| Roy Harper | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Roy_Harper_(Speedy_-_Arsenal_-_Red_Arrow),_DC_Comics_character.jpg) Roy Harper as Red Arrow. Art by Gene Ha. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | As Speedy: More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941) As Arsenal: The New Titans #99 (July 1993) As Red Arrow: Alternative universe: Kingdom Come #2 (June 1996) Main universe: Justice League of America vol. 2 #7 (May 2007) |
| Created by | Speedy: Mort Weisinger (writer) George Papp (artist) Arsenal: Marv Wolfman (writer) Tom Grummett (artist) Red Arrow: Mark Waid (writer) Alex Ross (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Roy William Harper Jr. |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Teen Titans Justice League Seven Soldiers of Victory Young Justice Suicide Squad Checkmate Outsiders The Outlaws |
| Partnerships | Green Arrow Cheshire Dick Grayson Donna Troy Jason Todd Starfire |
| Notable aliases | Speedy Arsenal Red Arrow |
| Abilities |
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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 superheroes Green Arrow and Black Canary. 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.
He was the subject of the award-winning 1971 comic book story "Snowbirds Don't Fly", which was celebrated for its gritty depiction of Roy's battle with drug addiction; the story is considered a key moment in comic book history as it represented the emergence of mature themes in comics.[1] In 2013, ComicsAlliance ranked Harper as #50 on their list of the "50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics".[2] The character has been adapted for video games and animation several times, and was portrayed in live action by actor Colton Haynes on the Arrowverse television series Arrow.
- ^ McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1970s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
It was taboo to depict drugs in comics, even in ways that openly condemned their use. However, writer Denny O'Neil and artist Neal Adams collaborated on an unforgettable two-part arc that brought the issue directly into Green Arrow's home, and demonstrated the power comics had to affect change and perception.
- ^ Wheeler, Andrew (2013-02-14). "ComicsAlliance Presents The 50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2015-07-28.