Comic Book Resources

The Arrow recently got reprinted in AC’s Men of Mystery #81!

Diana the Huntress also appeared in an issue of Zoo Funnies!

J.A.P.

Why does archery fit so well with comics? Is it the shock and horror of having a shaft sticking out of you rather than suffering a hole in your body? Is it the fact you can make so many gadget arrows? Is there something more intimate…more personalized…shooting someone with an arrow rather than a bullet? Or more impersonal? Does shooting an arrow take more skill than a gun? Or less? Or is it the very primativeness of a bow that makes it special in comics?

“Why does archery fit so well with comics? …..”

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I’m sure there are a whole quiver of reasons, not the least of which is that archery was a very popular activity for boys during the early half of the 20th Century. Most likely a holdover from the exciting radio and television dramas featuring ‘Cowboys vs. Indians’.

There’s also the sportsmanship (higher chance of dodging an arrow than a bullet), the wacky (trick arrows out the wazoo!), the skill (it’s hard enough to use a bow accurately while standing still, let alone on the move or on horseback or in close quarters combat), and even the ‘primal’ (takes our imaginations back to simpler, wilder times).

I’d imagine the bow-and-arrow is very similar to the sword (and assorted variations thereof), which has also been more popular in comics than guns. Or… if not more ‘popular’ exactly, perhaps more ‘acceptable’.

not sure how serious your questions are sackett, but yes shooting an arrow takes massively more skill than a gun. I think the reason arrows work in comics is that it’s a better visual, instead of relatively generic bullets and bullet holes you have the visual of an arrow sticking out.

I also think that the even more uniqueness of the bow adds to it’s appeal, nearly everyone has seen or used a real gun, but a real bow and arrow is probably rarely used in real life. Factor in that anyone could pull a trigger on a gun, while the bow and arrow is a lot tougher to use and be effective. Young Steve Rogers could have pulled a gun and killed someone, he couldn’t have hurt a toad with a bow and arrow.

Nice column, Scott. Thanks.

And I second your opinion that Al Plastino came nowhere near that Green Knight page.

Having tried to shoot a compound bow in the past (as a scout and in the military) let me tell you, I find it amazing some people can do it while riding a horse or hit a target while moving rapidly…..

Seriously, people underestimate the coordination needed to use bow and arrows….

Wow, the Arrow’s fashion sense sucks.

I’m not seeing a connection between spiders and archery.

I imagine there were plenty of Native characters who were primarily archers.

@ CaptUSA…yea, I was serious. Excellent answers.

I think the reason they fit with comics goes back to the prototype.

As the Robin Hood legends were revised over the centuries, he became closer and closer to what would become the superhero. The Errol Flynn version had many of what would become the traditional superhero trappings:

Distinctive costume
Alias (not a secret ID, but still)
Nearly superhuman skills (archery, swordsmanship)
Arch enemy (Guy of Gisborne)
Girlfriend to rescue (Marion)

It’s really not a big jump to get to superhero, just bring into modern times and add a mask.

I do have a question. How does an archer end up being called Spider?

There are plenty of gun-toting heroes if you count Western and war comics. And not many archers have made it to the big leagues and lasted. I suspect we could name many more gun wielders: the Phantom, the Punisher, Cable, et al.

A strong bow is incredibly difficult to use. It takes a great deal of strength to pull it back far, the strings cut painfully into your fingers, and whenever I’ve tried it I found it impossible to keep it from wobbling. I needed all my strength just to pull it back, I couldn’t keep it steady, and it was nearly impossible to release the arrow without the bowstring hitting my fingers and twisting the bow. On the other hand, the very first time I picked up a rifle, I simply aimed and hit the target with ease. No problem whatsoever.
In the first Hawkeye limited series, when Hawkeye escaped from Crossfire’s trap, Crossfire tried to use his own bow against him, but was unable to pull the string back very far. I knew exactly how he felt at that moment. It’s much harder than it looks.

Visually it is easier to show someone being shot by an arrow instead of a bullet. With a bullet you have to show someone clutching a wound and saying, “Arrg I’ve been shot”, or you need sound effects with a smoking gun. With an arrow all you need is one panel of a guy impaled by a shaft and you know exactly what happened.

Archers are prevalent in several mythologies around the world. In the early 20th century there wasn’t a long tradition of accurate and reliable firearms. Archery still held some social status and was sometimes practiced by the idle rich who were likely to become costumed vigilantes.

Bows are much harder to use properly than firearms. A champion level archer is probably cockier and more well-trained than your average street thug with a gun.

Well that was extremely interesting. Who knew there were so many of them?

Hell yeah, because of the Errol Flynn Adventures of Robin Hood.

Scott, yours is consistantly my my favorite read here @ CBR. Thanks. Also, Daryll, Mary, & Willie are all correct. Archery and all it entails, is a skill that needs intense dedication to hone, and when you see someone who is a natural @ it, it is as amazing as seeing a Lebron, Phelps, or Pujols.

The irony, of course, is that for most of history the bow was used in warfare for mass attacks, not by individuals, and accuracy was much less important than range and power — your archers fired en masse into the enemy infantry to soften ‘em up, then were followed by either a cavalry or infantry rush. (Oh, and Darryl B: few archers in history could fire from horseback — it was a skill almost exclusively practised by nomads, the main exception being the Parthians whose “Parthian shot” — firing while riding away from you on a horse — was much feared by the Romans.)

I’m struck by the fact that most of these illustrations actually show the arrow properly nocked on the bow. That absolutely drives me nuts. For example, in the Young Avengers one-shot released yesterday every single shot of Hawkeye showed her with the arrow nocked on the UNDERSIDE of the bow (and no, it doesn’t work that way — she might as well throw the arrow, she’d get better accuracy). I know most people today have never tried to use a bow, but how hard is it to find accurate photo reference? It should take what, maybe four seconds on any search engine?

Great article! Thanks,
DFTBA

A few others: I’m impressed to see the Green Knight. There was also a superhero who dressed up as and called himself Robin Hood and who even had two Merry Men along the lines of Friar Tuck and Little John (Green Hornet #7). Another guy called himself Scarlet Arrow (Black Cat #5). No relation to the Indian archer, Swiftarrow (Golden Lad #1) is the only one I’ve seen that used a crossbow. As matter of course, most of the jungle heroes were archers to some degree.

An influence that shouldn’t be ignored is Edgar Wallace’s novel from 1923, The Green Archer which was filmed in 1925 and 1940. Notice the initials. I’ve not read the book nor seen the original serial, but the 1940 has the Green Archer as a mysterious hooded man that uses a bow and arrow (though he doesn’t really use it in battle, just to fire frightening shots to announce his presence and send messages as most think he might be some kind of ghost).

Well, I must say that I’m pretty impressed by the level of expertise in archery ’round these parts. Very interesting stuff.

Great conversation – thanks for the kind words.

For those of you not familier with the ‘TIMNEY’ name, they have been making top quality replacement triggers for firearms since 1946. They are now offering a new archery trigger for 2010. I received one yesterday to T&E. I haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet, but at first glance it looks like another quality product that we’ve grown accustomed to over the years from Timney. The leather top grain cowhide buckle strap appears durable, comfortable, and well stiched.