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GREEN ARROW #18
"The Archer's Quest, Chapter Three: Grundy No Like Arrows in Face!"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Phil Hester
Inks: Ande Parks
Colors: James Sinclair
Letters: Sean Konot
Editor: Bob Schreck
Price: $2.50 US/$4.25 CAN |
This issue, Green Arrow fights Solomon Grundy. Sure, you've guessed that from the cover, but really, that is entirely what happens in this issue. And it's a well-written fight, with some interesting narration and great choreography, and it really shows off the point that the creators are trying to make, which is that Green Arrow is no pushover, even when he is seemingly outclassed. But it fails the really big test for me, which is the "why should I care?" test, and the once-interesting plot that was promised by Meltzer's first issue has failed to materialize, resulting instead in a series of standalone issues with little to no connection with one another.
Anyone who has ever played Dungeons & Dragons (and I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that many comics readers have) knows what a random encounter is. It's something that has no bearing on the main adventure, a combat that takes place to fill some space or to give the sense that the surroundings of the characters are dangerous. And while they can be fun in a game, and can help build atmosphere, nobody really builds complete adventures out of them. This issue, however, is a random encounter. We're never told why Grundy is in the Arrowcave, and the explanation for why Green Arrow and Roy were there is deeply unsatisfying. It's made painfully clear that the entire reason for this issue is to show Green Arrow fighting Solomon Grundy, rather than moving forward any sort of plot.
Mind you, it really is a great fight. Ollie's narration shows that he knows he's outclassed, and demonstrates his skill with a bow. Hester's artwork shows off that skill as well, with arrows seemingly appearing out of nowhere to strike Grundy, and with the physical power and destructive potential of Grundy being shown off as well. Meltzer does some clever work to make Green Arrow capable of taking on Grundy as well, using the strength required to pull a bow to good effect and also using the narration to point out that Ollie is still used to relying on Hal Jordan for backup, even though that status quo is long gone.
However, an extended fight scene is all that it is. Gone is the mystery of Ollie's funeral and the arrangements that were made, because that's been explained, and so the story now seems a bit directionless and certainly lacking in any kind of mystery and allure. The characterization is certainly still solid and similar in tone to the work that Kevin Smith brought to the book, but I find myself already wishing we had a few more characters to balance Ollie out, the way the parade of guest stars or the constant supporting cast like Dinah, Mia and even Stanley did at first.
It may be that the "event" nature of Green Arrow just wasn't sustainable, and my disappointment with the current issue of Green Arrow (and the recent Secret Files) is the inevitable result of the book going from "event" to just a regular solo super-hero book. But I think it more likely that what had seemed a strong plot at the outset has been quickly solved, and that I'm just not as interested in seeing where it's going as I was a couple months ago. In fact, if it wasn't for Meltzer's excellent characterization and prose and Hester and Parks on artwork, I'd probably be considerably more disenchanted.
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