After taking a detour through ‘Zero Year,’ Lemire and Sorrentino kick off what looks to be their biggest “Green Arrow” story yet.
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino“THE OUTSIDERS WAR” begins here! Oliver Queen finally knows the location of the Outsiders’ base, but first he must return to the place where Green Arrow was born: The Island! Secrets are revealed, new villains introduced, and a mind-blowing final page kicks off this new storyline with a bang!
At first glimpse, it’s easy to tell ‘Outsiders War’ is an extremely important part in Lemire and Sorrentino’s burgeoning Arrow mythology. The name of the arc itself calls to mind a key part of DC history that has been absent from the New 52, as well as the grand scope of some of the company’s largest events. The stunning cover art by Sorrentino and even the trade dress are a huge cut above most other New 52 books. It’s not often that a DC comic can elicit excitement based solely on the cover, but “Green Arrow” #26 does just that.
But enough on the cover, what about the actual contents inside? It turns out that Lemire and Sorrentino truly mean business, as the duo quickly launch Ollie and Shado on a globe-trotting quest for the “Totem Arrow,” a weapon of great importance to the Arrow Clan, one of seven clans making up the titular Outsiders. This marks a major departure for the series which, though it has hinted at a deeper mythology, has primarily been a relatively grounded, street level crime book.
Indeed, the Seattle gang-war plot-line takes the back seat to what feels like a mix between a martial arts film and Indiana Jones. Lemire balances this tonal shift extremely well, but it does feel at times that he may be spinning one too many plates. That said, the writer waste no time moving the story forward, reaching a major checkpoint by issue’s end.
Breaking up the present day story, Lemire also begins to peal back the curtain to Oliver’s past, revealing his time spent on his iconic island. If you’re a fan of the Arrow TV show, it will be extremely difficult not draw parallels between the two “Green Arrow” narratives. The show and the comic have already had an interesting trading of influences, with A.R.G.U.S. playing a part in the show and Diggle recently making his comic debut. It’s certainly interesting to see two very distinct takes on a character tread such common ground, and Lemire adds enough wrinkles to keep things from feeling too familiar.
As far as the art goes, what more can be said regarding Andrea Sorrentino that hasn’t already been said? His work continues to be among the most fun and innovative of any artist currently working at DC, exemplified by this issue’s terrific 12 panel, 2 page spread depicting Ollie’s early time on the island. It’s great to see the artist flexing his creative muscles when it comes to this unique setting. There’s a scene midway through book where Sorrentino presents a full view of the island across two spectacular pages, made all the more breathtaking by Marcelo Maiolo’s magical colors. Brilliant golden sunlight drenches the green, overgrown rock faces as a thin mist blankets the cyan waters. It’s nothing short of mesmerizing. While early issues felt flat or overly muted at times, “Green Arrow” #26 is deliciously vibrant. Maiolo’s use of lighting alone makes this one of the most visually unique books on the stands.
“Green Arrow” is a book that’s easy to lose track of in the fast past shuffle of monthly superhero comics, and not likely one that loudly clamors for your $2.99. However, it remains one of the New 52’s best kept secrets, featuring strong characters, a rich plot, and deeper mythology than one would expect from a book about a guy with a bow and arrow. Fans of action adventure and noir crime thrillers alike owe it to themselves to give this book a look.
Final Verdict: 8.4 – Buy. Lemire and Sorrentino deliver a gorgeous debut to their latest and arguably biggest “Green Arrow” story yet.
