The CW’s Arrow has long been labeled a Batman knockoff, though the Caped Crusader himself was reportedly forbidden to appear. Now, this week’s Arrow drops official confirmation that Gotham City exists in their branch of the multi-verse, as does its billionaire playboy.

You’re warned of light spoilers for this week’s Arrow from here on out, but it seems Oliver Queen isn’t the only billionaire that citizens suspect of nocturnal activities. The CW released an official clip from Thursday’s “Tribute,” in which Arrow for the first time directly names Bruce Wayne, and his hometown of Gotham City.

Granted, this isn’t the first oblique reference to Batman throughout the Arrow and Supergirl universes. The Flash pilot famously featured a 2024 newspaper with a “Wayne Tech” headline, while Supergirl’s second season name-checked both Gotham City and a tech-savvy vigilante that Superman occasionally partnered with. In that instance, executive producer Ali Adler dismissed the references as easter eggs, stating:

We have this beautiful history with DC, and I like that we get to borrow from this amazing, wonderful canon that we have … I think people will be satisfied with how much crossover they’re getting this season.

Arrow has also featured numerous characters from Batman comics, including Ra’s al Ghul, both his daughters Talia and Nyssa, Anarky and perhaps even Harley Quinn. That said, there’s still a long road to Bruce Wayne or Batman actually appearing on Arrow (they can barely get him on Gotham), so don’t start shining lights in the sky just yet.

In the meantime, Arrow Season 6 will continue with “Tribute” on Thursday, the trailer for which you can find below. Might we end up seeing a small-screen Batman after all?

Everything You Need to Know About ‘Arrow’ Season 6

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