The DC Comic That Saved Green Arrow

1. Why The Archer's Quest Is The Best GA Comic

When people ask DC fans what their favourite Green Arrow story is, they'll usually be treated to a varied response. There's still a lot of love for O'Neil and Adams' GL/GA duo, and even those who swear by Grell's mature, more weary interpretation of the Emerald Archer; others may even option Quiver, or Year One (Andy Diggle, Jock), which to many told the character's definitive origin story. It's an extremely narrow contest, and one that obviously doesn't have a right or wrong answer, but the Archer's Quest is something truly special.

For all the reasons previously mentioned, Meltzer, Hester and Ande Parks' book marked Queen's triumphant return to the medium, and made readers appreciate that very return in a way few other superhero comics have achieved. It turned a tired and cumbersome trope on its head and into something surprisingly emotional, and just like Quiver, provided a solid springboard for other creators to grow and define the Arrow character - albiet to mixed results.

"To me, the Archer’s Quest is a starting point. It’s not just self-contained."

- Brad Meltzer, speaking to Fanboy Planet.

Undoubtedly one of the best things about the book, though, is that it works both as a self-contained entry in the DC canon - something any fan can pick up, read, and appreciate - as well as something that informs latter interpretations of the character and his legacy. Perhaps not so much now that the publisher have undergone two reboots in the decade since Archer's Quest was published, but there remains something uniquely fascinating about Meltzer's Arrow, and that stems from the fact he occupies a moment in time.

The archer of DC's comics today isn't as hard-travelled as his predecessor, and even though he bears many of the characteristics of this Arrow - the one Smith and Meltzer moulded and to many the definitive incarnation - he hasn't been informed by the same experiences. The Archer's Quest, however, takes all of Queen's history into account, and ultimately leaves us with the most compelling version of the hero to date.