The Broken Arrow

Within DC's world of heroes there exists a vigilante known as Green Arrow. Unlike other costumed crusaders of the 60's, Green Arrow was very politically outspoken. When he wasn't carrying his bow and quiver, Green Arrow was a millionaire named Oliver Queen. In order to distinct him from another certain rich superhero, writer Denny O'Neil decided Oliver should lose his fortune and become more proactive on the streets of his city. Green Arrow spoke for the hard working middle class who either didn't have what they needed or lost everything they had. Being a progressive hero came with difficulties however, the very first being a young man named Roy Harper.

Roy was Oliver's adoptive son who he trained to be a crime fighter like himself. Using the name Speedy, Roy went on to fight alongside Green Arrow as well as many of DC's teenage heroes. However, there came a time where Roy's life was falling apart. Oliver had lost his fortune and neglected Roy, Roy's girlfriend left him and his team of young heroes had split up. In his desperation to numb the pain, Roy turned to what many teens had fell victim to: Drugs.

It was only after his close friend Hal Jordan/Green Lantern confronted Oliver, that readers would learn his trusted companion had been using heroin to keep himself together, but this revelation would only break him apart. Green Arrow would strike Roy and throw him onto the street, stripping away any bonds between the two of them. After Green Lantern and Ollie's girlfriend Black Canary helped Roy with his withdrawals, Roy would become a private investigator and speaker at many anti-drug programs. Years later, after joining various superhero groups, Roy and Ollie would make amends and Roy would take the moniker of Red Arrow on the Justice League of America.
With Green Arrow being a character versed in worldly issues, the topics of politics, race and laws often came into play for him. But in the matter of drugs it struck a very special cord as it was shown in these comics that while recovery is always a possibility for drug-addicted teens, not all parental figures can take the news easily. From any other heroes prospective, Roy would've been personally cared for and assisted in overcoming his addiction. Green Arrow shows that a cold and selfish approach is very real even in the context of a fictional story. But the point of today's blog isn't to dirty the character of Green Arrow, rather it's supposed to tell readers that while drugs are something to avoid, they are also something that makes permanent changes. People who have been addicted have lost people in the process. That's why if you or anyone you know has had a similar experience to Roy here, it's important to remember that the people who cast you out aren't the only people who build you back up. All it takes is a great loss to drive someone to better themselves. Roy was never a junkie, he was a victim. A victim who saved himself.