Arsenal (real name Roy Harper) was the original Speedy, and the former sidekick of Green Arrow. Shortly after becoming Green Arrow's partner, he was abducted by Lex Luthor and the Light, where he was cloned for the purpose of infiltrating the Justice League. He remained cryogenically frozen for eight years, before he was found in early 2016, by Red Arrow, and his wife, Cheshire.
Physical appearance
As the genetic template for Red Arrow, Roy exactly resembles his physical clone. He has auburn hair and blue eyes, and is shorter and much less muscular than Red Arrow, given that he was fifteen at the time of his replacement by the clone at his (then) current biological age. While under the guise of Speedy, he donned the same outfit that the clone wore before assuming the position of Red Arrow: a yellow sixteenth century-style hat complete with a red feather, yellow gloves, boots, belt and a red suit. Currently, he is missing a portion of his right arm from below the elbow.[7]
Since dubbing himself Arsenal and joining the Team, Roy sports a buzz cut and an outfit similar to his clone counterpart. He has the mechanical arm replacing the part of his arm he originally lost.
History
Early life
Early on in his crime fighting career at the age of 15, he went on a solo investigation into a LexCorp shell company trading weapons with North Rhelasia. He was captured and taken to Cadmus, where the scientists amputated his right arm to have an endless supply of his DNA to use to perfect their cloning technique.[11] He was replaced by a clone who took over as Speedy for the next 3 years, then Red Arrow after that. The real Roy was stored in a cryo-containment pod in Cadmus.[7]
2011
When they raided Cadmus, the Light took Roy's pod with them.[7]
2011-2015
The Justice League discontinued the search for Speedy after a few years, believing with Guardian's inside knowledge of Cadmus protocol that he was truly dead. Red Arrow kept looking for him, and was consumed by the search.[12]
2016
With Cheshire's help, Red Arrow finally found Roy, locked away in a cryogenic chamber in a Tibetan monastery. Red Arrow opened the pod and caught the boy, who started to regain consciousness.[13]
Following his liberation, Roy was taken to Royal Memorial Hospital in Star City, where he was watched over by Green and Red Arrow.[14]
Upon waking up, Roy had a conversation with Green Arrow and his clone about what happened to him and the eight years during his absence. He was particularly furious with Green Arrow for giving up looking for him while Red Arrow saved him. After they left the room, Roy escaped his hospital room by jumping out his window in order to hunt the man responsible for his confinement: Lex Luthor.
After his escape, he went to one of Green Arrow's storages. There, he changed to his original costume and took some equipment to stand off against Lex Luthor. After Red Arrow and Green Arrow arrived, Speedy escaped with the Zeta-Beam, while leaving a grenade behind to make sure they wouldn't follow him.[11]
From an adjacent rooftop, Speedy fired a rocket at Luthor's office. Lex survived the attack, and Speedy outmaneuvered Luthor by going underground. After Luthor approached a car with Mercy, Speedy made the car explode. Speedy confronted Luthor and aimed a gun at him, he demanded that Mercy would disarm, however by surprise he saw that Mercy was actually a weaponized cyborg. Mercy was ordered by Luthor to take on Speedy.
In the midst of the battle, Speedy was praised by Luthor for the use of his full arsenal: his intelligence. Speedy thought out the strategies to take out Mercy, eventually he used LexCorp detonation cord to bind Mercy's arm and detonated it, destroying her right arm. Speedy went straight to Luthor and bound his arm as well. When Speedy threatened to destroy Luthor's arm, he was surrounded by Luthor's security force with guns. He told Luthor that he wanted his revenge and that he was willing to die for it. Luthor disagreed, claiming what Speedy really wanted was "satisfaction". Luthor then gave his briefcase to Speedy to let him see what is inside, after wondering if it was a booby trap, Speedy opened the briefcase, revealing a mechanical arm, more powerful than even Mercy's.
