WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Legion of Super-Heroes #5, by Brian Michael Bendis, Ryan Sook, Scott Godlewski, Wade Von Grawbadger, Jordie Bellaire and Dave Sharpe, on sale now.
The new Legion of Super-Heroes series has revealed several new details about the future of the DC Universe. As Jon Kent settles into life in the 31st century, goings-on 1,000 years from current continuity unveil new mysteries, as well as the lasting impact of certain characters. In fact, the series already explained Earth was destroyed and later rebuilt into an artificial New Earth. There's also an entire planet devoted to Gotham City and no one knows what happened to Aquaman after his powerful trident was lost to time.
Legion of Super-Heroes #5 reveals a new detail about another DC superhero: Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow. Unlike Arthur Curry, the Emerald Archer's impact on history is not a mystery at all -- in fact, it appears to be massive. Why? Because it spans 1,000 years... and counting.
At the start of Legion of Super-Heroes #5, the titular cosmic super-team faces the Science Police, who are threatening to arrest them. However, a hologram of Brainiac 5 appears in between the two forces and he implores the Science Police to stop and reconsider their orders -- after all, the two are on the same side and they should join forces to find out what circumstances have led them to face off against one another. As Brainy says, it's "something we need to investigate. Together. Because, to quote Sir Oliver Queen the Eleventh, if not us, who?"
Brainiac 5 uses the words of "Sir Oliver Queen the Eleventh" to talk down the Science Police and it actually works. The crisis is averted -- and readers learn something huge about the legacy Oliver Queen will leave behind. Over the next thousand years, Oliver will father a family line that keeps his name going. If there are, in history, 11 Oliver Queens (at least), then it speaks to the mark the character has left on DC history. Clearly, his family has seen it fit to honor him throughout a millennia, which shows how great of a person and superhero he was.
What's more, it appears as if the eleventh Oliver Queen is someone of great stature and respect. After all, he is now a "Sir," and evidently someone capable of delivering great speeches to inspire the masses -- something which also speaks to the legacy of the original.
It's interesting to note that while Legion of Super-Heroes #5 hints at a big lineage for Oliver Queen, the Emerald Archer has no children to speak of in the present. Sure, the character is currently in an on again/off again relationship with Black Canary, but the two are nowhere near having a child together -- unless something is about to change in their lives very soon. After all, Batman and Catwoman will soon be expecting a child, which could always inspire Oliver and Dinah to have one of their own.
On the television series Arrow, Oliver Queen had two children: William and Mia Queen, who both grew up to be strong characters in their own right. Both were original characters to the show, but they might serve as inspiration for the comic books. Since the series' last few seasons examined the legacy of Green Arrow in the future, it's possible the comics will now do the same.
Perhaps Oliver Queen will soon have a son and he will then begin a legacy that will carry on for 1,000 years... and maybe even a thousand more.