Leading the way is one of the most iconic names in graphic novels, DC Comics. Numerous characters from the DC Universe have been brought to life and reinvented for the small screen, providing us with a weekly dose of superhero. So to celebrate the Blu-ray and DVD release of Arrow: The Complete Third Season out today, we’re taking a look at five of our favourite DC Comics TV series.
1. Arrow
Billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow. Arrow premiered in the US in 2012, although the Oliver Queen/Green Arrow character had previously appeared in different form in Smallville. Four seasons of adventures have been produced to date and Season 3 has just been released in its entirety on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital HD.
2. The Flash
Barry Allen wakes up 9 months after he was struck by lightning and discovers that the bolt gave him the power of super speed. With his new team and powers, Barry becomes "The Flash" and fights crime in Central City, moving through the city as an unseen guardian angel. The first spinoff from Green Arrow when it launched in 2014, The Flash has been an electrifying hit in its own right, although it’s not the first time that the character of Barry Allen/The Flash has been brought to the small screen. A previous Flash series aired on CBS in the early 1990s.
3. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
If any comic book hero has had the most success on the small screen, it is Superman. In addition to fighting evil this take on the classic kept audiences on tenterhooks with Superman’s burning romance with Lois Lane in both his identities. This version created by Deborah Joy LeVine and starring Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain set the standard for comic book TV adaptations in the 1990s, running for four seasons.
4. Smallville
Taking a little look back in the history of Superman, Smallville tells of a young Clark Kent as he struggles to find his place in the world, learning to harness his alien powers for good and dealing with the typical troubles of teenage life. Former Superman star Christopher Reeve expressed approval for the series, making two guest appearances before his death in 2004 and the show even made it to the 10 year mark – a feat few television series tend to achieve.
5. Gotham
Gotham tells the story behind Commissioner James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City. A new recruit in the Police Department, James Gordon (played by Ben McKenzie) is paired with veteran detected Harvey Bullock to solve one of Gotham City’s highest profile cases: the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne.
Arrow: The Complete Third Season is out on Blu-ray and DVD now! You can watch a deleted scene below.