Back once again with a review of the ongoing Green Arrow, written by Joshua Williamson and with art by Phil Hester, Eric Gapstur and Sean Izaakse. This issue feels like a stopping point in many ways, but hey, it isn’t, which means this book is still here to stay! Happy about that, so let’s take a peek and see what how this year’s worth of issues closes out.
This issue is comfy, in a word. It’s the post-reunion breather that lets the characters just chill out for a quick issue before things start up again. As Ollie says, it’s “tomorrow’s problem.” There isn’t much in terms of plot because of that, mostly just a recap of Ollie’s life for those who may not know his vast character history (always appreciated for new readers), and his final showdown with Merlyn. Of course he wins, what did you expect? The rest of the issue is the Arrow Family relaxing on the island where Ollie was originally stranded in his origin, providing a nice thematic bookend to this triumphant re-introduction of the character and his wider mythology. We’re at a point now where it finally feels like we’re back to where things should have been at the end of the Post-Crisis/Pre-New 52 DC Universe, with a couple extra family members picked up along the way from the reboot. From here, things can only begin fresh and anew.
I feel like I’ve said similarly conclusive things before in this past year or so of reviewing the book, but this nice round #12 does feel like it’s finally the end of what Williamson set out to tell with that original planned miniseries, thankfully given much more room to breath and be the complete story it deserves to be. I’m at least happy this isn’t a real stopping point, because I’m excited to see where things go from here with this wonderful bunch of characters.
DC Comics
Speaking of characters, I still maintain that Williamson is the definitive modern voice for these characters. My only hope is that in future stories (should he stay with the book in the long term) we get to see more out of this newly extended cast. A problem I have with a lot of modern comic, especially from DC, is the tendency to have past legacy characters return to the fray, only to then on act as background noise or as fight scene fodder (a massive problem I have with a lot of Batman titles, incidentally). With how this arc firmly re-establishes old favorites like Mia Dearden and Emiko Queen, my fear is that they will be left by the wayside and not given a proper role in stories going forward, especially considering how vital they were to past eras of the title. I have confidence in Williamson’s abilities, so I hope this is a misplaced concern, but it’s a concern I have nonetheless. Vast casts can be difficult to juggle, but I think we would all prefer some relevancy over being reduced to mere splash page fodder.
DC Comics
What can I say about art that I haven’t this past year? Izaakse and Hester, two of the best to ever bring the emerald archer to life on the page, along with an also extremely talented (but less regular to this book) Gapstur, all contributing pages to the book. Hester appropriately being used for flashbacks, with Gapstur and Izaakse for the present day events. Izaakse and Hester especially are great talents I’ve sung the praises of countless times, so I won’t repeat myself here. Gapstur is a great complement to Izaakse, having a very similar style, which helps with the visual cohesion. I will say, much like the teaser from the last issue, it must have been cool to be able to draw so many different Arrow family designs in one go with the big hologram fight. I bet that was both fun and challenging, and very much worth the effort.
DC Comics
Green Arrow #12 is a good first-year note to end on for this modern re-introduction of Green Arrow. This book isn’t over yet, hopefully not for a great long while, and I am extremely happy about that, but I also feel like I’ve gone on my own personal journey with it. This is a story I was immensely excited for in the lead up, back when it was still just advertised as a miniseries. Williamson is one of my favorite modern comic book writers, and Izaakse quickly won my heart as the perfect artist to bring ol’ green jeans back to what made him a household name again back in the 2000s. I’m satisfied with my coverage of this wonderful book, a book that brought back one of my favorite characters in all of comics and told the story I’ve wanted to see from him for years. For that, all of you working on this book have my personal thanks, as a fan, and as a fellow creative with a love of the character and art form. I’m not sure whether I’ll continue regularly reviewing these, or take a break, I have yet to decide that yet. But much like Ollie says, that’s tomorrow’s problem to worry about. The issue’s final sentiment describe this run perfectly: maybe he had to spend some time away, lost and doing other things, to really be found again.
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