Running for 12 years, the Arrowverse was miraculous for all its limitations. While the cinematic DCEU failed to find success, shows like The Flash and Arrow quietly established a shared setting across multiple media. Indeed, it ultimately established all DC Comics adaptations for film and television as part of the same multiverse. Despite this, relatively few elements created for the Arrowverse made their way into the comics. However, that may be changing with an Easter egg in Justice League: Dark Tomorrow Special #1.
Written by Mark Waid and Marc Guggenheim, with art by Cian Tormey, the Dark Tomorrow Special opens in the aftermath of the We Are Yesterday event. Justice League Unlimited had to contend with a time-traveling Legion of Doom from their past. As a result of this conflict, heroes from the past and future are stuck in the present on the JLU Watchtower. Further complicating this situation is the arrival of a mysterious time-traveler, who introduces themselves as The Legend.
The Legend explains that some unknown force is killing time-travelers and they need help to fight it. It is agreed that the time-displaced heroes, like the Terry McGuinness Batman Beyond, might make an ideal team. There is, however, the problem of transporting all those heroes across time. This problem is solved by The Legend, who reveals they have a timeship called The Waverider. The name and design of the ship will be recognized by Arrowverse fans as the same vehicle piloted by the Legends of Tomorrow.
Is The Legend an Arrowverse refugee?
Despite being the chief narrator of the issue, the identity of The Legend is kept a mystery. However, a number of Arrowverse references are dropped that offer clues to their identity. Chief among these is Supergirl referring to “their heartbeat,” suggesting they could be a man or a woman.
Beyond that, The Legend makes reference to having worked with Jonah Hex before. The Legends of Tomorrow teamed with Hex on several occasions. The Legend also looks upon the ruins of the Vanishing Point base of the Time Masters and recalls that, despite a spotty memory, they associate it with death. This seems to refer to the sacrifice of the Arrowverse Captain Cold in Legends of Tomorrow’s Season 1 finale. The Legend also makes reference to being used to working with rag-tag teams and knowing a bit about failure and redemption.
These clues seem to confirm that The Legend comes from the Arrowverse timeline and was part of the Legends of Tomorrow. At the very least they had similar adventures that correspond to several events from Legends of Tomorrow. In any case, there is still little to suggest exactly who they are under their armor.
Justice League: Dark Tomorrow Special #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
