REVIEW: ‘Green Arrow,’ Issue #3

Green Arrow #3 from DC is so full of surprises it put me in a state of shock. Joshua Williamson scripts this issue, with Sean Izaakse on pencils and inks, Romulo Fajardo Jr. on colors, and Troy Peteri on letters. Green Arrow and Lian, the Cheshire Cat, daughter of Arsenal, are lost on another world and, last time, got kicked over to another one. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Black Canary, searching for what all this has to do with Amanda Waller, run afoul of Peacemaker and his new lady pal, Peacewrecker.

I was not prepared for Green Arrow to meet the Legion Of Superheroes, but my goodness, was it fun. First, hats off to Williamson for making great use of the unexpected and keeping this most recent iteration of the future teens in the loop. Also, having just remembered he had a son (Connor Hawke) last issue thanks to the return of the multiverse, the reunion of father and son is very heartfelt. Oliver is a guy living with a ton of regrets, so it’s nice to see him get closure and comfort for a change.

Canary and Arsenal have a rousing donnybrook with the Peace duo, courtesy of Izaakse’s strong pencils that elicit tender moments at the perfect time. Fajardo is given a varied cast to let loose and shower this issue in a rainbow of hues. I love how he draws motion (check Peacemaker’s headbutt). Peteri aligns all the balloons and proportions them very well. The image of Green Arrow and Connor hugging. Priceless.

So much love for how Lian is working out in Green Arrow #3, the Legion, and how the overall story of the teleporters and Waller are pulling together to foretell very grim things for the future. And as DC stories have been excelling lately with the surprise endings, watch out. This issue really knocks things sideways. Williamson is molding an older, middle-aged yet still ripe Oliver Queen shouldering a vast amount of experiences and heartaches. I get the same vibe from Black Canary, though with even fewer words. That’s a testament to great storytelling and sophisticated artwork, with characters giving a lot without the need for lengthy dialogue.

And this being a team book has more to it than just Williamson and the creative team wanting them around. Their unit forms a core part of the adventure, making this about much more than just Green Arrow. However, our guy is still the main attraction and the spoke of the wheel of his current tribulations is himself. This might not surprise some fans. Ollie tends to shoot himself in the foot. But this time things are much more complex. To sum it up, it’s gonna make for a wild ride.

We’ve watched comics spend decades playing divide and conquer in numerous storylines. It’s so refreshing to find the current run here powered by family commitment and good old-fashioned villain-busting. It’s more rare to have a comic book about an urban vigilante without powers embroiled in a huge conspiracy with cosmic-level consequences. That’s a risk that might alienate some. I hope not. The core of the tale is the same. Green Arrow, trying to stick it to the Man as best he knows how. In Green Arrow #3, it’s the broader powers of Waller and forces beyond, a classic David and Goliath story. That is what Ollie has always been fighting.

Get this issue. Root for Team Arrow, or at the very least, Cheshire Cat. She rocks.

Green Arrow #3 is available wherever comic books are sold.