Green Arrow has been an important series for the Dawn of DC direction. It is one of the major titles where we’ve seen the Amanda Waller storyline being developed. Now we know that all of Amanda Waller’s developments are leading to this summer’s Absolute Power event. With that it makes Green Arrow an even more important title as the end of the path this series is taking is clear. The question is how much of building up to Absolute Power this series will be about? Let’s find out with Green Arrow #11.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Sean Izaakse, Phil Hester, and Eric Gapstur
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Troy Peteri
GREEN ARROW #11 SOLICITATION
“THE EMERALD ARCHER VS. MERLYN IN A FINAL SHOOTOUT! Since Green Arrow #1, Merlyn has manipulated Oliver Queen and the Arrow family but after Green Arrow makes a deal with Waller, the final battle between the two archers is here! And whoever loses this shootout will be stranded forever!” – DC Comics
REVIEW
Green Arrow #11 is a key issue to Joshua Williamson’s run that is more set-up rather than payoff. Given the pacing of this series thus far, taking the time to explain the why of the events that have happened in Oliver Queen’s life lately was needed. Filling in a need that fortifies the foundation of what Williamson is building with his run on this series.
What’s most impressive about what Williamson does with Green Arrow #11 is how he handles the transition from the present day to the flashback. The opening showcases how focused Oliver Queen is on accomplishing his mission. While saving Roy Harper and his family was a priority, he had other motives for what he was doing. Going so far as to risk stealing the Sanctuary information to find Merlyn shows how intense this hero vs villain rivalry is.
Getting over the intensity of the rivalry is particularly helpful for reestablishing Merlyn as a villain. When we saw him a few issues ago Merlyn came across as a typical villain looking to get revenge. Now through how far we saw Oliver was willing to go it sells us much more on their rivalry. This in turn makes the transition from the Arrow Family’s mission to Merlyn’s flashback be treated as a natural progression of this story.
This was certainly needed for Merlyn to have a fresh start of sorts as Green Arrow’s greatest villain. By building up why Merlyn hates Green Arrow and would go so far to get his revenge it starts rebuilding the franchise’s rogues gallery. Merlyn helps to reestablish what Green Arrow’s villains look like. The flashback also provides a reset opportunity to merge his classic origin story with the more well-known origin from the Arrow TV show. By doing so there are seeds planted to tell follow-up stories after Absolute Power that dive more into the Green Arrow vs Merlyn history and future.
While we do get an art by committee the way the work is split up is smartly done. The opening by Sean Izaakse further drives home the current style of Green Arrow stories. Izaakse has a great flow to the action with the Arrow Family vs Justice League. He got across how quickly the Arrow Family had to get the Sanctuary mask and escape as they wouldn’t survive an extended battle against the projected versions of the Justice League.
Having Phil Hester then handling Merlyn’s backstory worked for the flashback tone. Hester’s gave the vibe that we are looking decades into the past. This works to show how far Merlyn and Green Arrow’s rivalry goes.
Ending with Izaakse and Eric Gapstur made the final moments with Merlyn having every version of the Arrow Family members ready to attack Green Arrow was a good way to end things. It leaves the reader wondering how Green Arrow will overcome these odds and if he can stop Merlyn.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Green Arrow #11 does a lot to get over Oliver Queen and Merlyn’s historic rivalry. In the process, Merlyn gets a fresh start as a villain that establishes why he should be Green Arrow’s #1 nemesis. The way Sean Izaakse, Phil Hester, and Eric Gapstur different art styles are utilized strengthens the narrative direction Joshua Williamson took for this issue. It all leads to a strong ending that leaves us wondering how Green Arrow will factor into Absolute Power.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
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