Nearly three years after its release, Green Arrow (vol 2) Annual 7 is finally relevant. Yep. In spite of the star of the show’s untimely death, the villain who Oliver fought on that desert island in the days leading up to his first adventures as Green Arrow returns. If you’ll recall, Oliver Queen met another abandoned soul on Starfish Island and recognised him as Nicholas Kotero, a man who made a name for himself by murdering helpless women on cruise ships. But, this time, there’s no cruise ships. Nicholas returns with a new plan, one which aims to split society up into factions to turn everybody against one another. But there isn’t just one green hero to stop him. Yes, for the third time so far, Green Arrow teams up with fellow new hero (relatively so anyway) Green Lantern and don’t you know, the story isn’t as bad as the last one when they met…
Green Arrow (vol 2) 121-127 and Green Lantern (vol 3) 92 was published from June to December 1997. All stories were written by Chuck Dixon (with the Green Lantern issue by Ron Marz) with art by William Rosado, Robert Campanella, James Francis, Sal
Buscema, Jim Aparo, Klaus Janson, Doug Braithwaite, Robin Riggs, Darryl Banks, and Terry Austin. I’ve read these stories in their original issues.
The Monkey’s Fist --- Written by Chuck Dixon with art by William Rosado and Robert Campanella
After coming home from many long adventures and finding Master Jansen waiting for him in his home, Connor learns that the monastery has been bought by a young novice named Fritz Mueller, who is now effectively using the place to scam people with self-discipline and feel-good meditation in exchange for money. Instead of heading directly for the monastery, Green Arrow meets with Keever, the businessman who was once saved by the hero from a Jaguar God (Green Arrow (vol 2) 102-103). Although Keever owns the land that the monastery lies on, he refuses to help Green Arrow basically because of Mueller’s rather tough lawyers. When Green Arrow and Master Jansen arrive at the monastery, they find it has been redecorated and turned into something similar to a holiday resort. Green Arrow confronts Mueller, who agrees to give the monastery back to Jansen if Green Arrow defeats his “champion”. After some more flashback scenes to the early days in which Connor trained with his father at the monastery, Green Arrow meets Mueller’s “champion” in a warrior known as the Silver Monkey. But things don’t go well, and Green Arrow is beaten and defeated, only rescued by Jansen demanding that the fight be stopped. Humiliated, Jansen drags an injured Connor out of the monastery, with Mueller still in control of it. If this story had been predictable and Green Arrow managed to defeat the Silver Monkey and reclaim the monastery, then this story wouldn’t be anything special. However, because Connor is defeated badly, it makes the story far better. He is still in his early days as Green Arrow and this is the first occasion in which Connor has been defeated. If he had beaten the Silver Monkey and ended the story with the monastery going back to Jansen, then where is the drama of the story, or any aspect that makes it interesting. The main reason this story works very well is because Connor is beaten. He still very much the beginner and this defeat proves that he is Oliver Queen’s son. Although he has been defeated, you know that he will return. Overall, it may be slightly thin as a story and lacking, but the defeat at the end just makes it better as it isn’t predictable or standard. Dixon is exploring a new route with Connor, and it is one that will lead to the very conclusion of the run.
Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Stormbringers --- Written by Chuck Dixon with art by James Francis, Sal Buscema, Jim Aparo and Klaus Janson
With Connor and Jansen travelling to the former’s grandfather’s house in Idaho, nearby in the barren desert two police officers find the dead body of a farmer six miles from his barn. Concerned about his injuries, Connor tells his grandfather about the Silver Monkey and what happened, with his grandfather allowing him and Jansen to live on his farm for some time. Nearby however, a man gets a crowd by presenting them with a glass of water. Connor’s grandfather explains that there has been a huge drought in Idaho and the man is a rainmaker, but his efforts never work. Well, it can’t be true because an autopsy of the dead farmer reveals that he was drowned miles away from any water or lake. Later at night, Connor goes to bed early, with Jansen telling his grandfather that Connor is still hurting and blaming himself for what happened with the Silver Monkey. See, this is a reason why the previous story’s ending worked so well. It changed Connor and made him realise that he isn’t as strong as he thinks he is. It is a character-changing moment and an important one at that. Anyway, nearby, the rainmaker appears at a caravan and is threatened by those inside. In his revenge, the rainmaker causes a drought, which then transforms into a monsoon and kills those inside. The next day, the police find the bodies and are met with Officer Charro (another character from Green Arrow (vol 2) 102-103. While she tells the police about similar murders in Mexico involving drowning during a drought, Oliver’s grandfather is propositioned by the rainmaker. However, he is banished when Connor’s grandfather threatens him. He swears that he will return, this time with his friend. Afterwards, Connor and his grandfather work on the farm, with the two of them exchanging stories about their times fighting (with Connor’s grandfather sent away to Korea as a soldier). But, later at night, Green Arrow and Jansen hunt some cattle rustlers when suddenly, thanks to the rainmaker, another monsoon appears and everybody is swept away, ending the rather dour first part. With part two commencing, we get some more miserable news that all the cattle have drowned, but don’t worry, Jansen has been saved by Connor. Nearby, the rain-maker thanks his Native American friend. As Green Arrow and Jansen prepare to report back to the former’s grandfather to tell him of the cattle, they run into Officer Charro, who has been hunting for the rainmaker and his Native American friend for quite some time. Meanwhile, the two of them watch the weather on TV and come up with another plan. In the meantime, Connor is presented with some old photographs and letters by his (continued)
grandfather, one of which is a letter from his mother about dropping Connor off at the monastery. Connor learns that his mother didn’t want to leave him, but she felt that it was the best thing for him. Suddenly, Officer Charro appears and warns that there is a huge storm nearby. As Connor, his grandfather, Charro and Jansen drive to the location of the storm, the rainmaker is there with his accomplice, turning the rain on and off with his powers and getting money from the crowds from it. Suddenly, the two of them are stopped when Green Arrow arrives. As he and the others hunt down the rainmaker, he threatens his Native American friend, telling the heroes that he is the one who causes the storms. He further explains that if he kills him, then the storm will continue forever. Suddenly, by using his powers, the Native American kills his friend for his betrayal by striking him with a bolt of lightning from the sky. With that, the Native American disappears, the storm ends, and the drought concludes. Despite the fact that the case isn’t solved, and nobody has been arrested, Charro heads back to Mexico while Green Arrow and Jansen catch a plane to their next adventure. After reading this story twice (once when I first read it and again for this review), on both occasions I’ve never really enjoyed the story. It’s partly because it’s unrelentless in its misery and for most of the story, nothing really happens. But, although I like the revelation at the end that the Native American is behind it and the other man is basically just using his powers for money, I don’t know if a story like this really works in a title like Green Arrow. It has an element of mysticism and that is something that has never meshed with the action-packed adventures of Green Arrow. However, there is some nice background information on Connor which develops the confusing relationship between him and his mother so there are unquestionably some good elements to the story. But, overall, it’s alright. Average is the best word to describe it.
