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The Atom is back! The CW drops sneak peek pics of The Flash S8 premiere & 'Armageddon' crossover
New Flash Season 8 pics show the return of Brandon Routh's The Atom after leaving Legends of Tomorrow.
The CW has just given fans a detailed new look at the upcoming Season 8 premiere of The Flash, which kicks off “Armageddon,” a five-part mega-crossover event.
While none of the photos below feature the season’s new baddie, Despero (Doctor Who's Tony Curran), or the promised return of Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett), a couple do highlight the return of Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer, aka The Atom, after departing DC’s Legends of Tomorrow last season.
Routh's Ray left the Legends in March 2020 after getting married to Nora Dahrk (Courtney Ford, Routh's real-life wife), and wanting to embark on a normal, non-time-traveling life. But speaking with SYFY WIRE, Routh said that while his character's journey had come to an end with the Legends, he would return to the Arrowverse in a heartbeat if the opportunity were ever to arise. Well, it’s apparently arisen.
In “Armageddon, Part 1,” Barry (Grant Gustin), Iris (Candice Patton), and the rest of Team Flash must recruit the likes of Batwoman (Javicia Leslie), Black Lightning (Cress Williams), Sentinel aka Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh), Mia Queen (Kat McNamara), Ryan Choi (Osric Chau), and the aforementioned Atom to fight Despero, a new alien threat with the power to destroy the Earth.
Created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky and first appearing in 1960, Despero has been a longstanding foe of the Justice League within DC Comics. Upon his entry into the Arrowverse, The CW is describing Despero as "a powerful and intelligent alien possessing incredible powers,” who comes to Earth “on a deadly mission, one whose outcome will decide the fate of humankind and put him on a collision course with Team Flash."
The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace previously teased that Despero won’t be a villain "who just stands there and talks for five episodes,” but a formidable foe “using some of his familiar powers from the comic books.” These powers include, among others, mind control, illusions, telepathy, superhuman strength, and, of course, speed.
"I wanted to put a truly classic DC villain in this five-part event that I knew fans would get excited about,” Wallace added.
Check out more from The Flash season premiere in the gallery below:
The Flash races back to The CW for its eighth season on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m.
