Speedy, Red Arrow and Arrowette from Green Arrow 10 cover
(Image Source: DC / Sean Izaakse)

History of Green Arrow’s Sidekicks Explained

While not as extensive as the Batman family, Green Arrow has amassed a considerable number of sidekicks. Most fought alongside Oliver Queen as a junior partner. Others were merely tied to him by virtue of being a crime-fighting archer. All of the Arrow Family make an appearance in Green Arrow #10. However, there is still some question as to how their histories fit together in the Dawn of DC era.

Roy Harper – Speedy I/Red Arrow I/Arsenal

Roy Harper Arsenal fights Killer Croc

The first of Green Arrow’s sidekicks, Roy Harper has been with Oliver Queen since the beginning. Both made their first appearances in 1941’s More Fun Comics #73. Roy adopted the alias Speedy based on how quick he was in evading a gang of tomb raiders.

Roy’s alias took on a darker meaning in the 1970s when he developed an addiction to heroin. Kicked out of Oliver’s house, Roy was helped through rehab by Black Canary. He struck out on his own, adopting the alias Arsenal, though he and Oliver eventually reconciled. He briefly adopted the name Red Arrow, with the blessing of Green Arrow, and served in the Justice League. For most of his adult life, however, Roy has used the Arsenal codename.

Connor Hawke – Green Arrow II

Connor Hawke Green Arrow

First appearing in 1994’s Green Arrow #0, Connor Hawke briefly joined Oliver Queen while he was on the outs with the superhero community. Oliver mentored the idealistic young man, who was studying martial arts and archery at the Buddhist ashram that offered Queen sanctuary. However, the relationship between the two proved to be far stronger than that of student and teacher.

Connor was Oliver Queen’s illegitimate son, the result of a romance with a woman named Sandra Hawke. Different stories depicted Sandra as one of Oliver’s girlfriends from college or a fling immediately before he became Green Arrow. There are also conflicting accounts as to whether Oliver was aware that he had a son before meeting Connor as a young adult.

In either case, Connor took over the Green Arrow name and briefly joined the Justice League after Oliver’s death. The two later fought crime together following Oliver’s resurrection during the Green Arrow: Quiver storyline. Today, Oliver has embraced Connor as his son and successor.

Cissie King-Jones – Arrowette

Cissie King-Jones Arrowette

Suzanne “Cissie” King-Jones first appeared in 1997’s Impulse #28. Cissie was the daughter of Bonnie King, a former archery-themed hero who fought crime under the codename Miss Arrowette. Bonnie forced Cissie into vigilantism as Arrowette, trying to recapture her former fame through her daughter. Bonnie ultimately lost custody of Cissie after Child Protective Services got involved.

Despite this, Cissie continued to fight crime as Arrowette but was less concerned with the spotlight. She briefly joined Young Justice but left the team after almost going over the edge to avenge her school counselor’s murder. Since that time, Cissie has actively avoided returning to crime-fighting, though she has come out of retirement to help her friends a few times.

Arrowette Green Arrow parentage question

Officially, Cissie King-Jones does not have any connection to Green Arrow. However, there is a fan theory that Cissie might be Oliver Queen’s daughter. This is largely based upon the fact that Bonnie King was depicted as dating Oliver Queen in 1961’s Justice League #7. Also, Bonnie joked about Green Arrow being Cissie’s father in Young Justice #34. Finally, there is an unidentified blonde woman in Legends of the DC Universe #7, who tries to talk to Oliver Queen about a recent doctor’s visit. The implication is that she is trying to tell Ollie she is pregnant. However, there is no indication this woman is Bonnie King, apart from their shared hair color.

Mia Dearden – Speedy II

Mia Dearden Speedy

First appearing in Green Arrow (Vol. 3) #2, Mia Dearden was a teenage runaway and prostitute when she first encountered Green Arrow. The Emerald Archer offered her a place to stay and a job helping Oliver Queen manage a youth center. He never intended for her to become his new teen sidekick. However, when the city needed more heroes, Ollie reluctantly put her into action as the second Speedy in Green Arrow (Vol. 3) #44.

A different version of Mia Dearden was introduced in 2014’s Green Arrow (Vol. 5) #35, during The Kingdom story arc. This Mia Dearden was a teen runaway and the secret daughter of evil billionaire John King. However, this story, like much of the New 52 Green Arrow series, is no longer counted as canon. The Mia Dearden seen in the Dawn of DC Green Arrow is clearly established as being the original pre-New 52 Mia Dearden.

Emiko Queen – Red Arrow II

Emiko Queen Red Arrow

First appearing in 2013’s Green Arrow (Vol. 5) #18, Emiko Queen is Oliver Queen’s half sister. The daughter of Robert Queen and the assassin Shado, Emiko was kidnapped as a baby by the assassin Kodomo. He raised her as a weapon to be turned against Robert Queen and his family.

When Emiko learned the truth of her parentage, she killed Kodomo. She then adopted the name Red Arrow, while trying to convince Oliver to take her on as his apprentice. She later struck out on her own, after spending some time in Damian Wayne‘s Teen Titans.

Red Canary

Red Canary

First appearing in 2022’s Dark Crisis #3, little is known about Red Canary or her background and training. A college student and Black Canary fan, Sienna (no last name revealed yet) became a vigilante after the Justice League apparently died. While she is an inexperienced martial artist, she earned Dinah Lance’s blessing and fought alongside her idol during the Titans: Beast War event.

Green Arrow #10 is now available at comic shops everywhere.

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