Story: 5/10
Art: 4/10
Stepfathers and Sons/Hate Crimes --- Written by Chuck Dixon and Ron Marz with art by William Rosado, Robert Campanella, Sal Buscema, Doug Braithwaite, Darryl Banks, Terry Austin and Robin Riggs
Last issue, the scenes that featured heavily on the relationship between Moonday Hawke and her vigilante son Connor weren’t there for nothing. This first part of this story is a prelude of sorts to Hate Crimes, the main three-parter. I’ve included here as it just makes sense as (with the exception of Green Lantern) all the characters who appear in the prelude appear in the main story. It begins with a familiar face, that being Milo Armitage. Behind Moonday’s back, he continues his gun-smuggling crimes through his communications with gangsters. But, when Moonday tells him that they have a visitor, he is shocked to find that Connor has returned (now accompanied by Jansen. The two have an expected argument, but Milo insists that he is reformed, especially since he shows Connor a monitoring device attached to his leg. Although his mother arranges a lunch with her son, when he and Jansen leave, they both instantly conclude that Milo was lying. Meanwhile at a high security prison, Nicholas Kotero is prepared to be transferred from one prison to another. The next day, Connor and Jansen head back to Milo’s home and find the monitoring device in his room, with no sign of Milo. Then, by redialling Milo’s phone, Connor discovers where Milo might be and together, he and Jansen find Milo at Harriot Midtown, where the building is surrounded by police after one of the gangsters turned against Milo, who in revenge killed them with one of his black-market weapons. Green Arrow then confronts Milo and after a duel, the hero triumphs. But, before he is knocked out by Connor’s oncoming fist, Milo swears that if he is arrested, he’ll link Moonday to his crimes.
With Milo unconscious, Green Arrow is forced to decide to not take Milo to the police. Now, I still don’t know why Moonday is going out with a villain like Milo, especially since he sells himself as a weapons dealer but seems to be defeated and caught quite easily. That being said, that is part of the drama which ultimately makes the relationship between Connor and his mother more complex. But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, it’s only just beginning. The second part, or the first part depending on how you look at it, begins with a flashback to Nicholas fighting Oliver Queen’s Green Arrow (Green Arrow (vol 2) Annual 7, before we arrive back in the present to find that Nicholas has escaped from custody on his way to another prison. Enjoy this quick-paced storytelling for as long as you can, mainly because the next part is by Ron Marz. Anyway, in Manhattan, Connor spends the day with his mother and Jansen and after another argument about Milo, the city is attacked by terrorists proclaiming themselves to be “real Americans”. As they attack people in a nearby market for its illegal dealings, Green Arrow fights back and is rescued by Green Lantern from the villain’s particle beam weapons. Although Green Arrow and Green Lantern fight back, the villains retreat, and the heroes are forced to split up until another event happens. But, elsewhere, Nicholas goes back to his evil ways by capturing two young families (excluding the fathers) and imprisoning them in a sewer. For what reason? We don’t know and they don’t either. Anyway, another villain in the form of Milo speaks to the terrorists who attacked the city earlier since he sold them the particle beam weapons. However, he begins to fear that may be linked to the attack. It’s not like it matters as Connor’s mother seems to forgive him for what ever he does. Anyway, Green Arrow and Green Lantern patrol the city and, like before, discuss recent events such as Parallax and family. But, again like before, I’m still not convinced of the supposed friendship between the two characters. It still seems somewhat forced and it doesn’t help that one of them doesn’t have a more abrasive character. With Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen, it was the latter of the two who almost brought the other one out of his shell and changed his view of the world. With Connor and Kyle, there isn’t any of that and due to that, there isn’t any strong link between the characters, unless parental troubles count. But something far worse is going on at the same time. Milo and Jansen watch television to find Austin Phipps speaking about how the young are being tainted by immigrants and minorities. Unsurprisingly, Milo agrees strongly with him. Jansen does not. However, across New York, Phipps’s racist words spark fights and extreme civil unrest. Green Lantern and Green Arrow attempt to fight back against the civil unrest, but as they try to calm the crowds, they are quickly mobbed. Compared to Hard Travelling Heroes: The Next Generation (Green Arrow (vol 2) 110-111, Green Lantern (vol 3) 76-77), this is just so much better, partly because something actually happens in this story. But also, this story is somewhat similar