This holiday season, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy a story of your favorite two Hard Traveling Heroes. This time, we’re going to do things a little different: As this is a Green Lantern/Green Arrow crossover special, we have Green Lantern expert Chris Franey and Green Arrow expert Michael Guerrero on hand to review the book together!
Back in the day, Oliver Queen and Hal Jordan decided to pack their bags and go cross country as bros often dream of doing. Not only that, but back before Wally West was the fastest man alive, there was Barry Allen, the man who was the impossibly perfect representation of being a good hero, living a good life before he met a Crisis or two. Well, if you’re not too familiar – or looking to scratch that nostalgia itch Mark Waid started with World’s Finest – look no further. Here, writer Jeremy Adams and artist Lucas Meyer take readers down memory lane for a fun throwback story.
DC
I have been enjoying this style of a new continuity, flashback adventure in the form of World’s Finest. The main series and Teen Titans are just fun adventures that remind readers how exciting the DC Universe can be. Jeremy Adams is a perfect writer for this; as you can see from his time on Green Lantern and Flash, he loves this universe and has terrific character voices. Adams does a fine job of channeling the characteristics of Hal and Ollie from the era and even keeps up with the style that Denny O’Neil had and gives Ollie the big moments. Lucas Meyer’s art is exciting and clean as he brings this adventure to life. The surprise villain gets a good “Year One” style costume. If I did have a nitpick, it was Hal’s costume, but that’s how good the comic was: my only worry was a costume.
– Chris Franey
DC
I appreciate how Jeremy Adams was able to deliver not one but two interesting stories with the same villain causing the same kinds of problems and creating two completely different themes for the two. Since the primary focus is the Green Arrow/Green Lantern World’s Finest story, it only follows that it would have a more layered premise. Adams does a nice job showing who Hal and Ollie are at their core while overlapping that with moments in the story to showcase their strengths. Whereas the second story does what I thought to be impossible and left me enjoying a Barry Allen story. Adams is no stranger to the Flash, but this time his focus is on Barry, and he does a great job channeling the character’s roots while balancing that with the comedic effect of his best bud. Travis Mercer also does a splendid job balancing Lucas Meyer’s artstyle in the second story by delivering an equally enjoyable backup. My only nitpick might be that the colors in the first story feel a bit too glossy, and it feels a bit too modern for a story set in the distant past. That said, it’s a splendid read that feels like a classic comic through and through.
– Michael Guerrero
DC
All in all, Green Lantern/Green Arrow: World’s Finest Special #1 is an entertaining issue. The two stories have fun connectivity, with an interesting twist to a major character’s first appearance. The writing style respects the era and is upbeat enough to entertain several generations of DC fans, while the art delivers a fun feast for the eye. Hopefully, we get more issues like this one that explore the friendships and respect of heroes across the DCU. Adams gives us a nice spread of characters with voices that help showcase the relationship between these legends, reminding us just how vast and impressive DC’s Finest can be.
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