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A review by meghannf
Green Arrow, Vol. 3: Emerald Outlaw by Benjamin Percy
5.0
I am usually not a fan of Green Arrow comics, never really liked the artwork but this once I decided to give a chance. Ok, guilty! The cover was gorgeous so I wanted to read it!! I know, I know…
Well, to begin this review, you have to know that this volume has a political feeling tackling some serious themes. We start this volume learning about Green Arrow’s situation is peaceful but he will have to pick his bow and intervene in order to quiet the part of him which craves justice.
This comic has the cutest introduction possible for Green Arrow. The design starts with a set design of a forest, green colors everywhere, in every shade. The set leaves a very Tarzan and Jane feeling who live in a cute little treehouse. I loved it! I thought that this choice reflected a strong identity vibe from Green Arrow. He knows who he is, and the set is here to remind us that green or emerald, well it has to be associated with him in every way possible! That’s when all hell broke loose!!
Starting from Oliver Queen’s backstory, the reader knows his link and passion for his city. Oliver and Dinah are comfortable in their tree-home in the forest, the romance is introduced into the writing in a cute way to identify who says what. Dinah and Oliver are adorable like that. However, as you can guess, nothing goes happily ever after, peace and quiet in the jungle for so long… So that’s why the couple needs to jump right in and have to deal with themes we actually see nowadays on TV. Important themes: police brutality, problem between divergence of opinions, there’s no longer an agree to disagree saying, the people in this fictional world have a hard time to think in grey, they see it as black and /or white, resulting in a division of the population of the city. This volume highlights the problem of division and even more of police brutality with the case of Sergeant Notting. The artwork is sharper there, with a specific color choice for every character. The creators chose to design artworks with specific shot choices. The same goes for the color choices, on numerous scenes with no apparition of the Green Arrow, they are toned down. The grids are following a scheme of intent of colors. You can feel it directly right by the change of style. Indeed, the lines are rounder for the body posture and character’s face, the writing is more aggressive.The page layouts look like it is paintbrushes and it stands out from how the creators combine the panels. The actions are reproducing some slow motion to highlight the plan of our famous couple. The set design manages to reproduce the effect of a fog, like a nightmare. Green Arrow arrives in the middle of trouble, so everything is foggy, messy. The point is achieved with success by the artists!
The artists convey the perfect tone and the reader directly knows that something major, bad and/or dangerous is going to happen or is happening in the panels. You go from bright and pop colors for Team Arrow to dark, darkish blue, brown and warm orange, like soothing flames practicing a lullaby for a future outlaw or illegal activity. A clear example of color play is the scene of police brutality which was contrasted with dark colors, directly after the green world, a bubble of happiness we saw Green Arrow living in. The contrast is surprising.
The plot has some good twists, hella good even!!! Especially in part five. The story challenges Oliver Queen with new trouble and guess who has decided to be the troublemaker? The League of Assassin’s! Attention seeker as always! You got to leave this specific character to have a theatrical, full grid entrance!
The WTF minute:
Honestly, I don’t know about you guys but I had a small problem with the hair color of our dear Dinah and Oliver. They are identical in some page, very Lannister!
Another one would be the déjà vu plot. The famous I have been framed, someone took my arrows, I promise it’s not me who killed, then I have to clean my name story, all over again.
What I liked the most:
⁃ The splashes are delightful.
⁃ Part 2, the cover. It is gorgeous, all the lines are creating a rushing movement, like you can hear the wind!
⁃ Smart dialogues and the jokes! And the puns which are good.
⁃ The ART, the ART, and the ART!!! The artists created sharp lines to reflect rush and speed (movements, and body gesture). Some scenes make the art looks like it’s straight out from a movie with car chasing to the program.
⁃ Dinah and Oliver are one cute couple!
⁃ The design for the characters’ faces is just as I like. They have a nice edge, more soft but also more expressive to display emotions.
⁃ The captions to distinguish Green Arrow from Black Canary are sooooo cute! They are adorable and have this romantic dialogue going on, so sweet.
