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Post by starlord on Aug 26, 2009 19:07:46 GMT -5
Please let us know what you think!
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Post by UltimateDC on Aug 27, 2009 18:15:01 GMT -5
Now this is the down-to-Earth superhero story Green Arrow belongs in. Despite the shiny costumes and the almost characature of an intolerant right-wing Christian, this is a very realistic story and treated well. The scenes in the school were particularly gripping and Ollie's fall from grace actually makes quite a bit of sense and is more interesting than the standard "I've decided to go lethal" story that other heroes tend to fall in.
My only complaint was that this all seemed rushed. There's the slow burn of hunting down the first subject and as soon as that ends we go to the climax. I get that this is a one-issue story but maybe the pacing could have been adjusted.
Seriously though, great issue. Even the lack of Connor/Mia action didn't detract. I'll have to be back next month to see what happens.
-UDC
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Post by HoM on Aug 28, 2009 21:55:20 GMT -5
I actually thought this was quite an effective issue. The intent was clear-- though, to be honest, handled clumsily, and like UDC said, rushed-- and achieved with a certain finesse that the cover belied. I did think that the dialogue was a bit patchy, very overwrought and wooden. It was as if the characters were reading off a script, as opposed to living the words, a quality I always admired your New Outsiders work for.
The story, though, was a sad one, the cover revealed the murderer, I felt, because as soon as we were introduced to Kevin I just though, 'yeah, that's the one', because we hadn't been introduced to any other teen aged characters. You're a great mystery writer, Brian, you follow the "rules" damn close, so I knew that he was the culprit merely because we had no other choice but to think that.
I thought the inclusion of the Justice League was a tad lazy though, because I thought Ollie was going to go all the way, and, you know what? Rightly so. In that moment, in that context, and within the context of Ollie's last the past few months, I thought it was going to be a complete move for him. He's given up. Hal saving the day was something to stop Ollie becoming a darker character, and whilst I can see the upside to that... well. I think it's a marker of the fact that Ollie will return to the side of "lighter heroics" eventually, and that his transformation into someone who can't handle this kind of thing will be overturned when it's deemed the right moment.
I'm really looking forward to the new direction of the book though, because it's a risk. I'm sick of the boring old "same-y" writing that we see nowadays, with no one willing to take real risks, and I respect and adore the fact that you're doing something different with Ollie, Brian. You and Don, I think, are going to do something special, and Green Arrow (or, I hope, Golden Arrow) will be a title that will rise up to the top of my reading list, month after month.
Four stars, good story-telling with a few flaws that didn't stop it being one of the better issues of the week. Thanks for a heart-breaking tale, Brian.
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Post by starlord on Sept 1, 2009 18:49:37 GMT -5
Now this is the down-to-Earth superhero story Green Arrow belongs in. Despite the shiny costumes and the almost characature of an intolerant right-wing Christian, this is a very realistic story and treated well. The scenes in the school were particularly gripping and Ollie's fall from grace actually makes quite a bit of sense and is more interesting than the standard "I've decided to go lethal" story that other heroes tend to fall in. I'm glad you enjoyed this. It's taken me a long time to tell this story, but it's been in the back of my mind for a couple of years now. My main concern was Ollie's fall, so I'm glad it seemed to work for you. Absolutley right! The end was rushed, and I'm very disappointed in it, myself. Sorry about that. Well if you're looking for more Connor and Mia, your wait is almost over! Those two are about to take center stage in a really big way! As always, thank you. |
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Post by starlord on Sept 1, 2009 18:55:33 GMT -5
I actually thought this was quite an effective issue. The intent was clear-- though, to be honest, handled clumsily, and like UDC said, rushed-- and achieved with a certain finesse that the cover belied. I did think that the dialogue was a bit patchy, very overwrought and wooden. It was as if the characters were reading off a script, as opposed to living the words, a quality I always admired your New Outsiders work for. agreed well my intent wasn't really to make this a mystery at all, Charlie. I really wanted the story to focus on the hate that still permeates so much of our country, and that being the final straw for Ollie. But as you noted, I did do it very clumsily. That would have been interesting to do, but I think in the long run it would have put a huge black mark on Ollie that he might not have been able to wash off... ever. And part of what I wanted Ollie to see (even though he doesn't realize it yet) is that he has a lot of good friends out there who love him and won't allow him to "jump". Even Hawkman! Thank you for being honest and taking the time to read it, Charlie. It's very much appreciated.  |
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