WARNING: The following contains minor spoilers for Teen Titans Academy #1, by Tim Sheridan, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Alejandro Sanchez and Rob Leigh, on sale now.
Green Arrow has worked with a vast array of allies over the years. With partners like Black Canary and Arsenal, Oliver Queen has a set of crime-fighting partners that is dwarfed only by the Bat-Family.
One of Oliver's most personal partners is his sister, Emiko.
Emiko Queen first appeared in Green Arrow #18, by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino. The daughter of Robert Queen and the assassin known as Shado, Emiko is technically Oliver's half-sister. Even so, Emiko was raised and trained by Simon Lacroix, aka Komodo. Lacroix led Emiko to believe that she was his daughter instead of Robert's.
Eventually, however, Robert sacrificed himself to save Emiko from Komodo. Emiko realized she was Robert's daughter and killed Komodo herself. Afterward, Emiko followed Oliver back to Seattle, wanting to become his apprentice. Emiko moved in with Oliver and fought crime alongside Green Arrow. Although the duo shared no past experiences together, they bonded and became true siblings.
In Green Arrow #1, by Benjamin Percy and Otto Schmidt, Oliver and Emiko were a real dynamic duo. Emiko and Green Arrow went up against foes like the Clock King until Shado returned to town. Emiko seemingly betrayed Oliver by siding with her mother and joining the sinister Ninth Circle. In truth, however, Emiko was infiltrating the organization, working to help Oliver from the inside. Shado was very upset with Emiko's betrayal and retaliated by kidnapping her and taking her daughter to Japan.
During a brief period with Shado, Emiko helped her mother fight off the Yakuza. Seeing her daughter's skill and fierce independence in action, Shado let Emiko go back to Seattle with Oliver in Green Arrow #7, by Benjamin Percy and Stephen Byrne. Emiko made her triumphant return in Green Arrow #15, by Benjamin Percy and Juan Ferreyra.
Helping Oliver and his allies against a group of fascistic ex-cops, called the Vice Squad, Emiko declared herself the new Red Arrow. As Red Arrow, Emiko was adamant that she was no longer Oliver's sidekick, acting as his partner instead. Emiko designed herself a new costume while she continued to work with Green Arrow against the Ninth Circle. Red Arrow was crucial in proving Oliver's innocence as an alleged murderer, which helped bring the Ninth Circle down.
By Teen Titans #20, by Adam Glass and Bernard Chang, Red Arrow had broadened her role in the DC Universe by joining the Teen Titans. During her tenure, Emiko became Damian Wayne's right hand on the team and developed a romance with Kid Flash. Red Arrow remained part of the Teen Titans until they disbanded in Teen Titans #47, by Robbie Thompson and Javier Fernandez. Still, Emiko enrolled in Teen Titans Academy, appearing as a student in Teen Titans Academy #1, by Tim Sheridan and Rafa Sandoval.
Emiko Queen holds several similarities to Thea Queen, played by Willa Holland on Arrow. Both characters are the half-sisters of Oliver Queen. The main difference here is that Thea was revealed to be the daughter of Malcolm Merlyn in Arrow season 2. While Emiko has a different mother than Oliver, Thea has a different father than her half-brother.
Emiko and Thea also both became crime-fighting partners to Green Arrow. Thea initially wanted to be called Red Arrow, just like Emiko. Ultimately, though, Thea was given Speedy as her codename. The costume design for both characters looks almost exactly the same.
Furthermore, Thea seemed to take inspiration from Mia Dearden, another version of Speedy in the comics. Thea's middle name is Dearden, and she shares the same sisterly bond with Oliver as Mia. It's funny to think about the similarities between Thea and Emiko, considering how Emiko was adapted for Arrow in the show's seventh season, played by Sea Shimooka. Of course, this version of Emiko was the leader of the Ninth Circle, with more malicious intent for Oliver.
Overall, it's fascinating to see the history of sisterly partners in Green Arrow's life, going from Mia to Thea to Emiko. Ultimately, Emiko is just one part of Oliver's history across several mediums.
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