By MATT SCHORR
I usually prefer to stick with the “here and now” in this column, but today I thought I’d look back on a story from yesteryear.
I figure the DC reboot is pretty much covered at this point. Justice League #1 was the big one. Everything since then, while important, is just more on the same big story. However, if anyone out there really wants a brief synopsis on my takes so far…
Action Comics #1: Thumbs up. I like the “street level” concept, hearkening back to the early years from his creators. Plus, the young, smartass Superman is entertaining.
Detective Comics #1: Thumbs up. Batman doesn’t seem to have change. At all. But he’s still kicking ass and taking names, so there you go.
Superboy #1: Verdict’s not in. It was sold out. Sad day…
Batman and Robin #1: Thumbs down. Way down. I hate Damien. A lot.
Green Arrow #1: Thumbs in the middle. I’m not too impressed, but I’ll give it a chance…
Speaking of Green Arrow, that’s who I wanted to spotlight here. The Emerald Archer began his career as a cheap Batman knockoff with a bow, but he evolved into one of DC’s more interesting lesser-known heroes. The credit for spearheading that charge goes to Dennis O’Neill, but the guy who really put GA on the comic book map was Mike Grell.
And he did it with The Longbow Hunters, published in 1987.
If you haven’t read this book, you should. It’s not only one of Oliver Queen’s best and most significant adventures, but it’s also just a damn fine read.
The plot centers on the superhero’s mid-life crisis as he relocates to Seattle and struggles to come to terms with the fact that since his former sidekick is now a dad, he is technically a grandfather. Alongside his long-time girlfriend Black Canary, Ollie begins to simplify his life, but the drive to fight injustice hasn’t dimmed for either of them.
Oliver abandons his gaudy costume and gimmicks and reinvents himself as an urban hunter to stop unglamorous monsters. In the process, he stumbles into a mystery that leads back to World War II involving the Yakuza, the CIA, corporate America and even the Viet Nam war.
As she goes undercover to stamp out a drug ring, he becomes embroiled in the hunt for a psycho-killer dubbed “The Seattle Slasher,” who is slaughtering prostitutes. He also becomes aware of a second archery marksman murdering people connected to the ever-growing mystery.
Rumor has it Grell was assigned to GA after publicly begging DC’s top executives for a shot at Batman. After the success of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, DC was eager to present another character in a grim ‘n’ gritty world. They decided Grell was a good choice, given that fact his Warlord series might’ve practically saved the company.
Turned out they were right. Longbow Hunters continues to be an enduring success. It served as the platform for the Green Arrow’s first-ever ongoing series, with Grell at the helm for over seventy-five issues.
The most significant parts of this story involved the brutal rape Black Canary suffers and the subsequent scene where Ollie murders the man responsible.
This was potent stuff at the time. Granted, readers had already witnessed some harsh scenes in Dark Knight Returns, but this was still the early years of harsh realism in comics, particularly at DC. The first issues of Watchmen were only just coming out.
The artwork is phenomenal, as well. Ollie never looked this good, and sadly, he never has since. Grell took the responsibilities of both writer and artist for this miniseries, and it’s obvious he really took his time here. Every page has images worthy of display. I really wish I were more versed in artwork so I could give a better description, because it deserves more than a simple “It’s really good!”
I’m not alone in loving this book. In 1988, it was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Finite Series. That honor went to Watchmen.
This book is still available through Amazon and other vendors. Like I said, if you haven’t read it, do so. No one wrote GA better than MG.
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