Posted by Ryan Walsh at dhcp152-190.butler.edu on March 08, 2001 at 15:49:14:
Mr. Smith et. al:
You asked for thoughts on Green Arrow #1, and I’m certainly not one to deny you. Just so you know, I’m a long-time admirer of your work, both in screen and comic form (not to sound like an ass-kisser), and a newbie when it comes to things Green Arrow, so this was my first experience with the character. To everyone else reading this that is not Kevin Smith, you can enjoy this too, or hate it and curse my name for many moons. That little disclaimer aside, I’ll begin.
The intro using Batman and Superman “chilling” as the sun expired was interesting. It was great to see such superhuman characters conversing as if they were hanging out on a weekend, only the world was ending, and they were on top of a skyscraper, and there were no beers. While it didn’t seem to play into the rest of the issue, it is obvious that before long, that scene will become painfully significant, as will the “title” page.
Arsenal’s commentary did a great job of displaying the kind of influence the Queen could have on the average person. I’m not saying that Arsenal is average, by any means. I’m merely stating that Queen had no direct ties to him before his introduction to the DC-verse (that I know of), yet here comes this punk kid that thinks he can string a bow, and before anyone can blink Green Arrow’s practically adopted him.
Black Canary’s story was different in tone and subject, and it showed a completely different side of the Queen’s character. First off, Black Canary had her own individual voice and I really appreciated that. With Canary, the reader got to see the perspective of Queen’s lover, someone so close to him that the flaws in him became more visible. The reader also saw some of the circumstances behind Queen’s death. I was hoping there’d be more, but I feel I got the gist of it. One thing: I know you probably couldn’t resist it, and it was a great opportunity, but her “PMS-ing” line brought me out of the story. I was fully zoned in, a great achievement in any writing project, but when I got to that line it knocked me back into stupid reality again. Thanks a whole freakin’ lot.
Anyhoo, we came to Oliver’s son, the character who knew him the least but pursued his memory the most. He’s already suffering so much, desperately wanting to know his father but praying that he’ll rid himself of this obsession before it consumes him. Arguably, it may be too late for that.
What I really liked about the three scenes collectively was that it took the standard approach of friends introducing the central character while A) not being blunt, and B) showing that the ones introducing him had lives of their own, beyond being associated with the Green Arrow. Supporting characters are at their best when they’re more than supporting characters. Also, I really feel as though I know the man better: a strong man who rid the world of evils to give others a chance to be as happy as he strove to be. Emotionally driven, doing everything he did with passion, and inspiring that passion into those around him.
The ending, in true comic form, dangled the reader off a very deep cliff. How’d he come back to life? What’s the reason behind his lack of hygiene, his ragged clothing, and his common household weapons of war? What does it all have to do with a powered-down Supes dropping something off a building? These and other annoying questions will keep readers such as myself coming back, but it was the promise of top-notch writing and art that got us into this fix in the first place. Thank you and your team for delivering on that promise. Delivering on that promise of on-time comics wouldn’t hurt, either.
In closing, thanks for wasting your precious minutes on the ramblings of a mid-west hick. And in case you didn’t, well, I guess I’ll just keep the secret of conjuring vengeful gods to summon forth mustard to myself. Just so we’re clear: me like Green Arrow #1.
Later,
Ryan Walsh
Indiana