Roy Harper

Origin

Roy Harper becomes Speedy

As Roy grew he came to idolize the Green Arrow a modern day Robin Hood and superhero. In order to prove to himself that he was a worthy archer, young Roy entered an archery contest. Although he ultimately lost, the Green Arrow took notice at the young boy and decided to make him his partner, helping in Roy's development as an archer. He adopted the name Speedy for the fact that he was faster than Green Arrow himself. Eventually Roy became Oliver Queen's ward, after Brave Bow's death.

Characteristics

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Red

The Teen Titans

A memeber of the Teen Titans

Ollie catches Roy shooting up!

Checkmate

1st Arsenal costume

Roy becomes a father

Arsenal and the Outsiders

Roy later rejoins the Titans with the new name Arsenal. No longer using just arrows but a large "arsenal" of high-tech weapons. While with the Titans, the group comes into contact with an android from the future Indigo. While searching for Indigo the Titans battle a Superman android. The android kills both Lilith and Donna Troy. Distraught by this, Nightwing ends the Titans.

as a member of the Outsiders

During Infinite Crisis and One Year Later, Roy and the Outsiders are battling low-level criminals and feel as if they are not making much of a difference. Roy decides this life of crime fighting is not for him and hands leadership of the Outsiders back to Nightwing.

Justice League of America

joins the JLofA

Powers/Abilities

Roy has no superhuman powers. He is a human who is an expert marksman, coming in second only to the likes of his mentor, Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow.

He is also a formidable hand-to-hand combatant, and is specialized in the use of several firearms (hence why he changed his name to Arsenal, at one point).

He is also a formidable detective, falling close behind Batman and Nightwing.

He is well known for carrying a bow and arrow, since archery is one of his best skills.

T.V.

Teen Titans : The Animated Series

Roy Harper appeared as Speedy in both Teen Titans (Titans East member) and JLU episodes (Patriot Day). He is shown as a very skilled archer and fighter that uses arrows with the same technology that Robin's gadgets. In his debut appearance in the Teen Titans animated series "Winner Takes all" he enters a hero tournament. Beating Aqualad and then with Robin's help Wildebeest. He loses in the final against Robin after he breaks his bow.

The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure

Speedy's first animated appearance was in the Teen Titans segments of the series. In those episodes, Speedy serves in the effective place of Robin.

Justice League Unlimited

Speedy appears in the  episode Patriot Act. There, Speedy states that he is Green Arrow's ex-partner when Green Arrow calls him my ex-sidekick, and is visually designed as a slightly older, better built version of his Teen Titans incarnation.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Speedy appears in the Dawn of the Dead Man episode. Batman, as a spirit, possesses Speedy to tell Green Arrow to dig up his grave. While Batman and Deadman deal with Gentleman Ghost, the two archers find his coffin and get the body out. They later fight against Craddock's army of the undead.
Teen Titans the Judas Contract
Speedy will appear on Teen Titans the judas contract

What people think of Roy Harper

George Pérez:

"Speedy and Aqualad? Nicest guest stars. I like Speedy/Aqualad because of the limitation of his powers."

Marv Wolfman:

"I remembered the Speedy story and it absolutely revolted me that Speedy's reason for taking drugs was that Oliver Queen didn't have the time to talk with him. When you come right down to it, that's what Speedy says. That's nonsense! That may be one tiny reason, but that's not going to drive him to take drugs. In the long run, there's got to be thousands of little things that build up."

Devin Grayson:

"On some levels, Roy Harper would just be happy continuing to be his own man without the Titans. But he finds the dynamics pretty irresistible-not to mention the free rent [in their new HQ on Titans Island]. Since he's raising his baby daughter full-time, he knows you can't really get a better group of baby sitters than the Titans, He's a man who just kind of goes where his path takes him."

Jay Faerber:

"Arsenal is a real kick to write. I actually really enjoy* a caring, intelligent, guy. He just likes to get a rise out of people -- it's something he learned from his mentor, Ollie, and maybe his "attitude" has increased as a way to keep Ollie around, if only in spirit. He can always count on Dick to tell him when he's gone too far, though. And even though their romance has ended, a part of him will always love Donna, and when he's in the dark of night, sometimes he wishes she was the mother of his child, not an international terrorist. Roy likes to rag on Garth, but would be the first to leap to his defense if anyone else started in on him. Roy's dated girls like Jesse before -- buttoned down business-types, so her brash ways don't bother him as much as they can bother the other Titans. And he thinks Argent's got a lot of spunk, and sometimes has to stop himself from "checking her out," considering how young she is."

Brad Meltzer:

On Roy becoming Red Arrow and joining the Justice League: "Roy’s identity for better or for worse has always been tangled up in Ollie’s , and I don’t think there was an astute reader out there who didn’t say, “Why didn’t Ollie go along with them?” and that was exactly the right question. Ollie, for all his jackass moves, I think this is the only way he knows how to say, “I love you” to Roy. He also knows his “son” well enough that the very best thing he can do for him is to know when not to be there for him. I think this is the best gift that Ollie could ever give Roy. It was always the plan to be that.

" It’s like Roy said in the issue [JLA #7] – if you’re going to be in the family business, you should wear the family name. I don’t ever want to slight Arsenal – I believe in Arsenal as a character – I don’t think that he was just a red Green Arrow. As it said in the issue, I want it to be clear that he can do more than Ollie can do. I just feel that this is the graduation point for the character. Roy started in red, and I really did want him to end up in that full red again."

"And also, I think that if Roy is paying anything back, this is the best “thank you” that he can give Ollie. It’s a graduation day, not just for the League, and not just for Roy, but for Ollie as well. All of them are finding their identities in that moment. We’re seeing Ollie being loving and responsible and caring, and that’s the only way he can close that chapter for all the bad he did to that poor boy. Only a real and total ass would just take Roy’s spot on the League. "