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From SCIFIPEDIA
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Speedy is a fictional comic book hero who appears in DC Comics. Traditionally, the character is a teen with incredible archery skills. Usually, he or she operates as teen sidekick to the superhero Green Arrow. There have been two different characters with the name and role of Speedy.
The First Speedy
The first Speedy was Roy Harper, an orphan raised by a Navajo Indian named Brave Bow. His birth father was a forest ranger killed in a fire. Under Brave Bow’s guidance, Roy became an uncannily good archer. He became the "ward" of Green Arrow after his adopted father died. As Speedy, he became Green Arrow’s teen sidekick. He was part of the wave of sidekicks that was a reaction to the success of the "Robin's" character in Batman during the Golden Age of Comics. Two decades later, in the Silver Age of Comics, Speedy became an early member of the Teen Titans.
Feeling neglected by his second adopted father in 1970s, Roy became addicted to heroin. He was able to survive and conquer his addiction with the help of Green Arrow and his long-time love, Black Canary. As such, he was the first superhero depicted in comics with a substance abuse problem. Roy credits Dinah (Black Canary) with his successful recovery, as she stayed with him during a period of withdrawal during his effort to go "cold turkey". The two have remained close ever since.
Speedy, addicted to drugs!
Giving up his hero identity, Roy later became a government agent for Checkmate. On an undercover assignment, Roy had an affair with the villainous assassin Cheshire. Cheshire became pregnant, and their daughter Lian is now in Roy’s care.
Now depicted as about 20 years old, Roy took on the superhero identity Arsenal. As such, Arsenal functioned as a member of later versions of the Teen Titans, as well as the Outsiders (DC Comics). During this time, Roy made his peace with his adopted father and mentor, Green Arrow. He remains close to the original Teen Titans, especially Dick Grayson, the original Robin and now Nightwing.
Eventually, Roy changed his superhero identity to Red Arrow, in homage to his adopted father. As Red Arrow, Roy is currently (circa 2007) a member of the Justice League of America, and currently appears regularly in that comic book.
| Speedy
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| Gender
| Female
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| Publisher
| DC Comics
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| Origin
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| First Appearance
| Green Arrow #2 (May, 2001) as Mia. Green Arrow #44 (January, 2005) as Speedy.
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| Creator(s)
| Kevin Smith, Phil Hester
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| Alter ego
| Mia Deardon
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| Aliases
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| Abilities
| Archer
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| Affiliations
| Teen Titans
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The New Speedy
The new Speedy is Mia Deardon, a teen runaway who fell under the influence of a pimp who offered her protection in exchange for participating in a child prostitution ring. When Green Arrow rescues her from the clutches of a dangerous client, he sends her to Oliver Queen (his alter-ego) for help. She realizes quickly that Oliver is Green Arrow. Oliver takes her in as his ward and begins to train her in the use of the crossbow and in martial arts. She soon becomes skilled at the bow and arrow as well. She asks to be Green Arrow’s sidekick, but Oliver does not want to risk her life.
It is later discovered that Mia is HIV-positive, a condition acquired during her life as a prostitute. After learning this, she asks again to be the new Speedy, and Oliver finally gives her permission. On his recommendation and after an initiation test, Mia becomes a part time member of the Teen Titans.
Speedy uses her archery skills and a collection of trick arrows to fight crime alongside her guardian, Green Arrow. She wears the colors red and yellow, Speedy's traditional colors. She has become part of Green Arrow's new extended family, which includes his wife Black Canary, his son Conner Hawke, and the original Speedy, now called Red Arrow.
2008, SCI FI. All rights reserved.
