Green Arrow Origins

With Arrow ending this week, figured it would be a good time to look back at the origins of the Emerald Archer....

....and over the decades, Green Arrow has had his beginnings told over and over again!

Let's take a look over a few of them, after being thankful that Green Arrow began in More Fun Comics #73 (November, 1941) by Mort Weisinger and George Papp fully formed....

The Birth Of The Battling Bowman

The first telling of Green Arrow's origin happened in More Fun Comics #89 (March, 1943) by artists Cliff Young and Steve Brodie, with millionaire Oliver Queen finding Roy Harper on a lost mesa, and the two using their archery skills to stop crooks from plundering the treasures that were found there.

This adventure ended up being the origin of the Golden Age Green Arrow (and Speedy), who were members of the Seven Soldiers of Victory.

The Green Arrow's First Case

For a telling of Green Arrow's origin, look for Adventure Comics #256 (January, 1959) by France Herron, Jack Kirby and Roz Kirby, wherein millionaire Oliver Queen fell overboard on a ship, ending up on a desert island, and using the local resources to make arrows, hunted for food, then stopped some pirates, and took on his heroic identity of Green Arrow (Speedy getting involved with his own origin told later).  The duo returned to the island as criminals had come across it, and might have found Ollie's diary of his time there and figured out he was Green Arrow.

This introduced the island to the origin of Green Arrow, but that wasn't the end of additions to Green Arrow's origin (but these two origins were reprinted in both the Secret Origins Of The Super DC Heroes of 1976 and in Green Arrow: A Celebration of 75 Years of 2016).

The Origin Of Green Arrow

Green Arrow got his origin revisited in DC Super Stars #17 (November-December, 1977) by Denny O'Neil, Mike Grell and Bruce D. Patterson.  While Oliver had been tracking down a man with proof that his fortune had been stolen, he also remembered his beginnings, very similar to the last telling, but Oliver had grown a beard on the island (and really didn't fashion clothes there as well).  Still stopping pirates (who also had thrown him overboard to begin with), he went on to become Green Arrow, joining the JLA, and losing his fortune.  It also added that he had learned archery from Howard Hill in Hollywood.

This origin is about to be reprinted in a facsimile edition of this issue, with origins of the Huntress and Legion of Super-Heroes as well!

Sometimes A Fool Notion

DC had a Crisis, and its heroes were all living on one Earth, so Ollie got an enhanced origin in Secret Origins #38 (March, 1989) by Mike Grell (who revived Green Arrow as more of an urban hunter with his Longbow Hunters mini-series and Green Arrow regular title) and for the origin, artists Hannibal King, Dick Giordano and Arne Starr.  It was a drunk Oliver Queen who fell off his own yacht who ended up on the island, but this Oliver Queen had fancied himself Robin Hood as a child, with movie stunt archer Howard Hill as a friend, and the "pirates" he stopped on the island were simple weed farmers. 

Going to a costume party soon after his return, Oliver was mulling over the idea of Robin Hood when his party was crashed by criminals, who he stopped in costume (even using an unintentional trick arrow....an arrow with a golf ball on the end) to stop them.  The main thief, Lester Norton, as being taken away, was upset about being stopped by that "green arrow guy", and the Star City papers stuck that name on Ollie's heroic identity.

Speedy's adjusted origin filled the second half of this book, and this tale has yet to be reprinted.  This Green Arrow origin showed Oliver as not much of a businessman, but more of a romantic, wanting to be a hero.

From The Beginning

This origin started similarly to the DC Super Stars one, with Green Arrow having a showdown with someone in the rain.  Green Arrow Annual #7 (1995) by Chuck Dixon, Rick Burchett, Chris Renaud, Eduardo Barreto and Gerry Fernandez introduced a pathetic playboy Oliver Queen, who had inherited his money from his parents, who fought with the crew of his yacht, and got no help when he fell overboard. to end up on an island. 

Recalling his childhood when his dad gave him a bow and arrow for Christmas (which young Ollie went outside with and accidentally killed a bunny), Ollie fashioned a bow and arrow to hunt for food, and came upon a wrecked ship on the island, and a survivor of that ship.  The pair fashioned a small raft on the island, but Ollie left his helper behind when he found out he was Nicholas Kotero (noted serial killer of women). 

