Fueled by the death of his wife during a mugging in the crime-infested area of "the Glades", he went to Nanda Parbat and was trained by the League of Assassins, taking the name The Magician. After he left the group and returned to his city, Malcolm secretly plotted "the Undertaking". When the Hood began to intervene in his plot, he donned his league uniform and became the Dark Archer, managing to defeat the Hood twice in combat. He eventually succeeded in his plan, though only partially, but was believed to be dead when Oliver struck an arrow through his heart. Before his wife's death, Malcolm was a caring man who loved his wife and son very dearly, and was a devoted businessman and humanitarian, striving to save Starling City just like his wife, Rebecca.
Publication Information
- Arrow : Malcolm Merlyn
- Version : Arrowverse
- Multiverse : Earth One
- Label : Timeline
- Alter Ego :
- Known As :
- Type :
- Vigilante
- Former CEO of Merlyn Global Group
- Former Member of League of Assassins
- Former Leader of League of Assassins
- Former Member of Legion of Doom
- Former Member of Team Arrow
- Former Co-owner of Rebecca Merlyn's clinic
- Former Member of Hidden
- Former Leader of Tempest
- Former Founder and leader of Thanatos Guild
- Former Philanthropist
- Former Businessman
- Affiliation :
- Relative :
- Origin : Star City, United State
- Base Of Operations :
- Season : Arrow
- First Appeareance : Arrow Season 1 Episod 4 : An Innocent Man
- Last Appeareance :
- Number of Appeareance :
- Potrayer : John Barrowman
- Main View : Full Episod
- Main Article : Malcolm Merlyn Timeline
He eventually revealed himself to be alive to Moira Queen when he discovered he was Thea's biological father and he sought redemption with her. Instead, Moira revealed to the League of Assassins that Malcolm was, in fact, alive, after some time, he was no longer hunted, due to Oliver helping to wipe out his blood debt. He later became an uneasy ally of Team Arrow, despite their constant qualms. After Oliver defeated "Ra's al Ghul", he gave Ra's ring to Malcolm, making him the new Ra's al Ghul. However, Nyssa soon took power and disbanded the league; this power struggle cost Malcolm his left hand. In his anger for Oliver, he joined forces with Damien Darhk, however, after the destruction of Tevat Noah and Damien's growing insanity after the death of his wife, Ruvé Adams leading him to decide to destroy the world regardless of the existence of a safe haven, Malcolm defected from H.I.V.E. and joined forces with Team Arrow again.
Malcolm aided time-traveler Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash and Damien Darhk in a quest to locate the Spear of Destiny, in exchange for Eobard changing his past and gaining a better life in the process, including the revival of his son, Tommy and his wife, Rebecca. The Legion of Doom altered reality but the Legends managed to undo their work and Malcolm was placed back in his bitter life of squalor. A year after these events, Malcolm learned his daughter, Thea had been kidnapped as part of Adrian Chase's vendetta against Oliver. He reached out to Oliver and aided him in recovering his friends on Lian Yu. He was killed on the island by a land mine.
Legacy
Thea felt conflicted over Malcolm's sacrifice, as a part of her missed him despite everything he had done to her, admitting that she finally saw the father he could've been, but will never get to be now. Felicity comforted Thea, having been in a similar situation with her own estranged father, and acknowledged that Malcolm loved his daughter in his own way. Ultimately however, Malcolm's sacrifice did not completely redeem him of the despicable actions he committed in his past, as he is still regarded by many to have been an evil man and horrible and father.
After Malcolm's death, Athena succeeded him as the leader of the Thanatos Guild and was determined to carry on his legacy by finding the map. Nyssa became aware of the Guild shortly after the events of "Lian Yu" and infiltrated the group, discovering their mission. She and Team Arrow were able to locate Malcolm's map with Tigressa's help and discover his knowledge on the three Lazarus Pits. Thea initially wanted nothing to do with Malcolm's legacy and desired a fresh start in life. However, upon learning of the Guild's intentions and the potential consequences of them taking control of the Lazarus Pits, she decided to travel the world with Nyssa and Roy Harper to find and destroy these pits, determined to right her father's wrongs.
Weapons, Powers and Abilities
- Main Article : Weapons, Powers and Abilities
- Malcolm was in excellent physical condition for a man of his age due to his training with the League of Assassins, with his physical condition proving to be superior than Oliver before he was trained by Ra's. Malcolm had demonstrated enough strength to break Oliver's bow with a single strike, dent a steel beam with a single kick, and topple the highly durable Danny Brickwell with only a few strikes.
