Green Arrow/Black Canary 1 - 4

Green Arrow And Black Canary #1
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Cliff Chiang

Wow! That was awesome! What an improvement from Winick’s previous Green Arrow series. Adding Black Canary to the mix may just be what Winick needed to jump start his Green Arrow run. Oh and not to mention the awesome artwork of Chiang. I loved it! I am not surprised that Ollie is still alive and that it was Everyman that Dinah killed in the Wedding Special but it doesn’t matter the dialogue and action in this issue was top notch. I loved how Black Canary kicked major ass and how Batman was the only one who believed her (Batman is always right people, and he is always more right than Hal Jordan)

Green Arrow And Black Canary #2
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Cliff Chiang

Winick proves that he will continue to make this run better than his last on Green Arrow with this issue. It lived up to the first issue with great dialogue and action and the art was still fantastic. It makes sense that Athena would chose Dinah to train the new amazons too. She is one of the strongest females (not literally but mentally and emotionally) in the DC Universe.Green Arrow And Black Canary #3
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Cliff Chiang

Holy shit! They better not kill Connor Hawke. Winick has been killing too many characters lately (the Titans East special pissed me off) and Connor better not be one of them. Besides that shocking ending, this was another great issue. I loved how Everyman screwed up the plans just because he could not perform sexually with Black Canary (Hilarious) and I loved the ending when Ollie is telling them all how much he loves them. The Arrow Family is definitely one of the best superhero families in the DC Universe. As Long as Connor survives…..

Green Arrow And Black Canary #4
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Cliff Chiang

Well, you know, I really could have hated this issue but it was done really well. The idea of Connor being in a coma is a good idea. It keeps Winick from writing two Green Arrows at once but at the same time keeping Connor alive for future writers to use if they so wish. I also found the ending to be really sweet where Ollie admits he’s known all along that Connor was his son and him telling Connor that “Daddy is here” made me very sad. It was great to see the League come to support Ollie, especially Batman who knows what it feels like to lose a “son”.

Birds of Prey 108 and 109

Birds of Prey #108
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

Gail Simone’s final issue on this title is a tear jerker. You really feel that the writer is saying goodbye to her characters this issue. I don’t even know how to explain how good this issue is. Just read it. Characters from Simone’s entire run come back to defend Oracle against Spy Smasher. The “core team” cries together as they say their goodbyes and we find out who Misfit really is. It was amazing. Gail, thanks for making Birds of Prey a great read through your entire run.

Birds of Prey #109
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Nicola Scott

Bedard begins his fill-in run with this issue. This was a very enjoyable read that I believe lives up to what Simone has done with this book. Oracle and Black Canary discuss the Green Arrow-Black Canary relationship and I like how Oracle basically says she shouldn’t marry him. It was a nice way of looking back at each character’s histories. There were some major continuity error though, the use of the Ventriloquist when Batgirl was around (he didn’t come about until after she was crippled) and the mention that Connor’s mother was Shado. Shado was not Connor’s mother. Other than those errors, this was a great issue. My personal favorite about it must have been Big Barda playing with Pokemon Cards! Oh and this tied into Countdown perfectly.

Will She Say Yes Or No?

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #75
Written by Judd Winick
Art and Cover by Scott McDaniel

This is it, the final issue of Green Arrow Volume 3. It began with Kevin Smith and then Brad Meltzer, but the majority of this volume has been written by Judd Winick. In the end, I would have to say Winick’s run was lackluster. Unfortunately, when the book launches as Green Arrow/Black Canary, Winick will still be writing. Hopefully he can up his game a bit then. I am excited for the Black Canary/Green Arrow wedding and after so many years of on-and-off again I am hoping that the wedding will go smoothly. These two really belong together. This issue was actually quite boring until the very end and the Justice League’s appearence was a bit pointless. Please DC, don’t put McDaniel on the new series. I can not stand his art.

Lovers Reunite

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #74
Written by Judd Winick
Art and Cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

This is a controversial issue of Green Arrow because of the renewed relationship between Dinah (Black Canary) and Ollie (Green Arrow). I know that a lot of people seem to think that it is unreasonable for Dinah and Ollie to get back together since their relationship has never worked in the past because of Ollie’s immaturity. But I mean come on, it is Dinah and Ollie, they are meant for each other. The banter between them is great this issue. How they go from screaming at each other to kissing is amazing. It feels right and this is coming from someone who has been reading comics since after they broke up and doesn’t remember them being together (accept for the brief time at the beginning of the series). I am really happy to see them. Oh and how they stay in bed for what days is hilarious. I can’t wait to see them get hitched. Besides that, the art is actually decent in some parts of this issue which is a rare thing for me to say about Scott McDaniel. And I love how the Arrow family really works together this issue. Green Arrow has built a great superhero “family” of his own.

