Green Arrow #17 – Joshua Williamson, Chris Condon, Writers; Amancay Nahuelpan, Montos, Artists; Romulo Fajardo Jr, Adriano Lucas, Colorists
Ray – 9/10
Ray: Josh Williamson is wrapping up his Green Arrow run with an annual coming soon, but there is still a lot to resolve. Oliver Queen’s decision to join with Amanda Waller and enforce her rule in Absolute Power – part of a deep-cover mission that even involved some psychic assistance from J’onn J’onnz – left deep scars, and although he’s trying to make up for his actions by apprehending the last remnants of her regime (It’s not a good day for Peacemaker), it’s clear not everyone is willing to forgive and forget. The League, led by Superman, is the easiest to win over, although Batman is far from sold. Even Black Canary is open to it, although she makes clear that this is round one.
Far trickier than the League is his family, though – many of whom were personally betrayed. While Connor is as usual the most reasonable guy in the room, some of the younger members are still distrusting of the man they saw as a mentor. It’s an interesting look at the fallout of a deep-cover operation like this, and it plays into Ollie’s decision to step back somewhat and focus on what he’s been neglecting – his blue-collar heroism for the common man. The issue ends with him going after a corrupt drug executive, in a scene very reminiscent of the great Mike Barr’s work, and while there’s still one more issue to go, it feels like Williamson is helping to bring the character back to his roots.
And that’s a good thing, because that style of heroism is a good fit for the work of Chris Condon and Montos, who get to kick off their run with a short story in the back of this anniversary issue. Ollie is on his own, in a run-down apartment in what seems a bit like a monastic retreat. While he gets a terse visit from Batman, a mysterious murder happens in the city targeting a corrupt businessman – providing him with a sadistic and karmic death. Could someone be taking GA’s MO to the point of murder? This feels like a very promising start by an excellent team.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
