You think Bendis’ DD is breaking ground? Mike Grell beat him by a decade and a half with his GA!
Green Arrow when created by Jack Kirby was nothing short of a rip-off of Batman. He was a millionaire playboy that owned Arrow Cave, Arrow Car, Arrow Plane and had the requisite teen sidekick, Speedy. As the years progressed, the character finally moved away from being a Batman clone and truly began to grow into his own. Denny O’Neil is the writer that began to redefine the character into something far more entertaining than the Batman-with-arrows that he had been. In 1969 Ollie lost his fortune in the pages of Justice League of America #75. The biggest changes occurred in the ‘70s though. O’Neil’s teaming with Neal Adams on Green Lantern/Green Arrow for the “The Hard Traveling Heroes†saw the pair traveling the fringes of America in adventures that caught the cynical feel of the times. Ollie became an outspoken proponent for peace and worked to better the cause of the “everyman.â€
The 1980’s were a time for great change in the comic industry. Gritty, urban, ultra realistic storylines were the fad of the day. While there were still colorful, cheerful, superhero adventures the anti-hero began to supplant the more classic heroes. The Punisher, Ghost Rider, and the darker Batman were the rage in the ‘80s on into the ‘90s. As the late ‘80s approached a new hero joined this crew of grim urban guardians. Green Arrow was as evidenced by some of the material above, was a hero that was often played for fun with his silly trick arrows and somewhat comical demeanor. Now, under the direction of Mike Grell, he was ready to become a vigilante of an extremely dark order.
While Kevin Smith propelled Green Arrow to monstrous sales as the millennium turned, Mike Grell is the man that made that all possible by turning the character into a must read. Surprisingly, 1988 saw the first monthly Green Arrow series ever. Considering GA’s long history, and the deluge of DC titles in the 1970’s it is a very odd occurrence that there was never an ongoing before that point. Now the character seems a staple of DC’s monthly publishing schedule, but that just wasn’t the case until Grell got his hands on the character.
Mike Grell is my preferred comic book creator. His writing has always captured my attention like no other pro could, and his sequential art tells a story like few others are capable. The Warlord and Jon Sable: Freelance are two of Mike’s greatest series and creations, and two of my all-time favorites. The Warlord and Jon Sable: Freelance had their time of popularity, but Grell’s most widely lauded work, without question, was on Green Arrow.
Mike Grell’s run on Green Arrow (lasted for several mini-series, a number of annuals, and 80 issues of the ongoing) was all the more miraculous because it was unencumbered by the industry’s increasing reliance of guest stars and meaningless crossovers. Grell was able to hold the wolves off and tell his kind of story for more than six years, and all the while the book sold, and sold quite well.
Green Arrow and the Longbow Hunters
After the runaway success of Frank Miller’s epochal Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, DC began gave select creators almost unencumbered control, allowing creators ample freedom with their characters. The use of the square bound Prestige Format series was often the start of big things for a character in the ‘80s, and it was no different for Green Arrow.
Green Arrow and the Longbow Hunters moves the title character from his usual haunt, the fictional Star City to the more realistic confines of Seattle, Washington. Grell tells an engaging, adult-oriented story, one that veered entirely away from the usual spandex set. Oliver Queen, the alter ego of GA, opens a flower shop, appropriately named Emerald Florist, with his regular love interest Dinah Lance, Black Canary. Once there Ollie dons more appropriate urban crime fighting gear with a Robin Hood inspired hood, sans mask, and the absence of trick arrows.
Grell chooses to make age a key component in this storyline, and it will be a common theme as he moves forward as well. Ollie turns 43 early in the story, and he’s dealing with the difficult issues that are coming upon him with middle age. Hell, it could be said, that the entire run of GA by Grell, is Ollie experiencing one hell of a mid-life crisis.
As a thirteen year old, I was not ready for the images and themes that were depicted within these pages. At that age it would be easy to just be thrilled by the nudity and strong language within. This wasn’t toilet humor of the lowest order! This wasn’t crass brutal imagery with no heart. Sure, the mature themes changed my view of comics forever, but the powerful imagery and the mature tone were used to tell an utterly engrossing story.
