Roy Harper is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Roy is one of DC's most longstanding characters, originating in 1940s comics as Speedy, the teen sidekick of the superhero Green Arrow. Like his mentor Green Arrow, Roy is a world-class archer and athlete who uses his exceptional marksmanship to fight crime. Along with other prominent DC Comics superhero sidekicks, he goes on to become a core member of the superhero group the Teen Titans. As an adult, Roy casts off his Speedy identity to establish himself as the superhero Arsenal, and later takes on the name Red Arrow to symbolise his coming-of-age and having become an equal of Green Arrow as he joins the Justice League. In addition to continuing to serve on occasion as one of the Titans, Roy has had leading roles in the superhero groups the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the Outsiders, Checkmate, the Justice League, and the Outlaws.
Roy Harper as Red Arrow. Art by Gene Ha.
Green Lantern vol. 2 #85, featuring Roy Harper's addiction
Roy Harper, with Dinah Lance, after he got his new band tattoo to honor his Navajo upbringing. Art by Rick Mays.
Roy Harper joins the Justice League as the Red Arrow. Art by Ed Benes.
Green Arrow is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and designed by George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics No. 73 on September 19, 1941, the same issue that debuted Aquaman. His real name is Oliver Jonas Queen, a wealthy businessman, owner of Queen Industries, and a well-known celebrity in Star City. He uses this position to hide the fact that he is Green Arrow. Partly inspired by Robin Hood, Green Arrow is an archer who uses his skills to fight crime in his home cities of Star City and Seattle, as well as alongside his fellow superheroes as a member of the Justice League. The world's greatest archer, as well as a competent swordsman and martial artist, Green Arrow deploys a range of trick arrows with various special functions, such as glue, explosive-tipped, grappling hook, flash grenade, tear gas, and even kryptonite arrows for use in a range of special situations.
Textless variant cover of Green Arrow: 80 Years of the Emerald Archer collection (March 2021) Art by Jim Lee
Green Lantern (vol. 2) No. 76 (April 1970). Cover art by Neal Adams.
Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters #1, the gritty redefinition of Green Arrow. Cover by Mike Grell.
Connor Hawke and Oliver Queen as Green Arrows on the cover to Green Arrow Secret Files & Origins No. 1 (December 2002). Art by Matt Wagner.