Archive for category Green Arrow
Green Arrow – Issue #31
Posted by Ryan Brewer in Green Arrow on March 21st, 2010
Green Arrow Issue #31
In our review of Justice League: Rise and Fall Special we asked if that issue was just a feeble attempt to get another $3.99 out of our wallets under the guisse of setting up a pivotal arch in the Green Arrow universe. Well after reading this issue of Green Arrow I’m a bit undecided on how it actually went. This issue really could have included almost everything that Rise and Fall did in just a few panels. In fact it almost did another iteration of the confrontation of Hal, Barry and Dinah. Instead of slipping away into Prometheus hideout world Ollie actually just kicks their asses and disappears. So again, not sure what Rise and Fall Special was really needed for but here is what happened in Green Arrow #31.
We begin with Ollie chatting about his past. Before he was stranded on an island and forced to fend for his life he was a spoiled rich kid, the classic cautionary tale of excess. But that experience finally did lead back to civilization, not a new civilization but a new Ollie. An Ollie with a focus as the Green Arrow. He fought through a different jungle now saving the lives of individuals in Star City one at a time. Even becoming their elected leader under a different mask of service as their mayor. He feels as though he’s been fighting for Star City his whole life and what he has to show for it is nothing but wasteland and desolation.
His city is imploding, the people are not pulling together in this time of crisis and destruction. They are instead afraid and desperate, attacking one another instead of banding together in their greatest time of need. Ollie states that Star City will never suffer at the hands of Prometheus again, he made sure of that by putting an arrow between his eyes. But Prometheus wasn’t working alone, his trigger man was the Electrocutioner and he’s still out there somewhere but one thing is true… he can’t hide from Ollie forever. His mission is to make the Elctrocutioner pay in the same way that Prometheus did.
Ollie is then confronted by Black Canary, Green Lantern and The Flash. Hal tries to reason with Ollie and explains that he knows exactly what he’s feeling. When Coast City was destroyed Hal literally had to die to come to grips with what happened. Green Arrow tosses one of his flash bang arrows at Green Lantern who is temporarily blinded by the flash of light. Barry reacts by moving for Ollie telling each time he sees him he is reminded he doesn’t like him and he can never understand why Hal was always friends with him. As Barry grabs Ollie’s quiver he is hit with a large electric shock which renders him paralysed on the ground. Green Arrow sprints away from the scene of his two downed comrades with Black Canary in tow.
Justice League: Rise and Fall Special (One Shot)
Posted by Ryan Brewer in Green Arrow on March 14th, 2010
Let’s recap… Oliver Queen the Green Arrow is upset. Strike that, he’s freaking pissed. And he wants justice, the ultimate kind of justice. He took real issue with Prometheus. The guy who maimed Red Arrow, destroyed Star City and killed Lian (Oliver’s grand daughter and Roy’s child.) And the cover of this issue shows us exactly how Oliver solved his issues with Prometheus, he put an arrow right in the center of his forehead. Pinning him to the wall of his secret little hidden world being left to rot.
I love how Ollie explains how he was able to get the drop on Prometheus. The dude is well informed, knew all of Green Arrows skills. His proficiency with the bow, his hand to hand combat training. But the thing he forgot about Ollie, at this core he’s not a hero. He’s a hunter!
This issue is full of some really good panels of the destruction of Star City. Green Arrow and Canary are on patrol, trying to stop the looting and rioting that are staples of a city that is virtually leveled. Canary is really worried about Ollie and knows that something is up. She finds it incredibly strange that he isn’t on the hunt for Prometheus with Hal and Barry. His need for isolation is truly disturbing her.
We then get a really forced dialouge between Wally and Dick about how they feel about Roy and his situation. They remenice about how all three of them started as young heros and how their lives have all turned out so differently. Are they just that lucky Dick wonders? Can they continue to be or are they fated to end up just like Roy someday?
Hal and Barry travel to Opal City to confront Shade on his involvement and whether he has any clues to where Prometheus is located. He explains that everywhere has shadows and takes them to the hideout. We are presented with a great image of a dead Prometheus (helmet missing) and an arrow protruding from his bloody skull.
All in all this one shot issues does a great job setting up a new chapter in the Green Arrow world. Lays the foundation for some dark roads and sets up the four issue limited series: The Rise of Arsenal. It also ends with a great multipage “newspaper” article from The Star Gazette. A rather heart felt article about what happened to their city and how the Green Arrow is both a savior and a menace to their great city.
Definitely worth checking out if you are a Green Arrow fan or if you are interested in getting a little back story on the new Arsenal story arch. But what do you think? Was this issue meant to truly setup a compelling and fulfilling story arch going forward? Or was this a shameless opportunity to release yet another one shot to snag a few bucks outta your wallet? Let us know what you think!