Malcolm Merlyn

Malcolm Merlyn is a wealthy businessman and prominent figure in Starling City, and an acquaintance of the Queen family, as well as the show's main antagonist. He is the husband of the late Rebecca Merlyn, and the father of Tommy Merlyn. His family owns Merlyn Global Group, presumably making him the CEO. Later in "Year's End", it's discovered that he has taken up somewhat of an anti-Arrow persona, the "Dark Archer". However, it has been hinted that Malcolm's role as the Archer dates back to before Oliver's return. It has also been hinted that the Dark Archer persona has ties to The Undertaking.

Earlier life
After the death of his wife in around 1993, Malcolm visited Nanda Parbat. While there, he trained under the mentorship of a man, and is implied to have learned his fighting skills from the man in question.

Work with The Undertaking
Malcolm Merlyn met with Moira Queen to discuss the vigilante Arrow. He expressed that he was uneasy about him. At first Moira expected this was because he had a large amount of wealth, but he replied that it was because the vigilante was targeting "The List".

Malcolm later invited Moira to talk with him upon short notice. They discuss whether Oliver might actually be the green-hooded vigilante, and he holds up his end of the argument that he strongly believes that Oliver is. After this, he sent a man to kill Oliver based on his assumption. After the chaos cleared, Moira went to consult with him. Moira threatened to ruin his life if he ever tried to hurt the Queen family again.

When Moira was almost shot, she earned a concussion, and so had to stay in bed for several days. Malcolm visited her during this time, much to her distaste. He offered her friendship as they previously had, but she was hesitant. Later, his son Tommy came asking why his father cancelled his credit card while the elder was practicing fencing. His father replied that he had permanently cut Tommy off from his trust fund and the family.

Malcolm decides to take action as Walter was getting very close to discovering the truth about the List. Moira tries to reassure him that she can get Walter off the track, but Malcolm does not believe her. He also asks if they should send their "associate", Dark Archer, to take out Walter. Later he goes as Dark Archer to try to kill the vigilante by luring him with hostages. As Oliver arrives and frees the hostages, he attacks, and tries to see who his foe really is. He fails when Oliver stabs him with a knife. Both manage to escape, and Malcolm decides to take Walter so that Moira will cooperate.

Malcolm invites his son and Laurel to have dinner with him where it is learned that his wife, Tommy's mother, was shot dead and tries getting Tommy to sign over his mother's shelter. Later, Tommy confides to Laurel why he hates his father so much: after Tommy's mother was murdered, Malcolm left him for two years. It is implied that it was during those two years that Malcolm became the expert archer that he now is.

At an awards ceremony which he attended with his, albeit reluctant, son, Malcolm was given an award for his philanthropy and charitable nature to making Starling City better. As he was giving his speech, the lights were turned off by the Chinese Triad. Malcolm quickly exited and found Tommy, and the two made it up to his office. Malcolm explained to Tommy about his safe room, and proceeded to open the door to it. However, before he could admit to his son his alter ego of the Dark Archer, Malcolm was shot from afar by "Deadshot", who had been assigned to his assassination. Before Malcolm died, Arrow arrived and was able to convince Tommy to give his father a blood transfusion, in order to rid his body of curare poison laced in the bullet. He woke up in a hospital bed some time later. Moira Queen visited, and Malcolm asked her to find his would-be killer, who was hired, unknowingly to him, by Moira.

Moira later gave evidence to Malcolm that showed it was Frank Chen who ordered the assassination attempt, and he came to kill Frank as Moira met with him.

After quitting his job at Verdant, Tommy visited his father at Merlyn Global Group and asked for a job.

Personality
It is unknown what his personality was before his wife's death, it can be assumed that he was once a good person, kinder and caring as well. Now he is cold, calculating and ruthless. He seems to believe what he is doing is right and is for the greater good but will kill anyone who tries to stop him. He also seems to have somewhat of an ego, choosing not to let the public blame Arrow for the murders he committed and announcing himself as a different person. He has a hostage read out that he will kill them if Arrow "doesn't surrender to his authority."