Green Arrow and Red Arrow arrived late at LexCorp, where Speedy confronted them and told them that he was fine. He also told that he did not kill Luthor yet, but that he received something instead and showed them the mechanical arm. Green Arrow wondered if he was alright, but Roy told them that he wasn't Speedy anymore and the sound of "Arsenal" was more to his liking.[11]
Arsenal was one of the Team members assigned to Alpha Squad to investigate LexCorp Farms in Smallville. Arsenal complained about the warehouse that was being used and asked why The Team couldn't use the Watchtower. Nightwing told him that only Justice League and senior members of The Team were allowed access to the Watchtower.[15]
Arsenal joined Robin, Blue Beetle and Impulse for a tour of LexCorp Farms. As they were taken around the facility, Arsenal motioned to Robin, pointing out tubes and tanks filled with a pink liquid. Robin asked tour guide Sharon Vance about the liquid and she said that it included water, nutrients and "a little Reach-LexCorp love." As the tour continued, Robin directed Alpha Squad to head to the bathroom.[15]
After everyone had gone home for the night, Robin instructed Alpha Squad to leave the bathroom. He used a device to hack the security cameras, allowing Arsenal to open a door to the basement. Alpha Squad came upon a laboratory and, after the Scarab translated for Beetle, learned there was an additive the Reach was using. Beetle then noticed Robin was missing, but Arsenal told him to wait, and then the squad watched as Robin got a sample of the additive.
As the Squad exited the basement and Robin assessed the situation, Arsenal told him to "wait for it" and an explosion went off in the basement. Robin asked Arsenal why he would blow up the lab and Arsenal told him he wasn't going to let the Reach poison everyone and that he wanted to humiliate Lex Luthor.
As Robin tried to hack the security system, he admonished Arsenal, but then Black Beetle arrived, forcing Alpha Squad to deal with him. Arsenal tried several attacks, with his laser having the most effect on Beetle's armor, although the damage didn't last long. During the battle, Robin asked why Blue Beetle was unable to match up with Black Beetle, and after Blue Beetle explained why, Arsenal said he should give the Scarab control of the armor again (as did the Scarab) but Blue Beetle refused. Robin eventually used explosive Batarangs to blow a hole in the wall, allowing Alpha Squad to escape and make its way through a cornfield.
After exiting the cornfield, Black Beetle caught up with them, then another individual appeared. This individual, wearing green armor similar to that of Blue and Black Beetle, ended up attacking Black Beetle. Robin eventually deduced the new individual was a Martian, calling him Green Beetle. Arsenal asked if the squad should let him fight it out with Black Beetle, but after Black Beetle used his plasma cannon to ignite flames to weaken Green Beetle, Alpha Squad intervened. Arsenal used his laser to disable the plasma cannon, and the squad and Green Beetle eventually took down Black Beetle and escaped to the Kent farm.[15]
Alpha Squad, Nightwing, Superboy and Green Beetle traveled to STAR Labs in Taos, where they met up with Miss Martian.[16]
Arsenal joined other Team members in boarding the Warworld to stop an attack on Earth by Mongul, the alien who controlled the giant satellite. He was part of Alpha Squad with Superboy, Wonder Girl and Wolf, whose assignment was to take down Mongul. They were first confronted by a squadron of drones, which protected Warworld. Arsenal fired his rocket launcher at some drones, but did not warn Superboy, and was unrepentant for his actions. When Alpha Squad arrived in Mongul's chambers, Arsenal tried his rocket launcher again but it had no effect on Mongul. Not until Bumblebee created a surge in the power core to stun Mongul was Alpha Squad able to subdue the alien giant.[17]
As the Team members regrouped in the docking bay, Arsenal noticed Bumblebee and Guardian sharing a kiss and asked how he could get one. Wonder Girl then gave him a kiss on the cheek. Blue Beetle then suddenly hit Impulse with the crystal key he had taken and attacked the rest of the Team. Arsenal, refusing to be taken captive, panicked and opened the airlock, sucking Sphere into space. Beetle was able to close the airlock and take down the rest of the Team, with Arsenal able to escape after Superboy blocked a staple that Beetle fired in Arsenal's direction.[17]
Arsenal fled a squad of Reach soldiers, able to keep them at bay thanks to his mechanical arm. He tried to contact the Team and the Watchtower but got no response.[18]
Arsenal tried to hack a communications console but to no avail. He took out a pair of Reach soldiers but his arm ran out of power. He took one of their stingers and fled, ultimately finding another console where he was able to recharge his arm. Arsenal then heard a commotion and discovered Eduardo Dorado Jr., Virgil Hawkins, Tye Longshadow and Asami Koizumi successfully battling Reach soldiers. He continued to follow the four from a distance.
