Missing the Mark
This review originally appeared on my Wordpress blog. That's right HERE, if you were curious...
Green Arrow is one of my all-time favorite characters in comic books. Like many fans, I too was concerned that, in DC's new reboot/revamp/rewind effort, old Oliver Queen would suffer. I remained optimistic, but there was always that pang of fear. The attachment of J.T. Krul, who had done a solid job in taking Ollie in some interesting new directions following Blackest Night, and the crafty veteran of Dan Jurgens to the project did ease some of that fear.
But, as it often is, ones deeper fears aren't unfounded and, though there are small flashes of promis in the New 52's Green Arrow #1, I was underwhelmed in some of the worst ways possible.
- THE GOOD
The character of Oliver Queen seems mostly intact. At least at his core, we still see the surly, self-confident hero that has more than a little trouble separating his professional/social/and vigilante personas. Krul knows the voice of the character and flashes come through here and there as he takes on a group of super-powered thugs. I also like the foundations of Queen's relationship with his corporation, and I'm intrigued by the idea that he now operates with a field team, and both the new characters of Jax and Naomi are worthy additions to the Arrow family.
- THE BAD
Sadly, this issue just never comes together. A lot of this can be laid on the art, but also in the direction the series is already headed. Now I like Dan Jurgen's art, and for OLD Oliver Queen with his swash-buckling look and old-school style, his artwork could really really work. But for this new high-tech take on Green Arrow, his style just looks rough. It's incongruous with the feel of the story, and throw in some pretty hideous George Perez colors, and Green Arrow #1 isn't a looker. At times, backgrounds disappear into ostentatious colors that hurt the eye more than please. Again, Jurgen's pencils are solid, but seem an ill-fit for Double 0-llie.
Speaking of which, who mandated this to be the direction that Green Arrow would take? I appreciate him having a back-up team, and sure his trick arrows are technological in nature, but turning him into such a generic super-spy? Putting aside the decision to shave the facial hair... Ollie using a compound bow? I thought the point of having Arsenal and various Green Arrow "disciples" like Roy Harper, Connor Hawke, and Mia Dearden was to show a younger sensibility in the archery archetype. Part of what made old Green Arrow so cool was that he WAS a throwback. Robin Hood reincarnated.
These are nitpicks, sure, but this is the first time in DC's "New 52" where I've had strong feelings against the changes taking place. None of this added sheen seems to be updating the character for modern audiences. It feels like they're trying to turn him into Ultimate Comics Hawkeye.
- THE VERDICT
Green Arrow #1 isn't so much bad as it is disappointing. It's got a decent amount of action, some promising new concepts, and Ollie has a flash or two of the old character he used to be. The problem is that the other alterations only serve to homogenize what made Green Arrow a great character and one who was worthy of his own title. And that's fine, I could learn to love the new version, but some genuinely raw artwork serves to sink hopes I have of enjoying Green Arrow in the "New 52". I'll take a look at issue 2 (still living by the 'you can't judge a series in one issue' philosophy), but I'm genuinely discouraged by this initial effort.
