Oh man, this issue of Green Arrow, man. This issue was…I almost hate to say it because it came out of nowhere, but it was just really, really good! I’d even say, minus Felicity (bring it, Olicity haters) this was probably everything you could ask for from a Green Arrow story and more. Our story opened on the high seas with Diggle and Ollie getting geared up to infiltrate The Inferno, while Dante went on a solid A+ villain monologue to Black Canary about fire. Another amazing break-in scenario by Oliver as he makes his way through The Inferno and fighting The Burned reveals the massive amount of riches onboard.
I don’t know if this has been explored before, but I absolutely dig this characterization of Oliver that is wholly convinced of the good money can do in the world. Even if it does come off as selfish, I look at that as probably the most realistic interpretation of a human hero that DC has right now and I really hope it sticks around for years to come.
Meanwhile, the members of the Ninth Circle discuss their plans to keep Middle Eastern and African nations destabilized in surprising detail that really grips a reader. The same goes for the sense of betrayal Oliver feels hearing this from a man he trusted.
This leads to one of the best comic scenes I can remember as Emiko and Shado prepare to do away with Black Canary. In a moment that brought a real smile to my face, Emiko pulls a sick double cross and releases Black Canary! I know a lot of people were concerned about Emikos’ role in this story so to see her allegiance confirmed really made me happy, and after a heartfelt explanation and reunion, Juan Ferreyra gets to draw an awesome shot of Team Arrow together.
Not to downplay Ferreryra's work as a whole this entire issue. It seems like a match made in heaven. The subject matter, the writer, the artist…if you said this was meant to be a horror comic with a superhero guest starring, you’d have an easy sell on you hands. It all just really works together.
The ending also works in a really emotional way, and I’m not going to spoil that, but if you’re a Green Arrow fan—new or old—you gotta check this book out!
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Green Arrow #5 Writer: Benjamin Percy Artist: Juan Ferreryra Publisher: DC Comics Price: $2.99 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digial
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