Ollie ended up on another island, and found some weed farmers, and ended up back home, taking on the Green Arrow identity (and mismanaging his inherited fortune while playing hero).  It was Kotero he was confronting in the rain, as the killer also escaped the island, looking for revenge.

This origin showed Oliver being on more than one island, and that more could have happened to him in isolation.  This tale has yet to be reprinted.

The Mantle

While there were many stories in Green Arrow Secret Files & Origins #1 (December, 2002), the one by Scott McCullar, Rick Burchett and Dan Davis, where Oliver told his son, Connor, of his parents, Robert and Moira Queen.  Robert founded Queen Enterprises, had the Star City Bay Bridge build, owned the Star City Rockets (a baseball team who played at Papp Stadium).  All this, and that the Queens were descended from Sir Robert Queen the Earle of Dornee....which is what gave Robert the idea to give his son a bow and arrow one Christmas. 

Still, Ollie had no use for it after killing a rabbit, but, after a trip to Africa with his parents, guided by stunt archer Howard Hill and big game trapper Congo Bill, Robert explained to his son that he gave him the bow and arrow to help toughen the lad up...and he need to, as the party was set on by lions, killing Robert and Moira, and Ollie only survived because of his archery skills.  Congo Bill sent him home to live with an uncle, who sent Ollie to boarding school...then, Ollie was misspending his money on yachts after....until one day....

This issue also has other stories, and features on Green Arrow, Black Canary, Arsenal and more, as well as Green Arrow's trick arrows and even a chili recipe; but the issue has not been reprinted.

Green Arrow: Year One

Green Arrow: Year One is a six issue mini-series from 2007 by Andy Diggle and Mark Simpson, this time fighting with drug dealers as part of crime syndicate (introducing readers to China White, a female assassin).  Oliver was marooned on an island thanks to his bodyguard, Hackett, came to enjoy the solitude after figuring how to make a bow and arrow to get food, and found "China White"...

...who had enslaved the island's population to produce her drugs, and was working with Hackett.  Ollie fought for the people (including Taiana, a native of the island who helped nurse Ollie back to health when he was injured fighting Hackett). 

Ollie took down the operation with Howard Hill's bow (which the criminals had won in an auction), but didn't take credit for it when the authorities arrived, having a new appreciation for the people of the island.....and that he would take on a new identity, to become someone else, something else....the Green Arrow!

These six issues have been collected a few times since their original publication.

Hopefully, though a little repetitive, this should give you a little insight into the Green Arrow and how he came to be, how a spoiled rich boy became a man and a hero given the right time and circumstances....but that grew from one man, who could say that "my name is Oliver Queen....".

Arrow Shots: The Goatee

Thanks to Arrow actor, Stephen Amell, a little bit of Season 7 news leaked out at the Motor City Comic Con...that, for the first time in the TV series, Oliver Queen will be sporting the goatee!

The Origin

Green Arrow first appeared with the goatee as part of his new look for Brave and the Bold #85 (August-September, 1969) in a story by Bob Haney and Neal Adams, and the look continued as Green Arrow first met the new Black Canary as she joined the JLA in Justice League of America #75 (November, 1969).

With Green Lantern and the Longbow Hunters

Green Arrow continued that look while teaming up with Green Lantern (more on that here) for the 1970s, and even for quite a time after, in Action Comics, World's Finest Comics and Detective Comics, before ditching it for his urban hunter outfit, which started with Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters #1 (August, 1987).

New 52

Green Arrow kept that look or variations of it, or returned to Neal Adams style costume, but it wasn't until the advent of the New 52 that the goatee disappeared, sporting a new look much closer to that of the Arrow TV show.....but, was this the earliest time Ollie ditched the goatee?

Exception

Green Lantern #94 and #95 of 1977 by Denny O'Neil and Mike Grell feature Green Arrow losing his goatee to hide his identity to get into a secret base...but, not unlike the current Green Arrow in comics, it grows back.

Now, how about that hat?  (Stephen Amell says no....).

Arrow Shots: Covering 5 Years

"My name is Oliver Queen.  For five years, I've opened the CW Arrow show that featured a split story, dealing with the present, and flashbacks usually to five years ago, detailing my hell on an island (and so much more).  Ending my fifth season, I have to be more than that, and get ready for a season with instead of in two stories, as one continuous show featuring Green Arrow...."

So, here's a look back at the comic book history (in tandem with the TV show), focusing on Green Arrow #5 issues!

Green Arrow #5 1988

The first Green Arrow #5 game with a cover date of June, 1988 (by Mike Grell, Ed Hannigan, Dick Giordano and Frank McLaughlin), was part of the Green Arrow series that spun out of the Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters mini-series by Mike Grell, establishing Green Arrow as an urban hunter of criminals, taking him away from the rest of the DC Universe (except Black Canary....).


This series lasted from February, 1988 to November, 1998, and for a time was suggested for mature readers, due to its graphic, realistic storytelling techniques; introducing Shado; and much later in this series, they established the split story technique, with Oliver teaching Connor Hawke archery at a monastery in issues written by Chuck Dixon.

Green Arrow Annual #5

Green Arrow wasn't completely isolated from the DC Universe during his urban hunter phase, even before coming back to the DCU in full force in Green Arrow #81 (December, 1993), having worked with Hal Jordan (but only as Hal, not Green Lantern), the Question, the Warlord, and the Question again (as well as Batman and Black Canary) in his Annuals.  Green Arrow Annual #5 of 1992 by Sarah Byam, Trevor Von Eeden and Frank Springer (with a cover by Mike Grell), had the lunar villain Eclipso possess Black Canary, with Batman and Green Arrow trying to save her (and Black Canary's story continuing into the Eclipso: The Darkness Within annual crossover event of that year).

Green Arrow had seven Annuals from 1988 to 1995, with the last focusing on Ollie's origin on the island, in a story by Chuck Dixon, Rick Burchett, Chris Renaud, Eduardo Barreto and Gerry Fernandez.

Green Arrow #5 2001

The next Green Arrow #5 is from August, 2001 by Kevin Smith, Phil Hester and Ande Parks, dealing with a storyline, "Quiver", with Ollie returning to life (as he had died during the first regular series run of Green Arrow, to be replaced for a time by Connor Hawke).  This specific issue with a cover by Matt Wagner dealt Batman investigating the resurrected Ollie, Etrigan the Demon looking for the undead Green Arrow, a little of how Ollie got back to life with Hal Jordan (and his then complicated history beyond Green Lantern as Parallax and the Spectre), with Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance) and Arsenal (Roy Harper) just looking to reunite with Oliver Queen.

This series lasted from April, 2001 to August, 2007, and carried on the idea of Green Arrow fighting Deathstroke the Terminator (Slade Wilson), that had started in a couple of issues of Ollie's over 130 issue run.

Green Arrow/Black Canary #5

Green Arrow shared cover billing with Black Canary starting in 2007, including with Green Arrow/Black Canary #5 (April, 2008 by Judd Winick and Andre Coelho, with two covers, one by Cliff Chang, the other by Amanda Conner), as the two finally settled their differences and got married. 

This series lasted for 29 issues from December, 2007 to April, 2010 (with a few solo Green Arrow issues after the pair split and some machinations of Prometheus).  This series also had Green Arrow and Black Canary face Ra's Al Ghul, and introduced the female archer villain, Cupid, who even attacked archer Merlyn (in issues written by Andrew Kreisberg, who Arrow fans should recognize from the CW show's credits).

Green Arrow #5 2010

Dealing with events of the Darkest Night and Brightest Day company wide crossovers, Green Arrow #5 (December 2010 by J. T. Krul, Diogenes Neves and Vincente Cifuentes) had Ollie dealing with a Black Lantern resurrected version of his father, Robert Queen, as well as a Star City devastated by a disaster under two covers by Mauro Cascioli and Gary Frank.

This series lasted for 15 issues from August, 2010 to October, 2011, at which point, the entire DC Universe was hit by Flashpoint, changing the characters histories....

Green Arrow #5 New 52

In the DC Universe of the New 52, it was a still rich Oliver Queen fighting as Green Arrow in Green Arrow #5 (March, 2012, by Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens and Ray McCarthy, and a cover by Jason Fabok), with a Green Arrow who was a little more like the Arrow of the CW Show, working with a tech support crew, but not really having a relationship with Black Canary.


This series lasted 54 issues from November, 2011 to July, 2016, with the introduction of the archer Komodo, as well as a reintroduction of Count Vertigo, as well as eventually having Felicity Smoak and John Diggle be his support team.   This series also sent Ollie back to the island to rediscover himself (though that needed work even beyond what Ollie found....).

Green Arrow #5 Rebirth

Currently, Green Arrow has a series, spinning out of the DC Universe: Rebirth, with Green Arrow #5 (October, 2016 by Benjamin Percy and Juan Ferreyra, with covers by Juan Ferreyra and Neal Adams), dealing with Ollie and Diggle going to rescue Black Canary from the hell she was trapped in!

The Rebirth of Green Arrow series started with August, 2016, and runs to this day, restoring Green Arrow and Black Canary's love for each other, as well as bringing back some of Ollie's extensive history....proving no man (or comic series) is an island, and that we all depend on others to help us with our mission through life, a lesson Oliver Queen had to learn on his 5 years on the CW Arrow show (even as that show expanded to include Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl and will continue to go on into a sixth season and more).

Arrow Shots: Vigilante

Adrian Chase was a tough District Attorney in New York City, working with Robin of the Teen Titans to take down the crime families (running from New Teen Titans #23, #26, #27, #29, #30, #33 and #34 of 1982 and 1983 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez)...until the crime families hit back, killing Adrian's family and wounding him, leading Chase to take up the masked identity of the Vigilante...

Origin

It was in New Teen Titans Annual #2 (1983) by Marv Wolfman and George Perez that Adrian became the Vigilante after his family was killed (and Adrian had been declared dead as well).  Still, he recovered, and with help, took out the man who killed his family as the Vigilante.  In Vigilante #7 (June, 1984) by Marv Wolfman, Chuck Patton and Mike DeCarlo, it was explained how Adrian was trained by the spirits of the dead and given a regenerative healing factor, which allowed him to recover and mete out justice, with his infra-red goggles, guns and other weapons.

On His Own

Vigilante #1 (November, 1983) introduced Adrian's helpers, J.J. Davis and Theresa Gomez, by Marv Wolfman and Keith Pollard, with a more adult approach to handling violent crime. Vigilante #2 (January, 1984) by Wolfman, Pollard and Pablo Marcos, saw Adrian doubting himself already, going after Leonard Kord for assault against a nun, but after a savage battle with the man, finding out he was not the perpetrator.

Villains

Adrian did face foes who weren't in need of understanding, such as the hitman duo of Sabre and Cannon introduced in Vigilante #5 (April, 1984) by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard and Romeo Tanghal, as well as the Electrocutioner, a one-time foe of Batman's, who started to menace Adrian as of Vigilante #8 (July, 1984) by Marv Wolfman, Ross Andru and Mike DeCarlo (and these villains would return to vex Vigilante multiple times).

Adrian Quits

Adrian's heart became heavy because of the severity of the crime he faced (as well as losses along the way), and with Vigilante #19 (July, 1985 by Marv Wolfman, Paul Kupperberg, Denys Cowyn and Rick Magyar), gave up being Vigilante (as he was also being appointed a judge at the time). Someone else took over the costume, prompting Nightwing (formerly Robin) to confront Adrian, and with Vigilante #21 (September, 1985 by Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith and Rick Magyar), Adrian promises to find the more violent Vigilante and stop him.  Adrian does, and another man takes over being Vigilante for a while

Adrian Returns

But that doesn't last, as unstable hero Peacemaker takes out the newest Vigilante in Vigilante #36 (December, 1986 by Paul Kupperberg, Denys Cowan and Kyle Baker), with Adrian returning to combat his killer, starting in Vigilante #37 (January, 1987) by Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith and Rick Magyar, beginning to work with now ex-NYPD officer Harry Stein and Valentina Volstok (Negative Woman of the Doom Patrol).

Adds The Black Thorn

Adrian continues his battles against violent criminals and attacking terrorists, and even meets assassin, Black Thorn in Vigilante #45 (September, 1987) by Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith and Rick Burchett, and the two become very close, continuing that relationship in the next issue, Vigilante #46 (October, 1987) also by Kupperberg, Smith and Burchett.  Harry Stein gets recruited into a secret government organization by Valentina Volstok, with Harvey Bullock of Gotham Police Department also getting involved.

The End

The trail of the terrorists lead to Gotham, with Batman getting involved and not liking the Vigilante in Vigilante #47 (November, 1987 by Kupperberg, Smith and Burchett), but Harvey gets Batman on board for now, and then due to falling into the water, everyone thinks Vigilante is dead.  Harvey is recruited for the government organization as well, and Black Thorn returns briefly as well, until Adrian realizes he might be more of menace than those he fights, and takes himself out of the game for good by giving himself final, fatal justice in Vigilante #50 (February, 1988 by Paul Kupperberg, Steve Erwin and Jack Torrance).

A quick highlight of the life of Adrian Chase and his version of the Vigilante (showing, though, that he never met Green Arrow in the comics).


Though only lasting 50 issues and 2 Annuals, Vigilante changed the mindset of comics in general at the time...


...making one wonder what a true hero was, what he could and couldn't do, and truth of the toll taken on the hero for being a hero, as well as the difference between the law and justice, and justice and revenge.

Arrow Shots: Prometheus

Prometheus is shaping up to be quite the menace to Green Arrow in the CW series, Arrow, but he's been causing problems in the comics for years.

Prometheus was a villain who was a man with a plan.  He started out as the "anti-Batman", but became something so much more dastardly, inflicting pain and suffering on Green Arrow, Star City and the whole DC Universe.

A Villain Premieres

Prometheus premiered in Prometheus (Villains) #1 (February, 1998) by Grant Morrison, Arnie Jorgensen and David Meikis (and cover by Jason Pearson) as one of a "fifth week" event, with villains as the focal point of a title.

Prometheus lured in a new young hero, named Retro, and killed him to take over his identity to get into the JLA's Watchtower on the moon.  Prometheus was a boy when police killed his parents.  The lad used the ill-gotten gains his parents had collected, perfecting his mind and body, as well as eventually gaining access to "The Ghost Zone", an empty realm between dimensions where he build a headquarters and could hide from the law and safely plot against the heroes he hated, coming up with ways to take down even the mightiest of the mighty.

His Master Plan

Prometheus' plan unfolded in JLA #16 and #17 (March and April, 1998, by Grant Morrison, Howard Porter, John Dell, Arnie Jorgensen, David Meikis and Mark Pennington) as Prometheus used his plan against the JLA as they introduced their Watchtower and new members to the world.  A bit of luck (and a lady named Catwoman) was enough to stop him, and he ended up in the Ghost Zone in his Crooked House (his home there), making more plans again.

These three tales were reprinted in the JLA: Strength In Numbers tradepaperback of 1998.

Joins A Group

Prometheus returned in JLA #34 (October, 1999) by Grant Morrison, Howard Porter and John Dell, as riots broke out at Belle Reve, with many criminals involved, with Prometheus joining with the General, the Queen Bee and Lex Luthor as an Injustice Gang, who menaced the Justice League in JLA #36 (December, 1999), and JLA #37 to #40 (2000), with Prometheus taking out the JLA's Oracle, facing Batman again and after being defeated, nearly being killed by the Huntress (which puts a rift between her and Batman, as he kicks her off the team).

These issues are all reprinted in the JLA: World War III tradepaperback of 2001.

Faces Batman and Friends

Prometheus returned again, with a slightly narrower focus in  Batman: Gotham Knights #52, #53, #56, #60, #62, #64, #66 (all of 2004/2005), facing off against Batman, and working with other Batman villains like Hush and Poison Ivy, and fending off Talia Al Ghul, who wanted his Cosmic Key (which allowed access to the Ghost Zone).

Prometheus joins Luthor's Society in Villains United #1 (July, 2005), working with them through Infinite Crisis #7 (June, 2006).

After, Prometheus tried settling his scores with Huntress and Oracle in Birds Of Prey #93 through #95 (June to August, 2006), and even one of many villains used by Starro in Teen Titans #51 to #54 (2007/2008), and being in the Final Crisis of 2008/2009  but all the while, something seemed off about the villain.....

The Real Villain Emerges

Prometheus' true face was revealed in Faces Of Evil: Prometheus #1 (March, 2009, by Sterling Gates and Federico Dallocchio, and a cover by Mauro Cascioli), as we found out all the appearances of Prometheus since the JLA World War III story weren't the original, just his protege, Chad Graham.  The original (still unnamed) had been reduced to a vegetative state by Batman and the Martian Manhunter, figuring only the prison of his own mind could hold him, and with Martian Manhunter's death at the hands of Libra during Final Crisis, the blocks holding his mind at bay faded.  The original Prometheus tracked down Chad, killing him for the damage done to his reputation, as well as attacking members of the hero group, Blood Pack (this time around, Argus, Anima and Gunfire), severely injuring and killing them as well.

An Evil Scheme

Prometheus decided to get revenge on all the Justice League for the indignities he suffered in the 7 issue mini-series Justice League: Cry For Justice (September, 2009 to April, 2010 by James Robinson, Mauro Cascioli and Scott Clark), killing more heroes like Freedom Beast, the Tasmanian Devil and Gloss, maiming Arsenal (Roy Harper), and attacking so many more (including Supergirl, Atom and others), Prometheus planned to attack the home cities of the heroes (like Central City, Opal City, Fawcett City, St. Roch and Star City) with "time-bombs" that will strand the cities in the past or the future.  Prometheus successfully destroys part of Star City, killing Arsenal's daughter, Lian in the process.  The heroes do eventually catch Prometheus, with the peaceful Donna Troy (formerly Troia and Wonder Girl) violently taking him down, but catching him wasn't good enough for Green Arrow, who wanted a more final, fatal  justice.....

The End?

Green Arrow had to deal with the consequences of what he did to Prometheus, starting in Green Arrow #31 and #32 (May and June, 2010), the Justice League: Rise and Fall Special #1 (May, 2010) and in Justice League: The Rise Of Arsenal 4 issue mini-series of 2010. 

Perhaps Prometheus won, splitting Green Arrow and Black Canary, as well as damaging the reputation of the heroes, with Green Arrow's harsh actions (and Arsenal slipping off the deep end....).

DC on CW Comics for Supergirl, Flash, Arrow and Legends fans

DC Comics is slowly taking over the CW, with four shows based on DC comic books soon to be airing from Monday through Thursday on the CW network....Supergirl, Flash, Arrow and the Legends of Tomorrow!

These shows feature characters from the comics, and are well liked by many fans, as well as professionals who work on the comics, and on the TV series as well.

Here's a look at where to find some of the origins of these characters, and how to connect with fans of the shows and comics!

Supergirl

Supergirl started her career in Action Comics #252 (May, 1959) with "The Supergirl From Krypton" by Otto Binder and Al Plastino, where Supergirl lands on Earth after being sent from Argo City by her parents, Zor-El and Alura, and is met by her cousin Superman.  Supergirl's life continued as a back-up in Action Comics, and the Supergirl: The Silver Age Omnibus Volume 1 from 2016 with a cover by Darwyn Cooke features the Supergirl back-ups from Action Comics #252 to Action Comics #307 (December, 1963), with the stories having her meet new friends like Tommy Tomorrow, Krypto the Super-Dog, Superman's ex-girlfriend mermaid Lori Lemaris, the Legion of Super-Heroes (including Brainiac 5, a descendant of Superman foe, Brainiac and even future Legion member, Mon-El), and Batman and Robin, fights Superman foes like Mr. Mxyzptlk, Lex Luthor, Phantom Zoners General Zod, Jax-Ur and Kru-El,  as well as introducing Dick Malverne, Streaky the Super-Cat, Jerro the Mer-Boy, adoptive parents Fred and Edna Danvers, Luthor's sister Lena, Comet the Super-Horse, and even Supergirl's  own foes, Kandorian scientist and Supergirl look-a-like, Lesla Lar and Zora, also known as the Black Flame, and the revelation of Supergirl to the world!  Though they did miss a few stories of Supergirl from Superman issues of the time (but those were reprinted in Action Comics Giants).

Make new friends and keep up with the Supergirl TV show at Supergirl Discussing the TV Show, a facebook group for fans of the TV show, and even the comics!  The show airs Mondays on the CW, and stars Melissa Benoist as Supergirl, dealing with being an upcoming hero after revealing herself to the world.   

Flash

Flash began his run in Showcase #4 (September-October, 1956) with the "Mystery Of The Human Thunderbolt" by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert, with police scientist Barry Allen getting hit by a bolt of lightning while standing in front of a wall of chemicals, turning into the fastest man alive...the Flash!  Flash's run continued into Showcase #8, #13 and #14, then into a magazine of his own, Flash, starting with #105 (February-March, 1959), and Barry has been running ever since.  The Flash: The Silver Age Volume One of 2016 contains the stories from Showcase #4, #8, #13, #14, and Flash #105 to #116 (November, 1960), featuring the first appearances of the Flash and Iris West, along with villains like the Turtle, Mazdan, Mr. Element and Dr. Alchemy, Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Pied Piper, Gorilla Grodd, Weather Wizard, and the Trickster, as well as Kid Flash Wally West and Ralph Dibny the Elongated Man!

Run around with fans of the Flash TV show at The Flash/Flash Facts Discussing the TV Show, a facebook group for fans of the CW drama, as well as the comic books that inspired them.  The show airs Tuesdays on the CW, with Grant Gustin as the Flash, Central City's super-speeding super-hero, who keeps the citizens of that city safe from the ever growing cast of super-villains and other dimensional menaces that threaten that city, as well as the world, the universe and the multiverse!

Arrow

Green Arrow had the earliest start of all, in More Fun Comics #73 (November, 1941) by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, but it is his short run by France Herron and Jack Kirby from the 1950s that we are looking at now, as that is the start of the Silver Age for Green Arrow, and introduces the Green Arrow origin where he was stranded on an island and learned the skills that would make him Green Arrow as related in Adventure Comics #256 (January, 1959) in "The Green Arrow's First Case".  This was a bit of a change from Green Arrow's original origin, that had Speedy (Roy Harper) their for the origin, and it was in a mesa in the middle of the desert...but, things change over a few decades, and Green Arrow, though he proclaims to be a loner, has picked up quite a few friends over the years....like Black Canary, Arsenal, Speedy, and more (and being the first to join the Justice League after it formed).  True, in this collection of Green Arrow by Jack Kirby from 2002, you'll only see Green Arrow and Speedy, but there's a few interesting stories here from Adventure Comics #250 to #256 and World's Finest Comics #96 to #99, including the "Green Arrows of the World", with Oliver and Roy mentoring other archers trying to good elsewhere (an ideal reflected on the show....that of Ollie training others, that is).

Oliver Queen's journey from a lost soul on the island to Star City super-hero is the focus of the Arrow TV show, and fans of that show can be found at the Arrow Cave/Arrow Discussing the TV Show, the facebook group dedicated to the Arrow show, as well as to the comic books that inspired the series.  Arrow airs Wednesdays on the CW, with Stephen Amell as the Arrow (then Green Arrow), the rich kid who learned archery when stranded, and returned to the world to make a difference at his home city.

Legends of Tomorrow

The Legends of Tomorrow aren't really a team in the comics....it's just a loose collection of heroes fighting together.  A great source for their beginnings is the Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes from 1976, which collects the Golden Age and Silver Age origins of the Atom and Hawkman (both of whom were Legends), as well as Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, as well as one origin for Captain Marvel and Plastic Man.  Due to the age of this book, you might need to time travel like Rip Hunter (the leader of the Legends of Tomorrow, though his first appearance is reprinted elsewhere), so perhaps another book is a good choice for fans of this show on a budget.

For a more recent collection, the Secret Origins Hardcover of 2012 is the way to go, reprinting the "Birth Of The Atom" by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson from Showcase #34 (September-October, 1961), with scientist Ray Palmer using white dwarf star matter to shrink to save his girlfriend, Jean Loring.  This collection also features the origins of the Superman/Batman team, Adam Strange, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), the Challengers of the Unknown, Wonder Woman (a different Silver Age origin than the book above), Martian Manhunter, Flash (Barry Allen), the Justice League of America, Aquaman, Robin (Dick Grayson), Superman (also a different Silver Age origin than the one above), the Robin-Jimmy Olsen team, Kid Flash, Eclipso, Hawkman (Katar Hol, the Silver Age Thanagarian) and his wife Hawkgirl, Dr. Fate, the Enchantress, Animal Man, Congorilla, the western El Diablo, Bizarro, and the Spectre....not bad?  Even if you don't know all these characters, this would be the place to get familiar with them!  DC would also be wise to collect Golden Age origins or first appearances in a book, especially with the Justice Society of America coming to Legends of Tomorrow for season 2, as well as a collection of some of the more modern heroes, like Rip Hunter, Firestorm and Vixen, and even a few villains like Heat Wave and Captain Cold!

Keep up with the past, present and future of the CW show, Legends of Tomorrow, featuring the Atom (Brandon Routh), Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill), Firestorm (Victor Garber and Franz Drameh), Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell) and the White Canary (Caity Lotz) with the facebook group of DC's Legends of Tomorrow discussing the TV Show , that will let you in on who's who, as well as give you a chance to make your own legends with the friends you'll make there!

I hope to see you all on the message boards, and, as always, hope this helps anyone who watches the shows and wants to discover the wonders of comics!