The Good
Damian Wayne's death left a hole in my heart. I loved the little dude so much and his personality is sorely missed. Well, it looks like Emiko just might be able to fill that void. Writer Jeff Lemire covers a lot of ground in this issue, but what really stood out to me is the personality he's giving to Oliver Queen's half-sister. Seattle's in a terrible spot and the stakes are high, but this little character brings so many smile-inducing lines into the picture. She had two remarks which made me laugh out loud and everything else she said made me think she has the potential to become the next Damian. She admires Oliver and wants his respect, but she's most definitely blunt and crass with, well, just about everyone else! Just when I thought this book couldn't get any more enjoyable, Lemire made Emiko so awesome.
Just like in an episode of Arrow, this month's issue jumps between the past and the present. I was expecting a little more of an emotional payoff in the past, but maybe that was the point of it all. It was there to show us Oliver's stubborn nature, how he regrets the way things ended between him and John Diggle, and that he'd never allow such a thing to happen again. This is where the core of the drama is, too. It serves as a nice break from the action without ever letting the intensity die down. As for the present storyline, it's loaded with action and ends on such a powerful cliffhanger. This is where Emiko -- a name Oliver will scream a fair amount -- is given a chance to show off her personality and, as you already know by now, I loved it. The conclusion with these villains feels a little swift, but for the most part, it's still a very entertaining ride.
Artist Andrea Sorrentino and colorist Marcelo Maiolo sure know how to keep my eyes satisfied. Whether it's characters having a conversation in a room or trick arrows being unleashed, these two make sure it all looks phenomenal. This issue's packed with strong emotions and Sorrentino does an excellent job making sure we can see that in each and every facial expression. The characters look great, the effects look great, and the world they're in looks great. What's not to love? He and Maiolo know how to keep the ride visually stimulating, too. I love how they often apply bright colors to sell an impact during an action scene -- it really increases just how forceful the connection appears to be. And that final page? They make sure that cliffhanger is one you won't forget anytime soon!
The Bad
Some people may not care about this since it involves such a lesser-known character, but I was pretty disappointed by the way Brick was dispatched. I was so excited when I saw him first appear on that neat cliffhanger page and I'm cool with him not being as powerful as his pre-52 version, but man, his downfall was a bummer. The dude's mighty enough to run through walls, but Oliver beats him with just his fists? It would have been nice to see Oliver need to use a trick arrow to take him down. I mean, if he's not even that durable, why have the name "Brick"? I understand the significance of the scene, but it could have been applied to either of the two other villains (e.g. Killer Moth could have struck Emiko with a blast).
The Verdict
Thankfully, GREEN ARROW continues to prove why it's one of my favorite titles. The second chapter of Broken is a thrilling experience that juggles a nice blend of drama, action, and levity. On top of that, it leaves us on a note that'll almost certainly make you gasp. You can see the big incident coming a mile away, but the execution of the scene is tremendously effective and it has me totally clueless about what'll happen. Sorrentino and Maiolo continue to impress and then some -- I just can't praise this duo enough. They really are one of the best art teams around right now and we're very lucky that they're working with such a talented writer, too. Now comes the hard part: waiting to see what happens next.
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