When it comes to the world of DC Comics, the most iconic heroes of the multiverse tended to have some form of sidekick, one way or another. Someone to work with them as they fought crime and protected the world from threats near and far. Often however sidekicks will grow and become their own heroes out of the shadows of their mentors.
One such hero is Roy Harper, once known as Speedy and more popularly known as Arsenal. The former sidekick of Green Arrow who became a Titan, here are ten things everyone often forgets about Teen Titan Roy Harper.
10 He Was Taught Archery By Native American Adoptive Father
While many people may think that Roy Harper learned his archery skills from Oliver Queen himself, that is not the case. Roy was raised by a Navajo medicine chief named Brave Bow in his original 1941 DC Comics origin story. When his father passed away in a forest fire while working as a forest ranger, Brave Bow took him in and taught him the skills to be an archer.
Sadly, Brave Bow also lost his life, and it was at this time that Roy found himself adopted by Oliver Queen. Eventually he became Green Arrow’s sidekick known as archer Speedy.
9 He's One Of The Original Teen Titans
While many know heroes like Raven, Starfire and Beast Boy to be members of the Teen Titans, many may not know that the original lineup included many heroes who became adult heroes later on. Led by heroes like Aqualad, Robin and Kid Flash, Roy was one of the founding members of the Teen Titans as well.
This is where the majority of his appearances came in, fighting alongside the team and eventually forming a romance with fellow Titan Donna Troy. However, things took a turn for Roy when the team disbanded, he broke up with Donna and Oliver lost everything.
8 He Was Once A Government Agent
Many people know that a major component of Roy’s story as a hero involved his eventual turn to addiction, which was a major turning point in Roy’s career. After a series of missions with Green Lantern and Black Canary across the United States, Roy fell into this addiction full force.
This led to a major blowout with Green Arrow, with the two going their separate ways. Besides working off and on with the Titans, he went on to become a government agent and a private eye, even taking on a mission with the famed secret government team the Suicide Squad.
7 Roy’s A Father
Another major aspect of Roy’s career happens to be his off and on again romance with the villain Cheshire. While working as an undercover agent for the government agency Checkmate, he went undercover to bring Cheshire to justice. However, his assignment brought the two closer they he intended, with them both falling in love.
Unable to take the villain down, he left her in hopes his absence wouldn’t put a target on her back any longer. He later learned Cheshire had a daughter... his daughter. Her name was Lian Harper, and she was left in Roy’s care by Cheshire.
6 He's Descendant Of Vandal Savage
One thing that may really surprise fans of DC Comics is that Roy and his daughter Lian are related to a powerful, well-known Justice League foe: Vandal Savage. After several attempts to join and lead various iterations of the Teen Titans, Roy and his daughter were taken by the villain.
It turns out Roy and Lian are descendants of the villainous Vandal Savage, and he hoped to harvest their organs to prolong his own life. Roy saved his daughter from the villain thankfully, and eventually the two moved into Titans Tower with the latest iteration of the teen heroes.
5 He Formed The Outsiders
After a mysterious group offered to sponsor the Titans and Young Justice teams, a woman from the future made of cybernetics named Indigo arrived, invading and combating both teams at once. In the attack she accidentally activated a robotic Superman, who ended the lives of Omen and Donna Troy, causing the Titans to disband.
Roy took the mystery group up on the offer, creating the heroic team known as The Outsiders. This team included Indigo, her mind wiped and leaving her seeking a chance at redemption, as well as Nightwing, who reluctantly agreed to lead the team against Gorilla Grodd.
4 He Survived Several Near-Death Experiences
Forming a team of heroes can be quite a difficult thing. Recruiting heroes willing to join a team, keeping the team organized, appointing a leader they know will keep the team running smoothly. These are all logistics Roy Harper had to encounter. However, dealing with that was the least of his problems on The Outsiders.
While on the team, Roy had several near-death experiences. He was shot in the chest by Brother Blood and benched for months. He then fought and nearly lost a battle with Deathstroke, and was subsequently captured by Constantine Drakon and the Riddler later on.
3 He Joined Justice League
After leading the Outsiders against the Secret Society of Super-Villains during Infinite Crisis in Metropolis, Roy found himself barely holding the team together a year later. After an attempt to rescue Black Lightning with the help of Nightwing failed, Roy turned over leadership to Nightwing altogether.
He was later asked to join the Justice League by his friend Hal Jordan. Adopting the name Red Arrow, Roy looked at this as an opportunity to put the tumultuous past with his adoptive father Oliver in the past for good. He joined the team and started a relationship with League teammate Hawkgirl.
2 He Joined Deathstroke’s Titans
After the loss of his daughter Lian and having his arm torn off during the attack on Star City by Prometheus, Roy fell into an anger and hatred that turned him back into Arsenal, complete with a weaponized prosthetic arm. Punishing himself and others for failing to save his daughter, Roy went down a dark path.
That path led to him joining Deathstroke’s new villainous team of Titans, as the villain attempted to build a machine to save his dying son Jericho. Offering Roy and Cheshire a chance to bring Lian back, Roy refused, fighting Cheshire and Deathstroke and letting Lian go finally.
1 He Fell In Love With Starfire
During the New 52 age of DC Comics, there were many changes to the characters fans had known and loved for years. Roy Harper was no different, as his history with his daughter Lian and his missing arm were removed from history, and he was made into a freedom fighter who joined Jason Todd’s crusade.
Besides his history with Oliver and his friendship with Jason Todd, one of the big shocks came when his relationship with Starfire began. Telling him it was merely physical at first, Roy learned they both had developed strong feelings for one another, falling in love.