The four found the captured Team members but were attacked by Black Beetle. Arsenal sneak-attacked Beetle and sealed off the room before reinforcements arrived. He tossed a laser stinger to Eduardo and told him to keep Beetle off balance. The other three recovered and followed Arsenal's instruction. Arsenal eventually released Mongul from his stasis chamber and the alien despot attacked Black Beetle, allowing Arsenal and the others to free the captured Team members. As Arsenal reopened the door he had sealed, expecting a contingent of Reach soldiers, he and the others found Nightwing, Miss Martian and Sphere standing over them. Arsenal recommended a retreat before Mongul and Beetle decided their battle.
When everyone reached the Bio-Ship, Arsenal wanted to discuss Blue Beetle's betrayal but Bumblebee cut him off, saying his opening of the airlock put the Team in danger. Arsenal rebutted that it allowed him to escape and later rescue the Team and he should be thanked. Nightwing thanked him but then dismissed him from the Team, given it was not the first time Arsenal endangered the Team to further his own agenda or guard against his personal demons. The four runaways disagreed, given that Arsenal's assistance had made the Team's rescue possible, and offered Arsenal to join them, which he accepted. Asami activated a Father Box which allowed Arsenal and the runaways to leave via boom tube.[18]
Arsenal and the runaways returned to their hideout, where Lex Luthor communicated with them via laptop and congratulated them on a successful mission. Arsenal was not happy to see Luthor, given that he was the man responsible for keeping him on ice for eight years and removing his right arm. He realized Luthor used them as a distraction to allow Luthor to take the crystal key to the Warworld. This led to Asami tossing the Father Box onto the laptop and destroying them both. The five then departed their own way.[18]
When magnetic field disruptors planted by the Reach threatened the Earth, Arsenal joined 39 other heroes of Earth in a briefing in Metropolis. The heroes would use a computer virus provided by Lex Luthor to safely disable the disruptors. The heroes were paired off with another into twenty squads: one member would run interference against weapons guarding the disruptors, allowing the other to get close enough to plant the virus.[19] Arsenal was assigned to Nu Squad, and worked alongside Red Arrow.[20]
Within thirty minutes, all squads had succeeded in their mission.[19]
After the Invasion ended, Arsenal received an invitation to return to the Team. He declined the honor, preferring to strike out on his own.[19]
Powers and Abilities
Above average human conditioning: Having undergone an evidently vigorous and intensive training regimen, Arsenal has demonstrated impressive physical feats for a human of his age and size. Even with one arm amputated he still has shown to be very incredible in combat.
- Speed: Arsenal has shown to be able to run at above the average speed for someone his age in combat situations.
- Endurance: Arsenal is able to maintain his stamina during a combative situation.
- Agility: Arsenal has proven to be at a high level of human agility, able to move, dodge and react to danger with impressive speed.
- Reflexes: Arsenal has shown to react very quickly in combat.
- Acrobatics: Arsenal has shown to be good in basic acrobatics.
- Strategist: Arsenal has shown to prepare before engaging in combat and overtaking a stronger enemy, to the degree that Lex Luthor commented that this was his greatest asset. This factor was especially apparent after Arsenal ambushed Luthor in the parking garage of LexCorp tower. Despite the absence of most of his dominant right arm (above the elbow), thus disabling him from using his primary weapon of choice, his bow, he succeeded in neutralizing Luthor's android bodyguard with only a slight degree of difficulty. Afterwards, he eluded capture by LexCorp security via engaging Luthor in an almost classic, nobody-wins, Mexican standoff—all the while using weapons and equipment that had been specifically selected within a very short period of time (about 5 to 15 minutes).
- Marksmanship: Arsenal has shown to be highly skilled in hitting his targets, especially in his one arm condition.
Equipment
- Bow and arrow: During his (short) time as Speedy, his primary weapon was a bow and arrow.After the amputation of his arm, it was no longer his primary weapon and was replaced with his cybernetic arm.
- Crossbow: Used with a number of trick bolts.
- Explosive bolt
- Foam bolt
- Hacking bolt
- Knock-out gas bolt
- Cybernetic arm: Given as compensation by Luthor, the arm has a missile launcher, a grapple, and a powerful laser activated through cylinders inserted in the red ports on the arm.
- Detonation cord: Arsenal used a detonation cord which could ensnare a foe's limb and with a detonator can make it explode.
- Electronic key: Able to unlock car doors when placed upon the panel.
- Grenades
- Grenade launcher
- Rebreather
- Rocket launcher
- Stealth-tech
- Tonfa
Gallery
