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JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE & FALL
SPECIAL/GREEN ARROW #31
("The Fall of Green Arrow") |
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Comic Review by:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet |
Writer:
J.T.Krul |
Artist's:
GA #31-Diogenes Neves
JLA Special-Mike Mayhew, and Fabrizio Fiorentino, Federico Dallocchio |
Shipped on:
JLA Special-031010
GA #31-031710 |
Publisher:
DC Comics |
MSRP:
JLA Special-$3.99 each
GA #31-$2.99
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!) |
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“With Krul masterminding this entire ordeal it’s the author’s fresh perspective
on how to deal with an old favorite that’s going to keep me coming back for the
rest.”
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"...a conservative is a liberal who has been
mugged." -Anonymous
Let me start by saying that this is the first book with the words ‘Justice
League’ in the title that I’ve read that hasn’t been written by James Robinson
in quite a spell. I wasn’t on board with what the author was doing over in “Cry
for Justice”, and yet I found myself embroiled in quite an intense
internet-debate over what ended up transpiring in the series’ final issue. To
say that the ‘net nearly cracked in half when the super-villain Prometheus
destroyed Star City, and as such dropped a building on G.A.’s granddaughter,
would be the mother of all understatement, and THEN the Emerald Archer fired a
fatal shot that so many heroes failed to take before. Why didn’t I think any of
this was as big a disgrace as any of my internet cohorts?
Krul gets right to work by recapping all the more relevant bits and pieces of
Robinson’s ‘masterpiece’ in less than ten-pages, an amazing enough feat unless
you consider the fact that all of the Arrows’ characterization came in the last
two issues anyway. It almost seems like the whole point of Robinson’s work was
about getting the two Arrows’ to the worst possible condition imaginable, one
that would lead Ollie down a path many dare not tread, as judge, jury and
executioner for the scum that crosses his path. By offering insight into Queen’s
mindset when he recovered Roy’s daughter from the rubble, and subsequently what
was going on in his head when he shot an arrow between Prometheus’s eyes, adds
more depth to both aspects of the story, which can easily be written off as
‘shock-value’ in Robinson’s hands.
The story primarily revolves around Oliver Queen and his wife, Black Canary, as
they make their way through what remains of their home, Star City, attempting to
either help those in need, or harm those seeking to take advantage of the
situation, depending on whose side you take. Dinah notices Ollie’s determination
to dole out as much pain and suffering as he possibly can to anyone causing even
the slightest amount of trouble, and though she doesn’t call him on it, she
realizes everything he has to work through.
In the meanwhile a couple pairs of Leaguers bounce around to different locales,
hoping to track down Prometheus, whom they don’t know is already skewered to a
wall in his own hideout. Dick “I’m Batman now!” Grayson and fellow former-Titan
Wally “I’m not the real Flash anymore!” West take on the blue armor-clad waste
of time that is Razer, a perfect Flash villain, but not so hot against the heel
of Batman’s Doc Martins. Hal Jordan and Barry “Eff-You Wally West!” Allen manage
to track down Prometheus’s corpse, causing Hal to gasp in shock, proclaiming:
“Ollie killed him!” To which Barry “I’ve only been back from the dead for ten
whole minutes” Allen retorts, “NO…He Murdered him!” Dun-dun-DUN!
Cut back to Ollie and Dinah as they cross paths with the Electrocutioner, who
for whatever idiotic, only-in-a-comic-book reason decided to hang around the
town he just blew to shambles, and now has to get his ass kicked by a girl, and
a guy dressed in green tights, no less. Once Electrocutioner is subdued, Ollie
continues his assault relentlessly, despite the man lying battered and broken in
front of him. At this point Dinah, G. A.’s wife and longtime friend, steps in,
hoping to keep her husband from crossing a line he’s already long passed. When
Flash and Green Lantern show up and confirm her suspicions Ollie is left with no
other choice than pilfering a dead man’s possessions, and beating feet out of
town.
The story continues directly in Green Arrow #31 where Krul keeps the momentum
going. While Ollie makes his way through the rubble of Star City, still trying
to wreak as much havoc in the hearts and minds of those who take advantage of
any and everyone. He sets his sights, literally, on street thugs, thieves, and
corrupt police (now under command of an even more corrupt Commander).
There are some really great character beats as Ollie weaves a tangled web of
deceit, and rage amongst the people he considered the closest to him. His
distaste for Barry Allen is brought to light, as well as his lack of respect for
his wife, Dinah Lance, the Black Canary. His son, Connor, gets a guest shot, and
even he voices his opinion on the Green Arrow-goes-the-way-of-the-Punisher
scenario that seems to be playing out.
The last page shocker really threw me for a bit of a loop, and not because I’m a
long-time G.A. fan, or anything of that sort, but I finally seemed to realize
just what the “Fall” of Green Arrow might mean to some of the people who’ve
fought beside him. While next week (or the week after) debuts the “Rise Of
Arsenal”, other members of the Arrow clan see consequences of their actions play
out in the ‘Fall’, and I’m surprised that this is only advertised as a two-part
story, considering almost every DC big-wig touted Green Arrow as a
character-to-watch in the coming year.
I’m stoked for the ‘Rise’ and ‘Fall’, although I’m seriously hoping that Roy
isn’t transformed into a vengeance-seeking, pseudo-90’s, Image-style anti-hero;
if they were to set G. A. on that path, I’d be all for it, simply because the
character has had a long enough and tenuous record with fans, and sending the
concept in a new direction would be very interesting. With Krul masterminding
this entire ordeal it’s the author’s fresh perspective on how to deal with an
old favorite that’s going to keep me coming back for the rest.
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All Books/Characters pictured herein are © Copyright 2010 by their respective
owners. No rights given or implied by Alternate Reality, Incorporated.
Reviews © 2010 Alternate Reality, Inc.
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