Queen Industries
Encyclopedia
Queen Industries is a fictional business organization in the DC Comics
universe
. It is owned and run by businessman Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow
. Oliver reluctantly inherited the company after his parents, Robert and Moira Queen, were killed on safari. It was founded by Robert Queen, Oliver's father.
after his parents' death, there are several fundamental differences. Whereas Wayne's parents were killed by a criminal, driving Batman to seek justice and revenge, Queen's parents were killed by lions on safari in Africa, and the Green Arrow initially does his vigilantism for the sheer fun of it. Wayne allowed his parents' murder to define his life, and managed every detail of his inheritance carefully in accordance. Queen however, used his inheritance to live lavishly, taking his mind off his troubles by reveling in luxury and women. As a result, while Wayne Enterprises expanded into one of the largest companies in the world, Queen Industries struggled with financial and administrative problems. Eventually, Oliver lost his whole fortune and sold the company.
For many years following, Queen Industries was without its namesake ebullient owner, as Green Arrow traversed the countryside, to discover the true America. During this period, he formed strongly liberal values (in stark contrast to his frequent conservative traveling partner, Green Lantern
) which he was never shy about espousing, and which defined and motivated his later career. The strength of his convictions indeed became one of his most indelible characteristics, and was a primary influence in the new treatment of social issues as a valid theme for mainstream superhero comics.
Eventually, Oliver Queen was able to reassert his control of Queen Industries, now divested of its weapons contracts. He used the income from it to secretly fund his superhero activities. Originally, much of the money was funneled into bankrolling the fledgling Justice League of America
. However, this ended when Oliver quit the JLA, having decided that they were only interested in fighting the big battles with the supervillains, and weren't looking out enough for "the little guy." Since then, the income from Queen Industries has gone to charitable donations and to funding his own crime-fighting activities.
several times and is an electronics company in the show.
In the season 8 episode "Requiem", it is revealed that Tess Mercer sold controlling interest in LuthorCorp to Queen Industries. However, in the series finale, after Lex Luthor regaining controls of LuthorCorp (later renamed as LexCorp
), the fate of Queen Industries is left ambiguous.
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. It is owned and run by businessman Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
. Oliver reluctantly inherited the company after his parents, Robert and Moira Queen, were killed on safari. It was founded by Robert Queen, Oliver's father.
Parallels to Wayne Enterprises
Although the story seems on the surface to be very similar to Bruce Wayne's inheritance of Wayne EnterprisesWayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises is a company in the DC Universe, owned by Bruce Wayne and run by his business manager, Lucius Fox. It was founded by merchant ancestors of the Wayne family in the 17th century as a merchant house, although the company changed when the heir of Judge Solomon Wayne, Alan, utilized...
after his parents' death, there are several fundamental differences. Whereas Wayne's parents were killed by a criminal, driving Batman to seek justice and revenge, Queen's parents were killed by lions on safari in Africa, and the Green Arrow initially does his vigilantism for the sheer fun of it. Wayne allowed his parents' murder to define his life, and managed every detail of his inheritance carefully in accordance. Queen however, used his inheritance to live lavishly, taking his mind off his troubles by reveling in luxury and women. As a result, while Wayne Enterprises expanded into one of the largest companies in the world, Queen Industries struggled with financial and administrative problems. Eventually, Oliver lost his whole fortune and sold the company.
Fictional history
In the early days of Oliver's ownership, Queen Industries made much of its profits from the sale of weapons and munitions. In "Peacemakers", written by Dennis O'Neil, Oliver discovers some of the disastrous impacts that the weapons he is making his money from are having in other countries. As a result, Oliver decides to sell off what is left of the company, giving all of the proceeds to a war relief effort. (This was a widely accepted retelling of the original story of how Queen lost his remaining fortune to a man named John Deleon).For many years following, Queen Industries was without its namesake ebullient owner, as Green Arrow traversed the countryside, to discover the true America. During this period, he formed strongly liberal values (in stark contrast to his frequent conservative traveling partner, Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
) which he was never shy about espousing, and which defined and motivated his later career. The strength of his convictions indeed became one of his most indelible characteristics, and was a primary influence in the new treatment of social issues as a valid theme for mainstream superhero comics.
Eventually, Oliver Queen was able to reassert his control of Queen Industries, now divested of its weapons contracts. He used the income from it to secretly fund his superhero activities. Originally, much of the money was funneled into bankrolling the fledgling Justice League of America
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
. However, this ended when Oliver quit the JLA, having decided that they were only interested in fighting the big battles with the supervillains, and weren't looking out enough for "the little guy." Since then, the income from Queen Industries has gone to charitable donations and to funding his own crime-fighting activities.
Other media
Queen Industries has been mentioned in SmallvilleSmallville (TV series)
Smallville is an American television series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on the DC Comics character Superman, originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The television series was initially broadcast by The WB Television Network , premiering on October...
several times and is an electronics company in the show.
In the season 8 episode "Requiem", it is revealed that Tess Mercer sold controlling interest in LuthorCorp to Queen Industries. However, in the series finale, after Lex Luthor regaining controls of LuthorCorp (later renamed as LexCorp
LexCorp
LexCorp is the fictional company founded by Lex Luthor in the popular DC Comics Superman series. It made its first proper appearance in John Byrne's The Man of Steel miniseries, which established the post-Crisis Superman setting...
), the fate of Queen Industries is left ambiguous.