GREEN ARROW #1
Living A Life Of Privlege

November 2011

Written by J. T. Krul

Pencils by Ardian Syaf

Inks by Vicente Cifuentes

Cover by Ardian Syaf

Synopsis

In Seattle, CEO Emerson discusses with the board members the future of Q-Core, a division of Queen Industries.  In Paris, Oliver Queen (aka Green Arrow) is on the phone for the meeting while at the same time he hunts down a trio of killers.  With the help of Naomi and Jax, computer hackers, Ollie is able to capture all three killers.  In Seattle, Ollie deals with Emerson while working with Naomi and Jax to improve their operation to help people.  In Paris, the killers are freed from prison by a group of killers intent on killing Green Arrow. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“You’re right.  I have a lot of toys.  But I don’t play games.”

Of all of the books I have read in the first week of the DCnU re-launch, this is the first one that is a complete reboot of the character’s history.  Frankly, I can’t blame DC.  Ollie has had a lot of twists and turns in his publication career, a lot of which needs a lot of explanation.  By stripping away all of that and starting over, it gives DC a chance to use what worked and toss away what didn’t work.  It will take a number of years before we know for certain if it worked.

Actually, let me amend the previous statement.  I am guessing this is a reboot.  To be truthful, there is enough in this story to suggest that Ollie has been in the business of being Green Arrow for some time.  It feels like a reboot due to the presence of Naomi and Jax and the physical differences of the character, but there is nothing here to suggest the past is not really the past.  I guess we’ll find out more in upcoming issues. 

As for this issue, I liked the issue, thought it was fun and fast paced.  I think the choice of making the issue an extended fight scene works as it shows Ollie in action, how he fights using a bow and arrow (and I like the way the bow extends) as well as showing how his two new compatriots fit into the equation.  I thought the trick arrows were pretty neat, including the one that allowed Naomi the ability to operate the boat.  The problem I have with this issue is Naomi and Jax, who seem to fill the role of Batman’s Oracle and James Bond’s Q.  Nothing against the characters, but their presence gives the writer a nifty way to get around situations, providing an easy out for any plot development.  I know it sounds like I am whining (and I probably am), but I think having so much help hinders any development of Ollie as we won’t really see him do anything on his own.

I also think that despite the reboot of the character, this is a fairly standard comic book.  That is not to say that it is bad, but with a few tweaks here and there and this easily could’ve fit into the previous Green Arrow book.  Maybe Krul has some tricks up his sleeve, but it doesn’t feel any different. 

Interesting to note the reference to WayneTech (Bruce Wayne), LexCorp (Lex Luthor) and Holt Industries (Michael Holt, aka Mr. Terrific).  The first 2 were mainstays of the old DC.  Holt Industries is new, suggesting the Mr. Terrific’s continuity has been rebooted a little bit. 

STRANGE SIGHTING

Page 8, top left panel, just behind Green Arrow, visible underneath his armpit.

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