Roy Harper: Bio, Origin & History

Real Name: Roy Harper

First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73 (November, 1941)

Powers: Roy Harper doesn’t have any superpowers in the traditional sense. Instead, he’s a highly skilled marksman, is proficient in many forms of combat, is in peak athletic form, and has an arsenal of trick arrows at his disposal.

Affiliation: Justice League of America, Teen Titans, Outsiders, and the Outlaws.

Did You Know? Roy Harper has gone by many names. The most famous of these include Speedy, Red Arrow, and Arsenal. 

A Little History

The origin of Roy Harper is pretty straightforward. 

Roy Harper was created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris and first appeared inside the pages of More Fun Comics #73 back in 1941. In this appearance and for the next many decades, Roy went by the name Speedy. 

When just a boy, Roy lost his father to a forest fire on a Navajo reservation. Sensing great skill in the young Harper, the medicine man of the local tribe, Brave Bow took him in. Under Brave Bow Roy learned and excelled in archery and marksmanship. 

As Roy free so too did his fascination with the superhero, Green Arrow. In an effort to prove himself without of the Green Arrows eye, Roy entered into an archery contest. Unfortunately, although he had the skills to win, he didn’t. All wasn’t lost, however. Seeing the same great skill that Brave Bow saw, the Green Arrow took Roy under his wing and began to train him in the ways of crimefighting. After showing exactly how quick his draw of an arrow was, Roy adopted the name Speedy.

Once ready, the now named Speedy joined the Green Arrow as a superhero and hasn’t remained there ever since.

And that’s it. The origin of Roy Harper.