As a member of Oliver's team, John is his partner and plays a number of roles including field support, decoy and guidance to Oliver in times of doubt. John was known in the Suicide Squad under the code-name Freelancer. Later he took up a suit and was officially given the designation Spartan by Felicity. Oliver would later temporarily retire from vigilantism, and asked John to carry on the mantle of Green Arrow and leader of Team Arrow by extension; until the FBI's investigation is over. Contrary to his seemingly tough exterior, John is a very perceptive and wise individual, being the first to notice that something was different about Oliver Queen after he came back from the Lian Yu.
Publication Information
- Arrow : John Diggle
- Multiverse : Earth-1
- Version : Arrowverse
- Alter Ego : Spartan
- Known As :
- Type :
- Relative :
- Unnamed Father
- Unnamed Cousin
- Unnamed Sister-in-law
- Lyla Michaels : Wife
- Sara Diggle : Daughter
- John Diggle, Jr. : Son
- Andy Diggle : Brother
- Carly Diggle : Sister-in-law
- A.J. Diggle : Nephew
- Affiliation :
- Gender : Male
- Origin : Star City, United State
- Season : Arrow
- First Appeareance : Arrow Season 1 Episod 1 : Pilot
- Last Appeareance :
- Number of Appeareance :
- Potrayer : David Ramsey
- Main View : Full Episod
- Main Article : John Diggle Timeline
This was what prompted Oliver to have him as his comrade. John hated personal security because he was simply serving wealthy spoiled brats instead of making a difference in the military. This was what inspired him want to join Oliver Queen's crusade after Oliver saved him from poisoning by curare, learning from Oliver his brother was killed by the assassin Floyd Lawton and a conversation with his sister-in-law Carly Diggle made him realize Oliver was making a difference and was offering him a chance to do the same.
Since becoming Oliver's first partner in his crusade, John has provided Oliver with a greater sense of direction, such as when he suggests tracking down other dangerous individuals and providing protection for the innocents instead of simply hunting down the men in his father's book. John sometimes serves as the voice of reason for Oliver who, sometimes being impulsive isn't thinking his actions thoroughly, keeping him grounded and realistic. John was also very wise because even though he was against Oliver killing as a first resort at the beginning of his crusade, he still allowed Oliver to do so, hoping he would learn to show restraint in the future rather than force that lesson onto him. He is also seen to be very good friends with Felicity Smoak and the two seem to have a sibling-like relationship.
When Roy Harper was brought onto the team, he and John got along also with John providing a mentor-student relationship to Roy as well as Oliver. Due to his time in the military, John is a disciplined and level-headed person who tries to approach everything with a calm demeanor, even in times of crisis. He has a sense of justice and honor, and is extremely loyal to the people he cares about, particularly his ex-wife Lyla Michaels whom he latter decides to remarry. Later on Lyla gives birth to his baby daughter (to John's amazement describing the experience of becoming a father as his whole universe changing) whom is named Sara in honor of John's good friend Sara Lance.
John is also able to isolate his emotions from his ability to think logically due to his time in the military. Instances where he does otherwise occur when Floyd Lawton was involved once he learns Lawton is who killed his brother. His hatred of Lawton is what lead to the dissolution of his relationship with Carly. However, after the two made a deal to save Lyla in Russia, he prescribed to his sense of honor in letting Lawton walk free as his end of the bargain. He also refused to let his vendetta get in the way of his principles of never leaving a man behind when they were partnered together in Task Force X.
He also tried to talk Lawton out of his death wish while on a suicide mission by bringing up his daughter Zoe Lawton, and the chance to see her again one day, succeeding in doing so. He also later confessed that Lawton, the man who killed his brother showed much more character than Amanda Waller, the woman supposedly protecting the United States did during that mission. John's continued work with Lawton as well as the fact that Lawton has a daughter, to whom he provides money for with his job has had John experience a change of view of him, considering him something of a friend, or at the very least, a comrade. When Lawton sacrificed himself during the mission in Kasnia, so he and Lyla could return to their daughter, John made peace with Lawton's memory sharing a drink with Oliver with a toast, "to Lawton".
He has ever so viewed Oliver as his best friend, almost like a brother, and even had him as his best man at his second wedding to Lyla. However, when Oliver became "Al Sah-him" and kidnapped Lyla, leaving his daughter Sara alone, their relationship crumpled heavily, angering him to the point where he nearly beat a criminal to death. Despite Oliver attempting to explain to him that it was a ruse to prove his loyalty to Ra's al Ghul, John replied his action not only cost him John's friendship, but also his respect and trust. Ultimately, after having defeated Ra's, saved the city from the Alpha-Omega bioweapon together and seeing Oliver's genuine regret in his actions, John has come to at least be civil with Oliver, though he is still not ready to forgive him.
Spartan
- Main Articles : Spartan
- Origin : Earth-1
- Version : Arrowverse
- Type : Vigilantes
- Alter Ego : John Diggle
- Height :
- Weight :
- Appearances : Arrow
- Main Article : Spartan Weapons, Powers and Abilities
