Who Should Win The Flash-Arrow Battle In Their Upcoming TV Crossover?
By Nick Tylwalk
Super hero battles born from a misunderstanding, mistaken identity or one party acting under the effects of mind control are as old as super hero comics themselves. Since the first part of the two-night crossover between The Flash and Arrow on The CW is titled “Flash vs. Arrow,” it’s not spoiling anything to talk about how the two heroes are going to come to blows.
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As fans, we can look forward to this clash of costumed titans by talking about who we think should win when they throw down, even if we can be pretty sure that their confrontation is going to end with Barry Allen and Oliver Queen on the same side. With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of how Flash and Arrow compare heading into their crossover this week. Note that I’m specifically talking about the TV incarnations of these heroes, as a comics-based comparison would be a much longer, more complicated conversation:
Powers / Abilities
As Caitlin Snow says in the preview, Barry has super speed, Oliver has a bow. It’s not quite as simple as that though, because Arrow has been branching out with his arsenal of arrows, and this Flash doesn’t even know the upper limits of his speed yet.
Seen logically, Flash should just be able to move so fast, Arrow wouldn’t be able to get a bead on him. We’ve just never seen Barry operate in quite that way; he’s not necessarily a constant blur of motion, but someone who uses his speed in short bursts. That might give Oliver a chance to use his keener tactical sense or their surroundings (something we also see in the preview) to compensate.
Regardless, Flash has the upper hand here, even if he doesn’t believe or realize it. It was heavily implied that Arrow was no match for Deathstroke until his mirakuru was neutralized in the Season 2 finale, so that weighs on my thinking too. I’m with Caitlin here.
Edge: Flash
Experience / Training
This category is almost as heavily weighted in the other direction. It’s not 100 percent clear how much time has passed since the pilot episode of The Flash, but my impression is that it’s only a matter of weeks. Barry is very much a neophyte at the super hero game.
Oliver has received training from one of the most skilled fighters around while on the island, and we’re learning this season that he worked for A.R.G.U.S. even after escaping (albeit against his will). He’s also been actively fighting crime in Starling City for quite some time.
No contest here.
Edge: Arrow
Support Team
This is going to upset the Felicity Smoak fans, but both heroes have some really smart folks helping them out. Yes, Felicity has computer/hacking skills that no one on the other side can touch — the S.T.A.R. Labs computers actually improved after she stopped by — and both Diggle and Arsenal are badasses. But I’m assuming they won’t get physically involved, so they don’t factor into Oliver’s side of this particular equation.
Caitlin and Cisco Ramon have both proven adept at thinking on the fly, and they’re in constant communication with Barry just as Ollie’s team is with him. The dark horse is Harrison Wells and his knowledge of things to come. That could come in handy, no?
Both heroes get good advice through their earpieces, even if they don’t always choose to follow it. This one is too close to call.
Edge: Draw
Intangibles
Athletes have them, but so do super heroes! Flash has an unlimited supply of optimism, and Arrow has made great strides toward becoming a hero instead of just a vigilante as he was in Season 1 of his own show. Neither will give up hen the chips are down, and they’ve each made choices that place the well-being of others above their own.
Still, when you really think about which one would do whatever was necessary to win a fight, it has to be Arrow, right? Even though he’s held up his vow not to kill, and he definitely wouldn’t do anything that could potentially do permanent damage to the Flash, he’d certainly fight dirty if necessary, crossing lines that Barry wouldn’t.
That counts when you’re talking about a scrap like this. It’s also been heavily implied that it’s Flash who isn’t in his right mind when they have their showdown as the result of a villain’s super powers. If he can’t access his book smarts as a side effect, Barry is also at a mental disadvantage. I like Oliver in this category.
Edge: Arrow
So there you have it. Even though Flash is one of my favorite DC super heroes and I’d back him to wax Green Arrow in the comics pretty much every time, I’m going with the experience, tactical sense and all-around ruthlessness of the Arrow to carry the day in this particular clash. Also, if these crossover episodes are as good as they look so far, there’s only going to be one real winner: us, the fans.
Here’s the longer TV trailer just to get you extra excited: