(Image Source: DC / Ed Benes)
Most superheroes are ready and willing to sacrifice themselves to save a life. Fewer of them, however, are willing to take a life, even if it is to save someone else. This moral quandary recently arose for one member of the Justice League, apparently breaking their personal code against killing while stopping a supervillain from killing an ally.
The killing occurred in Green Arrow #30 by Chris Condo and Montos. This was the final chapter of the “Crimson Sands” storyline, which revamped a Green Arrow villain called the Crimson Archer. The original Crimson Archer was a gangster named Herb Vraney, who enacted a complicated revenge scheme after Green Arrow arrested him. This entailed plastic surgery and posing as a philanthropist who hired Green Arrow to teach him archery. He then tried (and failed) to use his newfound training as the Crimson Archer to kill Green Arrow using his own weapon of choice.
(Image Source: DC / Montos)
Condon changed very little of this background for the revamp. The biggest change was that, in addition to trying to replace Green Arrow, the new Crimson Archer also set himself up as a pharmaceuticals magnate and illegal drug kingpin. He had also begun shooting drug addicts with a hypodermic arrow filled with a custom drug he called Crimson Sand. This drug initiated a fatal and painful overdose.
In Crimson Archer’s twisted mind, he was cleaning the streets of people who didn’t deserve to live. (After lining his pockets by selling them drugs one way or another, of course.) Naturally, Green Arrow was disgusted by this. Yet it was another Justice League member who stepped in to save the day.
What Justice League member just killed to save a life?
Oliver Queen had confronted the Crimson Archer alone, though their battle set the Crimson Archer’s offices on fire. This got the attention of Roy Harper, aka Arsenal, who had been part of the Justice League using the name Red Arrow. Roy and his daughter, Lian, joined with Ollie to face the Crimson Archer together, as he tried to flee to a waiting helicopter.
(Image Source: DC / Montos)
At one point, it looked like the Crimson Archer had Green Arrow beaten. However, in his bloodlust to kill his sworn enemy, he forgot about Roy Harper. This proved to be a fatal mistake, as Arsenal had recovered a Crimson Sand arrow that the Crimson Archer had fired at them, which missed.
Having barely survived his own encounter with the drug (to say nothing of being a recovering heroin addict) the former Red Arrow decided to give the villain an ironic taste of his own medicine. However, this had two unexpected consequences. First, Crimson Archer’s reaction to his own drug triggered an immediate seizure. This, in turn, send him falling off the roof.
(Image Source: DC / Montos)
It is unclear if this is the first time Arsenal killed someone, accidentally or intentionally in the current timeline. He was a DEA Agent at one point, making it likely he was authorized to use lethal force. Whether or not he did so is another matter. In any case, Roy Harper’s reaction was immediately remorseful, bursting into tears even as his daughter and mentor hugged him. This suggests that, regardless of the law and ethics behind his actions, he viewed it as a violation of his personal code.
Green Arrow #30 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
