REVIEW: ‘Absolute Green Arrow’ Issue 1

Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1 is published by DC Comics. Written by Pornsak Picheteshote, art by Rafael Albuquerque, colors by Marcelo Maiolo, and letters by Jeff Powell.

After the death of Oliver Queen, a new figure takes up the mantle of Green Arrow, whilst Dinah Lance is forced to work for Malcolm Merlyn and Hector Hammond.

As Absolute titles come, a Green Arrow edition was perhaps the most surprising. That’s because we have already seen the fate of Oliver Queen after Hawkman bashed his head in and dumped his body on a table in Absolute Evil Issue 1. And yet, Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1 ends with Oliver Queen’s business partner being killed with green arrows. The issue, therefore, is unpredictable, implementing a very fresh storyline within the Absolute Universe. Dinah Lance becomes the focal point, a former bodyguard who gets dragged into working for a shady corporation.

The tone in Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1 is extremely dark, gory, and notably seedy, with very little light or hope to be found anywhere. This area of the world hasn’t produced any heroes yet, and the resistance has been met with incredible violence. This issue has themes that match both Green Arrow and the Absolute Universe, making them a terrific combination. Hammond runs an incredibly powerful but soulless and corrupt corporation, which has polluted and controlled this world. They suffocate those beneath them, able to completely cripple someone’s finances and life with a few clicks. They instantly generate hatred and revulsion, and desire for justice in the only way this world knows how.

The characters within Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1 are fascinating. There are many members of the Green Arrow mythos brought into this first issue, keeping the spirit of Green Arrow alive even if Queen himself isn’t part of it. Dinah is the emotional core of the book. She’s an angry, impulsive figure, but caught in a situation that even her muscles can’t fight against. Dinah becomes the narrator and central character of the series. She’s tough, forced to change due to the trauma of losing Queen, but there is a fragility to her that is easy to exploit. 

Merlyn, Hammond, and their cohorts are despicable, making your skin crawl with every word they say. They are smarmy, conniving, and ultimately cowardly. But they hold the cards, finding weaknesses and vulnerabilities within the systems they possess.

The Green Arrow is a presence within this first chapter, but as a terrifying mystery. They’re angry and vicious, with an intense desire for vengeance and justice. The descriptions of what he does to his victims are stark and grisly. Dinah, Ollie, and Merlyn aren’t the only recognizable names included in Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1, but the others are only mentioned in passing as possible suspects.

The art perfectly encapsulates the darkness and ferocity within this comic. Everything inside this opening chapter is rough and severe. Dinah has been redesigned in Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1. Gone is the long hair and fishnets. Her hair is very short, she is incredibly tall, and has a fighter’s body. Dinah has a fighter’s build, the years of MMA training making her muscular, with broad shoulders and extremely defined pectoral muscles.

In flashbacks, you see a more familiar concept of Dinah Lance, including the longer hair. It’s a sign that what happened to Oliver has forced her to change and transform herself. Dinah matches many of the men in Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1 in height, even towering over many of them.

The men in this book look sinister and sordid, but having both in the room at the same time can be confusing. The artist adds enough detail to both designs to differentiate the two men, but it can be hard to tell them apart in the most intense scenes. The Green Arrow costume is another superb concept. It’s instantly recognizable as the Green Arrow, but the mask’s features make it extra terrifying. The action is vicious and bloody, shocking in its ferocity. Albuquerque superbly demonstrates rapid movement, weapon switching, and the dismemberment left in its wake.

The colors in Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1 are fantastic, using a fascinating technique that makes the more vibrant shades pop. Maiolo seems to start the page with a darker tone, usually a very dark gray, and then adds the lighter colors on top. This can be the green of Green Arrow, a haunting red, the occasional blue, or a collection of various shades. It really lets the primary and secondary shades stand out within the darkness of the locations. The lettering is superb, clear, bold, and extremely easy to read.

Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1 wades through one of the darkest corners of the Absolute Universe yet. In Gotham, Metropolis, Gateway City, and other cities, the resistance has already begun against the truly evil forces of this world. But Star City is untouched and drowning in darkness. Even its resistance figure is intensely violent and mysterious. The title character, so unknown and not even the main focus of the first issue, is turned into a legendary figure, whilst the reimagining of Black Canary is phenomenal. The classic design is iconic, but this version is perfect for the gritty, survival-of-the-fittest contest this universe embodies.

Absolute Green Arrow Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.