Ghost Mom

Green Arrow (Volume 5) #7
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Mike Mayhew

 

This was odd. The Ghost of Ollie’s mother shows up and comforts him. Was this for real or was it a hallucination? What is going on with this forest? One thing that I was wondering is if the whole Ollie’s parents get killed in front of him by lions thing – is that a retcon? I have never heard that before as far as I know. If so I think there are enough DC heroes with dead parents and that would be completely unnecessary. Mayhew is the perfect fill-in for Neves as I barely even realized that it was a different artist. Beautiful art.

Long Live The Queen

Green Arrow (Volume 5) #6
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Diogenes Neves

It seemed like this was going to be the end of an arc – yet nothing is really ended here. I am not complaining, I like the Queen as an adversary for Green Arrow and I want her to stick around and continue to the villain behind the scenes. Her costume is just awesome! And grave robbing Ollie’s mother – that’s just evil. She makes a good villain.

Green Friends

Green Arrow (Volume 5) #4
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Diogenes Neves

 

I can’t really complain about this Green Arrow relaunch. Despite coming out of the worst story in recent memory (Cry For Justice), this has been some amazing Green Arrow issues and this issue is no different. The art and writing continue to be spectacular and Martian Manhunter guest stars! I loved how Galahad asks if all Green Arrow’s friends are green. The Queen is still is an intriguing villain. I know that this Mary is supposed to be Maid Marian to Green Arrow’s Robin Hood, but I hope there is more to her then just a love interest for Ollie and I also hope he doesn’t forget that he and Dinah are not technically divorced, just separated.

Fantasy Forest

Green Arrow (Volume 5) #3
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Diogenes Neves

 

Ollie is saved by the forest and white light that heals his wound. We still don’t know who it was that shot him but he finds a new friend in Galahad – apparently a guy from Star City who at the very least believes he is the Galahad of Legend. In a really cool scene the forest goes through all the seasons in moments. Although Star City is in California – so they don’t have seasons right? Oh well we can chalk that one up to it being a magical forest. Meanwhile, we learn about this new Queen’s backstory and how she met and fell in love with Ollie’s father when she was a teenager. I love how they are fleshing out Ollie’s parents cause we really don’t know much about them and Ollie has been around as a comic character for 70 years! I am loving this book still and the art is as breathtaking as always. I wonder where Speedy is though…shouldn’t we at least get a mention of where exactly Ollie’s ward is during all this.

Forests And Queens

Green Arrow (Volume 5) #2
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Diogenes Neves

 

Damn this is a beautiful book. Neves’s art is filled to the brim with beauty and detail in every panel. This guy better stay around as long as possible! I am actually really enjoying this new Green Arrow series as the forest makes for a great environment for Green Arrow to inhabit. The Queen is also a creepy villain with that mask and her power. She could become Green Arrow’s “Lex Luthor”. We know she knew his Dad and she was once a poor slave. Hmm. The ending was pretty shocking, how is Ollie going to get out of this?

Lord Of The Forest

Green Arrow (Volume 5) #1
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Digoenes Neves

 

After the disaster that was the Rise of Arsenal mini, many were expecting this series to be awful as well. I didn’t think so. Roy Harper’s descent into madness was clearly editorially driven. Krul is a good writer and he has shown that in the past. This issue is filled with his strengths. Green Arrow is now a vigilante living out of the forest that grew magically in Star City in Brightest Day. It is a pretty brilliant concept and makes Star City much more interesting then it ever has been before. Queen Industries is taken over by a russian woman in a mask – a really creepy nun-looking mask too. I like her already as a villain. Who is she? I have no idea. The biggest plus of this book has to be Neves’s artwork which is consistently beautiful. I just love it! I was very impressed with this issue and I’d say Green Arrow is the best it has been since Kevin Smith’s run. I hope Connor Hawke and Speedy show up eventually though.