GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #12

The Son Of The Father, The Father Of The Son

November 2008

Written by Judd Winick

Pencils by Mike Norton

Inks by Wayne Faucher

Cover by Cliff Chiang

Synopsis

After learning that Shado was behind the abduction of Conner Hawke, Green Arrow, and Black Canary track her down.  When they find her, they learn that Conner is now with Dr. Sivana.  Shadow had made a deal with Sivana to cure her son in exchange for the death of Green Arrow.  However, the shooter missed Ollie and hit Conner instead.  So, Sivana ordered Shado to kidnap Conner as well as Plastic Man.  Now, Team Arrow invades Sivana’s hideout.  Sivana is waiting for him; he sends an army of clones (who look like Conner and have skin like Plastic Man).   

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I hate to say this, but I am glad this storyline is over and Conner has returned home.  I liked the story at the beginning and I liked the search for Conner, but now that the plot has been unraveled, the entire thing has just been underwhelming.  I think it went far too long for the story it was trying to tell.

Hey, look, an exposition issue.  Given the way Winick has designed this storyline, I think this was the only way to finish it, by having someone tell us what happened rather than actually showing it.  And, yes, I realize we see it on the page, but we see it from Shado’s point of view, by her telling us what happened.  So, essentially, Winick is the one telling us about his great 12-issue plot.  And since the character of Shado in this issue is pretty far removed from the character of Shado seen previously, I am willing to bet that Winick came up with the plot and story first, then fit the characters into it as needed.  Let’s face, Shado as a character had a code of honor that she lived by.  Agreeing to kill Ollie, even if she didn’t do that deed herself, does not fall into that category.  Nor does impersonating someone else.  Hell, even seeking aid from Sivana seems out of character.  I would think she would first go to Ollie (as Robert’s dad) before willingly working with a noted villain. 

Of course, the cynical side of me is worried about the sudden aging of Robert to an age where he could become part of Team Arrow.  In fact, I think Robert is now older than Mia.  I am not sure why this would be necessary or what an additional hero character will add to the book (beyond the brothers fighting both villains and each other).  But I also doubt anyone would age a character like that for no particular reason. 

Okay, follow this.  In the beginning, Ollie, Dinah, and Mia burst in on Shado.  As they talk, Dodger suddenly appears for a panel or two and the Vampire appears for one panel, just to tell everyone that Shado was telling the truth.  Neither were seen when Ollie and Co. first broke the window.  Later, when they burst in on Sivana Batman is there, but the Vampire is not.  Where was Batman before?

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