Rebecca Merlyn
Rebecca Merlyn was Malcolm Merlyn's wife it is unknown what his relationship with his wife, was except they loved each other and that her murder started Malcolm down the road into becoming the person he is today.

Tommy Merlyn
Tommy Merlyn is Malcolm Merlyn's son. After his wife's death he left his son alone for 2 years which Tommy hates him for it they have a strained relationship since then. Years later he had permanently cut Tommy off from his trust fund and the family calling Tommy a joke, and a loser. When it seems he once to make peace with his son, and apologizes for what he said to him, and to get to know his son's new girlfriend Laurel. Malcolm invites his son and Laurel to have dinner with him, but he actually wants his son's signature to sign on a document to shut down his mother's clinic. Which Tommy refuses to do. He visits his son on his birthday and invites Tommy come to an awards ceremony which Malcolm was given an award for his philanthropy and charitable nature to making Starling City better. Tommy reluctantly goes after his conversation with Oliver about his father. After quitting his job at Verdant, Tommy visited his father at Merlyn Global Group and asked for a job and Malcolm then hugged Tommy while smiling.

Abilities

 * Physical condition: While the extent of his physical prowess is unknown, Malcolm is strong enough to severely injure Oliver and was able to break three of Oliver's ribs by kicking him in the abdomen repeatedly, however It should be noted that Oliver was injured by Malcolm's arrows, and couldn't fight back properly, but he did many injure Malcolm's a knife and get away.
 * Master archer: As the Dark Archer, Malcolm proved himself as an expert archer with astounding marksmanship. He was successfully able to wound Oliver, under the guise of Arrow, with three arrows accompanied by incredible accuracy. Because of this, Malcolm's archery skills can be considered equivalent, if not superior, to Oliver's, however It should be noted that he caught Oliver off guard.
 * Master martial artist: Malcolm has shown to be a highly skilled martial artist. He was able to fight two Triad members, disarm one and kill the man with his own gun.
 * Skilled tactician: Malcolm has proven himself to be remarkably clever when it comes to devising plans and battle strategies. He even managed to catch Oliver off guard on two occasions and was almost able to defeat him. One of Malcolm's plans involves the deaths of thousands of people
 * Swordsmanship: Malcolm might be trained and particularly skilled with swords. In "Muse of Fire", Malcolm is shown fencing with experience, also in "Trust but Verify" Malcolm's secret room where he keeps his Dark Archer equipment is shown to house several racks of swords.

Appearances
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Comics
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 * Arrow #5
 * Arrow #23

Trivia

 * In "Year's End", after Oliver claimed that the vigilante needed a new nickname other than "the hood", Malcolm suggested the name "Green Arrow", a clear reference to the vigilante's original DC Comics name. However, Oliver disliked the name, stating that it was lame.
 * In the Green Arrow comics, the Dark Archer is fully known as "Merlyn the Dark Archer", with "Dark Archer" just being a title, and a member of the League of Assassins. It is unknown if his affiliation to the League is pursued or continued in the TV series or if the League will actually have an appearance in the show. However the plan to kill thousands and purify the Glades draws parallels with Ra's plan to purify the world by killing billions of people. Malcolm's reference to 'a man' who trained him could be an alusion to Ra's.
 * Malcolm uses a compound bow while Oliver uses a recurve bow.
 * The black arrows used by the Dark Archer may be a reference to the Golden Age Green Arrow villain, Black Arrow. They are also the same arrows used by Justin Hartley's version of Green Arrow in Smallville, the most notable feature includes the custom-made titanium arrowheads.
 * It was revealed in the end of "Dead to Rights", Malcolm spent two years in Nanda Parbat when Oliver was around 8, where he received mentorship from another individual. Most likely that's where Malcolm learned archery and how to fight. As Nanda Parbat is a place where "time stands still", this would explain why he was able to almost bested Oliver as it would mean he has at least 20 years experience on him.