Arsenal (comics)
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Arsenal is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. His real name is Roy Harper Jr., and was known for decades as Green Arrow's teenage sidekick Speedy. He first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 (Nov. 1941).
Fictional character biography
Origin
Roy Harper, Sr. was a forest ranger who rescued a Navajo medicine chief from a massive forest fire. He then went back to the fire to look for more victims. He was never seen again. Young Roy was barely two years old at the time, and Brave Bow, the man that Roy's father had rescued, raised the boy on a Navajo reservation.Roy grew up with few friends. With the help of Brave Bow, he developed himself physically and learned how to use a bow and arrow, reaching the level of someone twice his age in physical prowess and archery skill.
Later on, when Brave Bow was on his deathbed, he realized that Roy would need another guardian. Knowing that the child idolized Green Arrow, he conspired with the hero to send Roy to an archery contest that Green Arrow was judging. Even though Roy lost the contest, he helped Green Arrow foil a burglary, and even proved a faster shot than him.
After Brave Bow died, Roy became Green Arrow's sidekick as well as the ward of Oliver Queen (Green Arrow's billionaire alter ego). Roy was given a costume and a set of trick arrows similar to Green Arrow's, and chose the nickname Speedy for his crime-fighting adventures.
Teen Titans and Roy's addiction
A few years later, Speedy joined Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad and Wonder Girl in the newly-formed Teen Titans.
The teens in the group would continue to operate with their respective mentors, as well as spending time with their peers in the Teen Titans. Speedy was, at first, only a reserve member. But after a bit of time, he became a full-time member, replacing Aqualad. It was at this time that he began dating Wonder Girl (Donna Troy). Some years later, the team disbanded, after numerous changes. It was also around this time that Roy and Donna ended their relationship.
After the first incarnation of the Titans disbanded, Roy was in rough shape. He felt increasingly neglected by Green Arrow, who spent more time with Green Lantern and his lover Black Canary than he did with his young ward. While the three older heroes were away on a cross-country adventure, Roy became addicted to heroin. Roy at first convinced Green Arrow that he was working "on the inside" to bust up a drug ring. However, his secret came out, and Green Arrow angrily threw Roy out on the street. Black Canary and Green Lantern helped Roy overcome his addiction, staying by his side while he went through withdrawal. Soon after, he had a confrontation with Green Arrow that caused the two of them to stop working together.
Just prior to changing his name to Arsenal, Speedy served under Colonel Rick Flag in the Suicide Squad.
Agent of Checkmate
While still helping the Teen Titans on occasional missions, Roy frequently worked as a counselor for various anti-drug programs. During this time, Roy established government contacts, and was soon hired by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI, also known as Checkmate) as a drug enforcement agent.
Roy was given an assignment to go undercover and gain the trust of the villain Cheshire. The intention was to turn Cheshire over to the authorities, but the two fell in love and had an affair. Roy could not bring himself to turn her in, but he was concerned that his presence endangered Cheshire's life, so he left her. He was unaware that Cheshire was pregnant with his child.
Roy eventually learned that he was the father of Cheshire's daughter, Lian. He went on a mission with Nightwing (the former Robin) to track down Cheshire and prevent her from assassinating a group of diplomats. Roy was captured by Cheshire and then freed by Nightwing, who also brought Roy's daughter. Cheshire had left Lian in Roy's care.
From Speedy to Arsenal
Roy later returned to the Titans. At this time, he adopted the new identity of Arsenal, now equipped with a vast array of high-tech weaponry.
Soon, another team of Teen Titans emerged. This group consisted of a teen-aged Atom (de-aged by events in Zero Hour) and new heroes Argent, Risk, Joto and Prysm. The team was funded by Loren Jupiter, who had also funded a group of Titans during Roy's time on the team.
Jupiter gathered together the original Titans (now going by the aliases of Nightwing, Tempest, Flash and Arsenal) to combat the threat of his bitter, super-powered son Jarrod Jupiter (Haze). New and old Titans joined forces to defeat Haze – but at a price; Joto apparently lost his life, and Arsenal felt responsible for his death. Arsenal remained with this new group of Titans for a time, but eventually left the group before it disbanded.
Arsenal later came into conflict with Vandal Savage. Savage had discovered that both Roy and his daughter Lian were his descendants. Thus, their organs were suitable for him to harvest to prolong his life.
Roy was able to save his daughter from Savage. After this ordeal, Roy adopted a new look to reflect his Navajo heritage. Shortly after, the original five Titans decided to re-form the team. Arsenal served as a full-time member on the team, and resided at the new Titans Tower with his daughter, Lian.