With the setup complete, Grell moved forward with a brutal tale that saw Green Arrow track down a serial killer called the Seattle Slasher. Unfortunately, the Slasher is killed before his very eyes by a mysterious female named Shado. Shado is one of Grell’s most inspired creations and one that will play a huge part in the remainder of his time working on the character.
Shado has Yakuza connections and is the brutal counterpoint to Ollie, because she thinks nothing of killing her enemies. While the pair are at first at odds they end up working together to stop a drug cartel, along the way Ollie comes to odds with the CIA, including another character that will long be tied into the GA mythos, Eddie Fyres. There really aren’t any good guys or bad guys in this story. We’re talking about a lot of not-so-nice people struggling for their lives. It’s all about the shades of grey!
During the story Dinah is a brutalized by members of the drug cartel. She was beaten nearly to death, a powerful subplot that will come back to haunt both she and Ollie for years to come. This scene had such power on printed page that there was something of an outcry at the time of the book’s release. It was a rare thing to see such powerful images of brutality in a comic book in the late ‘80s, but it was almost unheard of to see such depictions featuring a woman.
Of course, the most compelling and controversial development is the fact that Ollie crosses the line and kills an enemy, not by accident, but by choice. The birth of the grim vigilante finally comes to fruition! Green Arrow, under Grell, becomes a shadowy version of his past self from this point forward. Not only this event, but everything that occurred in this story has powerful consequences on Ollie’s life. This story is one of comic’s finest, but it’s merely setup for what’s to come.
The Shado War of Green Arrow
Shado became a recurring aspect in Oliver Queen’s life throughout the remainder of Grell’s run, and she even continued to be a presence into the Connor Hawke days as written by Chuck Dixon. Of course, I’ve bitten off far more than I can chew in this column as is, so let’s just stick to Mr. Grell’s days on GA!
Shado and Eddie Fyres returned for “There Be Dragons†which ran in issues 9-12. This was an excellent follow-up to Longbow Hunters. Grell reintroduced Shado by having her shoot Ollie in the chest with an arrow. That’s a “hi, how you doing…oh crap, I’m sorry,†if there ever was one! Ollie doesn’t die, (duh, it’s not the ‘90s yet!) and the pair team-up under the direction of Fyres and another CIA operative named Osborne who will prove very important down the line. A lot of what happens here further foreshadows the problems that Ollie will have down the line. There’s even some great interplay between Dinah and Ollie concerning Ollie’s feelings for Shado.
This is an excellent example of giving the readers just enough to desperately want more. Shado almost always appeared in the book in extended storylines. Grell didn’t use her excessively, but when he did there was a tremendous expansion to the overall storyline of both she and Ollie. This story happens around Ollie’s 44th birthday, making another frequent thread of Shado’s appearances that they often occur around a birthday for Ollie.
The Trial…
Perhaps the most powerful storyline of Grell’s run, with, of course, the exception of Longbow Hunters was the emotionally charged “Trial of Oliver Queen†that ran in issues 19 & 20. Here we are treated to one of the ultra-rare superhero guest spots, by Hal Jordan.
The storyline focuses on Ollie going on trial and being absolved for shooting, and nearly killing, a teenage boy that had pulled a paintball gun on a cop. Ollie can’t forgive himself for nearly killing the innocent child. He begins to doubt himself and it seems he just may drop the mantle of the Arrow. Of course, Hal shows up in the nick of time and knocks some sense into Ollie. Well, actually, Ollie ends up kicking the crap out of Hal…hey, it’s male bonding!
While Ollie comes out of things not too much the worse for wear, the cop, Egan, ends up dying at the end of issue #20 after his partner hesitates in shooting another youthful perpetrator, this time the perp has a real gun though. Ollie speaks to Egan on his death bed, in a soulful scene Ollie tells the dying cop that he won’t quit being Green Arrow. His mission used to be more fun, but now he’s taking things very seriously.
This was a story of untold power!