to something from the O’Neil/Adams era in which civil unrest and other social issues of the time played a major part in the stories. But it also feels different from the other stories in the run thus far and takes risks with the story direction, which I think pay off as the story is far more dramatic due to the events that occur. However, now everything has to slow down as we welcome Ron Marz back onto the stage. Sigh. As Phipps continues to preach hated on TV, another channel produces another speaker in the form of Cyrus Bramlett, whose own speeches oppose the racialism of Phipps, but continues to divide the city with controversy. As Green Lantern and Green Arrow are attacked by an angry mob, they disperse when the terrorists from earlier appear, but the heroes fight back and take some of them out. The heroes examine their weapons and recognise that they are similar to the kind made by Milo, before Green Lantern interrogates the villains and learns that that is the case. But, as the heroes head off, they are watched by Nicholas in the shadows. Meanwhile, a TV station makes a deal with Phipps’s and Bramlett’s supposed lawyers to hold a live debate. Alone, the two lawyers speak and tell each other about how their families have been taken away and hidden from them both by Phipps and Bramlett. Meanwhile, Nicholas reports back to the families he trapped in the sewer, and he is revealed to be behind the racial tension by using Phipps and Bramlett. But he refuses to let them go. If you think that that is the best moment of the story, then just wait for the ending. After a debate about free speech between Connor and Kyle, the two heroes… did what? Did they: a) confront Milo about the terrorists; b) did they try to track down Phipps and Bramlett; or c) did they go to a restaurant? Well, this is Ron Marz, and we all know the answer. While they drink their coffees, Jansen arrives with a VHS tape that is suspicious. When the heroes take the tape of Bramlett and Phipps side by side, a friend of Kyle’s edits the video and finds that both Phipps and Bramlett not only look similar but are in fact the same person due to the way they talk. Amalgamating the two people gives you a character that Connor recognises from his father’s villains: Nicholas Kotero. I don’t know how that video editing works, but it’s undeniably a fantastic cliff-hanger ending. Now with the knowledge that Phipps and Bramlett are one and the same, Green Arrow and Green Lantern begin their efforts to defeat Nicholas by confronting Milo (something they should have done earlier) and once Moonday learns that he has been a part of the civil unrest, she threatens him and orders him to help her son. Milo explains that Nicholas needs guns for his Sky Bandits (the terrorists), and he supplied them simply for money and power, nothing to do with race. As huge crowds await the debate between Nicholas and himself effectively just blacked up, racial unrest continues, and huge fights break out. Meanwhile, the heroes take out the Sky Bandits pathetically easily before heading to the TV broadcasting building and proving to the producer that the debate is a fake due to the tape. However, just as the debate begins locally, a fight begins. Green Arrow then turns up in the nick of time to destroy the signal. As Green Lantern rescues the families from the sewer, Nicholas attacks Green Arrow in the belief that he is Oliver Queen. But he is obviously proven wrong when it is Connor who turns around and takes him out. With that, it is reported that Nicholas was (continued)
behind the whole affair and everybody’s lives return to normal in a matter of minutes. A nice idea, but not very realistic. Nicholas managed to turn the people of New York against each other using racism and that wouldn’t just stop instantly. But, as for Nicholas’s evil plans, I think it is a stroke of genius creatively and a great way to make a story powerful and dramatic. It also makes Nicholas into a far more threatening villain than he was before and although this is the last, we’ve seen of him, after a story as impactful and large as this one, I’m not too sad about it since he’s a villain who is fuelled by his hatred of Oliver Queen more than anything. But, as a villain, he’s quite the anarchist and I like that about him. He’s crazy. There’s no huge complex plan to take over the world or get rich. He just wants to see it burn, so in some ways he’s similar to the modern version of the Joker. Overall, he works in a story that addresses the longest and most complex social issue in American history and I would say that it is relevant to today (and it is), but in some regards it’s always relevant. Overall, this is a million times better than the previous Green Lantern Green Arrow team-up story. For starters, it’s got so much more plot and it features a very strong story which has some brilliant cliff-hanger endings. The prequel issue is somewhat different from the main story due to Nicholas not being the main villain, but it sets the stage nicely for what is one of the best Green Arrow stories in the Dixon run thus far.
