Comic Title: Adventure Comics #256
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: January 1959
On Sale Date: November 26, 1958 Copyright Date November 26, 1958
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1958

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "The Green Arrow's First Case"
Pages: 7

Feature(s):
Green Arrow (of Earth-1)

Writer: France E. Herron
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Roz Kirby

Reprinted In:
World's Finest Comics #187 (1969)
Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes HC (1976)
Secret Origins of the Super DC Heroes SC (1976)
DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #9 (1981)
Green Arrow by Jack Kirby #1 (2002)
Showcase Presents Green Arrow Vol. 1 TPB (2006)
Jack Kirby Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2011)
Green Arrow:A Celebration of 75 Years HC (2016)

Feature Character(s)

• Green Arrow (last appearance in Adventure Comics #255; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #99)

Supporting Character(s)

• Speedy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #255; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #99)

Other Character(s)

• The crew of a ship (in flashback to Green Arrow’s origin; no further appearances)
• A scientific expedition (no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Green Arrow (origin revealed; last appearance in Adventure Comics #258; next appearance in Adventure Comics #262)

Comments:
Green Arrow's origin is told in the flashback sequence of this story.

Synopsis:
Green Arrow and his partner Speedy learn of a scientific expedition bound for Starfish Island. G.A. is worried that the expedition will uncover his secret identity because the island was where he became Green Arrow. As the two archers fly to the island to intercept the expedition, G.A. tells Speedy the story of how he became Green Arrow.

One night, Oliver Queen fell overboard on a ship. He was unable to be rescued, so he swam to a nearby island. He made a home in a cavern on the island and fashioned a bow and arrow for hunting. At first his aim was poor, but long hours of practice paid off and he improved.

While fishing with his arrows, the fish would swim away after being hit, so Queen attached a vine to the arrow so that he could reel in his catch. This became his first trick arrow; a rope arrow. He soon created net and drill arrows, as well as a green leaf outfit for camouflage while hunting.

One evening Queen spotted a ship offshore. He swam to the ship to discover that the crew was mutinying. Using grease to cover the reflection of light on his white face, The masked Queen defeated the pirates and acted for the first time as Green Arrow.

Green Arrow kept a diary of events on the cavern wall. He is worried the expedition will find it and learn his secret identity. Using a fake-uranium arrow, G.A. scares off the expedition who believes there is radiation on the island. G.A. then destroys the diary so no one will learn his secret.