So we’re fresh off the Invasion! crossover, and Supergirl, Arrow, Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow are back on their usual tracks. But hold on a moment… This is the CW we’re talking about. They can’t possibly just end one of their most hyped events without leaving a few easter eggs for their viewers.
If you haven’t watched the crossover and don’t mind spoilers, you can check out what exactly happened here.
Anyway, back to easter eggs. Here are some of what we’ve found.
The Flash Season 3 Episode 8: The Hall of Justice, Julie Greer, and Supergirl
The first easter egg we’ve got is Joe West referencing Oregon in 1951. ET enthusiasts cite this as a documented encounter between the US military and extraterrestrial life. I’m a bit of an ET enthusiast myself, so I always find these things welcome.
Barry travels to Earth-38 to recruit Supergirl. The number itself is possibly a reference to the release year of Action Comics #1, where Superman also made his first appearance.
Here’s a big one, and it’s hidden in plain sight. Barry brings together his team of alien-hunting superheroes at an old STAR Labs hangar. Funny thing is this hangar looks suspiciously like the Hall of Justice; the Earth-based HQ of the Justice League.
Does this building eventually become the HQ for our CW heroes? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just a reference for comic book fans to find.
We also find that the infamous FLASH VANISHES IN CRISIS news article from The Flash Season 1 has been changed. It is no longer written by Iris West-Allen, but by Julie Greer. Miss Greer is a TV reporter, and is a recurring minor character in the comics. Nice reference, but unlikely to play out in any major plot points.
Finally, we have Speedy commenting about how Supergirl is “more powerful than a locomotive.” This line follows the classic “Faster than a speeding bullet” from most Superman cartoons and early radio shows.
Arrow Season 5 Episode 8: John Diggle References Superman
This is the only one I could find, but John Diggle (under the Green Arrow hood) tells Oliver Queen that “He has everything.” This references the Superman story arc: “For the Man Who Has Everything.” In this arc, Superman is imprisoned in a catatonic state by an alien. He is fed a dream of an alternate reality where Krypton was never destroyed, and he lives a happy life with his Kryptonian family. Much of the drama and emotional play throughout the episode is reminiscent of the same story as well.
Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 Episode 7: Agent Smith, Brandon Routh Superman, and Avengers Jokes
The character Kara calls “Agent Smith” just might be two easter eggs in one. His name is possibly a reference to generic spy names of the ’50s, while his character itself seems to actually be King Faraday. King is a spy notorious for his stand against metahumans and aliens, and is a recurring character in both comics and television media.
Brandon Routh also breaks the fourth wall a bit here. During the Invasion afterparty, he mentions how Kara Danvers looks a lot like his cousin. If you remember Brandon Routh from his Superman Returns movie, this will make total sense to you.
Finally, Kara jokes about Oliver and Barry being Earth’s mightiest heroes… an Avengers reference in the DC Universe. Why not? Pretty fun, though.
Now as a potential future spoiler: Dr. Stein has decided to keep his daughter despite the fact that she is an “aberration” in the timeline. Now I’m betting that the season finale will deal with the repercussions of this decision. Odds are, she’s going to have some massive impact on the timeline, and Firestorm will be at the heart of it all.