GREEN ARROW #27

Straight Shooter, Part Two:  Not In My Backyard

August 2003

Written by Judd Winick

Pencils by Phil Hester

Inks by Ande Parks

Cover by Matt Wagner

Synopsis

News of the deaths of the security guards at the Elevast construction site has reached the public while the police start rounding up suspects:  those who would be evicted due to the construction.  Conner calls a friend in the morgue and learns that the security guards were mauled, mostly likely by a monster.  Meanwhile, the Elevast Corporation has hired the assassin Constantine Drakon to eliminate their problem.  At home, Joanna Pierce arrives to update Ollie on the state of the legal case.  Ollie flirts with her before Mia breaks up the conversation to inform him the stove is leaking gas.  Unable to fix the stove, Ollie heads out to patrol the Elevast construction.  There, he finds the creature, which he is able to subdue.  However, before he can remove the creature, three more arrive to help their friend.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Or we could order in.  Like some sedatives?  Or elephant tranquilizers?  Y’know, light snacking for you eight-foot rabid gorilla-types.”

This was another solid issue to what has been a solid opening to Winick’s run on this book.  Again, his characterization of Green Arrow is spot-on, especially the scene where he flirts with Joanna followed by his pang of guilt, knowing who she is and who she is related to.  I have a feeling that this relationship is not going to go well.  On the other hand, Mia’s brief scene was nice to see.  At least she hasn’t been forgotten.  Since Kevin Smith introduced her, it has been assumed she would become the next Speedy.  I am not sure this is a good idea.  Essentially, Conner fills that spot pretty well.  He may be too old for the Teen Titans, but that would be a good place for him. 

I must admit, I rather like Drakon.  He seems like an interesting character and I am curious to see where it leads.  I liked his speech and he exudes such menace and malice that his inevitable showdown with Green Arrow should be quite a doozy. 

I don’t know if it’s Winick or the editor, but I like the small little additions in the story that remind us of events (like the lantern and the recall to Grundy and even the shout out to Dinah) in Green Arrow’s recent past.  Sometimes new writers try to distance themselves from previous writer’s runs on a book by refusing to build upon past issues, but these little moments help to remind the reader that everything these characters do are supposed to equal to a whole rather than disconnected parts.  If that makes sense. 

Isn’t it nice that Conner has a friend who just so happens to work in the morgue.  On the coincidence scale, this teeters right on the edge of bullshit and c’mon! 

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