Summary
- In a surprising twist, it is revealed that Green Arrow actually learned archery from a supervillain known as the Help, rather than developing the skill on his own while stranded on an island.
- This revelation puts a dark spin on Green Arrow's talents, as it suggests that without the Help's training, Oliver Queen may not have survived his time on the island and never became a superhero.
- The Help's role in Green Arrow's backstory highlights the importance of mentorship and how it can shape a person's life and abilities. Without the Help's guidance, Green Arrow would not have become the world's greatest archer.
Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Penguin #2!A twist on Green Arrow's backstory gives his iconic archery skills a dark twist. As the Penguin begins assembling a team to help him conquer Gotham, a surprising villain reveals their shocking connection to the Emerald Archer's life and the way they helped Oliver Queen become the hero he is today.
Green Arrow's origin is the story of a rich playboy changing for the better after being put in a life-or-death scenario. After a shipwreck, Oliver was stranded on an island, robbed of the comforts of his previous life. With no other option, Queen relied on archery and hunting to help him survive the harsh environment.
By the time he was rescued, Ollie emerged with a more profound sense of justice and decided to change his loutish ways. Oliver became Green Arrow, one of the DC Universe's greatest sharpshooters. Not only could he hit practically any target, but Oliver was also armed with a cache of trick arrows to help him in his crusade. With his skills, it wasn't long before Green Arrow became a full-fledged member of the Justice League.
Green Arrow Learned Archery from the Supervillain, the Help
In The Penguin #2 by Tom King and Rafael De Latorre, Oswald Cobblepot has been ordered by the United States government to rebuild his criminal empire in Gotham so the government would have a hold on the city's criminal element. To aid his endeavor, the Penguin seeks out his old associate, the Help. The Help is completely uninterested in helping out Cobblepot, but briefly entertains the idea. While out shooting guns, the Help reveals that one of his earlier employers was the Queen family and that he tried teaching a young Oliver to shoot with guns. After Oliver nearly shot his foot off, the Help suggested they train in archery instead.
It's generally accepted that Green Arrow developed his proficiency in archery while he was stranded on an island. It's an origin story that easily explained where Green Arrow's skills came from and helped him develop the character he'd need to become a superhero. But this revelation puts a dark spin on Oliver's talents. Rather than learning how to shoot as a result of hard work in a harsh environment, Green Arrow already had the skills needed to survive. Meaning if the Queens never hired the Help, Oliver might have died on the island instead of training himself to become a hero.
Green Arrow Owes His Life to the Help
Narratively, it makes sense that Green Arrow already knew how to shoot arrows. Archery is a hard skill to master, and teaching himself to become the world's greatest shot would have almost been impossible. Thankfully, the Help gave Oliver the training he needed to operate a bow and arrow. If the Help had never taught Queen, it's very unlikely that he'd have survived being marooned for an extended period. Oliver very likely would have starved or gotten himself killed. Fortunately, Green Arrow had a tutor teach him everything he needed to be the crackshot he is today. The Penguin #2 is on sale now.