Quick Shot Review- Green Arrow/Black Canary #7 -SPOILERS
Well, at a certain someone’s behest, I caught up on GA/BC today. I hadn’t read since the same plot device used at the end of the wedding was used at the end of issue #3, and 3 issues in we’d already had a Mia “I HAVE AIDS!!!!!” tirade.
Nevertheless, I decided to go ahead and catch up, reading four issues in a row, ending with last week’s issue #7. I’ll be honest, #4 to a lesser extent, but I somewhat enjoyed 4-6. The broody Ollie is not as fun as the carefree Ollie, of course, but the characters still mostly acted like themselves, and some of the bits were pretty heartwarming. The do-over wedding in particular was nice; my wife and I had a small, intimate wedding, and we’ve also dressed as GA and BC for a Halloween. I digress. After feeling somewhat ok about this book all of a sudden, I then opened up #7.
It started off ok, with a decent little chase/action scene. A comedic beat followed, featuring Hal Jordan. Then, Team Arrow used the threat of sodomy by overweight shirtless clown, old lady in bikini and bunny ears, and a sheep as interrogation tools. Go ahead, re-read that sentence. I couldn’t possibly make this stuff up, folks, that’s what REALLY happens in the book.
Overseas in London, England, Team Arrow meets/tussles with/then decides fighting is silly (where have I seen that before? Oh, every team up. Ever. Forever.) with Gambit. Er…some kind of British Gambit wannabe who throws a mace instead of cards. He even has the two-toned spandex under a trench coat, a tussle to his hair, and a cavalier attitude. He’s a thief that’s made some bad moves, but everyone just can’t help but like him. So, like I said, they meet Gambit. He leads them to the big reveal…
(Click for larger image)Ra’s Al Ghul is behind it all! DUM DUM DUUUUUUUUUUUUM.
So, the writing in this issue fell on some really weird parts, some mega-clichés, and a character that just HAD to be an homage. Like I said, the chase was decent and the early humor was, as well. Over-all, this is the worst issue of this book to date, after it had salvaged something from the prior 3 issues. I’m a huge fan of these characters- they are my favorites in the DCU; I can’t bring myself to support this book, though, not with being so hit or miss (1 decent : 2 pretty good : 2 bad : 2 terrible is NOT a good enough ratio).
The art was predictably great. Mike Norton took over penciling with this issue, and he’s using essentially the same character models Chiang used, but with his style firmly intact. I’m sure there’re nits to pick, but nothing so glaring that it jumped out at me while reading the book. Honestly, if it was just about any other writer, I’d probably stick to the book for a few issues just to see Norton’s great art.
So, that big reveal. Well, it may have looked very familiar, especially if you’re a big DC reader. I can’t imagine where I saw a final team shot with the revealed mastermind villain as a headshot in the sky above them before…
Oh yeah, it was in Winick’s other book that came out last week, Titans #1. Yikes. At least its on the opposite side…
(Click image for large version)
April 15th, 2008 at 3:57 am
I like this book more than most, but even I have to admit that this issue did nothing for me. The first scene was silly but cute, but from there, it all went downhill. The interrogation/sodomy scene was… well, awful, really.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
That is HILARIOUS that Winick busted out TWO bad guy reveals in identical style in the same week. Thank you, Lucas, for assuaging my fears that I gave up on this book too early. Has Winick FINALLY become the next Chuck Austen??