ROY HARPER
READING GUIDE
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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) #85-86
The 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 Enemies
After 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 Enemies
As 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) #12-16
A 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) #1-4
Roy 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) #16-21
Roy 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) #11
A 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) #1-7
Roy 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) #11
A 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) #19
A 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) #1-2
Roy 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) #18-20
The 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) #20-21SUICIDE SQUAD (1987) #11-12ACTION COMICS (1938) #613-618ACTION COMICS (1938) #627-634ACTION COMICS (1938) #636-640SECRET ORIGINS (1986) #38NEW TITANS (1988) #60-71SECRET ORIGINS (1986) #50
GUEST APPEARANCES
NEW TEEN TITANS (1984) #19, 24NEW TITANS (1988) #52, 56HAWK AND DOVE (1989) #11-12, 26
CAMEO APPEARANCES
SECRET ORIGINS (1988) #13TEEN TITANS SPOTLIGHT (1986) #10BATMAN (1940) #416NEW TITANS (1988) #47, 50SECRET ORIGINS (1986) Annual #2SECRET ORIGINS (1986) Annual #3WONDER WOMAN (1987) #47DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINATOR (1991) #2ARMAGEDDON 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) #18-20NEW TITANS (1988) #97-101GREEN ARROW (1988) #75NEW TITANS (1988) #102-107NEW TITANS (1988) Annual #9NEW TITANS (1988) #108-113SHOWCASE '94 #7NEW TITANS (1988) #114, 0, 115-118GREEN LANTERN (1990) #59NEW TITANS (1988) #119-121CROSSOVER: The Crimelord-Syndicate War: Deathstroke (1991) #48, New Titans (1988) #122, Darkstars (1992) #32, Deathstroke (1991) #49NEW TITANS (1988) Annual #11GREEN ARROW (1988) #97-99, 101NEW TITANS (1988) #123CROSSOVER: Siege of the Zi Charam: New Titans (1988) #124, Green Lantern (1990) #65, Darkstars (1992) #34, Damage (1994) #16, New Titans (1988) #125SHOWCASE ‘95 #8NEW TITANS (1988) #126-130ARSENAL SPECIAL (1996) #1
GUEST APPEARANCES
DAMAGE (1994) #5-6GREEN LANTERN (1990) #57DEATHSTROKE THE HUNTED (1991) #45DAMAGE (1994) #8, 10OUTSIDERS (1993) #17DAMAGE (1994) #13DARKSTARS (1992) #30-31PRIMAL FORCE (1995) #7DEATHSTROKE (1991) Annual #4
CAMEO APPEARANCES
BLOODBATH (1993) #1-2ZERO HOUR (1994) #3, 0DARKSTARS (1992) #28GUY GARDNER WARRIOR (1994) #29, 39BLOOD 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) #1TEEN TITANS (1996) #12-18CROSSOVER: 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) #135TEEN TITANS (1996) #20DC ONE MILLION (1998) #1-3
GUEST APPEARANCES
GENESIS (1997) #1BIRDS OF PREY: THE RAVENS (1997) #1NIGHTWING (1996) Annual #1THE FLASH (1987) #142SUPERMAN (1987) #1,000,000NIGHTWING SECRET FILES (1996) #1
CAMEO APPEARANCES
TEEN TITANS (1996) #5IMPULSE (1994) #28NIGHTWING (1996) #10THE POWER OF SHAZAM (1994) #41GREEN LANTERN: SECRET FILES (1997) #1SUPERMAN: 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) #1-3ARSENAL (1998) #1-4TITANS (1999) #1THE TITANS: SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS (1999) #1TITANS (1999) #2-16SECRET FILES & ORIGINS: GUIDE TO THE DC UNIVERSE (2000) #1TITANS (1999) Annual #1TITANS (1999) #17-19GREEN LANTERN (1990) #128TITANS (1999) #20-25SUPERBOY (1994) #80-82THE TITANS SECRET FILES & ORIGINS (1999) #2TITANS (1999) #26-50GREEN ARROW (2001) #1, 5-6, 8-9GREEN ARROW (2001) #16-21
