Green Arrow #8 (DC Comics)
Writer: J.T. Krul; Pencils: Diogenes Neves; Inks: Oclair Albert & Vicente Cifuentes; Colors: Ulises Arreola; Letters: Rob Leigh; Editor: Adam Schlagman
The magical forest of Star City is indeed an interesting addition to the DCU. However, the Green Arrow title seems to be becoming a showcase for other characters of the DCU with Oliver Queen merely playing host.
In Issue #8, our principal guest stars are Jason Blood and Etrigan the Demon experiencing a bit of separation anxiety. That is, they’re anxious that the separation the forest has worked on them might not be permanent.
On the periphery of this challenge, Lois Lane has come to town – although so far as we can tell, it is only for exposition purposes, as a local reporter reminds her and the readers of what has happened to the city. Also on the outskirts of the forest, Doctor Mid-Nite and Mr. Terrific are trying to nibble scientific bits of information about the uncanny woodland.
The ongoing mystery of the Is-He-Or-Isn’t-He-Galahad does not progress much at all. Galahad pursues some of Mid-Nite & Terrific’s henchlings out of the forestand experiences a painful (flashback, apparently) vision of terrible sorrow and loss. But Ollie quickly recovers him and draws him back into the soothing balm fo the forest.
And that’s about it.
Ollie doesn’t drive the story here. The main conflict (between Jason Blood and Etrigan) isn’t even really affected by him. Other than keeping varioiius characters from doing excess damage to each other, he doesn’t even really serve a purpose in this plot.
Why is this a Green Arrow story?
Neves’ artwork does a good job of staying clear int he midst of action. Other than his apparent assumption that an archer can pull a bow to full draw while holding it diagonally across the body, witht he archer’s torso facing the direction he is aiming … he’s not doing too badly. Someone does need to take him to an archery range and give him a few lessons, though.
As a story, it’s an interesting entry in the ongoing saga of the conflict between Etrigan and Jason Blood. As a story about Green Arrow? It’s a blank. There’s nothing “there” there.