A word on the cover:
Wonderful!!! love the effect with the glass shattering. the colors are sweet what a contrast with Oliver’s expression.
Well, to begin this review, you have to know that this volume has a political feeling tackling some serious themes. We start this volume learning about Green Arrow’s situation is peaceful but he will have to pick his bow and intervene in order to quiet the part of him which craves justice.
This comic has the cutest introduction possible for Green Arrow. The design starts with a set design of a forest, green colors everywhere, in every shade. The set leaves a very Tarzan and Jane feeling who live in a cute little treehouse. I loved it! I thought that this choice reflected a strong identity vibe from Green Arrow. He knows who he is, and the set is here to remind us that green or emerald, well it has to be associated with him in every way possible! That’s when all hell broke loose!!
Starting from Oliver Queen’s backstory, the reader knows his link and passion for his city. Oliver and Dinah are comfortable in their tree-home in the forest, the romance is introduced into the writing in a cute way to identify who says what. Dinah and Oliver are adorable like that. However, as you can guess, nothing goes happily ever after, peace and quiet in the jungle for so long… So that’s why the couple needs to jump right in and have to deal with themes we actually see nowadays on TV. Important themes: police brutality, problem between divergence of opinions, there’s no longer an agree to disagree saying, the people in this fictional world have a hard time to think in grey, they see it as black and /or white, resulting in a division of the population of the city. This volume highlights the problem of division and even more of police brutality with the case of Sergeant Notting. The artwork is sharper there, with a specific color choice for every character. The creators chose to design artworks with specific shot choices. The same goes for the color choices, on numerous scenes with no apparition of the Green Arrow, they are toned down. The grids are following a scheme of intent of colors. You can feel it directly right by the change of style. Indeed, the lines are rounder for the body posture and character’s face, the writing is more aggressive.The page layouts look like it is paintbrushes and it stands out from how the creators combine the panels. The actions are reproducing some slow motion to highlight the plan of our famous couple. The set design manages to reproduce the effect of a fog, like a nightmare. Green Arrow arrives in the middle of trouble, so everything is foggy, messy. The point is achieved with success by the artists!
The artists convey the perfect tone and the reader directly knows that something major, bad and/or dangerous is going to happen or is happening in the panels. You go from bright and pop colors for Team Arrow to dark, darkish blue, brown and warm orange, like soothing flames practicing a lullaby for a future outlaw or illegal activity. A clear example of color play is the scene of police brutality which was contrasted with dark colors, directly after the green world, a bubble of happiness we saw Green Arrow living in. The contrast is surprising.
The plot has some good twists, hella good even!!! Especially in part five. The story challenges Oliver Queen with new trouble and guess who has decided to be the troublemaker? The League of Assassin’s! Attention seeker as always! You got to leave this specific character to have a theatrical, full grid entrance!
The WTF minute:
Honestly, I don’t know about you guys but I had a small problem with the hair color of our dear Dinah and Oliver. They are identical in some page, very Lannister!
Another one would be the déjà vu plot. The famous I have been framed, someone took my arrows, I promise it’s not me who killed, then I have to clean my name story, all over again.
What I liked the most:
⁃ The splashes are delightful.
⁃ Part 2, the cover. It is gorgeous, all the lines are creating a rushing movement, like you can hear the wind!
⁃ Smart dialogues and the jokes! And the puns which are good.
⁃ The ART, the ART, and the ART!!! The artists created sharp lines to reflect rush and speed (movements, and body gesture). Some scenes make the art looks like it’s straight out from a movie with car chasing to the program.
⁃ Dinah and Oliver are one cute couple!
⁃ The design for the characters’ faces is just as I like. They have a nice edge, more soft but also more expressive to display emotions.
⁃ The captions to distinguish Green Arrow from Black Canary are sooooo cute! They are adorable and have this romantic dialogue going on, so sweet.
A word on the cover:
Wonderful!!! love the effect with the glass shattering. the colors are sweet what a contrast with Oliver’s expression.