Green Arrow #18
PREFACE:
Last issue saw the great restart to the new 52's take on Green Arrow. Jeff and Andrea have started out strong, but can they keep up the pace. We see more of Ollie's future as well as his present, as he is being hunted by not only Komodo but the Police as well. Can the Emerald Archer make it out of this hot predicament, and what secrets lie with the Island, some questions might be answered sooner than others, but on to the review.
PLOT:
THE GOOD:
It was a great follow up from last issue's perfect start. We see how dependent on other people Ollie really is. His call to Trevor makes sense, due to him being in the new JLA. Komodo's reasoning and back-story have a light shed on and it is great to see the connection between him and Robert Queen. To make this more about Ollie's past, and to try and really make a new defining Green Arrow story is really needed for his character right now. What was also a game changer was that both Komodo and Robert were on the Island that Ollie was stranded on. To have a new mystery surrounding Ollie's past and questioning why he was even on the Island on the first place is so cool and refreshing. It is obvious that Lemire has done his homework and is almost literally going to back to GA Year One. There is still so many questions as to who Magus really is, the real connection behind Robert and Komodo, and whether or not Ollie was meant to be on that Island. There is also this speculation as to what the Outsiders are (if it is a new form of the team, in this case being bad guys, it will be interesting. Katanna herself has the Outsiders solicited in her book). Initially in past continuity it was a team of heroes started by Batman but later on a different team was started by Roy and Nightwing with Ollie actually funding it. Overall, we have more reveals, and even more questions that keep us guessing and waiting for the next issue. Can't really go wrong with that.
Sorrentino does another masterful job on the pages. I really can't say more than that because of how impressed I am. He makes this such a dark, gritty, and masterful take on the Emerald Archer. Anyone catch his Animal Man reference!!!
BEST STORY MOMENT: The revelation of Ollie's father, and the fact that Ollie's fate is now in question.
BEST ART MOMENT: The second page that shows Ollie in the Black Mesa desert is outstanding, as well as the double page spread when Ollie looks in Emerson's secret room.
THE BAD:
Unlike last issue, I did find some things I didn't care for. I don't mind that Ollie lost his team or the fact that they are still alive, well half of them anyway. But I think at this point, Ollie really needs to be on his own. I understand why he asked Trevor for help, and I thought that was a smart idea, but I don't get why he has to have someone on comms. I mean it makes sense, yes, and it is smart to have an "Oracle" like character, but I don't understand why Fyffe even agreed to Ollie's request. Maybe it is because Naomi is dead, and he had a "crush" on her but I think it is a bit of a stretch. But one of the biggest problems I had was that Ollie said he was on the Island for 1 year.... 1 year ya well I don't believe that. In different takes and origins Ollie has spent various time periods on the Island, but to me it should be at least 4-7 years. Lemire said that this would be a sort of a reboot, and what this character needed was a new origin, because his crappy 0 issue pretty much screwed him over. 1 year is not even close to enough time to master archery, or put in the same frame of mind that his past incarnations have gone through. Lemire had a chance to fix things but with this revelation of very hopefully and doubtful typo, it seems that Ollie won't end up with a satisfactory origin after all. I am still very hopeful of the future, and the issue was still pretty good just on story alone. I just hope that Lemire makes his time there significant, which is what it looks like he is doing, pretty dang well if you would ask me.
Art-wise, no complaints here, but since I don't have a section for dialogue, then I guess this is where I will vent my frustrations. Whether it was Lemire, Andrea, or Leigh, the dialogue was very overcrowded, and it detracted from the art. I think Lemire is more to blame for this, but since it influenced the art I have to mention it here.
WORST STORY MOMENT: Fyffe's presence, and Oliver's really, really, really, short time on the Island peeved me off.
WORST ART MOMENT: The art was superb but was overcrowded by dialogue. It should be really looked over next time around.
OVERALL:
A really good issue despite my problems with the story. I was worried that this series wasn't going to hold its momentum, but so far so good. The mystery behind the Island and Robert Queen thickens, and it is so exciting to watch this unfold and see what Lemire has in store for the one and only Green Arrow.
