ROY HARPER
READING GUIDE
idk if anyone still using this in 2025 (kinda crazy loool) but 💀
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NAVIGATION
READING GUIDE
this is a complete chronological reading order of Roy's history with most of his appearances. each era serves as a starting point that you can jump into without much context. each page has some info to help you decide which starting point is best for you.
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⠀STARTER
STORIES
These are some selected stories from various points in Roy's history. They're listed here chronologically, but they can be read in any order without much context. If you're not ready to delve into his full reading guide, then this is a good place to start reading a few of his notable stories.
Snowbirds Don't Fly
1971
GREEN LANTERN (1960) #85-86The story depicting Roy's fall into drug addiction and his subsequent battle of overcoming it.
The Cheshire Contract
1988
ACTION COMICS #613-618
Collected in Nightwing: Old Friends, New EnemiesAfter recently discovering he was a father, Roy Harper as Speedy teams up with old friend Nightwing (Dick Grayson) to find his daughter, Lian.
Rocks & Hard Places
1988-1989
ACTION COMICS #627-634, 636-640
Collected in Nightwing: Old Friends, New EnemiesAs Roy begins to settle into fatherhood, Nightwing helps him move to Northern Ireland where he's looking to find some peace, but trouble from his past quickly follows.
Fall of a Titan
1996
ARSENAL SPECIAL (1996) #1 (One shot)Roy Harper is forced to take one more job as a spy for Sarge Steel, sending him into a mission that makes him question all he's ever trusted and the life he's led in recent years.
Batman + Arsenal
1997
BATMAN PLUS ARSENAL #1 (One shot)When discovering Cheshire (Jade Nguyen) has been kidnapped, Roy seeks the help of Batman (Bruce Wayne) to find her.
Titans: Then & Now
1997-1998
TEEN TITANS (1996) #12-16A Titans reunion story where the characters reflect on the lives they've led, Roy chief among them as he once again asks major questions about himself.
Arsenal
1998
Arsenal (1998) #1-4Roy is hunted down by Vandal Savage, who's after him and his daughter for reasons unknown.
The Archer's Quest
2002-2003
GREEN ARROW (2001) #16-21Roy goes on a road trip with a recently resurrected Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) to search for items from his past.
The Haunting of Arsenal
2004
OUTSIDERS (2003) #11A one shot showing Roy's recovery months after getting shot in the chest five times, focusing on the mental toll its taken on him and his confidence.
The Tornado's Path
2006-2007
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #1-7Roy Harper's coming of age story as he is inducted into the Justice League and embraces his identity as Red Arrow.
Walls
2007
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #11A one shot that features Roy and Vixen (Mari McCabe) on the brink of death as they're trapped by debris underwater.
Paternal Instincts
2010
TITANS (2008) #19A one shot featuring a day in the life of Roy as he tries juggle being a parent and a superhero.
Convergence: The Titans
2015
CONVERGENCE: THE TITANS (2015) #1-2Roy Harper has taken up to life under the dome in Gotham, running a home for lost children as he tries to get used to his life, but things change as a villain offers him the chance to bring Lian back from the dead, at a price.
The Return of Roy Harper
2017
GREEN ARROW (2016) #18-20The Rebirth retelling of Roy Harper's backstory, paralleling his young life with his present day return to his home where he grew up.
The Late 80s
These comics mostly feature Roy's early time as a single father, starting out with how he found out about Lian and he handles it and grows into it from there. They're from the late 80s, and might have older art. If you're someone who prefers newer art or has a harder time getting into older comics, it might be better to come back to this era later.
MAIN APPEARANCES- NEW TEEN TITANS (1984) #20-21
- SUICIDE SQUAD (1987) #11-12
- ACTION COMICS (1938) #613-618
- ACTION COMICS (1938) #627-634
- ACTION COMICS (1938) #636-640
- SECRET ORIGINS (1986) #38
- NEW TITANS (1988) #60-71
- SECRET ORIGINS (1986) #50
GUEST APPEARANCES- NEW TEEN TITANS (1984) #19, 24
- NEW TITANS (1988) #52, 56
- HAWK AND DOVE (1989) #11-12, 26
CAMEO APPEARANCES- SECRET ORIGINS (1988) #13
- TEEN TITANS SPOTLIGHT (1986) #10
- BATMAN (1940) #416
- NEW TITANS (1988) #47, 50
- SECRET ORIGINS (1986) Annual #2
- SECRET ORIGINS (1986) Annual #3
- WONDER WOMAN (1987) #47
- DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINATOR (1991) #2
- ARMAGEDDON 2001 (1991) #2
1993-1996
This era features Roy becoming Arsenal and acting as leader of the Titans. Though Roy's characterization is mostly great in this era, the art and plots in these comics are very much a product of the 90s, so it might be best to leave this era till the end if you can't get into that.
