rhganci's review
2.0
This volume has seemed the weakest of The New 52 by far. While the action sequences showed a wide range of arrow-types and the story dealt with some really current and interesting social themes, the writing of this book and the general direction of the plot really struggles to find its footing among the high quality of its other counterparts.
The first element of this volume that was weak was the dialogue. I seemed cheesy, even wooden at times, and during the fights especially out-of-place. The endless quipping, betting, ribbing, and blabbing banter between Oliver and his two compatriots got in the way of the suspense and tension of the Green Arrow's struggles. I found myself uneven on the role of Naomi and Jax; sometimes they seemed crucial to GA's operations, and sometimes they seemed an obstruction to the storytelling, which also struggled to communicate with me. What we have in GA Volume 1 are two separate stories, a sort of allegory about voyeurism on the internet paired with an ill-defined revenge narrative that featured a toxic monster and his robot wife. They don't really go together, and either one might have been better developed into something more sensible--as they stand, they both form two below-average stories that in the end didn't do much for me as a comics reader.
The art, however, was a separate story, though I found myself wishing that they would have either stuck with George Perez (can you go wrong with him?) or the other guys who did some finishes the whole way. As a result, the art, though great at times, was as hodge-podged as the plot and in the end served as only a passable addition to the uneven narrative. What I got out of the book was a clear re-introduction to Green Arrow with some interesting potential, but after six issues it's still just potential.
The first element of this volume that was weak was the dialogue. I seemed cheesy, even wooden at times, and during the fights especially out-of-place. The endless quipping, betting, ribbing, and blabbing banter between Oliver and his two compatriots got in the way of the suspense and tension of the Green Arrow's struggles. I found myself uneven on the role of Naomi and Jax; sometimes they seemed crucial to GA's operations, and sometimes they seemed an obstruction to the storytelling, which also struggled to communicate with me. What we have in GA Volume 1 are two separate stories, a sort of allegory about voyeurism on the internet paired with an ill-defined revenge narrative that featured a toxic monster and his robot wife. They don't really go together, and either one might have been better developed into something more sensible--as they stand, they both form two below-average stories that in the end didn't do much for me as a comics reader.
The art, however, was a separate story, though I found myself wishing that they would have either stuck with George Perez (can you go wrong with him?) or the other guys who did some finishes the whole way. As a result, the art, though great at times, was as hodge-podged as the plot and in the end served as only a passable addition to the uneven narrative. What I got out of the book was a clear re-introduction to Green Arrow with some interesting potential, but after six issues it's still just potential.
bpol's review
2.0
Green Arrow is one of my favorites, but I'm not sure I care for this incarnation of him. I guess we'll have to see what comes next.
renatasnacks's review
1.0
UGHHH. I picked this up because I started watching the TV show Arrow and I thought I'd give the comics a try. This is vol one of the New 52 reboot so THEORETICALLY it should have been approachable to me, a first time Green Arrow comics reader, because that was like, the whole point of the New 52. But it was not. There was no explanation about who Oliver's support team is? I would have accepted a one panel text box. Where did they come from?? On the show, his Batcave friends are my favorite part.
Also, on the show, Oliver is like a rich playboy but I find him likeable? Here he's PRETTY GROSS and calls women "skanks" and "attention whores". Like... in the show we see him kind of like that BEFORE his Island adventure that turns him into a hero. Now he's already a heroic figure, why is he still gross.
Also let's not... talk about how the main villains here are a sexy lady robot and her lover who is made out of toxic waste....?
Anyway, I'm aware that this came out a year or so before the show premiered, but I don't care. I like the show, I don't like this, I won't be picking up any more Green Arrow comics unless I hear that it's significantly changed. (Although I have heard that Felicity is in the comics now so maybe I'll pick them back up when she comes in. Or maybe I'll just keep watching the show.)
These have been my thoughts about new 52 Green Arrow vs Arrow the TV show, good night.
Also, on the show, Oliver is like a rich playboy but I find him likeable? Here he's PRETTY GROSS and calls women "skanks" and "attention whores". Like... in the show we see him kind of like that BEFORE his Island adventure that turns him into a hero. Now he's already a heroic figure, why is he still gross.
Also let's not... talk about how the main villains here are a sexy lady robot and her lover who is made out of toxic waste....?
Anyway, I'm aware that this came out a year or so before the show premiered, but I don't care. I like the show, I don't like this, I won't be picking up any more Green Arrow comics unless I hear that it's significantly changed. (Although I have heard that Felicity is in the comics now so maybe I'll pick them back up when she comes in. Or maybe I'll just keep watching the show.)
