Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: New Wounds (Straight Shooter, part 4 of 6)
Written by: Judd Winick
Penciled by: Phil Hester
Inked by: Ande Parks
Colored by: Guy Major
Lettered by: Sean Konot
Editor: Bob Schreck
Publisher: DC Comics
DC’s has really stumbled with the Green Arrow series over the last few months.
After a strong run by movie / comic book crossover creator Kevin Smith, the brilliant Archer’s Quest by acclaimed novelist Brad Meltzer, and a solid one-shot by Scott Beatty, DC followed-up with an abysmal weekly crossover gimmicky cash-grab with their Green Lantern series.
In addition, DC announced that Judd Winick, an architect of that horrible GA/GL crossover, would be the new GA scribe. GA fans, myself included, were not initially happy with this selection and, as a longtime Teen Titans fan as well, Winick’s outing on the Titans / Young Justice: Graduation Day mini-series did not make a strong case for his stewardship of any ongoing title – let alone GA or the new Outsiders series (stemming from Graduation Day).
Winick’s inaugural GA arc, Straight Shooter, started off very slow and had readers scratching their collective heads after the first two issues – stilted dialogue, a seemingly odd choice of ogre antagonists, and a sexually-ambiguous portrayal of GA’s son Connor – himself a “Green Arrow”.
However, with last month’s GA and this month’s issue #29, the series is hitting its stride under Winick’s penmanship – DC’s handling of the franchise seems to be more stable. After some fumbles and falters, a more typically human portrayal of GA has many readers viewing Winick as a franchise savior and not a sinning blasphemer. Winick’s outing on the Outsiders series also has been seemingly embraced by fans.
GA #29 shows the title hero’s alter ego, Oliver Queen, grappling with the aftermath of his Christ-like impaling at the end of last issue. For an expert marksman archer, impaled and injured hands would seem to be a performance hindrance and career-ender.
Oliver Queen is no ordinary archer.
In addition to the very human drama of the psychology of pain, the issue also has Oliver dealing head-on with the ramifications of a recent bout of adultery.
However, what comic book – even one spotlighting a very fallible human in Oliver Queen – would be complete without the requisite uber-antagonist? With the mystery surrounding a gaggle of ogres, GA comes face-to-face with his seemingly unstoppable, and businessman-like-dressed, impaler: Drakon.
With a pseudo-cliffhanger ending, the words that end the issue really describe the arc so far, even though we’re more than halfway into it: “…it ain’t over. We’re just getting started.”
This is by far Winick’s best issue to date on the GA series. It bodes well for this arc and beyond. A GA series should be a very down-to-earth yarn about a very human and idealistic Oliver Queen, who also happens to be a masked expert marksman.
Great story. Solid issue.
Penciller Phil Hester and inker Ande Parks continue to deliver beautiful stylized art for the series. They really have been the heart of the series over the last two years, since issue #1. Matt Wagner’s covers also continue to set a great tone for the series.
Gorgeous art work!
In the final analysis, GA #29 is a highly recommended read for veteran fans and newbies alike – a very human tale beautifully rendered.
