GREEN ARROW #8
"Quiver, Chapter Eight: When Ollie Met Ollie"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
|
DC Comics
Writer: Kevin Smith
Pencils: Phil Hester
Inks: Ande Parks
Colors: Guy Major
Letters: Sean Konot
Editor: Bob Schreck
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
When Kevin Smith puts pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, I would imagine), I always find the results entertaining. I love his movies, and his comic-book storytelling ranges from good to great. But this latest issue of Green Arrow didn't quite sit right with me for a couple of reasons. Still, the art remains fun, unique and strong, and Smith's penchant for dialogue continues to stand out as his greatest strength.
As the Demon's assault on Batman, Arsenal and Black Canary is cut short by a supernatural ally, Green Arrow comes face-to-face with Oliver Queen in the afterlife. He learns of his death, and his resurrection, and the apparent duplication in earthly and heavenly versions of himself. After getting some uncomfortable answers, the young hero's return to more familiar territory isn't as smooth or normal as he had hoped.
Hester's angular style is certainly suited to the more extreme characters and events included in this issue. More important, though, is how well he conveys the brief moments of tenderness, sadness, turmoil and humanity that the exposition brings to the surface. Major's colors add a great deal to the atmosphere of the story as well. Overall, this is a great looking book, and has been since the first issue.
Smith has chosen last month's issue and this chapter as the ones in which he answers a question that's been outstanding from the start: "how?" He spells out how Oliver Queen can be dead yet can also be running around in the DC Universe again, reverted back to his 1970s glory. The problem is that it just doesn't make for riveting reading. There's an abundance of exposition, and I keep thinking this could have been covered in half an issue as opposed to two or three. The only character who seems to really be getting any examination is Hal Jordan.
My other main problem with the story is how long Smith has dwelled on supernatural themes and characters. It just doesn't fit the character's overall tone, not to mention the more grounded quality of the earlier issues of this series. Fortunately, it looks as though that original tone is returning, and I look forward to future issues.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
|
