John Barrowman’s Malcolm Merlyn, yet another character from the CW’s Arrow, may be making his way into the ongoing New 52 Green Arrow series.
Merlyn would be the third character from the show to be included in the series, following the announcement of Emily Bett Rickard’s Felicity Smoak just last month, and David Ramsey’s John Diggle last year. Series editor Brian Cunningham had teased a new direction for the comic series.  With Arrow Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg and writer Ben Sokolowski taking over the writing for the comic, adding Barrowman’s character doesn’t seem too unlikely, but the rumor has yet to be confirmed.
In an interview last month, Kreisberg commented on his intention in bringing characters from the show into the comics.
“When the opening came up it just felt like it was a real opportunity to merge the two worlds, the comic book and the TV show, to maybe bring a few fans of the show who don’t read the comics to the comics and fans of the comics who don’t watch the show to the television.”
Barrowman’s Malcolm Merlyn differs from the Merlyn in past comics. In Batman Incorporated #4 (2012), it is Arthur King, who goes under the alias Merlyn, who appears as part of the League of Assassins and battles the members of Batman, Inc. When fans of the show are introduced to Malcolm Merlyn, he is a member of the League of Assassins, but after his destruction of the glades, he is no longer a part of the criminal organization.Â
Barrowman will make his return to Starling City as the Dark Archer when the CW series returns in October. He is set to play a large role in the series’ third season as a regular cast member; and Thea Queen’s, Oliver’s half-sister’s, biological father.
Sources: Inside Pulse, Comic Book Movie
