Green Arrow # 62 Review
Author: Judd Winick
Penciler: Scott McDaniel
Inker: Andy Owens
Color: Guy Major
The rematch of the century? Not really. The rematch of the week is probably more like it and its one hell of a rematch. As most of you know listening to our previous podcasts or just reading my rants, I was not a big fan of Identity Crises. Deathstroke taking down the JLA was always a silly idea to me. But this rematch read so much better than the fight in Identity Crises. I am also glad that someone keeps putting McDaniel on a monthly book, I have been following his work since Daredevil: Fall from Grace. I think he has found a home along with Judd Winick on this title.
Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke the motherfuckin Terminator has been hired to kill Star City Mayor Oliver Queen AKA Green Put yo' Eye Out Arrow. Deathstroke has been itching for a rematch with Green Arrow because of the injuries he received from Queen during Identity Crises.
The fight starts off in Ollie's office where Slade knocks out Fredrick Tuckman (Queen's chief aide) and paralyses Queen. Now usually Deathstroke would have just done the job and killed Ollie and done it without saying a word. However, Winick gives Slade a monologue that is very cliché even for villains. Spilling his guts out to Ollie about what he is going to do to him and just walking around, just didn't seem like the Deathstroke I knew. I understand what Winick is trying to do, but it just seems a bit out of character. Slade is caught off guard by the bomb that Ollie implanted in the room.
The bomb in this issue is just another gripe I had with this book. Queen states that the bomb came from Kord Industries and blames Slade for the death of Ted Kord (Blue brains splatterd on floor Beetle). Could someone explain this one to me? I may be missing something but when did Checkmate (the group responsible for Ted's death) become affiliated with The Society (the Group that Slade belongs to)? Of course it’s One Year Later and that all could be tied in together. The rest of the issue is pretty much Slade getting owned by Ollie and then the Mayor of Star City decides to place this Terminator under arrest.
I really have been enjoying Winick's run on this title, it really brings out the fanboy in me at times. Other than the gripes I had and the interdimensional bow and arrow just appearing out of thin air, this was a rather enjoyable issue. McDaniel can draw some kick-ass fighting sequences that just blows me away. This book is always a joy to read and every time something in the book always gets me excited, but of course there is always something that aggravates me as well, so it all balances out. B
Beat me to writing the review. This issue was great. The last one page spread, YOUR UNDER ARREST. Awesome. I am interested to see when they'll bring up Ollie's journeys' the previous year, in 52 or in subsequent later issues, as apparently his fighting style is totally different now, least according to Deathstroke. The Blue Beetle reference, I'll agree, had me scratching my head.