Arrow Every Known Leader Of The League Of Assassins

Arrow: Every Known Leader Of The League Of Assassins

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The League of Assassins serve as a recurring presence across all eight seasons of Arrow — here’s a breakdown of every established leader of the group.

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Arrow Every Known Leader Of The League Of Assassins

The dreaded League of Assassins played a consistent role across all eight seasons of Arrow — here’s a breakdown of everybody who assumed leadership over the infamous group. Starring Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Arrow premiered on The CW back in 2012. It went on to spawn what’s become collectively known as the Arrowverse. The show concluded its run in the wake of an ambitious adaptation of Marv Wolfman’s seminal Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline. The event forever changed the landscape of the shared universe and the fates of several characters, including many of Arrow’s own.

Prior to that, Arrow served up eight seasons of adventure and pulled in villains from all across the lore of DC Comics. Recurring among them was the infamous League of Assassins. Created by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams, the group debuted in 1968’s Strange Adventures #215. On the page, they have established connections to several popular and lesser-known characters. However, they principally served as antagonists (or occasional allies) of Bruce Wayne (aka Batman). In that regard, they have been adapted multiple times across various mediums. A version of the group, renamed the League of Shadows, even featured in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. They were just one of many that retrofitted to be a thorn in the side of Team Arrow.

The ancient order was teased as early as Arrow season 1, with their infamous comic book leader, Ra’s al Ghul, even name-dropped by Oliver’s mother, Moira. Across subsequent seasons, the League of Assassins were more directly weaved into the fabric of the show’s mythology. Simultaneously, the group’s own history and traditions were fleshed out and expanded upon. In the process, control of the League passed from one hand to another more than a kingdom in Game of Thrones. And the rewards that leadership afforded were pursued with equal passion and similarly ruthless intent. Here’s every person that was confirmed on Arrow to have gotten a taste of such power.

Al-Fatih

Arrow Every Known Leader Of The League Of Assassins

Arrow season 8, episode 3, “Leap of Faith” delved into the earliest history of the League of Assassins. As Oliver Queen sought information on The Monitor, he visited Nanda Parbat and crossed paths with his sister, Thea, and Talia al Ghul. Together, they ventured to the tomb of Al-Fatih. With a name meaning “conquerer” in Arabic, Al-Fatih was revealed to have founded the League of Assassins in 1013. Visited by Mar Novu, Al-Fatih was bestowed primordial knowledge and tasked with maintaining balance in the world. To not do so would reportedly lead to the end times which ended up being the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Al-Fatih served as the group’s leader until an unspecified time. After his death, he was buried with his sword — a revered relic that could grant its wielder full control of the League.

Ra’s al Ghul

Arrow Every Known Leader Of The League Of Assassins

With his original name unknown, a man assumed the legacy title of Ra’s al Ghul in 1609. It’s unclear whether he inherited the mantle from Al-Fatih or an interim League of Assassins leader. Regardless, he was noted as extremely ruthless. In line with the tradition that one erases their former life in order to ascend, this version of Ra’s unleashed Cholera and wiped out the entire city of Alexandria, Egypt. He was first mentioned in Arrow season 3, episode 16, “The Offer” and referenced twice more later that season.

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This incarnation of Ra’s was the one that recruited Talia and Nyssa’s father. After his initial offer was rejected, Ra’s allowed the then-unnamed man to build a blissful life — but only to have the leverage to force his eventual successor’s hand. The current Ra’s al Ghul tortured and killed his earlier wife and children in order to make him submit. This Ra’s al Ghul also recruited Damien Darhk, turning the two men into his own apocalyptic Horsemen. He ultimately died and surrendered his title sometime before 1854.

The Next Ra’s al Ghul

Arrow Every Known Leader Of The League Of Assassins

The principal version of Ra’s al Ghul was played by Matt Nable and debuted in Arrow season 3, episode 4, “The Magician”. Though the offer was initially rejected, he assumed the mantle of Ra’s al Ghul at an unspecified time before 1854. In order to ascend, he was tasked with killing everybody he had ever known. This also included Damien Darhk, who had become his best friend. As a result, Ra’s hesitated, thus allowing Darhk to escape with water from the Lazarus Pit.

