History
Little Lian
Roy Harper, who had temporarily abandoned his identity as the costumed archer called Speedy, was working undercover for the government. His assignment was to track down Cheshire , gain her confidence, and hand her over to the authorities; however, the two fell in love. Though he could not bring himself to turn her in, he knew his presence would eventually lead his employers to her; consequently, he walked out on her, vanishing in the night. It wasn’t until much later that Cheshire learned his true identity.
A year later, having returned to super-heroing, Roy was among a number of Titans summoned to to prevent the sabotage of a critical international arms control meeting. It was during this encounter that he learned for the first time of Lian, the daughter brought about by his union with Cheshire. With her consent, he later took custody of Lian.
Shortly after, Roy came into conflict with Vandal Savage. Savage had discovered that both Roy and his daughter Lian were blood descendants of his, making their organs suitable for him to harvest to prolong his life. Roy was able save his daughter from Savage’s manipulations. After this adventure, Roy adopted a new look to reflect his Navajo heritage.
Several other times Lian comes into danger later on due to her father’s dangerous work. When Roy was part of the Outsiders Lian was again kidnapped, but the Outsiders were able to successfully save her, and the other children had been kidnapped at the same time as her.
A Cry For Justice
When the Justice League of America reformed, Roy Harper was invited to join the legendary team and became Red Arrow.
However, Roy Harper’s life would soon unravel in unimaginable ways. In an insane plan to destroy the Justice League, the scheming Prometheus brutally attacked the team – wounding Red Arrow’s right arm in the process. Prometheus then used his super-technology to target each of the cities the members of the Justice League called home, and the death toll was enormous. But one small loss proved most devastating; Lian was killed during the attack, after her house collapsed around her.
The Consequences of Her Death
Sadly, Lian’s death would have a more negative effect on her father than anyone would have guessed. His mind clouded by hallucinations by his infected right arm (infected by Prometheus with flesh-eating bacteria called “nanomites”), the unrelenting pain and grief eventually led to a relapse into his drug addiction. A corpse-like hallucination of Lian goaded Roy into killing Electrocutioner, Prometheus’ trigger man, telling Roy to gut him like a pig.
Cheshire found him in the cemetery. She said it was his fault what happened to her daughter, but she tried to make a deal with him. She proposed that they team up to kill Deathstroke. Then, when he sees Deathstroke next he almost shot him with an arrow, but he failed on purpose. He asked Deathstroke to be part of his team. He accepted and now Arsenal is part of Deathstroke’s Titans.
Convergence
During the events of Convergence, a DC Comics wide crossover, she is brought back to life by Dreamslayer to goad Roy into attacking his fellow heroes. He manages to double cross them and to aid his allies while also securing her to safety.
Relationships
Parents
Lian’s parents, the Titan Arsenal and the terrorist Cheshire, may not be able to be together (for obvious reasons), but they both loved their daughter.
Other Family and Friends
Lian is a very headstrong and knowledgeable little girl despite her young age. She is very attached to her extended family of “aunts” and “uncles”, especially those in the Titans and the Arrow family. She has a strong bond with Donna Troy, whom she looks to as a mother figure.
Lian’s Nannies
Because of her father’s job, Lian has had several nannies, which include-
- Mrs. Sebastian – a British lady while Roy Harper and Nightwing were in the England
- Mrs. Estavez – a Hispanic lady while Roy Harper was in California
- Martin and Erika Santos – friends of Roy Harper and government spies
- Chanda Madan – a Middle-Eastern teenager
- Rose Wilson – the current Ravager
- Ron – a young Asian man (deceased)
Alternate Versions
Kingdom Come
Lian Harper used the alias of Red Hood and was a member of the Teen Titans. She was a skilled archer like her father.
In Other Media
Young Justice: Invasion
Lian first appears in the second season of the Young Justice cartoon in the episode “Salvage”. She is an infant daughter of Cheshire and Red Arrow.
During the five year time-skip, after finding out he was a clone, Red Arrow was searching for the real Roy Harper. Sometime later Cheshire caught up with him and she helped him in his search. They eventually started a relationship and later got married. The relationship wasn’t without fights as Jade accused Roy of being obsessive over Speedy. Soon she found out she is pregnant, but Roy’s self-destructive drive caused her to leave. She didn’t tell Roy she was pregnant and gave birth to their daughter Lian alone.
Few months later Cheshire arrived at Roy’s place with Lian. She wanted him to get his act together. He refused, saying that she lost her right to backseat drive when she left him to return to the life of crime. She said that the return to the life of crime was just a side benefit. She left because his obsession with finding Speedy was all consuming, leaving no place in his life, not for her or for their daughter. Roy was surprised to find out he is a father. Cheshire gave Lian to Roy to hold and said that he has to get his head on straight so the three can form a coherent family. She also revealed that while she was away she called in many favors and found the final lead on Speedy. Lian slept throughout the whole conversation.
Two weeks later in the episode “Bloodlines”, Cheshire and Red Arrow arrived in Tibet, where according to Cheshire’s intel Speedy was kept. Roy was still unsure about the lead as it seemed too easy to him, given that good guys have been looking for the real Roy Harper for years and suddenly Jade found the lead. She told him that she goes to places the good guys don’t. She also seemed annoyed with Roy keep calling Speedy the real Roy Harper. She said that she and their daughter need him to be real. Roy checked up on Lian, who was safe and warm in Jade’s backpack.
Later they entered the Tibetan monastery. They fought themselves past the guards. Lian who was held by her mother in a papoose, giggled as she saw her parents defeating two men. The sound of her giggles attracted the attention of every guard in a monastery. Roy revealed his true feelings about bringing Lian on a dangerous mission. He claimed that they should have left her with Jade’s sister, Artemis.
After Cheshire and Red Arrow defeated the rest of the guards, Lian giggled again. Roy asked Jade if he should be concerned over the obvious delight their daughter takes in the ultra-violence. She claimed that it’s just something that runs the family. After they reached the door the guards were protecting, Red Arrow blasted open the door and found a cryogenic pod. Cheshire watched as Red Arrow caught Speedy as he fell out of the pod.
Lian later appears in the episode “Satisfaction”. After Artemis’ “death” Cheshire and her father, Sportsmaster visit the Gotham Cemetery. Jade swears revenge on Aqualad for killing her sister. Sportsmaster claims that he wants a reckoning with Black Manta to protect his reputation. Lian sleeps in her mother’s arms throughout the whole conversation.
Lian’s last appearance is in the episode “Complications”. Jade who returned from her attempt to kill Aqualad, shows up at her mother’s apartment to pick up Lian. Paula who is still mourning after Artemis’ “death”, tells Jade to cherish the moments with her daughter, as she doesn’t know what future brings. Jade reveals that she has some good news about Artemis to Paula.