This is the end, Arrow fans. Hold your breath and count to ten, because the superstar team of Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaakse, and Romulo Fajardo Jr. are ending their time with the Emerald Archer. It’s been real, it’s been fun, and it’s even been real fun.
In a funny way, this seems to end what I’ve considered the Happy Trio (as I think of them) of cheerful runs at DC Comics. First was Jeremy Adams’ The Flash, which concluded its focus on a return to normalcy for Wally West after having a series of continuous and seemingly never-ending unfortunate events happen to him. Then recently, Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo’s tenure on Nightwing ended, which also was an upbeat and cheerful run placing the character in the spotlight. Similarly, Williamson, Izaakse, and Fajardo Jr.’s Green Arrow replanted Ollie in his own ongoing series that saw him reunite with all of his friends and family. That said, the one thing all these comics had in connection with one another was their focus on re-elevating their characters to their status quo of being popular, beloved, and happy. In a way, I’m sad to see this team go. I’d have liked to see what they’d do with the Arrow family moving forward. But wait, there’s still one comic left! Will our hopes and dreams be fulfilled in this Annual?
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A few times during this series we’ve seen Old Man Oliver (or a possible version of him) appear as a cautionary tale of why Oliver and his family can never be together. But what all’s said and done, what does happen to Oliver and his family? Is Oliver as grumpy, alone, and broken as he’s made out to allegedly become? No. Like I said, this series has been cheerful and upbeat, and Willamson’s taking the opportunity to write into history once and for all what happens to Oliver and his family.
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I really appreciated this juxtaposition in the team’s final issue to finally show what the future holds for Oliver. He’s had it rough, with his family being separated, his family separated again, and going undercover to work for Amanda Waller and essentially losing the trust of many people he loves. And that’s not to mention his time trapped on the island. So, I appreciate how Williamson depicts what becomes of him and his family.
Aside from that, the story itself is rather enjoyable. Oliver’s an old man sharing stories of days long past with his grandchildren about the one that got away. But don’t worry, it’s not who you think. As this plays out, we get a beautiful replay of Ollie’s greatest hits. Here, Sean Izaakse collaborates and Amancay Naheulpan share artistic duties to deliver a stunning story. It’s almost impossible to tell when each artist is handling a page, except for their unique nuances. This to me, is a great showing of how well the pair work together to deliver an incredible story full of life, style, and charm. One of the best parts of the issue is how the two both depict very detailed moments throughout the story. While Izaakse’s works well for being expressive and vibrant, Naheulpan’s delivers a more sharp and defined tone. Altogether, the two definitely should get a big reputation for providing some of the best modern art of Green Arrow through their detailed linework, emotional deliveries, and vivid backgrounds. Romulo Fajardo Jr’s colors also further elevate the story through vibrance and bright tones. That said, one critique I do find myself having is how the coloring depicts people of color, as there are some inconsistencies with how some characters are drawn that stand out to me as slightly out of place. Moments like these are ever important in an industry like comics and this does detract from the emotional pull the story has at times.
DC Comics
Green Arrow Annual 2024 is a true love letter to Green Arrow and the entire cast who have appeared in the series. Williamson had quite an uphill climb with this series as it started as a brief mini-series before turning into an ongoing one that’s jumping into the All In initiative with a brand new creative team. But, in this team’s final moments with the characters, readers can expect a heartfelt stroll down memory lane and catch a glimpse or two of what the future has in store for Oliver. Rest assured, Arrow fans, this is one heck of an ending to the current team’s time on the title.
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