After months of anticipation, the time has come for the fight you’ve all been waiting for: it’s time for Green Arrow vs. The Fresh Water Killers! We learned a lot about The Fresh Water Killers last month and how they came to be. It turns out, Kenny, who it seemed was so sick he’d never make it, lived long enough to see his mom pass away. And from this tragedy, Kenny decided no one should ever suffer the way the people of Freshwater did again, so he and the others of the community became the serial killers seeking revenge against those who wronged and abandoned them. But all of that is about to come to a head with the Emerald Archer as things wrap up this issue (save for an upcoming epilogue).
DC
Each issue of Chris Condon’s time on Green Arrow has balanced time on Oliver, Kenny, and Detective Benítez, but it’s nice to see them interweave here. While the story of what happened to Kenny in the past has been nothing short of tragic, seeing him form the Fresh Water Killers is equally haunting. As he and his partners face off against Ollie, it does take things back to a more superhero-y level than the story has been in, which does work well to take an intriguing concept and tie it back together to the fictional world of DC Comics. After all, how many cities have archers protecting them in the real world? With this, the story works well to remind readers that even in the world of superheroes, not every tragedy ends with a bow tied on it that seamlessly wraps things up and everyone gets a happy ending. Here, the complexities of everyone involved may leave readers more introspective about the world around us.
DC
Oh, Montos and Adriano Lucas, how I love thee. Montos has been nothing short of perfect for this series. His art thus far has shined when Ollie is conducting detective work. Here, the fun comes in seeing how he handles fight sequences. While they feel a bit unnatural considering how little action this arc has had, it’s all the more enjoyable because of that. These moments become highlighted as distinguishing moments that remind readers that although this is a street-level story about critical social issues, the protagonist is still someone who will not fail his city. Additionally, these moments are further accentuated through Lucas’ sharp colors, which add brightness to these moments in contrast to the darker tone the arc has lived in thus far.
Altogether, Green Arrow #23 is an incredibly well-crafted story full of grit, heart, and closes with a punch to the gut. This arc has been one of the best modern Green Arrow stories, and this issue continues to exemplify why Chris Condon, Montos, and Adriano Lucas are the perfect modern team for the character. With just an epilogue remaining, this issue does a lot of heavy lifting between tying things together while adding some sense of closure to the story.
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