Is that the blood of a Dragon?
Issues 21-24 featured the storyline “Blood of the Dragon†and the return of Shado. This time, Grell turns up the heat for all involved. Shado’s infant son is kidnapped, and she’s forced by a shadowy group of corrupt US officials to embark on an assassination of their choosing. Ollie, of course, gets involved and helps to remedy Shado’s woes. This doesn’t do wonders for Ollie though. Each time he gets involved with Shado he puts himself further into a doghouse with the government. A doghouse that he’s going to find inescapable as matters progress.
The end of this arc makes it clear that Oliver Queen is indeed the father of this child. It is later revealed that this event “happened†when Ollie was unconscious from the chest wound that was inflicted by Shado on Ollie during “There be Dragons.†This adds a very difficult wrinkle to Ollie’s life.
What you want something that’s less of a downer? Well how about…
Oliver Queen, meet Travis Morgan
I’ll give you a short break from the grittier material for a moment, and discuss a quirky little adventure that features one of Mike Grell’s most famous creations.
Probably my favorite story of Grell’s mammoth run on Green Arrow were issues 27 and 28 when Travis Morgan came to Seattle! Yes, Mike Grell, who throughout the entirety of his 80 issue run used DCU guest characters only a handful of times, actually brought The Warlord, one of the more fantastical heroes of the DCU, to Seattle for a visit! And what a visit it was!
The entire idea for this amusing romp was an industry-wide joke that Grell had draws Oliver Queen almost exactly the same as he drew Travis Morgan. So, Grell in a masterful stroke played on this by making the in-joke part of the tale, having Travis, who is returning to visit Earth from the dimension of Skartaris that he now calls home.
As Travis travels through Seattle he is mistaken for Ollie several times and has to fight for his life. Travis decides to pay Mr. Queen a visit. When Oliver opens the door he gets a punch in the face for his troubles. What ensues is a rather funny buddy-hero story where we see the pair take down the thugs and a passable state of friendship develops. In a really cool nod to fans, The Warlord goes by the name of Morgan the Raider at one point.
If you want to have some fun with Green Arrow, I highly recommend picking up these issues. They shouldn’t me too hard to find, and I promise they’ll be well worth your time.
More Shado, more government problems, and big trouble for Ollie Queen!
The late 1980’s saw U.S. forces stage an illegal invasion of Panama that was met with widespread ire by foreign governments. This was a political bombshell that occurred because a decade earlier, then president, Jimmy Carter, agreed to give the Panama Canal back at the end of the century. This met with major political opposition, and it was not until George Bush’s regime that the U.S. reasserted their military right to protect the canal. This wasn’t a comic story folks! This really happened. This was truly a powder keg, and Mike Grell touched on aspect of the Panama situation with “The Black Arrow†storyline which had something of a foreword in issue 34, ran from 35-38, and had a conclusive showdown with the president in issue 39.
This story saw the close of year three of the ongoing, and Mike Grell returned Shado and Eddie Fyres to the fray. This time, Grell pulled all the major plotlines together going all the way back to the Longbow Hunters and taking everything a step further. Oliver Queen is arrested in issue #34 for the explosion of a ship in the Panama Canal. Not only is Ollie caught up in this, but Eddie Fyres is mixed up in the business, and we’re told that he’s actually not a CIA or DEA agent, but a rogue working for Panamanian interests.
This is a truly crazy storyline of governmental puppets and lapdogs. In the end the scheme was put in place by the CIA hoping to regain complete control of the Panama Canal for US interests. They attempt to pit Ollie and Eddie against one another, then let the “winner†be the “terrorist†that blame will be placed upon. Thus allowing the U.S. to swoop in and regain complete control of the canal.
In the end, Shado gets involved because of Black Canary’s help. While Shado’s help is invaluable to Green Arrow’s continued existence, this is where Canary finds out about Ollie’s unknown little one. These events lead to a near friendship between Ollie and Eddie, and Ollie strengthening his relationship with Shado, but it also puts his relationship with Canary on the skids.
