Wow, it's been about a year since I reviewed this title. Don't misunderstand... I've been following the book all along, and I plan to continue following it. Judd Winick's work on this title stands out as his strongest at the moment. This issue of the series is a special one, though, as it's garnered some media attention in the mainstream. The Associated Press is carrying a story about a character-oriented development in this issue, one I'll avoid discussing so as not to spoil the story for readers. Suffice it to say, though, that the main focus of this issue isn't the characterization-oriented surprise at the end, but an entertaining and riveting crime drama that employs super-hero genre elements but doesn't depend on them.
The new crime boss of Star City -- the metahuman known as Brick -- has just murdered the mayor and the district attorney, and when the police come looking for him, he's surprisingly co-operative. Law enforcement officials, as well as the city's protectors, the father and son heroes known as Green Arrow, soon discover Brick has an ace up his sleeve, and the vigilante archers set out to thwart his plan. They not only want to save a live but to show Brick he's not the untouchable king of the hill he believes himself to be.
The most important visual element of this issue is Brick, and Hester and Parks do an amazing job of demonstrating what an imposing figure he is. It's not his rocky exterior that's scary, but the cold and bloodthirsty look in his eyes that tells the reader that he's not only a powerful man, but a clever one at that. The darkness of the artists' collaboration suits the edgy nature of the plot. My only qualm with the art here is the depiction of Mia, who comes off as a little bit older than she is. I'd rather the artists emphasize her youth, especially given the new subplot introduced on the final page.
That subplot is a promising one, one that will bring realism and some strong potential for characterization. But despite media coverage, readers need to realize that it's not this issue in which Winick explores this new element. It's in forthcoming ones, and I look forward to what the writer will have to say on the topic within the confines of this genre. I also applaud Winick for offering up a thoroughly accessible issue. Despite this episode being labelled as the fourth chapter in a story arc, the ongoing plotlines are easy to pick up. This reads more like a self-contained issue than a segment of a larger story.
The greatest strength of this issue is the character of Brick. Winick shows the reader that Brick is indeed a monster, but it's not because of his inhuman appearance. It's his intellect and his cold, efficient personality that make him so. He's a terrific new villain, and I love of contrast of brains and brawn he represents, not unlike what we saw in Chuck Dixon's take on Blockbuster in Birds of Prey and Nightwing a few years ago. 8/10
