Comic Title: DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #9
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: May 1981
On Sale Date: February 5, 1981 Newsstand Date February 5, 1981
Source: Comic Reader, #188

Copyright Date February 5, 1981
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1981

Newsstand Date February 2, 1981
Source: Daily Planet, Vol. 81 #2
Listed as on sale the week of February 2nd

Cover Price: $0.95
Page Count: 96
Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

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 From:
Adventure Comics #256 (1959)

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.