Swank here. Moxie-bot is our newest comic-superfan and fembot here on the site and she’s a much larger repository of DC information than I am, which is why it made sense to let her take a look at Green Arrow #1, which comes out tomorrow. For my piece, I rather enjoyed it. I like the idea that Oliver is turning into a Robin Hood of sorts in his very own Sherwood, but I’m not up on my Green Arrow (I sort of stopped reading when Judd Winick took over) so I don’t know what’s up really.
In any case, here’s Moxie-Bot:
To get it out of the way quickly and concisely: I’m a little disappointed in Green Arrow #1. I thought we’d be getting something new and exciting from the consistently good but less experienced writer J.T. Krul. He’s had his hands all over Teen Titans, but is best known for his work on Justice League: Rise & Fall, which left me pleasantly surprised. I thought that maybe he’d do us a favor and forgo blatant Robin Hood references after Oliver Queen’s exile from Star City, but I was wrong. So, so wrong. They spend a good six to ten pages of issue one ensuring that we know Ollie still hangs out around Star City as an outlaw of The People despite his exile. There’s even a point where he robs the rich and gives to the poor. I’m not kidding.
In addition to that, Geoff Johns has been hinting at Brightest Day tie-ins for Green Arrow, but I didn’t think they’d be punching us in the back of the head with it, as if we need our hands held throughout this particular arc. It might have been less insulting to the readership if Hal Jordan hadn’t busted on the scene at the last second to emphasize the point.
I wonder who thinks they’re being clever, referring to Oliver’s ‘Merry Men’ when there’s clearly at least one woman pictured. I, personally, cannot exactly pinpoint who’s who — and I really hate being wrong about comics, especially if there’s going to be a record of it. I think it’s safe to say that the middle silhouette is probably Mia Dearden/Speedy, but speculation about Cissie King-Jones/Arrowette (Who hasn’t had a lick of decent work since Young Justice) might be the ticket, too. I’d personally prefer Dinah with a bow and arrow, but that’s probably getting ahead of myself. Give it a few issues.
I can’t see how you can skillfully tie-in a forest popping up overnight for the Green Arrow to hang out in after his most recent exile from the city he loves — it all seems completely manufactured. I have to admit to myself that in the end, it’s more about what accompanying characters will be coming back from DC limbo than it is about the Green Arrow. Compared to the first issue of Green Arrow & Black Canary, this doesn’t exactly feel up to snuff. Even so, I’ll be giving this particular run an honest try. At least until Black Canary shows up and inevitably takes her leave.
Green Arrow #1 hits comic book stores tomorrow.