These have been my thoughts about new 52 Green Arrow vs Arrow the TV show, good night.
subhamroxx's review
3.0
This series serves as a reboot for Ollie in the new 52 and starts off with him teaming with Naomi, his computer expert and Jax, his gadgets guy and him fighting a bunch of villains who wanna livestream and provide people entertainment and also there is the case of too many villains like Rush, Supercharge, Dynamix and more and its so awesome to see Ollie go against a buncha villains but then he meets Blood Rose, whose a robot assassin and her lover Midas, who is monstrous looking and can melt things with his touch and also is super strong. Its interesting to see how Ollie fights them using trick arrows and/or with assistance from Naomi and Jax. And in his personal life, he dealing with the pressure of being CEO and Public face of Q-Core and butts heads with Emerson. Its a good start and in this era especially taking Ollie's fights to the next level and then there is the case of new rogues gallery which is awesome and the art is just so awesome throughout! Plus Ollie relying on friends is a good change of pace!
theartolater's review
1.0
I typically hesitate to give out 1-star reviews to books unless they're abysmally bad, lack any real redeeming qualities, or have fatal-yet-avoidable flaws. Green Arrow, however, is so competently bad that I'm just not sure what went wrong at all, except it all did.
Is Green Arrow supposed to be an egotistical quippy anti-hero? If so, he's not really great at being any of them. If not, you'd never know what the point of this incarnation of him actually is. He's not all that heroic, there's no reason for him to be involved with what he's involved with, it's just...off. Every bit of it is off.
The one thing I can say is that I have basically no knowledge of the character beyond parts of recaps of the CW program, and I know that's not representative nor did I expect that sort of Green Arrow. I just expected something either fun or dark, like so much more of the New 52, and this was unfortunately either. My first solid pass.
Is Green Arrow supposed to be an egotistical quippy anti-hero? If so, he's not really great at being any of them. If not, you'd never know what the point of this incarnation of him actually is. He's not all that heroic, there's no reason for him to be involved with what he's involved with, it's just...off. Every bit of it is off.
The one thing I can say is that I have basically no knowledge of the character beyond parts of recaps of the CW program, and I know that's not representative nor did I expect that sort of Green Arrow. I just expected something either fun or dark, like so much more of the New 52, and this was unfortunately either. My first solid pass.
bluehairedlibrarian's review
3.0
First time reading Green Arrow and I'm not sure how to feel about it. Nothing hooked me to the story or did anything to convince me that Arrow was anyone other than a third rate Batman.
oneandonlywm3's review
3.0
I've mentioned that Green Arrow is my favorite character ever, so it's quite a shame that I've only read this one now. After reading though, all I can say is that this is the worst New 52 volume I've read as of right now.
I've read a few other Green Arrow comics and I'm a huge fan of the TV show, so I have a good background of him. This volume didn't do him justice, not even one bit. He was unlikable, and more so were the supporting characters. No one will ever beat Felicity. Back to Oliver. He was somewhat like Tony Stark. He was so full of himself, and he was way cocky that usual. This latest addition to the Green Arrow series is not that promising.
The plot was mediocre. The villains were not that interesting. The walking toxic garbage thing was a bit interesting, but Blood Rose just didn't do it for me. She was boring and didn't strike me as a major villain. Honestly I was hoping deep inside that Deathstroke would make an appearance, but sadly he didn't. The TV series showed a lot of interesting villains, so maybe this New 52 series can still make a good comeback.
The artwork was good, at least. I liked how the artist made Oliver look younger and removed the awful beard. His costume was an improvement of the others I've seen. He also used a variety of arrows so the artwork looked alive.
2.5/5 stars. Rounded up because Arrow will always be my favorite character. I'm really hoping volume 2 would be a huge improvement over this mediocre crap. I guess I'm not giving up on the series and the author just yet.
I've read a few other Green Arrow comics and I'm a huge fan of the TV show, so I have a good background of him. This volume didn't do him justice, not even one bit. He was unlikable, and more so were the supporting characters. No one will ever beat Felicity. Back to Oliver. He was somewhat like Tony Stark. He was so full of himself, and he was way cocky that usual. This latest addition to the Green Arrow series is not that promising.
The plot was mediocre. The villains were not that interesting. The walking toxic garbage thing was a bit interesting, but Blood Rose just didn't do it for me. She was boring and didn't strike me as a major villain. Honestly I was hoping deep inside that Deathstroke would make an appearance, but sadly he didn't. The TV series showed a lot of interesting villains, so maybe this New 52 series can still make a good comeback.
The artwork was good, at least. I liked how the artist made Oliver look younger and removed the awful beard. His costume was an improvement of the others I've seen. He also used a variety of arrows so the artwork looked alive.
2.5/5 stars. Rounded up because Arrow will always be my favorite character. I'm really hoping volume 2 would be a huge improvement over this mediocre crap. I guess I'm not giving up on the series and the author just yet.