MAIN APPEARANCES- DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINATOR (1991) #18-20
- NEW TITANS (1988) #97-101
- GREEN ARROW (1988) #75
- NEW TITANS (1988) #102-107
- NEW TITANS (1988) Annual #9
- NEW TITANS (1988) #108-113
- SHOWCASE '94 #7
- NEW TITANS (1988) #114, 0, 115-118
- GREEN LANTERN (1990) #59
- NEW TITANS (1988) #119-121
- CROSSOVER: The Crimelord-Syndicate War: Deathstroke (1991) #48, New Titans (1988) #122, Darkstars (1992) #32, Deathstroke (1991) #49
- NEW TITANS (1988) Annual #11
- GREEN ARROW (1988) #97-99, 101
- NEW TITANS (1988) #123
- CROSSOVER: Siege of the Zi Charam: New Titans (1988) #124, Green Lantern (1990) #65, Darkstars (1992) #34, Damage (1994) #16, New Titans (1988) #125
- SHOWCASE ‘95 #8
- NEW TITANS (1988) #126-130
- ARSENAL SPECIAL (1996) #1
GUEST APPEARANCES- DAMAGE (1994) #5-6
- GREEN LANTERN (1990) #57
- DEATHSTROKE THE HUNTED (1991) #45
- DAMAGE (1994) #8, 10
- OUTSIDERS (1993) #17
- DAMAGE (1994) #13
- DARKSTARS (1992) #30-31
- PRIMAL FORCE (1995) #7
- DEATHSTROKE (1991) Annual #4
CAMEO APPEARANCES- BLOODBATH (1993) #1-2
- ZERO HOUR (1994) #3, 0
- DARKSTARS (1992) #28
- GUY GARDNER WARRIOR (1994) #29, 39
- BLOOD PACK (1995) #3
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1996-1998
In this era, Roy goes through a change in his superhero identity, dealing with the legacy of a recently dead Ollie and how he wants to live up to that. If you prefer reading more modern comics, then everything from this point on is what I'd say counts as such.
MAIN APPEARANCES- BATMAN + ARSENAL (1997) #1
- TEEN TITANS (1996) #12-18
- CROSSOVER: Millenium Giants: Superman (1987) #134, Teen Titans (1996) #19, Adventures of Superman (1987) #557, Action Comics (1938) #744, Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #79, Superman (1987) #135
- TEEN TITANS (1996) #20
- DC ONE MILLION (1998) #1-3
GUEST APPEARANCES
- GENESIS (1997) #1
- BIRDS OF PREY: THE RAVENS (1997) #1
- NIGHTWING (1996) Annual #1
- THE FLASH (1987) #142
- SUPERMAN (1987) #1,000,000
- NIGHTWING SECRET FILES (1996) #1
CAMEO APPEARANCES- TEEN TITANS (1996) #5
- IMPULSE (1994) #28
- NIGHTWING (1996) #10
- THE POWER OF SHAZAM (1994) #41
- GREEN LANTERN: SECRET FILES (1997) #1
- SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL (1987) #1,000,000
1999-2003
This era features the reformation of the Titans, mostly featuring Roy in a casual Titans book balancing being a superhero and father, though the Green Arrow stories here showcase Roy dealing with Ollie's return to life.
MAIN APPEARANCES- JLA/TITANS (1998) #1-3
- ARSENAL (1998) #1-4
- TITANS (1999) #1
- THE TITANS: SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS (1999) #1
- TITANS (1999) #2-16
- SECRET FILES & ORIGINS: GUIDE TO THE DC UNIVERSE (2000) #1
- TITANS (1999) Annual #1
- TITANS (1999) #17-19
- GREEN LANTERN (1990) #128
- TITANS (1999) #20-25
- SUPERBOY (1994) #80-82
- THE TITANS SECRET FILES & ORIGINS (1999) #2
- TITANS (1999) #26-50
- GREEN ARROW (2001) #1, 5-6, 8-9
- GREEN ARROW (2001) #16-21
GUEST APPEARANCES- AQUAMAN (1993) #60
- RESURRECTION MAN (1997) #26-27
- THE FLASH (1987) #159
- SINS OF YOUTH: SECRET FILES (2000) #1
- GREEN ARROW SECRET FILES & ORIGINS (2002) #1
CAMEO APPEARANCES- IMPULSE: BART SAVES THE UNIVERSE (1998) #1
- BEAST BOY (1999) #1, 4
- JLA 80-PAGE GIANT (1996) #2
- JLA (1996) #40
- STARS AND S.T.R.I.P.E. (2000) #8
- YOUNG JUSTICE: SINS OF YOUTH (2000) #1-2
- JLA SECRET FILES (1996) #3
- GREEN LANTERN: CIRCLE OF FIRE (2001) #1
- JLA: OUR WORLDS AT WAR #1
- WORLD'S FINEST: OUR WORLDS AT WAR #1
- ACTION COMICS (1938) #781
- GREEN ARROW (2001) #11
- ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (1987) #618
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⠀2003-2006
In the aftermath of the death of Donna Troy and the disbandment of the Titans, Roy decides to take a new approach to crimefighting and starts a new version of the Outsiders, recruiting various members, including a grief stricken Nightwing, with the promise of a strictly work-based team with no personal relationships.
