Brad's arc sadly comes to its conclusion. He accomplished what I think many thought he wouldn't. He kept Green Arrow's sales extraordinarily high, and he told a story that met and exceeded, all expectations.
What's it about?
Oliver Queen is Green Arrow, a modern-day Robin Hood crime-fighter who has many faults -- one of the biggest being his "loose" history with women. "Archer's Quest" was a six-issue arc (issues 16 thru 21) that focused on Green Arrow, and his former sidekick Roy Harper, on a trip to recover various items from Green Arrow's past. The motive remained a mystery, even to Roy.
With the conclusion of "Archer's Quest," Brad continued to focus on the character within this comic. There isn't much action, but there doesn't need to be. Everything builds into three very nice scenes that touch upon the major people in Oliver's life: Dinah Lance AKA his longtime lover Black Canary, Roy Harper and his son, Connor Hawke.
Brad used continuity, but didn't bog us down with it. And, most importantly, he ended the "Archer's Quest" with a revelation that made people talk. "Archer's Quest" was really a look into the past of Oliver Queen, and a look at one of his deepest and most regretful secrets. A revelation that says so much about the character of Oliver Queen and at the same time makes you love him and hate him even more.
No other character could be plugged into this story and have it work this well.
And let's look at Phil Hester and Matt Wagner. The art and the covers have been picture-perfect since issue #1 of this title and I hope to see them continue on this book with Judd. They've really made their mark on this era of Green Arrow, and it's not often you see a creative team that's stuck with a book and missed not an issue for nearing two years.
I'm anxiously waiting to see where this title goes next, and what Brad's next project in comics will be.
However, I just have one question...what the hell was Solomon Grundy doing in the Arrow Cave anyway?
