It's a huge honor and a huge responsibility to be named Hokage of Konohagakure in the Naruto franchise. Some people, like Orochimaru, long for the position because it's one of power. Others run from it, like Jiraiya, because they don't think they're worthy. Anyone who is chosen for the position has two things in common: excellent leadership abilities and impressive ninja skills. Like Naruto himself, they don't have to actually advance along the shinobi system for being a ninja. They just have to prove themselves.
The world of Naruto and the CW's Arrowverse are very different in their approaches to saving the day and their mythologies. The Arrowverse, however, is full of superhero teams with capable leaders who also happen to be impressive fighters. Not every character is fit to lead - or at least not the same way as a Hokage. There are many characters who would prove surprisingly adept at the role though.
10 Great Hokage: Ryan Wilder
Ryan Wilder is relatively new to the Batwoman mantle, but she's got great instincts and great leadership skills. She inspires Mary, Luke, and Sophie to change the way they approach working with Batwoman.
As Hokage, Ryan would embrace change in the community. She would understand that not all of the traditions would still work in the changing society. Ryan would also make an effort to make sure children like Naruto, a victim of circumstance, wouldn't be alone.
9 Not Great: Felicity Smoak
There's no question that Felicity Smoak is one of the most intelligent people in the Arrowverse. She's not just a hacker, but a planner and a strategist. On paper, she might seem like a good candidate to become a Hokage, but Felicity would not fill the role well.
That's because Felicity doesn't do well when she's the one in charge. She's much better in the role of support. Felicity is one of the best team players, able to keep everyone's secrets, and willing to do just about anything for the greater good. She always defers to other members of the team before making decisions though, something the Hokage wouldn't always be able to do.
8 Great Hokage: Sara Lance
When Sara is first introduced as the woman Oliver cheats on Laurel with before he's lost at sea, the audience probably wouldn't have thought of her as leadership material. She's barely in the show as Oliver's story moves along - until her own island backstory and superhero moves are revealed.
Sara grows from an angry fighter to a level-headed strategist who leads a team of time-traveling heroes. She doesn't suddenly take charge, but grows into the role. Sara is someone who understands what it means to be seen as a villain, to be seen as a hero, and to be someone who can simply disappear. As Hokage, she'd understand all types of life in the village, valuing everyone equally, not just the shinobi.
7 Not Great: Sam Lane
General Sam Lane is not just a military man. He's also the man behind the government facility that tracks extraterrestrial presence on Earth. Sam is great at secrecy and fighting bad guys, but he's not the warmest leader or the most forthcoming.
His attitude would put him at odds with not only the elders in the village, but also the citizens. Those in Konoha would likely always wonder if they could trust him or if he really had their best interests at heart.
6 Great Hokage: Lena Luthor
Though she comes from a family of villains, Lena Luthor isn't one. She might have dabbled in the darker side of things for a while on Supergirl, but that twist was short-lived.
Lena is incredibly intelligent and pragmatic. She really does want to do the most good for the most people. Her commitment to making life better for everyone is what would make her a good Hokage. Lena might not have the superpowers as some of her friends, but she understands them, the responsibility that comes with them, and makes the best use of the talents she has.
5 Not Great: Lois Lane
For Lois Lane, life is about finding the truth and letting people have it. Her investigative skills in the Arrowverse are unmatched considering she's not a hacker and doesn't have superpowers of her own.
While she's a great reporter with a great moral compass, that doesn't mean she should be in line to become Hokage in the world of Naruto. Lois is best at holding other leaders accountable for their bad decisions, not being the one to make those decisions herself.
4 Great Hokage: Oliver Queen
Oliver Queen makes a lot of mistakes in his life, but he turns everything around when he wants to help the city. He makes it his mission in his life not to just protect the city he grows up in, but also the world.
When Oliver becomes the Arrow, he finds purpose in his life. He builds on the martial arts skills he has to be able to do more than fight. Oliver learns patience, how to think outside of the box, and becomes someone who would sacrifice himself for the greater good.
3 Not Great: Barry Allen
Barry is an amazing hero. He saves the world on a regular basis, but he never does it alone. Barry's strength is very much in trusting his team.
In fact, it's when Barry starts making strategic decisions on his own that things go downhill. His time traveling to save his mother creates multiple issues in the timeline. Of all the heroes in the Arrowverse, Barry's compassion makes him the most relatable, but his tendency to follow his heart over his head could get him in trouble as Hokage.
2 Great Hokage: Jefferson Pierce
Jefferson Pierce has a few things that make him on the right track to be Hokage: an intense connection to his community, a huge power set, and a unique teaching style. If there's one thing that all of the great leaders in Konoha have in common, it's that they put the next generation first. They're all teachers.
One of the throughlines in Naruto is making sure that the next generation is prepared to defend themselves against attacks, but also to make sure they improve their lives. Black Lightning lives his life the same way.
1 Not Great: Iris West
Iris is a nurturer. She takes care of everyone around her, so it might not seem like a huge leap to think of her in a position like the Hokage. Iris, however, would work better in an advisory position.
She's got the same drive as Lois Lane and the same compassion as Barry Allen. Iris is the kind of person who makes sure the Hokage doesn't let power go to their head, but she doesn't want the power for herself either. She wants to make sure it's used fairly.
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June 21, 2021 at 12:00AM
