Green Arrow #17 Review
rating:3.5
Green Arrow has been nothing but trouble for the new 52. Since the first issue, the series has had four authors and issues that have made fans groan faster than a Flash pun. Now Jeff Lemire has taken over the title, and suddenly things are looking... well, a bit better. When I heard that Animal Man's writer was taking over the title, I inadvertently cringed at the thought. Not that I disliked his work, but I always thought Lemire had a more metaphysical talent that was unsuited for Queen. It felt like Beethoven was about to start playing for Aerosmith. But instead, this promises to be a new beginning, and hopefully bright days are ahead for DC's resident archer. One of the problems that has come about from so many writers is the constant reboot. The seamless flow from one arc to another has been anything but, and the authors' differing styles have made the patchwork series all the more confusing. Lemires solution to the problem has been straightforward and ingenious: he has simply decided to ignore most of the villains of the past year and a half (with the exception of the fact that Queen Industries has been taken over, and Oliver Queen is basically penniless), and his method actually seems to be working. Green Arrow is by himself, running out of trick arrows, and the beat down that he has been taking finally has some effect on the Emerald Archer. Unable to withstand the onslaught from a fellow archer, Ollie Queen is saved by someone who then reveals that Queen never should have left the island. Ah, the island. This issue seems to be taking a cue from the hit CW series Arrow and finally focusing on the origin of Green Arrow. After a #0 issue that did more to confuse than illuminate anything, I believe Jeff Lemires actually going to take the time to let his audience know what was going on for much of Queens early life as a vigilante. There are several questions that need to be answered that could bring some intriguing story arcs. What happened on the island? What motivates Queen to don a green costume and shoot arrows around town? And who the heck is Magus? On the issue, the writing is markedly improved. Lemire strips Oliver Queen down to the bare bones, and wipes away the illusions. Hes not Bruce Wayne with years of experience, hes not brilliance beyond compare, and hes definitely not Superman. Ollie is just some billionaire kid with some archery skills and a few trick arrows. Theres now some actual room to grow, for Queen to think about what is going on, and why hes fighting. He is now going to develop, be better, be more than he has been for the past year and a half. I hope Jeff Lemire sticks around to see this through. What do you think of Jeff Lemire's introduction to Green Arrow? Please discuss in the comments section below.