Green Arrow: Quiver (Green Arrow (Graphic Novels)) [ペーパーバック]

Kevin Smith has an inability to meet deadlines with regard to comics published monthly. Just ask comicbook shop owners and fans of recent comics like "Spider-man and the Black Cat." Why then, do readers not just give up on his works? Because the man is a very talented creator, and "Green Arrow: Quiver" is Kevin Smith at his best. This book is a compilation of Smith's first story arc as the writer on the "Green Arrow" comic book. Smith literally resurrected the Green Arrow character and the Green Arrow comic book with this masterful arc.

So often in comic universes, characters killed off - only to be brought back to life. Readers have become almost de-sensitized to these deaths only because they know that eventually the character will be brought back, and a weak explanation will be offered that explains away the "death." Here, the Green Arrow is brought back from the dead, but Smith's familiarity with the supernatural lend this resurrection much more credence than most other stories in which dead heroes are given a new lease on life. The scenes in which Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) learns what had happened to him reminded me of something out of one of those old "Twilight Zone" episodes, yet Smith made all of it so plausible.

Smith's name and his storytelling abilities are the marquee draw here, but Phil Hester's pencils have made their mark on the Emerald Archer. Hester, whose work in this book is slightly more realistic looking than the Justice League cartoon on the Cartoon Network (this is not a slam, by the way), has truly made the Green Arrow his character. Rarely in my short history as a comic book reader have I strongly associated an artist with one of his characters. I will forever associate Hester with the Green Arrow, much like I associate Jack Kirby with the Fantastic Four, Steve Ditko, Romita, Sr. and Jr. with Spider-man, and John Byrne with the X-Men. In short, I can't imagine what the book would look like without his touch.

"Green Arrow: Quiver" is the best of what comic books are all about. I won't spend much time on the plot because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who plans to purchase this book. All you need to know is this: The Green Arrow has come back to life, and he must learn how he ended up where he is now - did he really die? How did he return? What the heck is going on? Add to this the fact the Ollie's family and extended family must also deal with his "resurrection," and you've got yourself a first-rate tale. Oh, yeah, and there is a bad-guy killing kids that needs to be captured, too! The book is full of great story-telling, great art, and the list of guest-stars like Superman, Batman, The Spectre, Etrigan the Demon, etc. is as long as Giant Man's sleeve! If you've been away from comics for a while, or if you do not usually buy trade compilations, reach into your wallet and give this one a try. You will be glad you did, and you may find yourself making a weekly trip to the local comic shop a regular part of your routine!

This is the 4th TPB collecting the new Green Arrow; I just wanted to help clear up any confusion anyone might have when looking around at the trades and trying to figure out what happened with the missing issues.

The TPBs collect:

Issues #1-10: "Quiver"
Issues #11-15: "Sounds of Violence"
Issues #16-21: "Archer's Quest"
Issues #26-31: "Straight Shooter"

Issue #22 was a stand alone story, and Issues 23, 24 and 25 were part of a crossover story with Green Lantern's book, which does not seem to be released in trade form at this date.

AS to whether any of these are worth reading - they definitely are. I started collecting the book simply because Kevin Smith resurrected the character and based on his movies and his work on the Daredevil character, I gave it a shot. Oliver Queen quickly became my favorite DC comic character, with great apologies to the Bat, but the writers have just done a great job with this character.

First up let say I've been a Marvel Universe guy most of my disturbingly long comic book life. I've dropped into the DCU enough to keep tabs on the major characters and the big events (Zero Hour, Death (ha) of Superman) but I've never been a strict follower of DC contiuity. Certainly I knew only the basics about the Green Arrow - he was Robin Hood, he hung out with Hal Jordan's Green Lantern. Oh, and apparaently he died.

But on the strength of Kevin Smith's name I gave this a go. And man was it worth it. In the intro Smith mentions he copped some flak about using too much DC continuity, making it too hard for the casual reader. Well, I am that casual reader and I had no problem with the story at all. Sure things were referred to, and I probably didn't get every single reference but it certainly didn't detract from the enjoyment. This is a great story, well told.

Oliver Queen is a great character, no-nonsense, cynical and fun, and the cameos from the other DC big hitters who thought he was dead are great. Yes, it's wordy but the words are great. The humour is strong and the drama is emotional. It's more adult than a lot of super hero comics and darker in it's themes. Probably not for younger readers.

Not every issue has action but I hardly cared, so strong was the story. I wasn't entirely sure about the artwork by Ande Parks and Phil Hester at first (I like a more realistic style of penciling generally) but I ended up loving it. Minor cavil: How about publishing the covers as full pages instead of four to a page in a cover gallery? Especially covers this good.

The best compliment I can give this collection is that I'm not only going right out to chase more of this new Green Arrow, but I'm also hunting down the classic Arrow of the past as well. If are an Arrow-head past or present, or just like terrifically entertaining super hero tales well told then don't miss this.