Hard Traveling Ollie
After his problems with the government and being branded a traitor, Ollie has a meeting with George Bush that in the end reveals the cover-up completely. While Ollie is now in the clear, he is still left as a non-entity. Couple that with the fact that he’s life with Canary is tanking, and Ollie does what he’s done before…he walks the Earth…having adventures.
Ollie’s spirit quest runs from issues 40-49, and has some brilliant moments, but is my least favorite time on the book. Ollie goes on his little journey sans hair on his head. He encounters IRA radicals, encounters American Indians, gets involved in filmmaking, and goes to Africa.
He finally returns to rescue Dinah from terrorists in the famous Seattle landmark the Space Needle. Ollie’s return to Seattle is not sweet. Things will only get worse for him from here on out. If you want to talk of acts, this certainly is the third and final act of Grell’s time writing Green Arrow.
End of an era!
Even though Ollie is back in Seattle he and Dinah never seem to click again. Part of the problem is a lover interest that had developed with Dinah and police officer named Kaz while Ollie was globetrotting. As nothing ever goes right for the pair, Kaz is a dirty cop and ends up killing himself since he can’t get out from under what he’s done. Talk about a black pall cast over two characters!
Issue #75 was an anniversary issue worthy of the extended length. Ollie must face an assassin that turns out to be Arsenal, his former sidekick Speedy, brainwashed by the ex-partner of Eddie Fyres, Osborne. During the past few years a young girl named Marianne had been living with Ollie and Dinah, and Ollie’s caught kissing Marianne. That really ticks Dinah off. Couple this with the appearance of Shado once again. At the close of this issue Dinah and Ollie break it off. That’s some momentous happenings considering how long the pair have been a pair!
The last five issues of Grell’s run are not as momentous as this issue. As things close out Ollie works with Eddie Fyres some more and that’s about it. With issue #81 Green Arrow puts his mask on once again and after six years Ollie was a big part of the DCU once again. The changes made by Grell reverberated with the character only for a short time though. Oliver Queen died and was replaced by another illegitimate offspring, Connor Hawke, less than two years after Grell completed his run.
Ollie has since returned, in the aforementioned run by Kevin Smith, but most of Grell’s brilliance has been forgotten. If you haven’t already, you owe it to yourself to seek this material out. I guarantee you that it’s better than 90% of the books that you’re currently reading!
Parting thoughts…
First, let me say, that writing a column that encompasses more than 80 issues of continuity is madness! I don’t know what I was thinking attempting such a thing. I attempted to make this recounting of Mike Grell’s narrative encompass as much material as possible, but there was so much outstanding work throughout, I’m sure I left gaping details out.
The people that are completely forgotten within my column are the artists. Mike Grell, with the exception of a number of covers, only produced the art for Green Arrow and the Longbow Hunters. The ongoing series was left to a variety of supremely talented individuals, a seeming who’s who of the comic industry. Dan Jurgens, Rick Hoberg, Ed Hannigan, Paris Cullins, Trevor von Eeden, Mark Jones, Denys Cowan, Dick Giordano, Shawn MacManus, and John Nyberg lent their artistic talents to the run. I would have been remiss to not at least make this small mention of these talented individuals. I wish that I had space to go further into the artistic merits of the series.
It is a true rarity to see an individual writer given such carte blanche with a relatively established character from a major comic publisher. In his six years working on Green Arrow Mike Grell never seemed to have to relent in any way. He was able to tell the stories that he wanted to tell, with a clear, realistic vision that progressed in as close to real time as any comic has. What Grell did with Green Arrow can most easily be compared with what Brian Michael Bendis is now doing on Daredevil. There is no care for what is going on in the rest of the company’s titles. Big changes happen on an almost monthly basis, and damn the higher ups. Of course, these are great stories, with large readerships, and are critically acclaimed. As good as it was, don’t expect too many others stories like this one!
The Reading Rack
Green Arrow and the Longbow Hunters: One of the best stories ever to feature Green Arrow. This is three issue mini-series also features Mike Grell’s stunning artwork as well as the fine story.