Regardless, as formidable and intelligent as in the comics, he ruled over the League of Assassins for well over a century. In that time, he survived several attempts to usurp his position — including a trial by combat in 1947. He also bested Oliver Queen in a similar trial in Arrow season 3, episode 9, “The Climb”. This incarnation of Ra’s al Ghul was personally responsible for training Malcolm Merlyn and Sara Lance. Despite his death, he was teased as possibly having been resurrected in a season 1 episode of Batwoman.

Oliver Queen

Arrow Every Known Leader Of The League Of Assassins

Much to the chagrin of Nyssa al Ghul, Oliver was chosen to assume control of the League of Assassins in the latter half of Arrow season 3. Ra’s picked him due to his survival of what should have been a fatal strike during their duel — believing it part of a prophecy. Though Oliver initially rejected the offer, Ra’s al Ghul forced his hand. He did this by first trying to out him as the titular vigilante. When that was foiled by Roy Harper donning the costume and taking credit, Ra’s went a more brutal route and killed Thea. To see her resurrected via the Lazarus Pit, Oliver surrendered himself to the League.

Inducted under the name Al Sah-him, Oliver underwent the harsh training and seemingly had his psyche broken down. The final step of his ascension would have seen him unleash the Alpha/Omega virus on Star City. The level of Oliver’s conditioning was eventually revealed to be a ruse on his part and he instead engaged Ra’s in combat to protect the city. After he killed Ra’s and emerged victoriously, Oliver officially became the leader of the League of Assassins. However, he immediately ceded control to Malcolm Merlyn.

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Malcolm Merlyn

Arrow Every Known Leader Of The League Of Assassins

Malcolm went to great lengths in pursuit of becoming the Demon’s Head. He even drugged his own daughter and forced her to commit murder. When everything paid off, Malcolm Merlyn relished his time as Ra’s al Ghul, as well as the near-immortality the title afforded. However, his reign was far shorter than many of his predecessors, clocking in at less than a year. While he was in charge, he allowed Sara Lance to be resurrected via his Lazarus Pit. He also attempted to help Thea Queen with the side effects of her own resurrection. He sacrificed several League members in order to satiate the bloodlust that was consuming her. Malcolm also used his new forces to aid and then secretly betrayed Oliver and Barry Allen as they clashed with Vandal Savage.

Soon after, the animosity between Merlyn and Nyssa al Ghul deepened when she rendered the Lazarus Pit ineffectual. Though Malcolm had her locked away, she soon escaped and acquired the means to cure Thea’s worsening condition. She made a deal with Oliver to hand it over in exchange for killing Merlyn. Oliver manipulated Malcolm into challenging Nyssa to a duel, which she accepted. Due to Oliver and Nyssa having been married in the eyes of the League, Oliver used to a rule that allowed him to fight in her stead. However, rather than kill him as Nyssa wanted or would have, Oliver chopped off his hand and claimed the ring of Ra’s al Ghul (and League leadership) on Nyssa’s behalf.

Nyssa al Ghul

Nyssa al Ghul’s tenure as the Demon’s Head was even shorter than Merlyn’s. After Malcolm’s injury had been healed, he visited Nyssa alongside both Oliver and Laurel Lance. Nyssa immediately took off the ring of Ra’s al Ghul and tossed it into a fire. She announced that she had disbanded the League of Assassins, freeing each of its members from their former vows. The choice shocked each of those present. However, it affected Malcolm most of all — who swore an ultimately ill-fated oath of vengeance. Nyssa, meanwhile, would later be recruited to pass on some of her League of Assassin skills to Felicity and Oliver’s daughter, Mia.

In the wake of the group’s dissolution, several off-shoots were created. Talia al Ghul formed one such splinter faction, while another named the Thanatos Guild was led by a woman named Athena. The latter would become something of a nemesis for Thea Queen. The Thanatos Guild were ultimately defeated in Arrow season 8 when Thea successfully claimed the Sword of Al-Fatih. Talia had also attempted to gain the sword but was similarly defeated in combat.

Already considered an heir due to her relation to Malcolm Merlyn, possession of the sword afforded Thea a chance to resurrect the League. Officially partnering with Talia, Thea decided to do just that. Rather than assassins, though, Thea reformed the group as the League of Heroes. Nothing has been heard of the group since. However, though Arrow has since concluded its run, several corners of the wider Arrowverse have continued to thrive. As such, there’s always a chance that the group could return — be it as heroes or assassins.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/arrow-league-assassins-leaders-ras-nyssa-merlyn-oliver/

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