Green Arrow Origin Change Makes His Nemesis Way More Compelling

Warning! Contains spoilers for Green Arrow #11!

Summary Green Arrow's origins are intertwined with his greatest enemy, Malcolm Merlyn.

Merlyn trained Oliver Queen in archery, leading to a deep-seated rivalry.

Merlyn's desire to pass on his legacy to Ollie adds new depth to their ongoing conflict.

Green Arrow is one of the greatest archers in the DC Universe, and it seems that DC just revealed a major link between his years of archery training and his greatest enemy. While Malcolm Merlyn has always been one of Oliver's biggest rivals, it seems that once upon a time, Merlyn was also one of Oliver's first teachers.

The surprising history between Green Arrow and Merlyn is revealed in Green Arrow #11 by Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaakse, and Phil Hester. This story reveals that Merlyn had a major hand in teaching Oliver Queen about archery after Ollie returned from Starfish Island. This completely recontextualizes the rivalry that they've had over the years.

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Ollie first got his start in archery after he was stranded on Starfish Island and forced to hunt and live off the land to survive. But apparently, this event wasn't enough to turn Ollie into the Emerald Archer that people know. Instead, Green Arrow had to receive special training from the man who would become his worst enemy.

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Oliver Queen Learned Archery from Malcolm Merlyn

Green Arrow's Greatest Nemesis Is Also His Greatest Teacher

When the wealthy Oliver Queen was young, he cared nothing for anyone but himself and only wanted to have fun and enjoy life. This attitude took a tragic turn when, on one of his many expensive yacht adventures, he was swept up in a storm and stranded on Starfish Island. This experience not only taught him to care about the well-being of others and appreciate life, but it also made Ollie a skilled archer. After he escaped the island and took on the moniker of the Green Arrow, he still needed to improve further and sought out the famous archer Merlyn, but this meeting would turn them both into bitter rivals for years to come.

Merlyn was a highly skilled archer and often worked in a circus, showing off his skills. He met a young Oliver Queen for the first time while in the circus, and that's how Ollie knew how to find him years later. Unbeknownst to Ollie, in the years since he had seen Merlyn, Merlyn became a brutal contract killer — and he loved every minute of it. Wanting to pass on his skills, he took Ollie under his wing and taught him everything he knew, while also trying to recruit him into the League of Assassins. Once Ollie found out, he challenged Merlyn to a final shoot-out: Ollie won, and Merlyn has never forgiven him.

Green Arrow and Merlyn Have Been Bitter Enemies for Years

And This Rivalry Will Likely Never Change

This twist links Green Arrow and Merlyn far more than their rivalry; they're also student and teacher. Merlyn legitimately wanted to pass on his ideas and way of life to Oliver, even seemingly viewing him as a son, as he outright states he found his own son boring compared to Ollie. Meanwhile, Ollie had finally learned the true value of life over money — and certainly had no interest in taking life for money. This twist gives their rivalry an entirely different (and deeper) meaning, and it cements Merlyn as Green Arrow's greatest villain.

Green Arrow #11 is available now from DC Comics!