In our inaugural installment, we'll be analyzing the latest season 2 revelation, the addition of Summer Glau as the recurring character Isabel Rochev. Who you ask? Rochev is a DC Comics villain who made her debut in "Green Arrow Vol. 4 #1" which saw the "Green Arrow" title relaunched under the "Brightest Day" initiative. The character was created by writer J.T. Krull and artist Diogenes Neves.
Comic Book History Isabel Rochev was a slave girl from Siberia who encountered Green Arrow's father, Robert Queen, at a very young age. Inspired by the man she met, she vowed to become a success and a worthy equal of the man she shared romantic feelings with. Later in life, she manages to acquire controlling interest in Queen Industries in a move reminiscent of how Bruce Wayne reacquired Wayne Industries in "Batman Begins." By buying up the majority of Queen Industries' shares through various, smaller corporations, she became CEO of Queen Industries. Her aim was to make Queen Industries great again out of respect and love for Robert. She despised Oliver for what she viewed as his gross mismanagement of the once great company and sought to kill him. To turn the company's fortune's around she implemented a plan to privatize Star City's law enforcement in the aftermath of "Cry For Justice" which left half the city in ruins.
Show History There was mention of Isabel Rochev very briefly in Season 1 of "Arrow" as the name appeared in the book that Robert left Oliver (Stephen Amell). It has been revealed that Summer Glau will portray the character on "Arrow" in a recurring guest spot as the Vice President of Acquisitions for Stellmoor International; a company attempting to take over Queen Industries.
Analysis The direction "Arrow" is taking in Season 2 just became a tad bit clearer with this casting announcement. In the comic books, Rochev arrives in Star(ling) City right after an unnatural disaster that has left most of the city in ruins. The first season finale saw "The Glades" essentially implode thanks to Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman) which means Rochev will be arriving on the show in in near identical circumstances as the debut of her comic book doppelganger. Previously, the "Arrow" showrunners have stated that there will be two main baddies for season 2, one a physical challenge for "Arrow" and the other a cerebral, mental antagonist. In Krull's "Green Arrow" run, Rochev essentially privatized the law enforcement of Star City in an effort to capitalize on the the chaos that resulted from the city's near destruction. A shrewd and cerebral villain-esque move right? The soldiers that Rochev created with her Defense Contract bear a resemblance to another villain that's already appeared in the first season and was recently made a series regular. Maybe Slade (Manu Bennett) and Oliver cross paths in present day Starling City when he shows up as the leader of Rochev's private police force?
Summer Glau
Height: 5'-6"
Age: 31
Geek Cred: River Tamm (Firefly, Serenity), Terminator (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Bennett Halverson (Dollhouse), Jamie Fleming (The Cape), Skylar Adams (Alpha's), Supergirl (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse)
Badass skills: Ballerina dancer, wushu kung fu practitioner, kickboxer
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Running Time: 60 min
Release Date: (Season Two) October 9th, 2013
MPAA Rating: Tv-14
Starring: Katie Cassidy, Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Byron Mann,
Colin Donnell, Colin Salmon, Paul Blackthorne, Emily Bett Rickards, John Barrowman, Roger R. Cross and Willa Holland
Creators: Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Characters: George Papp (character) and Mort Weisinger (character)
"After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine."