Green Arrow #15 is written by Joshua Williamson and published by DC. Artwork is by Amancay Nahuelpan. Colours are by Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letters are by Troy Peteri. Main cover art (left) is by Phil Hester, Ande Parks and Ryan Cody.
Green Arrow #15 is available from today, in print and on digital, where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Arsenal, Connor Hawke, Red Canary, Red Arrow, Lian, and Arrowette in a battle above the skies. They can’t let Waller’s Task Force agents get Professor Ivo to Gamora! This is the heroes’ last chance to win the war for power in the DC Universe!
Review
The complex and difficult journey of Oliver Queen through the Absolute Power event continues today with the release of Green Arrow #15. The latest issue further deepens the complexity around Oliver’s role in working with Waller. It also adds another piece to the puzzle of how the heroes may be able to save themselves from certain doom.
This is really a book which belongs to the Arrow Family. Joshua Williamson has struck a cool balance between the ongoing story of Oliver and that of Arsenal and the rest of the family. That balance is again evident here as the issue is bookended by Oliver with the rest of the family forming the crux of the story. The complexity with which Williamson approaches Oliver has been the crowning glory in this current run of the book. Green Arrow has never been a straightforward character. Williamson not only understands this but is able to approach writing it in a way which doesn’t alienate new readers.
I don’t want to say too much and potentially spoil this issue. But it’s becoming clear there’s more to Oliver’s motivation to work with Waller. What first appeared to be a distinct lack of trust in his fellow heroes is metamorphosing into something far more compelling to read. Williamson is slowing pivoting Oliver into a place of moral quandary with the protection of his family at the forefront of his mind. It posits an interesting future ahead where the character could become somewhat of an anti-hero. Could there be a future where Oliver works for the great good regardless of which side that puts him on? It’s a road far less regularly trod by characters traditionally seen as the hero.
READ MORE: SDCC – Bringing Green Arrow Back in to the Fold With Joshua Williamson
Elsewhere, Connor Hawke a.k.a. the “new” Green Arrow and the rest of the family is on the hunt for Professor Ivo. His genius level intellect and intimate knowledge of the Amazo robots may be exactly what the heroes need to stop Waller. Of course she also knows this and has dispatched a team to also bring in Ivo. It’s a race against time between the two groups to see who can reach him first.
This is where I feel Absolute Power really comes in to its own as a well constructed event for DC. Green Arrow #15 is an important chapter in the story. From the outset Amazo robots have been at the core of Waller’s success. So choosing to put the hunt for Ivo in Green Arrow and not the main series is a brave choice. With no guarantee that readers will follow the narrative in to tie-in books it could leave some without an important piece of the puzzle. But with strong stories and equally strong writing I’ve yet to find a chink in the armour of the event.
Green Arrow #15 is a pretty simple and straightforward story. It’s a hostage rescue mission and that means hight stakes action. The team takes to the air and is forced to think on their feet whilst breaking in to a stealth plane high above the ground. That plays in to the strengths of artist Amancay Nahuelpan who is able to bring a lot of movement and energy to the story. You can almost feel the wind whizzing through your ears as the team is stood atop the moving vehicle. The mid-air fight has all at the energy of a Hollywood set piece and that certainly keeps the pages turning from start to finish.
Verdict
Another solid chapter in both the Green Arrow and Absolute Power story arcs. Green Arrow #15 is packed with high stakes action which is beautifully rendered by the more than capable Amancay Nahuelpan.
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