The Outsiders
Later, a mysterious conglomerate known as Optitron offered to sponsor the Titans and Young Justice after summoning them to San Francisco. Before any decisions could be made, a cybernetic girl from the future (known as Indigo) invaded the complex, and immediately engaged both teams in combat. With half the group out of commission, the remaining members tried to track down Indigo, but instead encountered a rogue Superman android, which had been activated. Caught by surprise, Lilith had her neck snapped by the Superman android, killing her instantly. Troia (Donna Troy's new identity) tried valiantly to defeat the Superman Android, but he released a deadly heat beam directly through her chest, killing her. Indigo arrived and shut down the Superman Android, leaving Arsenal and Nightwing to mourn the fallen Troia. Shaken by these losses, Nightwing decided to officially end the Titans.-->Roy saw an opportunity. He accepted Optitron's offer and set about forming a new team: the Outsiders. He began by buying a massive secret underground headquarters beneath New York City. Roy outfitted the shelter with state-of-the-art equipment and began recruiting members for the new team. He successfully coaxed the veteran Metamorpho, as well as newcomers Grace and Thunder into joining the team. He also decided to accept Indigo as a member. Even though she had been responsible for activating the Superman android, and ultimately for Lilith's and Troia's deaths, her memories were wiped clean and she convinced Roy that she wanted to atone for what she had done.
Indigo's presence would prove to be a major sticking point for Arsenal's last recruit: Nightwing. The Titans' former leader was completely unwilling to renew his involvement in a team after such a devastating loss. Arsenal argued that the Outsiders were the next logical step for them beyond the Titans, and that perhaps a team of strangers would operate more efficiently than a team with so many emotional attachments. Nightwing, while still reluctant, agreed to join and lead the Outsiders shortly after defeating Gorilla Grodd.
Arsenal was shot in the chest while attempting to stop Brother Blood from activating a global network of sleeper agents. He survived but was sidelined for months. In the interim, he assigned the Huntress as his replacement. He was hesitant to resume active duty, feeling afraid of his own limitations, but returned with encouragement from Nightwing.
Not long after his recovery, the Outsiders took on a case which involved a child-slaver and molester named Tanner. One of Tanner's informants recognized Roy from years prior, and led Tanner to Roy's daughter, Lian. Lian's nanny was killed and the girl was branded with Tanner's mark. The Outsiders arrived just in time to save Lian and other children from being flown out of New York.
Oddly, his near-death from gunshot wounds saved his life when soon he met Deathstroke. The villain, Arsenal discovered, had been posing as Batman and feeding him information since the Outsiders began. Deathstroke and Arsenal fought, with Deathstroke intending to kill him, but when the mercenary discovered the bullet scars on Arsenal's chest, he figured Arsenal had suffered enough and gave him a "pass". About the same time, Arsenal was also kidnapped by Green Arrow's nemesis Constantine Drakon. Drakon was working with the Riddler, and he slit Roy's throat so that he would have to apply constant pressure or die. The Outsiders helped search for and rescue Roy.
During Infinite Crisis, Arsenal is serving as leader of the Outsiders and raising Lian as a single father. He was among the heroes gathered to defend Metropolis from an invasion by the Society of Supervillians (see also: Battle of Metropolis). His fate in DC's One Year Later era has yet to be revealed, though he is set to make an appearance in Green Lantern #15 (Oct. 2006).
Arsenal in other media
- Speedy's first filmed appearance was in the Teen Titans segments in the Superman/Aquaman Adventure Hour. In those episodes, Speedy serves in the effective place of Robin.
- Speedy has appeared on the Teen Titans animated series, where he is voiced by Mike Erwin. Although his real name is not given, his appearance is clearly based on that of Roy Harper. While not a member of the main Titans team himself, he appeared as a supporting character in the episode "Winner Take All", and fought Robin, trying to convince him if winning is really that important. Speedy later joined up with the team's sister group, Titans East. As depicted in the series, Speedy is serious and businesslike as in his Arsenal years in comics, leading Beast Boy to comment on his similarities to Robin. However, when he reappears in "Titans East Pt. 1", more of his traditional bad-boy Speedy personality is seen, as he refuses to apologize for buying fish tacos, which offends Aqualad to no end. He was mind-controlled by Brother Blood in "Titans East Pt. 2", but saved by Titans West. Speedy's bow was broken by Cheshire in "Calling All Titans". He was then overpowered by her. However, in the episode "Titans Together", Speedy somehow regained possession of his bow when he was freed from his suspended animation.
- Speedy appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Patriot Act". There, Speedy states that he is Green Arrow's "ex-partner", and is visually designed as a slightly older, better built version of his Teen Titans incarnation (his costume is the same, and he is still voiced by Mike Erwin). This does not necessarily mean the shows are in continuity with one another, and may have been a nod to the Titans cartoon and nothing more, much like Michael Rosenbaum's voicing of Kid Flash in the Teen Titans episode "Lightspeed". Speedy's appearance is also a nod to the original Seven Soldiers of Victory, who are the stars of this episode.
External links
- - DC Database Project
- [Titans Tower Biography]
- [Well Equipped] - Fanlisting
- [The World's Finest JLU Bio]
- [The World's Finest TT Bio]
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