Roy Harper

Red Arrow
Roy Harper
Appearances: Return of Donna Troy 1, 2; Wonder Woman 11
From: DC Comics, New Earth
Appearing: Justice League of America, Titans; Former: Outsiders, Teen Titans, Green Arrow
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73
Created by: Mort Weisinger, Paul Norris
Headshot by: Ed Benes
Status: Active
Alias: Former: Arsenal, Speedy
Affiliation: Justice Leauge of America, Titans (founder, fmr. leader); Former: Outsiders (leader), Checkmate
Family: Lian Harper, daughter; Green Arrow, guardian; Brave Bow, foster father (deceased); Vandal Savage, ancestor; Scandal, distant relative
Lover: Hawkgirl; Former: Donna Troy, Cheshire, Grace
Significant Relationships: Black Canary, protector/friend; Green Lantern, friend; Speedy, namesake; Nightwing, friend; Beast Boy, friend; Raven, friend; Cyborg, friend; Starfire, friend; Tempest, friend

Powers: Roy is a baseline human. He is one of the most gifted marksmen in the world and is an excellent hand-to-hand fighter.

Personality: Brash, brave, and heroic, Roy has known both the light and dark sides of the world. Protective of both his daughter and her terrorist mother, afraid of not being worthy as a former drug addict, Roy has fought hard to earn his place among of the superheroes. He is extremely loyal to his friends, as they are his family, and would give anything to save them.

History: An orphan, Roy was raised on a Navajo reservation by Brave Bow, his foster father, until the man's death. Green Arrow, learning of Roy's skill with a bow an archery contest, took the boy as ward, and Roy became Speedy, quickly adapting to his new life. He even joined several other young sidekicks in forming the Teen Titans. His friendships there have continued on for the rest of his life, and he even dated Donna Troy but the relationship didn't last long.
Speedy and Green Arrow's relationship was difficult, as Green Arrow was always off on adventures. Speedy became addicted to drugs, and Green Arrow left him behind. It was the Black Canary, Green Arrow's off-and-on girlfriend, who helped him come clean. Although he returned to the Titans for a time, he and Green Arrow parted ways.
Roy left superheroics, becoming a government agent for Checkmate. On a mission to take down the terrorist Cheshire, he instead fell in love with her. The two had a child, Lian. After forcing Cheshire to run, Roy took custody of his daughter and has raised her ever since.
Taking the name Arsenal, Roy returned to the Titans after Nightwing left and even led the team for a time. The Titans fell apart and reformed several times, and Roy and Donna even tried dating again. But they decided they were better off as friends. Roy and Green Arrow also reconciled some of their differences, but this was cut short with Green Arrow's death. When Donna was killed in combat, Roy decided to try something new.
Forming an undercover pro-active team of relative strangers, Roy decided to take the fight to the villains as founder of the Outsiders. The team was moderately sucessful, but after Lian's nanny was killed and Roy himself nearly killed by Deathstroke, he retired for a time to recover. He also took some time to spend time with a resurrected Green Arrow, further mending their damaged relationship.
When the Justice League reformed after Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman had missing in the year following Alexander Luthor's quest to restore the multiverse, Roy was asked to join as the resident archer, and in honor of his better relationship with Green Arrow, took the name Red Arrow. His membership came as his longtime friend Black Canary became chairwoman, and he even started dating Hawkgirl. The original Titans also reformed, allowing Roy to spend time with his best friends.

Alternate Counterparts: The Earth-2 Roy never became Red Arrow or Arsenal, but remained Speedy and was a member of Seven Soliders of Victory and All-Star Squadron during World War II. The Kingdom Come Roy was Red Arrow, in a red version of Green Arrow's costume. He was part of Superman's hero team and is believed to have been killed in a nuclear blast. Lian grew up to also be a heroine called the Red Hood. This Lian even met Roy during a time traveling adventure. Roy has also appeared, usually in his Speedy or Arsenal personas, on the Justice League and Teen Titans cartoons and comics.

Last Seen: Titans #5: Red Arrow and his fellow Titans help Raven to defeat her six brothers, but when they return home, are confronted by Jericho, who is losing control of the psychotic Match.

Similar Characters:
Legacies: Batwoman, Kate Bishop, Black Canary, Chris Bradley, Dr. Mid-Nite, Liberty Belle, Marvel Girl, Quasar, Stargirl, Donna Troy, Wonder Girl