MAIN APPEARANCES- TITANS/YOUNG JUSTICE: GRADUATION DAY (2003) #1-3
- TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES (2003) #1
- OUTSIDERS (2003) #1-3
- GREEN ARROW (2001) #32
- OUTSIDERS (2003) #4-6, 8, 11-19
- GREEN ARROW (2001) #47-50
- OUTSIDERS (2003) #20-23
- CROSSOVER: The Insiders: Teen Titans (2003) #24, Outsiders (2003) #24, Teen Titans (2003) #25, Outsiders (2003) #25
- DC SPECIAL: THE RETURN OF DONNA TROY (2005) #1-4
- TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS: SECRET FILES & ORIGINS (2003) #2
- OUTSIDERS (2003) #26-33, 44-46, Annual #1
GUEST APPEARANCES- GREEN ARROW (2001) #33
- TEEN TITANS (2003) #21-23
- NIGHTWING (1996) #114
- VILLAINS UNITED: INFINITE CRISIS SPECIAL (2006) #1
- NIGHTWING (1996) #124
CAMEO APPEARANCES- BIRDS OF PREY (1999) #63
- SUPERMAN/BATMAN (2003) #13
- IDENTITY CRISIS (2004) #1
- THE FLASH (1987) #214
- JLA (1996) #116
- NIGHTWING (1996) #117
- VILLAINS UNITED (2005) #1
- TEEN TITANS (2003) #32
- INFINITE CRISIS (2005) #7
- 52 (2006) #3, 8, 10, 33, 47, 50
- 52/WORLD WAR III (2007) #4
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⠀2006-2011
This era features Roy coming into his legacy as a Justice League member and embracing his Red Arrow identity.
MAIN APPEARANCES- JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #1-7
- CROSSOVER: The Lightning Saga: Justice League of America (2006) #8-9, Justice Society of America (2007) #6, Justice League of America (2006) #10
- JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #11-12
- CROSSOVER: Justice League of America Wedding Special (2007) #1, Justice League of America (2006) #13-15, Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special (2007) #1
- JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #16-19
- TITANS (2008) #1-4
- JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #21-26
- THE FLASH (1987) #245-247
- JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 80-PAGE GIANT (2009) #1
- JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #27-30
- TITANS (2008) #5-10
- JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #31
- TITANS (2008) #11
- CROSSOVER: Deathtrap: Titans (2008) #12, Vigilante (2009) #5, Teen Titans (2003) #70, Titans (2008) #13, Vigilante (2009) #6
- TITANS (2008) #14, 16-18
- GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY (2007) #25
- TITANS (2008) #19-20
- JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE
- TITANS (2008) #21, 23
- JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL #1-4
- TITANS (2008) #26-36
- TITANS (2008) Annual #1
- TITANS (2008) #37-38
- CONVERGENCE: THE TITANS (2015) #1-2
GUEST APPEARANCES- GREEN ARROW (2001) #74-75
- COUNTDOWN (2006) #49
- GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY (2007) #1, 4-6
- THE FLASH (1987) #233
- NIGHTWING (1996) #143
- VIXEN: RETURN OF THE LION (2008) #2-5
- DC UNIVERSE HOLIDAY SPECIAL (2009)
- DC UNIVERSE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT (2008) #1
- FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH INK (2009) #2, 5
- CONVERGENCE (2015) #5, 6
CAMEO APPEARANCES- WONDER WOMAN (2006) #1
- 52 (2006) #51
- GREEN LANTERN (2005) #15-17
- THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE (2006) #9
- GREEN ARROW #72-73
- JSA CLASSIFIED (2005) #26
- COUNTDOWN (2006) #45
- ALL FLASH (2007) #1
- CROSSOVER: Amazons Attack: Amazons Attack (2007) #2, 4, Wonder Woman (2006) #11, Amazons Attack (2007) #5, 6
- GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL (2007) #1
- BOOSTER GOLD (2007) #1
- COUNTDOWN (2006) #36-35
- COUNTDOWN (2008) #24, 20, 11
- BLACK ADAM: THE DARK AGE (2007) #3
- DEATH OF THE NEW GODS (2007) #2
- TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: CYBORG-SUPERMAN (2007) #1
- TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: SUPERMAN PRIME (2007) #1
- GREEN LANTERN (2005) #24-25
- TITANS EAST SPECIAL (2008) #1
- CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE FINAL ARK (2008) #3
- TRIALS OF SHAZAM (2008) #11-12
- SUPERMAN/BATMAN (2003) #43, 46
- CHECKMATE (2005) #3
- CATWOMAN (2004) #77
- NIGHTWING (1996) #137
- RANN/THANAGAR HOLY WAR (2008) #1
- SUPERMAN/BATMAN (2003) #51-52
- DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS (2008) #1-2
- TRINITY (2008) #29, 39, 42-52
- BLUE BEETLE (2006) #32
- SECRET SIX (2008) #6
- FACE OF EVIL: KOBRA (2009) #1
- GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY (2007) #15
- FINAL CRISIS (2008) #1-3, 5-6
- FINAL CRISIS REQUIEM (2008) #1
- FINAL CRISIS RESIST (2008) #1
- FINAL CRISIS SECRET FILES (2008) #1
- FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF 3 WORLDS (2009) #5
- THE FLASH REBIRTH (2009) #1-2
- SOLOMON GRUNDY (2008) #5
- GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY (2007) #30
- TEEN TITANS (2003) #75
- JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #41, 49, 54
- GREEN ARROW (2010) #3, 11
- **TEEN TITANS ** (2003) #100
2021-
This era features Roy returning back to life after being dead for years, coming to terms with the mystery of his sudden return and what it all means.
