S3E61 - Issue 61 - Roy Harper

Anthony and Doc cover Ollie Queen's former sidekick ROY HARPER! From abandonment to drug addiction to child death, this is a very heavy episode - there's even a content warning at the start. This is not a light and fun one, but it's worthwhile to listen to. SHOW NOTES: IntroBackground (3:08)Roy Harper created by Mort Weisinger & George Papp in More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941)Originally known as Speedy, sidekick to Oliver Queen, the Green ArrowRaised by Brave Bow, a Navajo medicine chief after his father died, he was adopted by Green Arrow and became Oliver's sidekickBecame a member of the original Teen Titans, and dated Donna Troy before they broke upFamously became addicted to heroin in "Snowbirds Don't Fly" in 1971 – abandoned by Ollie and taken care of by Black Canary until he got cleanFell in love with villain Cheshire, and they had a daughter (Lian) that Roy didn't know about until much laterRejoined the Titans and adopted the name Arsenal – after the Titans broke up, he lead a group called the Outsiders for a whileJoins the Justice League under the name Red Arrow, until the villain Prometheus cuts his arm off, and the Electrocutioner blows up Star City, killing Lian – with a cybernetic arm built by Cyborg, he goes to the prison and kills the Electrocutioner – has temporary heroin relapseNew 52 – Lian no longer exists and his arm is intact, and he is now good friends with Jason Todd – now merely an alcoholic instead of a recovering drug addict, he is a member of the Outlaws – killed in a rehab center by Wally WestRebirth – his past of being Speedy and drug addiction were restoredIssues (11:58)Abandonment & father issues – birth father died, then Brave Bow dies of cancer, then Ollie left him – this is what led to…Drug use – constantly dealing with effects of addiction, and fears relapsePaternal regret – great father to Lian, but wasn't there when she died, and has nightmares about it (38:02)Break Plugs for Into the Knight and Talk Me IntoTreatment (47:11)In-universeOut of universeSkit (63:35)EndingNext episode: Ghost Rider (?)Confirmed at Rogue Comics, Cranford NJ, 11/13 at 6:30 PM References: Hank Pym episode - Anthony (21:08)Sackler family - Anthony (38:21)Multiple Man episode - Doc (38:34) Apple Podcasts: here Google Play: here Stitcher: here TuneIn: here iHeartRadio: here Spotify: hereTwitterFacebookE-mailPatreonTeePublicDiscord