James Gunn reinvents Vigilante after Arrowverse mistakes by giving the character a fresh and more purposeful role in Peacemaker, departing sharply from how the Arrowverse mishandled him. The transformation shows up most clearly when comparing Vincent Sobel’s abrupt storyline exit on Arrow with the energized, distinctive presence Adrian Chase brings in Peacemaker, highlighting Gunn’s efforts to avoid past failures and bring meaningful development to the anti-hero.
Arrow’s Problematic Choices and The Quick Exit of Vigilante
The Arrowverse, airing on The CW, became known for making some head-scratching decisions, especially when handling key characters. The franchise often relied on shock deaths—characters like Laurel Lance and Quentin Lance are written off unexpectedly, only to return later in contrived ways. However, Vigilante was an exception: once written out, he was quickly forgotten, and never given the sort of comeback afforded to others.
When Vincent Sobel, known as Vigilante, appears in Star City during Arrow’s fifth season, he introduces a welcome layer of mystery to the plot. His secretive nature, masked identity, and aggressive pursuit of criminals help heighten the overall tension with Prometheus. But the unraveling starts once Sobel removes his mask. Rather than continuing as a compelling force for justice or revenge, his actions lose clarity and meaning, which forced the show‘s creators to rush him out of the narrative and move on.
The Masked Enigma: How Arrow Mishandled Vigilante’s Story
At the start of Arrow’s fifth season, fans are greeted with the intrigue of two shadowy antagonists. Prometheus’s personal vendetta against Oliver Queen adds urgency, but Vigilante’s motivations become muddled fast. While comic readers know Adrian Chase as Vigilante, Arrow throws viewers a curveball by making Chase the true Prometheus, leaving the identity of Vigilante open. The reveal—Vincent Sobel, a former love interest of Dinah Drake, traumatized and empowered by a particle accelerator accident—promised new storytelling angles but ultimately delivered little payoff.
After gaining a healing ability, Sobel believes he’s meant to clean up the city’s streets, yet his decisions make little sense. He inexplicably aligns himself with Cayden James, a major criminal, undermining any moral high ground. His relationship with Dinah Drake adds some personal stakes, but fails to compensate for the lack of coherent motivation. When Vigilante becomes a mole to help Team Arrow, things appear promising, but the plot closes in on him just as quickly. Black Siren attacks him with her powers at close range, his healing factor fails, and Sobel dies abruptly. His sacrifice motivates Dinah, but leaves fans and characters alike with a sense of unfinished business and squandered potential. In retrospect, Vigilante’s arc represents a glaring miscalculation by Arrow’s writers.
Gunn’s Redemption: Building a Stronger Vigilante in Peacemaker
After the misfire in Arrow, James Gunn decided to overhaul Vigilante for his entry in the HBO Max series Peacemaker. Gunn didn’t try to revive or redeem the Arrowverse’s Vincent Sobel; instead, he brought Adrian Chase front and center, transforming him into a new kind of anti-hero altogether. This version of Vigilante arrives as more than a background character—he exists as a fanboy, a crime-fighting hopeful who idolizes Peacemaker, much to the latter’s reluctance.
Gunn’s Vigilante is woven directly into the DNA of the show’s main storyline, never relegated to the sidelines or left underdeveloped. He is unstable, unpredictable, yet always striving to prove himself in action, especially during the A.R.G.U.S. operation against the butterfly outbreak. His devotion to Peacemaker is on full display when, rather than simply supporting, he repeatedly risks life and limb. Among his most dramatic acts: Vigilante absorbs a grenade blast, demonstrating a willingness to sacrifice himself to keep his allies safe.
Vigilante’s Defining Moments and Lasting Impact in Peacemaker
If Arrow’s Vigilante lacked motivation and payoff, Peacemaker’s Adrian Chase is the opposite. His defining moment comes when he intentionally gets arrested to enter Evergreen Corrections Center. Once inside, his target is Peacemaker’s father—White Dragon, a figure at the core of the show’s conflict. Vigilante doesn’t hesitate; he confronts White Dragon’s dangerous associates, engages in a brutal brawl, and sends an unmistakable warning to his foe. This sequence marks a peak for Vigilante on television—a rare scene where an anti-hero’s unpredictable violence is both viscerally engaging and perfectly in line with the show’s tone.
Unlike the Arrowverse version, Gunn’s Vigilante emerges as a fan favorite, consistently stealing the spotlight with his daring moves and complicated friendship with Peacemaker. The series frames him as more than a comic relief sidekick: his actions have real consequences, alter plotlines, and push Peacemaker himself toward growth. Gunn’s handling, in particular, addresses every mistake made with the character’s earlier adaptation.
Looking Ahead: Peacemaker’s Future and Vigilante’s Legacy
The reimagining of Vigilante by James Gunn signals a commitment to doing justice to comic book anti-heroes on screen. While Arrow’s version ended in frustration and rushed exits, Gunn’s approach offers a template for revitalizing secondary characters by making their beliefs, personalities, and motivations explicit from the outset. With Adrian Chase’s success in Peacemaker, anticipation is high for his next chapter when the series returns for a second season on HBO Max.
The journey of Vigilante—from Arrow’s abrupt casualty to Peacemaker’s complex, spotlight-stealing partner—illustrates how a character can be rescued from narrative neglect through careful writing, bold creative choices, and attention to motivation. As the DC universe continues to evolve on television and streaming services, James Gunn’s reinvention stands as a reminder that, sometimes, a failed character can become unforgettable if given the right story and the chance to live up to their name.
