The Ups and Downs of Roy Harper
Roy Harper, aka Speedy or Arsenal, has been a part of great superhero events and one game-changing real world story. A Mort Wessinger and George Papp creation, Roy is like his mentor Green Arrow: a hero without superpowers. In place of superhuman abilities, Roy is a master at archery, he is a skilled martial artist, and weapons expert.
He was introduced 80 years ago in More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941). Left parentless after his father died in a forest fire and his mother’s status (dead or missing) was unknown, he was first raised by Brave Bow, a Navajo medicine chief. Brave Bow taught Roy archery and the boy showed incredible prowess with a bow. Then when Roy learned of Green Arrow, he came to idolize the superhero.
Brave Bow became ill and when he realized it was fatal, he reached out to Green Arrow to see if he’d take care of Roy. Green Arrow posed as a judge in an archery contest to watch Roy in competition and was impressed with the boy’s skill. He decided to test Roy with rigged arrows, but Roy was able to adjust and continue showing off his skills.
After Brave Bow’s death, Oliver adopted Roy. It was at this point that Green Arrow gave Roy the nickname Speedy because he could shoot faster than his mentor.
Roy was the central figure in one of DC’s most impactful stories that saw a comic book character dealing with a terrible real world problem in Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams’ “Snowbirds Don’t Fly.” Roy was a founding member of the Teen Titans and as he started spending more time with the team, Oliver started traveling with Green Lantern. When the Teen Titans took a break, and with Oliver gone, Roy became lonely. That’s when he started experimenting with drugs and became addicted to heroin. Oliver returned to find Roy using drugs (memorably depicted on the cover of Green Lantern Vol. 2 #85) and kicked him out.
Hal Jordan found Roy on the streets and took him to Black Canary who helped Roy get clean. He reconciled with Oliver, but still dissolved their partnership, and went solo. Since then, Roy has worked with the DEA as a counselor, he took on the new moniker Arsenal, and continued being a superhero.
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The Ups and Downs of Roy Harper
Roy Harper, aka Speedy or Arsenal, has been a part of great superhero events and one game-changing real world story. A Mort Wessinger and George Papp creation, Roy is like his mentor Green Arrow: a hero without superpowers. In place of superhuman abilities, Roy is a master at archery, he is a skilled martial artist, and weapons expert.
He was introduced 80 years ago in More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941). Left parentless after his father died in a forest fire and his mother’s status (dead or missing) was unknown, he was first raised by Brave Bow, a Navajo medicine chief. Brave Bow taught Roy archery and the boy showed incredible prowess with a bow. Then when Roy learned of Green Arrow, he came to idolize the superhero.
Brave Bow became ill and when he realized it was fatal, he reached out to Green Arrow to see if he’d take care of Roy. Green Arrow posed as a judge in an archery contest to watch Roy in competition and was impressed with the boy’s skill. He decided to test Roy with rigged arrows, but Roy was able to adjust and continue showing off his skills.
After Brave Bow’s death, Oliver adopted Roy. It was at this point that Green Arrow gave Roy the nickname Speedy because he could shoot faster than his mentor.
Roy was the central figure in one of DC’s most impactful stories that saw a comic book character dealing with a terrible real world problem in Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams’ “Snowbirds Don’t Fly.” Roy was a founding member of the Teen Titans and as he started spending more time with the team, Oliver started traveling with Green Lantern. When the Teen Titans took a break, and with Oliver gone, Roy became lonely. That’s when he started experimenting with drugs and became addicted to heroin. Oliver returned to find Roy using drugs (memorably depicted on the cover of Green Lantern Vol. 2 #85) and kicked him out.
Hal Jordan found Roy on the streets and took him to Black Canary who helped Roy get clean. He reconciled with Oliver, but still dissolved their partnership, and went solo. Since then, Roy has worked with the DEA as a counselor, he took on the new moniker Arsenal, and continued being a superhero.