I've been readings lots of Mike Grell's Green Arrow run lately.....and then I noticed -
I already talked about some Green Arrow origin stories (Year One and Year One again) but not of Grell's own classic (and mostly definitive) revisited origin!!
(note: the modern 2007 Year One was mostly based and expanded upon Grell's take, it doesn't retcon it but adds upon it)
So here's yet another origin story for the Emerald Archer!
Comic title: Secret Origins #38
Green Arrow Secret Origins story by Mike Grell
Green Arrow Secret Origins art by Hannibal King, Giordano & Starr
Speedy Secret Origins story by Elliot S. Maggin
Speedy Secret Origins art by John Koch & John Nyberg
Published by DC
From 1989
Lineup Green Arrow
Format: Single issue from an on-going series.
I dunno for you, but Mike Grell's take on Green Arrow is still for me the definitive and best version of GA. It was "The" Green Arrow for me.
Sure, I loved Kevin Smith's reboot in the early 2000s, Chuck Dixon's run on GA's son Connor Hawke, Judd Winnick's take after Kevin Smith and J.T. Krul more recently. And I can already say I can't wait to see what Krul and Dan Jurgens will do in the upcoming new relaunched series.
But under Mike Grell, Oliver Queen was a whole different beast.
Removed from his gadget that made him a wannabe Batman, simplified in his role and concept as a "modern day Robin Hood", Ollie was a hunter. Who used a deadly weapon (more so than, say, a Batarang is). A man who dared not cross a line he knew he had no problem overstepping if need be.
Anyway, after making G.A. popular again and relevant back in the 80s with the story arc Longbow Hunter, and then launching a new on-going series that would last for quite a while (until Ollie's "death"), Grell came upon this retelling of Oliver Queen's origin into Green Arrow. It was done at the height of the series when there was this Secret Origins on-going book which was showcasing and retelling origin of most major DC characters. I already reviewed a few of those.
And since these issues were usually split around two characters, it was only natural to take the occasion and give the second tale to Ollie's sidekick Speedy (not long before he changed his name into Arsenal and outgrew his former sidekick role).
The big, green, arrow-guy...
The first story is called "Sometimes a fool notion" and is the main meat in this issue.
It is the story devoted to retelling G.A.'s beginnings.
During its first half, the story is told, in true comic book fashion, over a dual-narration. One half featuring Ollie's wake up on this mysterious island, trying to survive, picking up some techniques to survive by improvising and remembering his early life... The second lower half, in "the real world", the events prior to the shipwreck, establishing his character.
Then, both plots interconnect, joins each other and Ollie gets off that island, now with a new outlook on life.
The second part of this story sees Ollie back in the mainland. He's having problem adjusting back... He never fully lived as much as when on that island, and he can't just back to being a selfish jerk anymore now... Until one time at a costumed party, when trouble happens, Ollie decides to take actions and plays superhero for the first time...dressed as Robin Hood! (his childhood hero)
"What am I supposed to do? Steal from myself and give to the poor?"
D'awww :)
The second comic is called "The kid that couldn't shoot straight".
It's a complete recap of Oliver Queen's ward and sidekick, Roy Harper.
It recaps in just a few pages all of his life, from his youth, growing up in a Navajo reservation until his recent days (and the present of the narration), being a Titan and the proud father of the little Lian Harper. (daughter of Roy and the villainess Chesire).
The story, if a bit short, goes well into details, telling how Green Arrow's path came into his, how he mastered his skills and proved an equal to Ollie.
Then the "Wonder Years", fighting crime side by side. The era in which Ollie started to imitate Batman (sigh...), donning trick arrows, an arrow-mobile, etc.. But Roy's all grown up now. He has to become more responsible (which was playing around his character arc over at The New Titans book), step out from the shadow of his mentor...
"All I can do is teach you what I know... to do justice... to love mercy... to walk humbly... and TO SHOOT STRAIGHT!"
Anyway, both stories, even written and drawn by completely different creative teams form a pretty interesting diptych.
We have these two facets of two different but related characters. In Ollie, we see the man going back to a more primitive regression (as a hunter). Leaving the shell of his past life behind. This adult playing dress-up. Living by having fun.
And with Roy it's the son becoming the father. Growing up. Looking nostalgically at his past.
It's a pretty neat package, and easily amongst my favorite "Secret Origins"!
Overall, it's a pretty good issue of Secret Origins
Easily one of the better ones. (unlike the more randoms like, say, Secret Origins: Batman/Halo...)
It features both classic DC archers, involves there past but was at the time setting their future direction in stones.
Plus, hey, there's also a brief mention and the origin of the trick arrows! How cool is that? XD
If you're a fan of Ollie and come across this, don't hesitate! DC fans or just those who prefer the more realistic-grounded heroes, give it a look to.
I give it:
