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‘Green Arrow #47’ (review)

Written by Julie and Shawna Benson
Illustrated by German Peralta
Published by DC Comics

 

Julie and Shawna Benson conclude the Citizen’s Arrest story arc in Green Arrow #47 with German Peralta on art duties and one of our favorites Alex Maleev makes a sweet cover. The cover depicts Oliver mid jump taking on the latest addition to Green Arrow’s rogue gallery, the anonymous Citizen.

Citizen is broadcasting to the world a captured and bound to an electric chair Oliver Queen as Black Canary is in pursuit. Kate and Fyff are back in the cave at Queen Industries trying to triangulate the signal as Dinah uses the intel to find Citizen’s rooftop hideout.

Echoing the real world movement of the 99%, this broadcast is Citizen’s trial of Oliver for being a rich guy.  Oliver pleads not guilty so Citizen smacks him on display.

How will Green Arrow get out of this mess?

Meanwhile, á la Jason Todd’s dilemma, Citizen asks the public to vote on the death of this elite socialite through his far-reaching app.

Spoiler warning if you haven’t read the issue, go do it!

An arrow hits the Frankenstein switch just before Citizen hits it, and a new Green Arrow stops the execution of the original Emerald Archer.

Who is it? Diggle? Roy (RIP)? All guesses are wrong!

Dinah herself has dawned the hood to save her love!

Canary placed a spider-tracer, whoops I mean a tracker in alter ego Oliver’s shirt, courtesy of Huntress to find him.

Ollie and Dinah are able to switch uniforms behind the scene as Green Arrow takes on Citizen for final blows, all the while in front of this broadcast. Citizen is identified as Seattle Police Officer Stranz.

We’re treated to the end of the story and the full circle justice you might expect. This story will of course read well in trade and the relevant social issues of using social media for good and the permanence of Internet information as it relates to one’s own history are explored in Oliver’s captions and thoughts on these issues.

There is a last page reveal of a new tool in Oliver’s arsenal that is ridiculous, fun and also makes him more on par with Batman’s wonderful toys. I don’t want to spoil this but I feel like Arrow fans will be delighted. On a more personal note, Oliver and Dinah are closer and come to an agreement about their relationship that’s almost as touching as the #Olicity love affair! The point being that Black Canary and Green Arrow are now more of a partnership in love, life and heroing in Seattle as they protect the city.

We’re on a good modern run of Green Arrow here, after lots of creative team swaps from New 52 to Rebirth to now, and I’m so on board with the Benson’s superhero work here. These are just plain good comics, the kind we used to get back in the day. Sticking with the iconic team of Black Canary and Arrow in Seattle let’s the team respect and grow on the past while moving the story into the future with modern problems of social media and an always connected society.

I may have also said in previous Green Arrow reviews this is a good companion to the television show as well. It is hard to not voice Oliver with Amell’s dialogue when reading aloud. He may have his signature goatee back but this is closer to the show as far as themes and overall voices are concerned.

Next up: Green Arrow is shaken by Vertigo!

 

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