GUEST APPEARANCES
AQUAMAN (1993) #60RESURRECTION MAN (1997) #26-27THE FLASH (1987) #159SINS OF YOUTH: SECRET FILES (2000) #1GREEN ARROW SECRET FILES & ORIGINS (2002) #1
CAMEO APPEARANCES
IMPULSE: BART SAVES THE UNIVERSE (1998) #1BEAST BOY (1999) #1, 4JLA 80-PAGE GIANT (1996) #2JLA (1996) #40STARS AND S.T.R.I.P.E. (2000) #8YOUNG JUSTICE: SINS OF YOUTH (2000) #1-2JLA SECRET FILES (1996) #3GREEN LANTERN: CIRCLE OF FIRE (2001) #1JLA: OUR WORLDS AT WAR #1WORLD'S FINEST: OUR WORLDS AT WAR #1ACTION COMICS (1938) #781GREEN ARROW (2001) #11ADVENTURES 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) #1-3TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES (2003) #1OUTSIDERS (2003) #1-3GREEN ARROW (2001) #32OUTSIDERS (2003) #4-6, 8, 11-19GREEN ARROW (2001) #47-50OUTSIDERS (2003) #20-23CROSSOVER: The Insiders: Teen Titans (2003) #24, Outsiders (2003) #24, Teen Titans (2003) #25, Outsiders (2003) #25DC SPECIAL: THE RETURN OF DONNA TROY (2005) #1-4TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS: SECRET FILES & ORIGINS (2003) #2OUTSIDERS (2003) #26-33, 44-46, Annual #1
GUEST APPEARANCES
GREEN ARROW (2001) #33TEEN TITANS (2003) #21-23NIGHTWING (1996) #114VILLAINS UNITED: INFINITE CRISIS SPECIAL (2006) #1NIGHTWING (1996) #124
CAMEO APPEARANCES
BIRDS OF PREY (1999) #63SUPERMAN/BATMAN (2003) #13IDENTITY CRISIS (2004) #1THE FLASH (1987) #214JLA (1996) #116NIGHTWING (1996) #117VILLAINS UNITED (2005) #1TEEN TITANS (2003) #32INFINITE CRISIS (2005) #752 (2006) #3, 8, 10, 33, 47, 5052/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) #1-7CROSSOVER: The Lightning Saga: Justice League of America (2006) #8-9, Justice Society of America (2007) #6, Justice League of America (2006) #10JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #11-12CROSSOVER: Justice League of America Wedding Special (2007) #1, Justice League of America (2006) #13-15, Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special (2007) #1JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #16-19TITANS (2008) #1-4JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #21-26THE FLASH (1987) #245-247JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 80-PAGE GIANT (2009) #1JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #27-30TITANS (2008) #5-10JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #31TITANS (2008) #11CROSSOVER: Deathtrap: Titans (2008) #12, Vigilante (2009) #5, Teen Titans (2003) #70, Titans (2008) #13, Vigilante (2009) #6TITANS (2008) #14, 16-18GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY (2007) #25TITANS (2008) #19-20JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICETITANS (2008) #21, 23JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL #1-4TITANS (2008) #26-36TITANS (2008) Annual #1TITANS (2008) #37-38CONVERGENCE: THE TITANS (2015) #1-2
GUEST APPEARANCES
GREEN ARROW (2001) #74-75COUNTDOWN (2006) #49GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY (2007) #1, 4-6THE FLASH (1987) #233NIGHTWING (1996) #143VIXEN: RETURN OF THE LION (2008) #2-5DC UNIVERSE HOLIDAY SPECIAL (2009)DC UNIVERSE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT (2008) #1FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH INK (2009) #2, 5CONVERGENCE (2015) #5, 6
CAMEO APPEARANCES
