



Ever since The CW's Arrow first premiered back in October 2012, the show has been dealing out weekly superhero fisticuffs like no one's business. It's a superhero show that's laid the groundwork for The Flash and the upcoming CBS superhero show, Supergirl. While there are a lot of things Arrow does right, one aspect of the show that does not receive enough praise is its penchant for having guest stars from other fan-favorite, sci-fi and geek TV shows. To date, we've had Spartacus' Crixus (Manu Bennett), X2's Lady Deathstrike (Kelly Hu), Street Fighter's Ryu (Byron Mann) and Firefly's River Tam (Summer Glau) to name but a few.



As the wait for Arrow season 4 begins, we're going to shine the spotlight on all the geektastic guest stars the showrunners manage to cram into Arrow each season. Lets start where it all began, with Arrow season 1.

ARROW Season 1

Roger R. Cross -played Det. Lance's partner Lucas Hilton ( geek cred: X2, Highlander, Eureka, The Strain)

X2, Highlander, Eureka, The Strain) Brian Markinson - played Adam Hunt, the first person on Arrow's list ( geek cred: Continuum, Caprica, Millennium)

Continuum, Caprica, Millennium) Darren Shahlavi - played Green Arrow nemesis Constantine Drakon (geek cred: Continuum, Watchmen, Mortal Kombat web series, Ip Man 2)

Continuum, Watchmen, Mortal Kombat web series, Ip Man 2) Kelly Hu - played Green Arrow nemesis China White ( geek cred: The Scorpion King, X2, voices Karai on Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, voiced Cheshire on Young Justice)

The Scorpion King, X2, voices Karai on Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, voiced Cheshire on Young Justice) Byron Mann - played Oliver's first mentor Yao Fei ( geek cred: Street Fighter, The Man With The Iron Fists, Smallville, Dark Angel)

Street Fighter, The Man With The Iron Fists, Smallville, Dark Angel) Christie Lang- played the widow of Diggle's slain brother Carly ( geek cred: Once Upon A Time, Percy Jackson the Lightning Thief)

Once Upon A Time, Percy Jackson the Lightning Thief) Chelah Horsdal - played Arrow's version of Kate Spencer, DC Comics' Manhunter (geek cred: The Cabin in the Woods, X-Men: The Last Stand, Supernatural, Rise of the Planet of the Apres, Stargate SG-1)

The Cabin in the Woods, X-Men: The Last Stand, Supernatural, Rise of the Planet of the Apres, Stargate SG-1) Currie Graham - played King of The Royal Flush Gang ( geek cred: Fringe, Witchblade )

Fringe, Witchblade ) Kyle Schmidt - played Ace of The Royal Flush Gang ( geek cred : Being Human, Smallville,

: Being Human, Smallville, Sarah-Jane Redmond - played Queen of The Royal Flush Gang ( geek cred: iZombie, Almost Human, Supernatural, Smallville, Millennium, The X-Files)

iZombie, Almost Human, Supernatural, Smallville, Millennium, The X-Files) Tom Stevenson - played Jack of The Royal Flush Gang ( geek cred: Smallville, Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome)

Smallville, Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome) Jessica De Gouw - played Huntress ( geek cred: NBC's Dracula)

NBC's Dracula) Jeffrey Nordling - played Huntress' father Frank Bertinelli ( geek cred: TRON: Legacy)

TRON: Legacy) Tahmoh Penikett- played Frank Bertinelli's bodyguard Nick Salvati ( geek cred: Man of Steel, Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, Continuum, Mortal Kombat web series, Dolhouse, Smallville, Dark Angel)

Man of Steel, Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, Continuum, Mortal Kombat web series, Dolhouse, Smallville, Dark Angel) John Barrowman - ( note: not yet a series regular ) played Malcolm Merlyn, the Dark Archer ( geek cred: Doctor Who, Torchwood)

) played Malcolm Merlyn, the Dark Archer ( Doctor Who, Torchwood) Andrew Dunbar - played the DC Comics villain Firefly ( geek cred: SGU Stargate Universe, Battlestar Galactica: Razor)

SGU Stargate Universe, Battlestar Galactica: Razor) Ben Browser - played Ted Gaynor, member of the DC Comics' Blackhawks squadron ( geek cred: Stargate SG-1, Farscape, voiced Bat Lash in Justice League: The Animated Series )

Stargate SG-1, Farscape, voiced Bat Lash in Justice League: The Animated Series ) Seth Gabel - played The Count, Arrow's take on Count Vertigo ( geek cred: Fringe)

Fringe) Manu Bennett - ( note: not yet a series regular ) guest stars as Slade Wilson ( geek cred: Spartacus, The Hobbit trilogy, Xena: Warrior Princess)

) guest stars as Slade Wilson ( Spartacus, The Hobbit trilogy, Xena: Warrior Princess) Janina Gavankar - played Starling City detective and Oliver love interest McKenna Hall ( geek cred: True Blood, Dollhouse, Stargate: Atlantis)

True Blood, Dollhouse, Stargate: Atlantis) James Callis - played DC Comics thief Dodger ( geek cred: Battlestar Galactica, Eureka)

Battlestar Galactica, Eureka) Chin Han - played Frank Chen, a co-conspirator of Malcolm Merlyn's Undertaking ( geek cred: The Dark Knight, Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

The Dark Knight, Captain America: The Winter Soldier) George Tchortow - played DC Comics and Nightwing villain Guillermo Barrera ( geek cred: Kick-Ass, RoboCop, Wolves

Kick-Ass, RoboCop, Wolves Alex Kingston - guest stars as Laurel's mother Dinah Lance ( geek cred: Doctor Who's River Song)

Doctor Who's River Song) Christopher Redman - played The Savior, a Starling City/Glades vigilante (geek cred: Stargate SG-1, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters)

Stargate SG-1, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters) Colton Haynes - ( note: not yet a series regular ) plays Roy Harper, eventual Green Arrow sidekick Arsenal ( geek cred: MTV's Teen Wolf)

) plays Roy Harper, eventual Green Arrow sidekick Arsenal ( MTV's Teen Wolf) Audrey Marie Anderson - guest stars as Diggle's ex-wife and ARGUS agent Lyla Michaels ( geek cred: The Walking Dead )

The Walking Dead ) J. August Richards - guest stars as an assassin named Mr. Blank, a take on Onomatopoeia ( geek cred: Angel, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

( Angel, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) Jarod Joseph - plays Alan Durand, a member of Edward Fyer's group during Oliver's first year on Lian Yu (geek cred: The 100, Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief )

In only the first season of, the show had nearly 30 guest stars from the world of sci-fi and comic book themed television shows and films. The extra effort from the showrunners and casting director to fully embrace and reward their fan base often times went overlooked by casual Arrow viewers but was an element that hardcore geek fans truly appreciated.Stay tuned for the next installment as we tally up the geek guest stars in Arrow season 2.