Arrow: Easter Eggs and DC Comics References In "A.W.O.L."

AMANDA WALLER

It's been a while since we saw Amanda Waller, so even though we've talked about her plenty in the past, this seems like a reasonable time to remind everybody.

There's a few of those this week, so buckle in.

Waller is a government agent commonly seen in a number of DC Comics titles. She's had connections with A.R.G.U.S. and Checkmate, among other organizations.

Waller, the woman behind the Suicide Squad, will next be seen in the feature film adaptation of that property by Fury director David Waller, where she'll be played by Viola Davis. Previously, she's been played in live action by Pamela Grier in Smallville and Angela Bassett in Green Lantern.

HOT WHEELS

At one point early in the episode, Felicity jokes that her code name could be "Hot Wheels."

We later find out that it isn't, of course, but Hot Wheels is a popular brand of toy car.

In case you didn't know.

BIG BELLY BURGER

Like Tina McGee, this is one we've seen a number of times...but it's been a while since we pointed it out.

Big Belly Burger, originally a takeoff on Bob's Big Boy, except with former DC Comics editor Andy Helfer in the "big boy" mascot role, first appeared in the Superman titles of the '80s post-Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot.

It appears periodically in the comics, but has become a fixture on Arrow, The Flash and in DC Universe Online.

GOTH FELICITY

First seen in the episode "The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak," which was ironically to be titled "Oracle" before it went into production, the dark-haired and nihilistic version of Felicity probably has her own Tumblr following if you look hard enough.

SHADOWSPIRE

Shadowspire, as a criminal organization, first appeared in Deathstroke comics, although the name itself originated about a year before in Shadow Cabinet, a Milestone Comics series.

Headed by The Baron (here, Baron Reiter), Shadowspire did battle with Deathstroke the Terminator and Damage during its brief run in the DC Universe.

LT. JOYNER

Lieutenant Joyner was named for the writer who created Shadowspire, Dr. Tom Joyner.

Joyner would use the concept in both Deathstroke and Damage.

KORD INDUSTRIES

Again in the "We've seen it but not too recently" department: Kord Industries!

In the comics, this was owned by Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle and a longtime member of the Justice League. At one point, it was supposed to be Ted and not Ray Palmer/The Atom who appeared on Season Three of Arrow.

OVERWATCH

Warning: Spoilers ahead for tonight's episode of Arrow, titled "A.W.O.L."

No, she's not Oracle.

On tonight's episode of Arrow, Felicity Smoak gets a codename -- and The CW's favorite wheelchair-using tech genius is to be known as Overwatch from here on out.

Of course, we'll see how much she uses it. It's not like Diggle has used "Spartan" all that often.

In any event, while many people might think this is some kind of subtle video game reference, it's not: before the video game was announced, Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim actually wrote a novel called Overwatch.

You can read our interview with Guggenheim about it here.

hanada said ... (original post)

It's also from U.S. military doctorine, from wikipedia: "In modern warfare, overwatch is a force protection tactic: the state of one small unit or military vehicle supporting another unit, while they are executing fire and movement tactics. An overwatching, or supporting unit has taken a position where it can observe the terrain ahead, especially likely enemy positions. This allows it to provide effective covering fire for advancing friendly units." Seems pretty dead on to describe what Felicity does for the team.

It's one of a number of popular suggestions that fans online have made.

ORACLE

And, yes, in the episode, Oliver Queen did joke that Oracle "was taken."

So, yeah. this is one of those things we've already seen people talking about online: does this confirm that Oracle -- and possibly, with her, the rest of the Batman mythology -- exists?

Well, not necessarily. He could have been talking about the software company, for all we know. Still, between Oracle being taken and all the early references to Bludhaven, it seems likely that the Batman Universe is out there someplace in the Arrowverse.

GOOD TIMES

During the memorial toast to Amanda Waller, Felicity had to put a tiny little damper on the mood.

"Remember that time she tried to take down the city with a drone strike?" She deadpanned.

That, of course, is a reference to the Season Two finale, when A.R.G.U.S. decided that it was better to level the city than to allow Deathstroke's Mirakuru soldiers to get out of it and terrorize the country.