Green Arrow #3 is written by Joshua Williamson and published by DC Comics. Artwork and cover (left) are by Sean Izaakse with interior and cover colours by Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letters are by Troy Peteri.
Green Arrow #3 is available now, in print and on digital, where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Arsenal and Black Canary versus Peacemaker and the new Peacewrecker! While Arsenal and Black Canary’s quest for answers has sent them into danger, Green Arrow is lost in time and space-but at least he’s not alone now. Two members of the Green Arrow family join Oliver Queen in the last place you’d expect!
Review
Finally a plan comes together and Green Arrow reveals its real emotional core. After two months of large scale, time/space shifting action the Joshua Williamson penned series is opening up and letting us in with an issue that finally has me gripped by Oliver Queen’s return to a solo-title.
Whilst I enjoyed both of the first two issues there was no denying that it felt like something was missing. Williamson has proven time and again that he’s capable of high stakes action with a strong foundation of human emotion. But that emotional centrepiece has felt somewhat lacking up until this point in Green Arrow‘s return. But with the reveal that Oliver’s actions have been keeping the Arrow-Family apart, something it seemed he was reluctant to fix, really flips the series on its axis.
In fact, Williamson has played a blinding game here. Those first two issues setup the present day Oliver has someone with a secret. Something which has been holding him back. But without revealing that his reluctance to return to his family was self-motivated. The revelations are heartbreaking and really amp up the impact of the book.
Issue #3 is almost a reset of the reset as it were. It’s the culmination of the firs three issues of storytelling but with a brand new resolve. Finally, I’m excited to see where Green Arrow is going in the future.
I also have to applaud Williamson for bringing Oliver and Connor during Pride Month. Connor is an important character to DC’s LGBTQ+ history. So to see his relationship with his father portrayed so honestly and naturally is a beautiful thing.
Izaakse and Fajardo Jr. continue to be a blockbuster team. Even as I have struggled to connect with Green Arrow‘s story, there’s no denying the brilliant quality of its artwork. This is a particularly busy issue, in both the present and future timelines but this team is adept at handling all its complications.
Verdict
Green Arrow really hits its stride with issue #3. An emotional turning point for its lead character but also for the reader as we now find ourselves clued in on what is going on with Oliver. A huge jumping off point for a story which appears to be key to DC’s future storytelling.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
