DC TV has brought several beloved characters, heroes and villains alike, to life in the last 20 years. Several iconic characters, whether they are a force for good or bad, there has been plenty of enjoyment on the small screen when it comes to adapting various mythologies to screen. But a lot of these shows have also had the opportunity to add unique and original characters to their respective shows that have become key players for certain adaptations. Some have even been with the shows since they first began while others came in the middle of the journey. There have even been instances where some of them have made it into DC Comics and become part of the canon.
There are definitely still a few that have yet to make it from screen to page in the DC Universe. But that doesn’t take away the overall enjoyment that they have added to their respective show. As the DC TV Universe is always growing, there are a lot of wonderful original characters that fans have come to love. With that said, these are the 10 best original DC TV characters that didn’t originate from the comics.
Thea Queen
While loosely inspired by Mia Dearden/Speedy, Arrow gave Oliver Queen a sister, something he didn’t have prior to the show’s premiere, in the form of Thea Queen. In many ways, Thea became the heart of the Queen family as the youngest member that would sometimes help in ground Oliver.
We haven’t forgotten her rough teen year from the first season, but from there, Thea only went into bigger places. Especially when revealed to be the daughter of Malcolm Merlyn that added another big layer to her heroic journey as she became Speedy.
Ava Sharpe
Legends of Tomorrow season 3 brought in a new character that got so beloved that she is now a series regular: Ava Sharpe. Initially set out as a rival to the Legends, Ava operated as an agent of the Time Bureau.
While she was first coming off as just a formidable opponent to Sara Lance, the show went into deeper territories with Ava as the season progressed. Not only did she start a romance with Sara, but viewers later found out that she is actually the 12th clone of the futuristic A.V.A. Corporation. That didn’t stop Ava from still becoming a major player in the show’s overall mythology.
Nyssa-Vex
Krypton sadly ended too soon, but it still came with a few original characters, one being Nyssa-Vex. In the show’s run, Nyssa had one of the best character journeys, starting as a member of the Lawmakers Guild to learning that she was a clone.
As Nyssa began going on her own path, her relationship with Seg-El ended with her becoming the mother of Jor-El and in turn, the future grandmother of Kal-El a.k.a. Superman. While we may never see her journey again, Nyssa’s evolution into a warrior as part of the resistance will always be remembered.
Harrison Wells
The Flash began quite the mythology when it came to the character of Harrison Wells who is the player that has had the most doppelgangers explored in the six seasons.
While we never followed the Earth-1 Harrison back in the first season, the character is still fascinating for the show’s overall mythos. Even though some of his doppelgangers have been better than others, it would be hard to imagine the series without any Harrison whatsoever.
Mia Queen-Smoak
While her parents may be based on DC characters, Mia Queen-Smoak began another original character who has already found a big place in the Arrowverse. Initially introduced in the 2040 timeline, viewers have gotten to see the best sides of Oliver and Felicity in Mia who is becoming a hero in her own right.
As she is now the new Green Arrow, more adventures for Mia await as she currently has a spin-off in the works on The CW, Green Arrow and the Canaries, that will more than likely go to series next year.
Mary Hamilton
Even though the world of Batwoman is quite dark, there is the light that is Mary Hamilton. Despite living in what has to be one of the darkest cities on the planet, Gotham City isn’t stopping Mary from being a positive force that she is. Being the step-sister to the brooding Kate Kane, something her cousin Bruce Wayne shares, Mary is a refreshing character for a show set in the Bat-world.
From operating as a social media influencer while also studying to become a doctor and secretly running her own clinic to help the less fortunate, it’s impossible to not love Mary.
Joe West
The Arrowverse has several wonderful parent figures and The Flash’s Joe West is, without a doubt, one of them. Since the moment he stepped into the scene, Joe has been one of the beating hearts of the series, is a wonderful father to his kids as well as to the main hero himself, Barry Allen. But in many ways, Joe is the father of the series, always being there for anyone who may need some parental guidance.
Sara Lance
While she started on Arrow as the first Canary, Sara truly found her place in the DC TV world when she became the leader of the Legends. After becoming the White Canary and the captain of the Waverider, Sara has become a force to be reckoned with in so many ways. From being an inspiring female character to an LGBT role model, Sara is one superhero that you only fall in love with as her character evolves.
Bringing her back from the dead and have Sara starting a new chapter as the White Canary, is one of the best moves in the Arrowverse’s entire history.
John Diggle
The version of Oliver Queen that we have been following for 8 years wouldn’t work without John Diggle. In many ways than one, Diggle has been the character that has kept Oliver the most grounded and in control while also becoming a hero of his own. This is one of the characters that started as a player on Arrow before being brought into the DC canon, making him a fully-fledged comic book character. What’s always important to remember about Diggle is that he was never a sidekick to Oliver; he was an equal.
Alex Danvers
Supergirl created Alex Danvers and we couldn’t imagine the show without the Girl of Steel’s incredible step-sister who is just as much of a Supergirl as Kara is. Something that the show has always succeeded in with Alex is making sure she isn’t dependent on Kara to survive as a character. Alex has her stories, her own power, and her own agency that is echoed in pretty much every season.
Starting as an agent of the DEO to become the organization’s leader, Alex is imperative to the series until the day it ends. Similarly to Sara, Ava, Alex is also one of the many inspiring LGBT characters in the Arrowverse which is something many are grateful for.
