Merlyn and Merlin: Menaces of the Avenging Archers

The golden age and silver age had characters that mirrored one another, from their appearance to their disposition to their personal adversaries. Such was the case for Merlyn the Magician and Professor Merlin, each of whom having faced their world's Green Arrow and his allies.

Now Merlyn of Earth-One was not a magician, he was an ace archer who made trick shots that seemed as if accomplished by magic, which were in fact were simply performed with adept skill. When Oliver Queen met him, he was inspired by Meryln’s abilities… if not his attitude… and later emulated this when he became the Green Arrow.

Armed with equipment from the League of Assassins and sent on a mission by its leader the Sensei to destroy the Justice League of America, Merlyn had a particular grudge match against the Green Arrow who usurped his World's Greatest Archer reputation. From this conflict, the Arrow proved he was the superior archer.

As for Professor Merlin of Earth-Two, he wasn't so much an athlete with a bow and arrow as he was a master strategist. Using equipment he stole along the way, he crossed paths with Green Arrow and Speedy, and was finally defeated by the pair. 

He had a return engagement when Merlin joined the Hand's Five Fingers to battle the Arrow and his teammates known as Law's Legionnaires. Yet again, despite possessing superior numbers with his henchmen and advanced technology, Merlin was again defeated by the Battling Bowmen.

Seeking to restore his reputation, Meryln joined Queen Bee’s Anti-Justice League (a variation of the Injustice Gang). Although he and his compatriots had initial victories against their Justice League adversaries, including Meryln’s arch-foe Green Arrow, Superman ultimately turned tables on the Anti-League.

Shortly after this, Merlyn reappeared in Metropolis as an agent is the criminal 100 Gang. During this mission, he faced the new costumes crusader named Black Lightning. After being handed yet another defeat, this time versus a novice hero, Merlyn followed the career path of his counterpart Merlin and vanished from sight!