WONDER WOMAN (2006) #152 (2006) #51GREEN LANTERN (2005) #15-17THE FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE (2006) #9GREEN ARROW #72-73JSA CLASSIFIED (2005) #26COUNTDOWN (2006) #45ALL FLASH (2007) #1CROSSOVER: Amazons Attack: Amazons Attack (2007) #2, 4, Wonder Woman (2006) #11, Amazons Attack (2007) #5, 6GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL (2007) #1BOOSTER GOLD (2007) #1COUNTDOWN (2006) #36-35COUNTDOWN (2008) #24, 20, 11BLACK ADAM: THE DARK AGE (2007) #3DEATH OF THE NEW GODS (2007) #2TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: CYBORG-SUPERMAN (2007) #1TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS: SUPERMAN PRIME (2007) #1GREEN LANTERN (2005) #24-25TITANS EAST SPECIAL (2008) #1CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE FINAL ARK (2008) #3TRIALS OF SHAZAM (2008) #11-12SUPERMAN/BATMAN (2003) #43, 46CHECKMATE (2005) #3CATWOMAN (2004) #77NIGHTWING (1996) #137RANN/THANAGAR HOLY WAR (2008) #1SUPERMAN/BATMAN (2003) #51-52DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS (2008) #1-2TRINITY (2008) #29, 39, 42-52BLUE BEETLE (2006) #32SECRET SIX (2008) #6FACE OF EVIL: KOBRA (2009) #1GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY (2007) #15FINAL CRISIS (2008) #1-3, 5-6FINAL CRISIS REQUIEM (2008) #1FINAL CRISIS RESIST (2008) #1FINAL CRISIS SECRET FILES (2008) #1FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF 3 WORLDS (2009) #5THE FLASH REBIRTH (2009) #1-2SOLOMON GRUNDY (2008) #5GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY (2007) #30TEEN TITANS (2003) #75JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (2006) #41, 49, 54GREEN ARROW (2010) #3, 11TEEN 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) #0INFINITE FRONTIER: SECRET FILES (2021) #2INFINITE FRONTIER (2021) #1-6
GUEST APPEARANCES
GREEN ARROW 80th ANNIVERSARY SUPER SPECTACULAR (2021) #21THE 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, 5TEEN TITANS (1966) #4, 11WORLD'S FINEST COMICS (1941) #178TEEN TITANS(1966) #19-20THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (1955) #83TEEN TITANS (1966) #21-27DETECTIVE COMICS (1937) #402TEEN TITANS (1966) #28-31THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD(1955) #94TEEN TITANS (1966) #32-34WORLD'S FINEST COMICS (1941) #205TEEN TITANS (1966) #35-39THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (1955) #102TEEN TITANS (1966) #40-43SILVER AGE 80-PAGE GIANT (2000) #1SILVER AGE SECRET FILES (2000) #1SILVER AGE TEEN TITANS (2000) #1SOLO (2004) #7JLA: YEAR ONE (1998) #11-12ACTION COMICS (1938) #436THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (1955) #117GREEN LANTERN (2006) #85-86ADVENTURE COMICS (1938) #439TEEN TITANS (1966) #44-52GREEN LANTERN (1960) #100TEEN TITANS (1966) #53WORLD'S FINEST COMICS (1941) #251THE SUPERMAN FAMILY (1974) #192-194THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (1955) #149BEST OF DC (1979) #18NEW TEEN TITANS (1980) #27NEW TEEN TITANS DRUG AWARENESS (1983) #2NEW TEEN TITANS (1980) #28-32TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS (1984) #50CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1985) #9-10
REBIRTH APPEARANCES
TITANS REBIRTH (2016) #1TITANS (2016) #1-7DC REBIRTH HOLIDAY SPECIAL (2016) #1TITANS (2016) #8-10TITANS (2016) Annual #1GREEN ARROW (2016) #18-20, 22-24, 38GREEN ARROW (2016) Annual #1NIGHTWING (2016) #43TITANS (2016) #11-22TITANS (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"
