Summary

• In Green Arrow #13, original Kid Arrow Roy Harper refuses to take on Green Arrow mantle, intent instead on forging his own path as Arsenal, even in the wake of Oliver Queen's shocking betrayal.
• Arsenal rejects Oliver's offer of "his kingdom", distancing himself from the Green Arrow title, which is instead taking by another noteworthy member of the Green Arow Family.
• Despite refusing to take on his former mentor's hero identity, Arsenal remains a key figure in the Arrow Family, committed to doing whatever he can to protect his superhero family and friends.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Green Arrow #13!!

Green Arrow may be one of the most recognizable characters in DC history, but not everyone is eager to take on the mantle. Oliver Queen’s first sidekick, Roy Harper, adamantly refused to step into his old mentor’s shoes. Thanks to their complicated relationship, Roy has instead forged his own path, forming a separate identity as Arsenal, and leaving him far from eager to operate as Green Arrow instead.

Green Arrow #13 finds Oliver Queen compromised by his dealings with Amanda Waller, leaving his family scrambling to handle his bizarre turn. As Arsenal and his daughter Lian break into Belle Reve to rescue Cheshire, Ollie confronts them, renouncing his Green Arrow title and leaves “his kingdom” to Roy before harshly kicking him off the side of the building to relative safety.

Once he reaches the rest of the Arrow crew, Arsenal immediately rejects everything Oliver tried to give him, making it clear he has no interest in the Green Arrow title, which he has never worn or wanted.

Arsenal Refuses To Assume The Mantle Of Green Arrow, In The Wake Of His Mentor's Betrayal

Green Arrow #13 – Written By Joshua Williamson; Art By Amancay Nahuelpan, Romulo Fajardo Jr., & Troy Peteri

Roy doesn't want the Green Arrow title, and he doesn't need it; he has evolved well beyond Oliver’s shadow and won’t step into it again.

Roy Harper ed forces with Oliver Queen many years ago, and Speedy was one of DC’s earliest sidekicks. Unfortunately, their relationship has been tumultuous since the start. Though Ollie was positioned to be a father figure and mentor to Roy, he often fell short of giving the young man what he needed. Green Arrow business frequently pulled him away, and he failed to include Speedy in much of it. When Roy got involved in drugs, Ollie rejected him rather than help him through the lowest point in his life. It left Roy little choice but to find his own footing.

The two have teetered between conflict and forgiveness ever since, with Ollie taking pride in the man Roy became. He went on to establish himself with the Titans and a hero in his own right, standing out as a team player, leader, and solo vigilante in turns. Roy's "Arsenal" identity is wholly his own, but he's also worn the Red Arrow mantle - signifying that he believes himself to be his former mentor's equal. Roy doesn't want the Green Arrow title, and he doesn't need it; he has evolved well beyond Oliver’s shadow and won’t step into it again.

Arsenal refuses to be Green Arrow and lead in Oliver's place, but he'll still use every tool at his disposal to help his mentor and their shared family.

Arsenal Has Inherited The Green Arrow Family, For Better Or Worse

A New Role For An Original Titan

Although Roy firmly rejected the Green Arrow title, which Connor Hawke picked up instead, he's still a and Amanda Waller. The two have plenty of issues with one another, but there is a shared sense of iration, love, and pride, too. Arsenal refuses to be Green Arrow and lead in Oliver's place, but he'll still use every tool at his disposal to help his mentor and their shared family.

Green Arrow #13 is available now from DC Comics.