'Arrow' first look: Stephen Amell faces off with Kelly Hu as China White

It's almost time for fans to finally see the CW show that's had critics buzzing all summer: "Arrow" premieres Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. Starring Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen -- the ruthless and dedicated vigilante Green Arrow -- the series takes a darker look at a TV superhero. (Think more "Batman Begins," less "Smallville.")

As executive producers Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg told us recently, "Arrow" will feature many supporting characters from the DC Comics universe. First up? China White, a featured villain in "Green Arrow: Year One." In the book, she's the leader of a heroin cartel. In the TV series, things take a different twist. Zap2it has your exclusive first look at China White, played by Kelly Hu of "The Vampire Diaries" and "X2."

Hu will first appear in episode 2. In the episode, Oliver (Amell) has to go to the courthouse to get his death certificate repealed... you know, since he never actually died. There, he finds former love Laurel (Katie Cassidy), who is prosecuting Martin Somers, a criminal with ties to the Chinese Triad... and, well. Oliver Queen doesn't much like criminals.

When Martin orders the Triad's top mercenary, China White, to "take care" of Laurel, you can bet there will be an epic face-off between China White and The Green Arrow.