MAIN APPEARANCES- INFINITE FRONTIER (2021) #0
- INFINITE FRONTIER: SECRET FILES (2021) #2
- INFINITE FRONTIER (2021) #1-6
GUEST APPEARANCES- GREEN ARROW 80th ANNIVERSARY SUPER SPECTACULAR (2021) #21
- THE FLASH (2016) 2021 Annual #1
CAMEO APPEARANCES
Further Reading
These are mostly older comics that features Roy in his younger Speedy days. A lot of them may not necessarily be canon, but they're an interesting look at what he was like pre-addiction, even if some are very silver age.
Pre-80s APPEARANCES- TEEN TITANS: YEAR ONE (2008) #2-3, 5
- TEEN TITANS (1966) #4, 11
- WORLD'S FINEST COMICS (1941) #178
- TEEN TITANS(1966) #19-20
- THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (1955) #83
- TEEN TITANS (1966) #21-27
- DETECTIVE COMICS (1937) #402
- TEEN TITANS (1966) #28-31
- THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD(1955) #94
- TEEN TITANS (1966) #32-34
- WORLD'S FINEST COMICS (1941) #205
- TEEN TITANS (1966) #35-39
- THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (1955) #102
- TEEN TITANS (1966) #40-43
- SILVER AGE 80-PAGE GIANT (2000) #1
- SILVER AGE SECRET FILES (2000) #1
- SILVER AGE TEEN TITANS (2000) #1
- SOLO (2004) #7
- JLA: YEAR ONE (1998) #11-12
- ACTION COMICS (1938) #436
- THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (1955) #117
- GREEN LANTERN (2006) #85-86
- ADVENTURE COMICS (1938) #439
- TEEN TITANS (1966) #44-52
- GREEN LANTERN (1960) #100
- TEEN TITANS (1966) #53
- WORLD'S FINEST COMICS (1941) #251
- THE SUPERMAN FAMILY (1974) #192-194
- THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (1955) #149
- BEST OF DC (1979) #18
- NEW TEEN TITANS (1980) #27
- NEW TEEN TITANS DRUG AWARENESS (1983) #2
- NEW TEEN TITANS (1980) #28-32
- TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS (1984) #50
- CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1985) #9-10
REBIRTH APPEARANCES- TITANS REBIRTH (2016) #1
- TITANS (2016) #1-7
- DC REBIRTH HOLIDAY SPECIAL (2016) #1
- TITANS (2016) #8-10
- TITANS (2016) Annual #1
- GREEN ARROW (2016) #18-20, 22-24, 38
- GREEN ARROW (2016) Annual #1
- NIGHTWING (2016) #43
- TITANS (2016) #11-22
- TITANS (2016) Annual #2
Animation
teen titans 2003 & the brave and the bold tba
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YOUNG JUSTICE (2010)
SEASON 1
1x01 "independence day"
1x03 "welcome to happy harbor"
1x-6 "infiltrator"
1x10 "targets"
1x18 "secrets"
1x23 "insecurity"
1x24 "performance"
1x25 "usual suspects"
1x26 "auld acquaintance"SEASON 2
2x04 "salvage"
2x06 "bloodlines"
2x08 "satisfaction"SEASON 3
3x01 "princes all"
3x04 "private security"
3x09 "home fires"
3x10 "exceptional human beings"
3x15 "leverage"
3x25 "overwhelmed"
3x26 "nevermore"SEASON 4
4x05 "a tale of two sisters"
4x08 "i know why the caged cat sings"
