Swamp Thing (John Constantine's phone line)
- Judith ("The Saint of Last Resorts") *
- Lilith ("The Saint of Last Resorts")
- Naamah ("The Saint of Last Resorts")
- Monkey King ("Quid Pro Quo")
Characters from other sources appearing in comics
- Jesus Christ ("Non Est Asylum")
- Horus ("Non Est Asylum")
- David ("A Feast of Friends")
- Solomon ("A Feast of Friends")
- Grim Reaper ("Blessed Are the Damned")
- Adam ("The Saint of Last Resorts")
- Eve ("The Saint of Last Resorts")
Notes:
- The character is loosely based on Baron Winters, a mysterious occultist affiliated with John Constantine.
- Nommo is an adaptation of the comic book character Doctor Mist.
- Several key aspects and names used in Nahash are adapted from the DC comics characters: The Tempter is a low-level demon "old as time itself", originating as an enemy of Hawkman and Superman and then appearing as a minor antagonist for Zatanna. Ophidian, the Entity of Avarice in the DC comics is a demonic being with a similar snake physiology and set of powers, who is heavily implied to be the basis for a Biblical serpent, as well. The Trickster is usually a legacy name of several villains of The Flash, most known being James Jesse and Axel Walker.
- In the comics Judith is a minor character and a member of the Newcastle Crew. She has made only a few small appearances and most of the time she is just mentioned by other characters. Her last name is unknown.
Vixen
Characters first appearing in Vixen:
- Mari McCabe/Vixen ("Episode 1") *
- Jeanne-Mari Jiwe ("Episode 5")
- Richard Jiwe ("Episode 5")
- Eshu ("Episode 6") *
Referenced characters
Notes:
- Even though Mari is the actual version of Vixen, her ancestor, Amaya Jiwe, who is an original character specifically created for the show, is also based in part on the same character.
- In DC comics Eshu is a trickster god and one of the Gods of Africa, affiliated with Firestorm. Benatu Eshu appears to be based loosely on this character, bringing mischief and possessing the fire-based powers himself.
Supergirl
Characters first appearing in Supergirl:
Characters from other media
- Winn Schott ("Pilot")
- T'ania J'onzz ("Strange Visitor From Another Planet")
- Lillian Luthor ("The Adventures of Supergirl")
- Eve Teschmacher ("The Adventures of Supergirl")
- Lionel Luthor ("Luthors")
- Music Meister ("Star-Crossed")
- Otis ("American Alien")
Comic book tie-in characters
Novel tie-in characters
- Jerro (Supergirl: Age of Atlantis)
- Vicki V. (Supergirl: Age of Atlantis)
- Gaius Marcus (Supergirl: Age of Atlantis)
- Beelzebub (Supergirl: Curse of the Ancients)
- Tempus Fugit (Supergirl: Curse of the Ancients)
- Jason Blood (Supergirl: Master of Illusion)
- Princess Tlaca (Supergirl: Master of Illusion)
- Will Magnus (Supergirl: Master of Illusion)
Referenced characters
Characters from other sources appearing in comics
Notes:
- Guardian is the name of several characters in the DC canon. However, while multiple people have donned the mantle of Guardian, Olsen is not one of them.
- Amelia is a gender-swapped version of comic book character and supporting character in Superman comics, Emil Hamilton.
- While in the original comics Angon is character's name here it is a name of his homeworld planet system.
- In the comics, the name "Mon-El" is only an alias for the character, as his real name is Lar Gand. On the show, the character is split in two; Mon-El and his father, Lar Gand, the prince and king of Daxam, respectively.
- In the comics Dark Arrow was an alias used by the amnesiac Hannibal Bates who transformed into Oliver Queen's likeness.
- Jacqueline is a reimagining of the villain known as the second Toyman, who in the comics is a male and is named Jack Nimball.
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Characters first appearing in DC's Legends of Tomorrow:
Referenced characters
- Kanjar Ro ("Marooned")
- Imperiex ("Marooned")
- Tzin-Tzin ("Left Behind")
- Tigris ("Left Behind")
- Malaq ("Left Behind")
- Fadir Nasser ("Left Behind")
- Hannibal Hawkes ("The Magnificent Eight") *
- D. Morris ("Phone Home")
- David Palmer ("Phone Home")
In-universe fictional characters
Characters adapted as objects, concepts or groups
- Waverider ("Pilot, Part 1")
Fully renamed characters
- Sandy Palmer ("Phone Home") (based on Susan Palmer)
Characters from other sources appearing in comics
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Notes:
- In the comics, Chronos was a supervillain obsessed with time, and an enemy of Ray Palmer, the Atom. However, while multiple people donned the mantle of Chronos, Mick Rory was not one of them.
- In the comics, Grant is known as either Ravager or Legacy, but in the show he takes on the moniker of Deathstroke, like his father, Slade.
- In DC Comics, Bonnie Baxter is a member of the Time Masters and an ally of Rip Hunter, much like the similarly-named character on the show.
- In the comics, Sgt. Rock's real name is Frank Rock, though on the show it hasn't been mentioned yet.
- In the mainstream DC comics, Albrecht Krieger a.k.a. Captain Nazi and Übermensch are two separate characters but in this version they are combined.
- In the comics Malleus is an almost-identically named and similarly-looking metahuman supervillain in the Dakotaverse universe unrelated to most of the DC continuities. While he is not a demon, he shares more than a passing resemblance with Mallus, having similar bestial appearance with occasional bat-like leather wings, having his first appearance in shadows, having a shady and mostly unknown past (including name and time period) as well as creating a group of supervillains with supernatural powers, albeit with a "fail-safe" switch.
Freedom Fighters: The Ray
Characters first appearing in Freedom Fighters: The Ray:
- Jennifer Knight/Phantom Lady ("Episode One")
- Darrel Dane/Doll Man ("Episode One")
- John Trujillo/Black Condor ("Episode One")
- Blitzen ("Episode One")
- Black Arrow ("Episode One")
- Nadine Terrill ("Episode Three")
- Happy Terrill/The Ray ("Episode Three")
Referenced characters
Black Lightning
Characters first appearing in Black Lightning:
Referenced characters
- Christopher Smith/Peacemaker ("Equinox: The Book of Fate")
- Viktor Markov ("The Book of Blood: Chapter Two: The Perdi")
Characters from other sources appearing in comics
Notes:
- Although Latavious "Lala" Johnson is an original creation of the show, his moniker "Tattoo Man" and his power set are based on a plethora of DC comics supervillains of the same nickname.
- Although Painkiller's name in the comics was never revealed, in the TV series he is named Khalil Payne.
Batwoman
Characters first appearing in Batwoman:
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Characters from other media
Referenced characters
- Martha Wayne ("Pilot")
- Thomas Wayne ("Pilot")
- Maxie Zeus ("Pilot")
- Penny Plunderer ("Pilot")
- Lucius Fox ("The Rabbit Hole")
- Robin ("The Rabbit Hole")
- Wonder Woman ("The Rabbit Hole")
- Killer Croc ("Who Are You?")
- Safiyah ("Tell Me the Truth")
- Harvey Dent ("Grinning From Ear to Ear")
- Tanya Fox ("Through the Looking-Glass")
- Detonator ("A Narrow Escape")
Notes:
- Despite the existence of multiple villains named Executioner in the comics, this reimagined version of the character is heavily based on Willy Hooker and the Gotham incarnation of the character, Nathaniel Barnes.