Green Arrow #26 – Review

By: Jeff Lemire (story), Andrea Sorrentino (art), Marcelo Maiolo (colors)

The Story: Even on a deserted island, there are local treasures.

The Review: I never did read the early run of this series, so I don’t have a precise idea of what the general direction or tone of it was, but my understanding is that pre-Lemire, Green Arrow was a more high-tech, street-driven version of your typical Batman comic.  Had the series remained on this track, it probably would have been doomed to failure.  It invited too many unflattering comparisons, and prevented its star from truly developing his own identity.

So while Lemire’s efforts on the title have produced mixed results in terms of individual issues, the whole scheme of Green Arrow has definitely changed for the better.  The introduction of the Outsiders and the various weapon clans that compose them drew the title away from the urban crime it used to wallow in before, and with this issue, Lemire firmly leads Green Arrow into a newer, more mystical era.  Within that framework, Ollie is less a vigilante in the sub-Batman mold, but an adventurer and survivalist a la Indiana Jones or Nathan Drake.*