As the saying goes, there's never a wrong nickname, just a well-deserved one. Whether it's his codename or his outfit, Oliver Queen is synonymous with the color green. Before becoming Green Arrow, he was quite the playboy, and even after assuming the mantle of a hero, his list of romantic entanglements continued to grow. Let's talk about two of his more famous ex-girlfriends: Black Canary, Laurel Lance, and White Canary, Sara Lance.
Oliver first dated Laurel, but behind her back, he secretly hooked up with her sister, Sara. Without Laurel knowing, he and Sara even planned a getaway on the Queen's Gambit, which ended in disaster. The shipwreck left him presumed dead, and during his absence, his best friend, Tommy Merlyn, stepped in and started dating Laurel. If being with Laurel was a betrayal, then what he did with Sara was downright outrageous.
But Sara didn't die in the shipwreck either. She later became the White Canary and joined the Legends of Tomorrow as their captain. While Oliver was dealing with his own struggles, Sara found herself in a whole different world of battles and relationships.
As for Oliver, well, his story with women didn't stop there. His romantic entanglements could fill a book, and it seemed that betrayal and infidelity were almost a tradition in his life.
And speaking of traditions, let's not forget Felicity Smoak, the IT girl and Green Arrow's trusted ally. She could be considered one of the heroines in his story. Their relationship was a rollercoaster—on and off again, and during their off periods, Felicity had her share of other boyfriends. But did that bother Green Arrow? Not at all.
So, it's no wonder that Su Sheng thinks the nickname "Green Hood" might be even more fitting for Oliver Queen than "Green Arrow." After all, "green" seems to run in the Queen family.
Oliver's father wasn't much different. And speaking of influential figures in Starling City, one can't overlook Malcolm Merlyn, also known as the Dark Archer, and Tommy Merlyn's father. Trained by the League of Assassins, Malcolm is one of the few major villains active in Starling City at this time.
Malcolm's vendetta led him to orchestrate the Queen's Gambit disaster, which inadvertently created Green Arrow. His goal was to destroy the Glades, the slum area of Starling City, to avenge his wife's death. However, even after five years, the Glades still stood, with only minor destruction compared to the chaos of Gotham.
When Oliver returns as Green Arrow, his journey inevitably leads to a confrontation with Malcolm Merlyn. Unfortunately, Tommy gets caught in the crossfire and loses his life. But Malcolm doesn't dwell on this loss for too long; he has another child—Thea Queen, Oliver's half-sister.
That's where things get complicated. Malcolm, now rejuvenated by the realization that he has a daughter, goes on to hypnotize Thea, leading her to kill Sara Lance. Later, Malcolm even becomes the leader of the League of Assassins, though his reign is short-lived due to his lack of strength. Eventually, he teams up with Oliver to take down Prometheus, sacrificing himself to save Thea.
The Merlyn and Queen families seem intertwined in a web of betrayal, heroism, and tragedy. Su Sheng couldn't help but marvel at the convoluted legacy of these two families.
As Su Sheng and Felicity drove into Starling City, he noticed the modern yet dark atmosphere. While it wasn't as Gothic as Gotham, it had its own share of shadows. The biggest difference, perhaps, was that Starling City's villains weren't as formidable as Gotham's.
"Where should I drop you off? I can take you to your destination first," Felicity offered, turning to Su Sheng.
"Take me to your place," Su Sheng replied, turning his gaze from the window to Felicity with a smile.
"Huh?" Felicity was taken aback.
"Do you live alone?" Su Sheng asked.
Felicity nodded, feeling uneasy. What did he mean by that? She had only offered him a ride, not invited him to stay.
Seeing her nervous expression, Su Sheng chuckled softly before explaining seriously, "I'm from Gotham. You've heard of Gotham, right? Back in Gotham, money wasn't really necessary. After all, why pay for something you can just take?"
Felicity blinked, trying to process the twisted logic. It made sense in a bizarre way.
"So, I don't have any money right now, but I need a place to stay. And maybe…" Su Sheng looked at her with a mischievous grin, "Maybe I need a pillow, too."
"I... I thought you were a good guy," Felicity stammered, her unease growing.
Su Sheng smiled wider. "Think of it as a lesson: don't trust strangers so easily. And don't worry, I won't charge you tuition for this lesson. So, is it okay if I stay at your place for a few days?"
"And if I say it's not okay?" Felicity asked timidly.
"That's not an option," Su Sheng replied, still smiling brightly.
Felicity felt a wave of regret wash over her. Why had she picked him up? What should she do now? Her mind raced, trying to figure out how to deal with him and maybe call the police later. Resigned to her fate, she drove silently for a few more blocks before pulling over.
"This is where I live," Felicity said reluctantly, turning off the car.
"Let's go," Su Sheng urged with a smile.
Felicity hesitated, fumbling with her keys as she got out of the car. She hadn't found a chance to call for help, and now she was trapped. Su Sheng walked beside her, easily wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they headed into the building. Felicity couldn't help but regret choosing her nicest clothes instead of something more practical for self-defense.
They climbed the stairs to the fifth floor, Felicity struggling with each step. By the time they reached her apartment, she was out of breath, too exhausted to even think about running.
She unlocked the door with trembling hands, letting Su Sheng inside. As he stepped in, he paused, looking around before turning to her with an unexpectedly serious expression.
"Since coming to this world, you're the first person who's made me feel a bit... homesick. But let's start by tidying up," he said, his tone surprisingly sincere.
...