GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #23

The Game Is On

October 2009

Written by Andrew Kreisberg

Pencils by Mike Norton

Inks by Bill Sienkiewicz

Cover by Ladrönn

Synopsis

Despite Black Canary’s request, Green Arrow is not going to quite anytime soon.  He is called to a crime scene, where he determines the attack was Big Game.  Except Big Game was recently killed by Cupid in her misguided attempt to woe Green Arrow.  In Africa, a month ago, Big Game’s son decides to visit Star City and avenge his father’s death.  Now, Green Arrow deduces Big Game is after Cupid, who is in prison.  Green Arrow rushes to save her, arriving moments before Big Game.  Then Black Canary arrives.  Green Arrow tells her to get Cupid to safety; he’ll deal with Big Game.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

The good and the bad for this issue are pretty much the same as I have been saying since Kreisberg first took over as writer for this title.  I liked the way this storyline builds upon the previous storyline, with the son of Big Game coming back to avenge his father’s death.  I really am enjoying how much Kreisberg has crafted the plot for this series and how everything interacts with each other and builds upon what came next.  It truly feels like one organic story.  The problem is that for as much as I like how the puzzle pieces fit in the overall picture, the emotional payoffs fall flat.  In this case, we never saw the death of Big Game.  As such it is hard to care on way or another for Cupid when Big Game comes gunning for her.  Did we feel she deserves it?  Do we feel she should be spared.  It is one thing for Green Arrow to protect Cupid, but what if she doesn’t deserve to be protected.  What if her crime was so heinous we actually should be rooting for Big Game’s son?  Speaking of which, should we feel sorry for Big Game for avenging the loss of what is supposed to be a “villain?”  Is he delusion in his quest because he doesn’t know his son or And I realize the good and bad is a relative term, but I think if we knew Big Game and knew how he died, this issue would feel less like an exercise in style (and I must admit I like the way the panels go back and forth between Arrow and Game; that was a nice touch) and more of an emotional story.  As soon as Kreisberg can craft some emotional payoffs, this series will feel rather empty, despite the intricacies of the plot.   

Opening Night Jitters

Written by Andrew Kreisberg

Art by Mike Norton and Joe Rubenstein

Synopsis

In the subway, Black Canary battles Cutthroat.  After she defeats him, Wildcat stops by for a visit.  He is concerned she is not dealing with the realization she was responsible for the actions of Distortion.  He tells her she made a mistake.  She just needs to get over it and move on.  Later, she is helping Green Arrow rescue Cupid.  When an explosion occurs nearby, both Black Canary and Cupid are concerned for their “babe.”  

Review

Again, I like the way this feature returns to the main feature, setting up a rather interesting conversation between Canary and Cupid.  And this is the one case where the exercise in style actually works because I am curious to see how it plays out, with Ollie’s wife and his delusional “girlfriend” alone for the first time.  As for the rest of the story, I found it well written and handled nicely with one minor problem:  Black Canary is enough of a veteran that she does not need such a pep talk.  She has reached the point in her career and her life that she should know exactly what Wildcat is telling her without being told.  But that may just be me.  Even others don’t feel that way, then perhaps this is a nice story. 

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