Green Arrow #21 Review

(w) Jeff Lemire
(p) Andrea Sorrentino

"The Kill Machine" finishes up this month with not a bang, but a subtle whimper. I want to like Jeff Lemire's run on Green Arrow, I really do. And there are elements that I think are very strong, but Green Arrow #21's attempt to expand the mythos of Oliver Queen actually backfired and made the character a whole lot less charming. Since Ollie technically defeated Komodo last issue, this issue is mostly about tying up all the loose ends Lemire has left dangling.


** SPOILERS AHEAD **

First and foremost is how Ollie and his father are connected to the island where Ollie first learned to shoot a bow. Magus -- Lemire's 'deus ex machina' that's been popping up from time to time to lend a helpful story about the past -- finally decides to lay out the cards for Ollie and explain everything. Turns out Richard Queen and Simon LaCroix were friends once, but LaCroix murdered Queen. The reason? I'm not entirely sure. Magus explains that, "...LaCroix was everything your father wished you would be. He made him his protege in both business and his quest for the arrow. And then LaCroix killed him for it." Doesn't make too much sense to me: to murder the man who gives you opportunities unbounded. But that brings me to my second point.

THE CLAN OF THE ARROW?!?!?!?

Years ago, then-Marvel writer J. Michael Straczynski attempted to explain that Spider-Man was just the current avatar of the Spider God who had bestowed the power of the spider to various humans throughout history. It was a stupid and pointless endeavor that only succeeded in cheapening the character's rich narrative history, betrayed the core concept that anyone can rise up to a hero, and generally mucked up Spidey's continuity so much that everyone basically just doesn't talk about it anymore. It was a ridiculous attempt to give more meaning to a hero who didn't need some deeper meaning to his powers. It was completely unnecessary.

This is the feeling I'm getting from this whole 'weapon clans' concept Lemire is introducing. Basically, Oliver Queen was always destined to pick up a bow and become one of the most formidable and talented archers in the world because there is an ancient Arrow Clan of which is family was part of. I understand that part of the 'New 52' is actually making some things new, but this is the kind of change that makes fans angry.

Oliver Queen used to be about helping the less fortunate because he felt a sense of responsibility due to his being born into wealth. He took it upon himself to learn and grow as a person and become something better than he was before. And for a few issues, Lemire was beginning to lean toward this direction with the character after 16 issues of Ollie being a total ass and a pale ghost of his former self. Instead, Lemire decided to make Green Arrow just another hero who was 'destined' to become a hero instead of reinforcing Ollie as an example of peoples' ability to do better.

This just doesn't feel fun anymore. It feels forced. Not everything in a comic book universe has to be tied to fate, destiny, or past events. Sometimes, heroes arise because they need to and not because their great-great-grand uncle was cursed by an evil warlock for generations or somesuch like that. I like Lemire's dialogue; it's quality work and the all characters feel organic. I also love Andrea Sorrentino's artwork. It's honestly just the story that's turning me off of Green Arrow now.

GRADE
6.8/10