Story: 9/10
Art: 8.5/10
Doubleback --- Written by Chuck Dixon with art by Doug Braithwaite and Robin Riggs
In some ways, this is a good place to end this set of stories as we start where we finish. Green Arrow arrives back at his mother’s house to find that she and Milo are moving to Europe as he has made a deal with the authorities. Despite Green Arrow’s very strong argument that she should leave him for the sole fact that he played a huge part in starting a race war, she ignores him and leaves. Together, Connor and Jansen take a plane to San Francisco and the apartment that his mother has given them. But, when they arrive, the two of them are confronted by the Silver Monkey! See, I told you it was full circle. Anyway, the Silver Monkey explains that this time, he is fighting Green Arrow as an assassin, not for any other reason. Jansen watches as an improved Green Arrow fights against the Silver Monkey, nearly destroying most of the apartment building in the process. But this time, it is Connor who is the winner. Victorious, Connor doesn’t even care that he is arrested for all the damage caused and Jansen is proud of him for fighting against the temptation to kill the Silver Monkey. Elsewhere, Milo seemingly hears the news of Connor’s survival and screams in anger. Really, this one-off is to show that Connor has learnt from his mistakes and that the knowledge (whatever that may be) he has learnt since his last fight with the Silver Monkey has helped him win. I think the biggest change is that he is no longer fuelled by anger in the way that Oliver Queen often was. That makes him into a very different Green Arrow and that’s what you want. The hint at the end is also great, as it’s highly suggested that Milo was the one who sent the Silver Monkey to kill Connor. Apart from Milo’s revenge and tying things up full circle, there isn’t really much else to say about this story. It’s short, actually very short since most of it is just a huge fight. But ultimately, Dixon makes the most of it and it works very well.
Story: 9/10
Art: 8.5/10
THE ART BY WILLIAM ROSADO, ROBERT CAMPANELLA, JAMES FRANCIS, SAL BUSCEMA, JIM APARO, KLAUS JANSON, SOUG BRAITHWAITE, ROBIN RIGGS, DARRYL BANKS, AND TERRY AUSTIN
This set of the stories is the last to feature William Rosado and Robert Campanella as the main artist team and as always, their art is very smooth and tells the stories very well. But I would have to say that their successor in Doug Braithwaite adds something more to the title with his great layouts and finishes. It may look a bit rough and sketchy at times, but it could certainly be worse. In fact, it is. Jim Aparo returns for just one issue here and while you may expect me to cheer in delight, I’m afraid that isn’t the case. As an inker, Klaus Janson has always been rated quite highly, but since about 1986, his inks tend to ruin the penciller’s art. Janson has the problem of making every artist he inks look like his own messy and rough style. It may not be as bad as somebody like Bill Sienkiewicz, but it still ruins the magic of Aparo’s pencils. Most other artists aren’t anything to write home about, apart from the strange guest inker of Sal Buscema, who is still alive and working in comics today.
VERDICT
Overall, Green Arrow: Hate Crimes is good set of stories once again. Green Arrow’s first round against the Silver Monkey is good, while Stormbringers is somewhat dull and uneventful. However, the epic Hate Crimes story is great and features an interesting villain and a fantastic plot. Then, the rematch against the Silver Monkey perfectly rounds off this set of stories and proves once again that Dixon is more than a safe pair of hands for Green Arrow.
Stories: 8/10
Art: 7.5/10
Next Week: Green Arrow: Three of A Kind (Green Arrow (vol 2) 128-133, Green Lantern (vol 3) 96, The Flash (vol 2) 135). Written by Chuck Dixon, Ron Marz, Grant Morrison and Mark Millar with art by Doug Braithwaite, Robin Riggs, Sal Buscema, Paul Pelletier, John Lowe, William Rosado, Paul Ryan and John Nyberg.
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