Green Arrow 71 - 73

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #71
Written by Judd Winick
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

So it looks like Batman and Green Arrow were just being played…distracted so Jason Todd’s (Or in the words of Green Arrow “The guy who used to run around in short pants with Bruce.”) lackeys could kidnap Speedy. While I am still not a fan of McDaniel’s art, this was a pretty good issue.

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #72
Written by Judd Winick
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

Winick is probably the most inconsistent comic writer ever. Sometimes I yawn at his issues, and other times he wows me. This was a wow, a big wow. He managed to combine action with lots of good old banter and talking in a perfect way. Fans of drama and fans of action will both get their kicks from this issue. The scene with Green Arrow and Batman in the batmobile gave me goosebumps. It was just that good. Highly reccomended. (On a sidenote: I definitely think Batman is in the right there)

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #73
Written by Judd Winick
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

So from the looks of it, Ollie’s tenure as mayor of Star City is coming to an end and for all the wrong reasons. It has been exposed that he has been funding the Outsiders and for some reason (that will be explained in the upcoming Outsiders Annual) they are not popular with the public right now. So a recall has been called on Mayor Oliver Queen and Ollie struck a deal with the upcoming new mayor that he would take a dive as long as that mayor kept the funding on all the programs that help the city. Okay now that I have finished summarizing the plot, you are probably wondering was it good. Well, yes it was. And it is sad that this series is starting to get really good just as it is ending. Oh and the last page surprise was awesome. (Yes, I am an Ollie and Dinah Fan despite that fact that they have never been together in all the time I have been reading comics)

Proof That Art Can Ruin Good Writing

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #68
Written by Judd Winick
Art and Cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

This was a pretty good issue. I enjoyed the writing, just not the art. In fact, I despised the art. This issue would have been perfect if it was not for the horrible art. I mean take a good look at Mia in this issue, what in god’s name is that. That’s not Mia. She looks like a freaking monster. The writing was great, I love Ollie’s monologue that focuses on his origin story, and I love the reasoning for Connor and Mia not returning to Star City. It makes perfect sense and I am suprised that I never though of it before. Judd is really thinking this whole Ollie as a politician thing through. Oliver Queen’s relationship with Mia would definitely hurt him an election. People would think it was odd that the candidate was living with an HIV infected ex-hooker and won’t see it in a positive light. Would have been a great issue, if it weren’t for the damn art.

Green Arrow 64 - 67

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #64
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Scott McDaniel

The art on this series still bugs me but I must say I really enjoyed this issue. I love the dialogue between Brick and Green Arrow. It is well written. It turns out Star City is being overrun by drugs that turn people to crazy zombie-like creatures. Like a shot that gives people rabies. Pretty cool concept, not entirely original, but oh well.

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #65
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Scott McDaniel

Another good issue. I am glad to have Speedy back. I always liked her. And I loved the part with the political talk show. I imagine if you are a conservative you might not like this book but oh well, Ollie is a liberal, always has been. Conservative readers better get used to it. I look forward to seeing what happened in the missing year next issue.

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #66
Written by Judd Winick
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

Okay I don’t know why, but the art is terrible this issue. The faces are drawn so weird and ugly. I mean take a good look at Mia when she first appears, that is not what Mia should look like. I did not like this art. I did like the plot though, Green Arrow bringing the best of the best to train him and his “family” is totally in character and I love it. When he returns to Star City, he will be a force to reckon with. I am not sure if this jives with what is going on in 52 with Green Arrow. I will have to see if it does. It should though, considering that you would think Winick would communicate with the writers of 52.

 

Green Arrow (Volume 3) #67
Written by Judd Winick
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

The art gets back to normal this issue, not quite as goofy. The story continues to impress me and you gotta love the ending. That little annoying assassin guy is great villain, Winick makes sure the reader really hates him. You can sympathize with Connor’s concern over that guy training Ollie. It was also good to see Mia’s HIV acknowledged in a positive manner. It was nice to see that she is doing okay.