Comic Review: Green Arrow (2016-) #44

Green Arrow #44

DC Comics

Writers: Julie Benson & Shawna Benson

Artist: Javier Fernandez

There’s a new vigilante in Seattle out to get rid of the corrupt and unjust in power. Next in his sights is none other than the Green Arrow himself, Oliver Queen! Oliver has to stop The Citizen from executing another person and protect himself at the same time!

Green Arrow #44 starts with a car chase; civilians are targeting Oliver while falling into The Citizens version of justice. Making his escape, Green Arrow teams with Black Canary to protect the other two potential victims of The Citizen. Before the issue is over, we learn that when he was younger, Oliver was in a hit and run accident. Unaware he hit someone, Oliver’s father covered the whole incident up, and now The Citizen wants justice.

We’re two issues in, so it’s too early to tell, but I like where Julie and Shawna Benson seem to be taking this story. The crime from Oliver’s past has the potential to change the character in a big way. I think they’ve also got a good understanding of his role, as well as Black Canary’s. This isn’t their first time writing either character though since they’re coming from the now over Birds of Prey book. I will say, I think the weakest part of the story is The Citizen as a villain. Hopefully, it changes (it most likely will) but at this point, we know nothing about him. He’s just another “You won’t get your hands dirty, so I will” kind of villain. I like how he’s going about doing it, but, so far, there’s no apparent motivation.

I’m enjoying Juan Fernandez’s art. I think Green Arrow looks good in his style. The action is good and clean. The colors, by John Kalisz, work well and bring everything together. The last page of the issue is explicitly one of the better pages I’ve seen in recent memory. I don’t have anything more than a nitpick or two about this issue. Some of the faces can get a little simple looking, but it’s not a big problem. I also think The Citizen’s costume is a bit boring. Just a white/red jacket/robe and a blank mask.

I like this issue. There’s nothing in it that makes it stand out, but it’s nowhere near being a bad issue. The story is going at a nice pace, without dragging its feet. The art, besides a few panels, is good. The villain is a weak character so far, but that’ll hopefully change as the story moves on. There’s not a lot I have to say about this issue. It’s good, but it doesn’t have anything that stands out to me. I’m still on board with the new writers; we’ll have to wait and see what they do with this series.