Unveiling the Hidden Connection: How Crisis On Infinite Earths Stealthily Incorporated a Iconic Bruce Lee Character into the Arrowverse

Summary

The Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths event brought together multiple DC properties and made them canon in the franchise's multiverse.

Burt Ward's appearance as Robin in Crisis on Infinite Earths confirms that the Batman (1966-1968) show and The Green Hornet are considered part of the Arrowverse canon.

Crisis on Infinite Earths also acknowledged or included various other DC characters and properties, such as those from Tim Burton's Batman films, Birds of Prey, Green Lantern (2011), and the DCEU.

A Bruce Lee character now exists within the Arrowverse's multiverse, thanks to the Crisis on Infinite Earths event. Despite the absence of some of DC's major characters like Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, the Arrowverse managed to create a cohesive DC Universe that lasted over a decade. Crisis on Infinite Earths celebrated this universe by bringing together all the Arrowverse shows currently airing and making references to numerous other DC properties.

The Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths was a five-episode event that significantly impacted the franchise and its characters. Loosely based on DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, this crossover saw the heroes battling to save every known reality from utter destruction. Through unexpected returns and lesser-known DC appearances, the Crisis on Infinite Earths event expanded the franchise's mythology and firmly established several properties as part of the Arrowverse canon.

Crisis On Infinite Earths' Robin Cameo Means Bruce Lee's Kato Exists In The Arrowverse

Burt Ward, known for his role as Robin in the 1966 Batman series, returned as the iconic character in a short scene during the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths event. In this scene, Ward donned the signature Robin colors and reacted to the crisis in a manner befitting the character's portrayal in the 1966 series. This appearance on Crisis on Infinite Earths took place on Earth-66, effectively establishing the classic Batman show as part of the Arrowverse canon. By doing so, the Arrowverse also acknowledged that the events of The Green Hornet, a show which premiered around the same time as Batman, are also part of its multiverse. This is because Van Williams and Bruce Lee, who portrayed the Green Hornet and Kato, respectively, made appearances in Batman.

Long before the team-up episodes in the Arrowverse, the Batman series featured a significant crossover with another show. During the second season of Batman in 1967, a crossover episode with The Green Hornet took place. Initially presented as adversaries, the Green Hornet and Kato faced off against the dynamic duo before realizing that they were on the same side. This classic superhero trope eventually led to a fight between Robin and Kato. More recently, a comic book titled Batman '66 Meets The Green Hornet, written by Kevin Smith, served as a sequel to the original crossover episode between Batman and The Green Hornet.

Who Else Did The Arrowverse Make Canon In Crisis On Infinite Earths?

The Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths not only made Bruce Lee's Kato and Van Williams' Green Hornet canon, but also integrated numerous other DC properties into its universe. From Robert Wuhl's portrayal of Alex Knox in Batman (1989) to the reference of Michelle Pfeiffer's Selina Kyle in Catwoman (2004), the crossover solidifies the existence of Tim Burton's Batman movies and Halle Barry's Catwoman within the Arrowverse multiverse. Additionally, Ashley Scott's appearance as Huntress confirms that characters from Birds of Prey, including Batman and Harley Quinn, are part of the multiverse. The tie-in comic also establishes that the Green Lantern Corps featured in the crossover is the one from Green Lantern (2011), including Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan. Furthermore, Brandon Routh's return as Superman, who is portrayed as the same character Christopher Reeve played, implies the existence of Helen Slater's Supergirl in this multiverse. Finally, Ezra Miller's cameo from the DCEU connects the Arrowverse to the wider DC Extended Universe.