Reviews

Green Arrow, Vol. 3: The Archer's Quest by Ande Parks, Phil Hester, Brad Meltzer

captwinghead's review against another edition

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3.0

This was just okay.

Again, it's fascinating that I've read so many DC books at this point with few interactions with the Arrow family. I know next to nothing about Connor and Mia. I know a little about Dinah and I'm slowly learning all that I can about Roy Harper. He is my baby and I've latched onto him because of Outsiders. I know quite a bit about Emiko from Rebirth and I actually really like that iteration. Aside from some moments in Identity Crisis, Rebirth Ollie is the only Ollie I like. I feel like I understand that version.

I feel like I would love this character if the right person wrote for him. Meltzer wrote Identity Crisis so this should be a slam dunk right?

It was just okay.

Ollie just doesn't do a lot for me here. I do feel like I got a pretty okay understanding of his personality here. Particularly the moment where he comes across Catman getting too aggressive with his wife/girlfriend. I sort of understand him as (and I know DC fans hate it when we compare DC character to Marvel characters to understand them but I gotta) sort of a less angsty Bucky/Wolverine in that they'll do what they gotta do if it gets the job done and they have big mouths? Is that right? He's certainly an improvement here from the asshole he was in that Snowbirds Never Fly (?) arc where Roy was on heroin.

Anyway, that being said, I wasn't all that intrigued here. I did like the plot. It was an interesting concept and it really kicked off when Roy joined. I like his chemistry with Ollie (even though I think Jason Todd just inched Roy out in the "my mentor sucked" competition). I liked seeing them go through their old things in the Arrowcave. (Injustice!Harley asked why Ollie never called it the Quiver and I have never been able to get past that, lol). I liked Roy telling Ollie not to make the same mistakes with Connor.

The stuff with Dinah fell flat for me but I try not to let that impact my rating because I haven't read before and after this volume. I'm sure that means more if you had.

So, all in all: this wasn't a bad book. There just wasn't enough of the stuff I liked to make it great to me.

SpoilerThe fight with Grundy was great.
. I liked Ollie's interactions with Wally and Guy. And all the stuff with Roy as I mentioned. So... yeah. It's a recommend if you really love Ollie, I guess.

enzan's review against another edition

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5.0

Great tribute to Oliver Queen. His voice was exactly right, and the references to his past were well done.

cakemouse's review against another edition

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5.0

I love superheroes, and have since I was a kid. In my teens and 20's, I was definitely a Marvel Girl, loving X-Men and all X-titles (including Excalibur).

I can to DC characters late, even though I loved Superfriends as a kid. I don't know when I got into Green Arrow, but having also loved Robin Hood since I was a kid, Green Arrow became a quick favorite.

Mike Grell did awesome work on Green Arrow in the late 70's/early 80's, setting Ollie apart from other superheroes. And the reboot with Kevin Smith adds to it.

Kevin Smith's author's note talks about how he would only do a run on Green Arrow if he could bring something core out of the character. And this collection nails that. It touches on several different aspects - things Ollie did wrong, but also the people closest to him.

It's well done. And, in Green Arrow form, the artwork isn't the normal comic book style. It's very distinctive, with less shading and more straight "black/white" style. It works for me.

blackbird9805's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

elysareadsitall's review against another edition

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5.0

The team of Meltzer, Hester, and Parks did a phenomenal job of continuing the Green Arrow story. This book had it all: fights, nostalgia, arrow tricks, emotional growth. This is one of my favorite graphic novels.

pmileham's review against another edition

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4.0

Brad Meltzer continues the plot of Ollie trying to cope with being alive again and how his loved ones are affected. His plot gets a little darker and foreshadows his Identity Crisis series. Everyone involved did a great job and I would recommend it to anyone who just read Kevin Smith's run.

charitytinnin's review against another edition

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4.0

While I'd like a little more depth, I enjoyed this volume more than the last two. Especially the mask behind the mask idea. Oliver really is his own worst enemy.

birdmanseven's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a very strong, character-driven Green Arrow tale. My favorite so far in this run.

We discussed this run, plus the Green Arrow's complicated history in a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-233-green-arrow

obsesswithmandy's review

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3.0

I was told I didn’t have to read the other two books to read this one but I felt a bit confused. Overall I think this was good little set up for something. I really love the TV show Arrow and want to get more into the comics.

captwinghead's review

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3.0

This was just okay.

Again, it's fascinating that I've read so many DC books at this point with few interactions with the Arrow family. I know next to nothing about Connor and Mia. I know a little about Dinah and I'm slowly learning all that I can about Roy Harper. He is my baby and I've latched onto him because of Outsiders. I know quite a bit about Emiko from Rebirth and I actually really like that iteration. Aside from some moments in Identity Crisis, Rebirth Ollie is the only Ollie I like. I feel like I understand that version.

I feel like I would love this character if the right person wrote for him. Meltzer wrote Identity Crisis so this should be a slam dunk right?

It was just okay.

Ollie just doesn't do a lot for me here. I do feel like I got a pretty okay understanding of his personality here. Particularly the moment where he comes across Catman getting too aggressive with his wife/girlfriend. I sort of understand him as (and I know DC fans hate it when we compare DC character to Marvel characters to understand them but I gotta) sort of a less angsty Bucky/Wolverine in that they'll do what they gotta do if it gets the job done and they have big mouths? Is that right? He's certainly an improvement here from the asshole he was in that Snowbirds Never Fly (?) arc where Roy was on heroin.

Anyway, that being said, I wasn't all that intrigued here. I did like the plot. It was an interesting concept and it really kicked off when Roy joined. I like his chemistry with Ollie (even though I think Jason Todd just inched Roy out in the "my mentor sucked" competition). I liked seeing them go through their old things in the Arrowcave. (Injustice!Harley asked why Ollie never called it the Quiver and I have never been able to get past that, lol). I liked Roy telling Ollie not to make the same mistakes with Connor.

The stuff with Dinah fell flat for me but I try not to let that impact my rating because I haven't read before and after this volume. I'm sure that means more if you had.

So, all in all: this wasn't a bad book. There just wasn't enough of the stuff I liked to make it great to me.

The fight with Grundy was great.
. I liked Ollie's interactions with Wally and Guy. And all the stuff with Roy as I mentioned. So... yeah. It's a recommend if you really love Ollie, I guess.