DC recently launched a new “Green Arrow” series trying to return to the Emerald Archer to his former glory. Oliver never returned home after being lost in the pages of “Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths.” One member of Oliver’s extended family, Lian Harper is now accompanying Oliver in his dangerous quest on a mysterious island to survive and return home. Elsewhere, Black Canary and Roy Harper are teaming up together to try and find the missing pieces of their family and return the “Green Arrow” franchise to glory. Will author Joshua Williamson work with artist Sean Izaakse build Oliver Queen back-up to the “Green Arrow” in the modern DC Universe?
Cover by Mark BrooksWritten by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Sean Izaakse
Colored by Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Lettered by Troy PeteriSHOOT TO THE FUTURE
Arsenal and Black Canary versus Peacemaker and the new Peacewrecker! While Arsenal and Black Canary’s quest for answers has sent them into danger, Green Arrow is lost in time and space—but at least he’s not alone now. Two members of the Green Arrow family join Oliver Queen in the last place you’d expect!
Author Joshua Williamson continues to explore the fractured nature of the extended “Green Arrow” franchise in the latest chapter of the series. Williamson has paced this series carefully, showcasing the large “Green Arrow” cast with the utmost care. In “Green Arrow” #3. Williamson begins the chapter chronicling the subplot of Oliver Queen trapped from the modern DC Universe with Lian Harper. This main plot for “Green Arrow” has given the book a mystical sensibility as Oliver and Lian can change settings in the story within a blink of an eye. “Green Arrow” #3 also lends a lot of characterization towards Connor Hawke who Williamson also worked with extensively on his run on the “Robin” comic book.
Writer Joshua Williamson really allows artist Sean Izaakse to shine in this third chapter of “Green Arrow.” Izaakse is able to illustrate a vast amount of DC characters outside of the context of “Green Arrow” in this chapter. Izaakse’s page layouts are adept in this chapter, featuring panel bleeds, circular panel borders and fascinating uses of negative space. The brief moment where Peacemaker and Roy Harper team up in battle there is another solid moment for the art team as Izaakse frames a page around these two characters getting ready for a brawl. When Williamson taps into the history of characters in the DC Universe, Izaakse shifts the art sensibilities to focus around a collage spotlighting individual moments for heroes like Lian and Roy Harper in this chapter. Izaakse’s subtle approach to Williamson’s narrative is able to make this comic book read cohesively.
Back on Earth, Peacemaker and Roy’s search for Amanda Waller gets heated in this story. Black Canary is also working with these characters in some intense fights. Watching Green Arrow’s extended cast collide with a few members of the “Suicide Squad” captures an intriguing new feeling for a “Green Arrow” comic book series. Williamson is adept at juggling subplots as well, ensuring that there is just enough time with each segment of the issue to flesh out the supporting cast. Count Vertigo works with our heroes to answer some larger questions about the status quo with Green Arrow that directly is impacted by Amanda Waller. Watching Williamson finally reveal some context behind Oliver’s status quo in the series feels incredibly cathartic in this book.
Williamson does a great job teasing the future of Queen as The Green Arrow in a late story sequence filled with an ominous panels of a foreboding future Oliver Queen. Williamson is juggling a vast roster of characters while making the narrative for “Green Arrow” #3 even more intricate. Still, the scenes and dialogue within “Green Arrow” #3 feel incredibly clear within the series as well. New readers may get tripped up on all the different sidekick characters reintroduced in this series, but the new “Green Arrow” series is really focused on establishing a strong status quo for this extended Arrow family.
Another intriguing part about “Green Arrow” is how the opening couple pages setup the mysterious cliffhanger. With so many narrative elements of the series and characters utilized in this chapter, “Green Arrow” #3 feels like is headed towards a science fiction-oriented direction as opposed to a superhero-based action thriller. It’s refreshing to see Williamson and Izaakse not get shackled down to the modern conventions of a superhero comic book. Izaakse’s art leans into this direction in a really subtle way, contributing adept facial expressions and complicated machinery throughout this installment. Despite the fact that there are so many characters on the page, Izaakse is able to depict Oliver’s emotion in a clear manner throughout this narrative.
DC’s latest “Green Arrow” series continues to carefully plot a story between several different characters in the world of Oliver Queen. Heroes like Connor Hawke are finally given pivotal moments that strengthen older relationships within DC. While Williamson is using a sense of mystery in this series to build up mystique, he started to give some answers towards the direction of the plot in this issue. Izaakse’s art makes for a great companion to the more science-fiction-esque nature of the story in the issue. DC’s current “Green Arrow” title is working on reestablishing Oliver Queen and his supporting cast in the context of the DC Universe with lots of heart.
Final Verdict: 8.3 – DC’s latest chapter of “Green Arrow” #3 starts answering questions about the mysterious status quo of Oliver Queen!
