GREEN ARROW #64

Wild, Part Two:  Odd Pairings

September 2006

Written by Judd Winick

Pencils by Scott McDaniel

Inks by Andy Owens

Cover by Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens

Synopsis

In the ‘glades portion of the city, Green Arrow and Brick are fighting a bunch of zombie-like thugs.  Green Arrow uses an impact grenade to take them all down with minimal damage.  An examination of the people shows they are taking drugs.  Brick knows who to ask where they are getting it.  In prison, Deathstroke tells his lawyer he will plead guilty.  To prove his point he kills a prison guard.  Meanwhile, Brick and Green Arrow find the hidden cache of drugs, vials labeled morphine but are more likely something else.  Unfortunately, at the time the zombie-like addicts come after the duo.   Just as they are surrounded, another impact grenade takes out the thugs.  This grenade is from Speedy.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Batman could get our asses out of here.”

“Screw you.”

This was a very good issue, typical of the type of stuff that Winick does well:  good action intermixed with witty repartee.  I enjoyed the exchange by Ollie and Brick at the end, especially the remark that I quoted above.  I am not entirely certain that these two would be familiar or friendly with each other for such talk, but it worked within the context of the story.  The more significant conversation between the two occurred before they reached the stash when Ollie accused Brick of still looking after his own interests rather than doing good.  I thought this was handled well; it shows that Ollie is fully aware of Brick and what he is up to, but he also realizes that Brick is actually doing some good in a really bad area.  Conversely, I like the fact that Brick has not been redeemed since the disaster to strike Star City and despite what he may have done that he has not been changed into a good guy (like, say, Rose Wilson), but is still a gangster or mafia-type and is still at odds with Green Arrow. 

I liked both the beginning.  The little characterization of the popcorn guy is typical Winick, but helped put living in the ‘glades into context.  While the ending was not much a surprise since we knew Speedy would return, it was nice to see her, finally.  But it does beg one question:  where the hell Arsenal has gone? 

Suddenly Deathstroke’s surrender in the last issue is at least making a little sense.  At the time it seemed odd he would give up so easily.  In this issue, his willingness to plead guilty to murder suggests there is something else going on, a reason why he so easily gave up.  I am no intrigued to see where this is going to lead.  Is Deathstroke running away from something (the Society) or is he trying to get to someone, a convicted killer sitting in the cells of Star City?

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