Review by Doug Bissell
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Phil Hester
Inks: Andre Parks
Colorist: James Sinclair
Letterer: Sean Konot
Editors: Morgan Dontanville/Bob Schreck
Covers: Matt Wagner
The follow up to Kevin Smith’s
successful reintroduction of
Oliver Queen as the Emerald
Archer was best selling author
Brad Meltzer’s debut in the
world of comics. Smith’s run
brought Ollie back from the dead
and surrounded him with a strong
supporting cast that showcased
themes of family. Meltzer
continued these themes as Oliver
teams up with Roy Harper, his
former sidekick Speedy (now
known as Arsenal) to recover
mementos of his early days in
the hero game. The death of
Barry Allen (the Flash) led
Green Arrow and Green Lantern to
realize that someone needed to
gather these types of mementos
for safekeeping to protect their
loved ones in the event that the
ultimate price of heroism must
be paid. Oliver had made an
arrangement with Shade (who was
not known for working with the
side of light) to gather these
things upon Green Arrow’s
passing, a task which Shade
fulfilled with a few
exceptions. The quest for these
missing items acts as a way for
Roy and Oliver to rebuild their
strained relationship. Over the
course of their quest, Roy comes
to understand why Oliver had
picked Shade for this task over
Roy, and Oliver finally sees Roy
as an adult, not his former
sidekick.
Hester and Parks’ artwork
provides nice continuity from
Smith’s run, as they define the
visual look of this version of
Green Arrow. Their slightly
cartoonish style manages to
convey mood in both the darker
sequences and the panels that
bring back wisps of the Silver
Age. They instill the book with
a modern sensibility and their
pacing and panel layout keeps
the story moving forward even in
non-action sequences.
The storyline comes to an
emotional climax as a secret is
revealed about Oliver’s
relationship with his son,
Connor. Oliver is led to a
place where the simplicity of
the bow is of no help, he must
reveal the emotions he hides
behind the jester’s mask.
Meltzer teaches us that
sometimes the hardest battles
are not fought against theme
opponents, but versus the
choices made by the person in
the mirror.
Grade: A