Ranking the 15 greatest DC Comics rivalries of all-time
8. Green Arrow and Merlyn
Green Arrow is one the many DC heroes we’ve been blessed with seeing in live-action. His character birthed what fans dubbed The CW’s Arrowverse. Much like with any other live-action comic book movie and/or film we got to witness two rivals go bow-to-bow. These arch(er) nemeses began their battles in the 70s.
Merlyn went by a few different aliases including Arthur. His fame was well-known, before Oliver became Green Arrow. Once the emerald archer arose, to Oliver’s surprise, Merlyn challenged him to an archer’s duel.
Arthur, aka Merlyn, was a magician with a bow with a reputation that preceded him. What many didn’t know, and Oliver soon discovered, Merlyn used his power for bad. Merlyn tasted defeat by the bow and arrow of Oliver birthing their rivalry.
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Merlyn, who was also a member of the League of Assassins, had his run in with other DC heroes over the years as well. In fact, he was hired to assassinate Batman. Guess who was there to stop him? Green Arrow.
Merlyn vowed to take down the Emerald Archer. They crossed paths countless times. Merlyn’s most diabolical scheme was his plan to frame Green Arrow for kidnapping and murdering Sin. Hardcore comic fans know Sin as Black Canary’s protégé. She mentored Sin during the year she and Lady Shiva swapped lives. Yup, that’s a thing.
Nevertheless, things didn’t go as planned. Green Arrow had his chance to kill Merlyn, but took the hero’s route and opted to spare his life. As a matter of fact, Green Arrow, along with Black Canary, saved his life; not bad for arch nemesis.