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Green Arrow (2001) (Collected Editions)
Green Arrow, Vol. 1: Quiver
Writer/director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma) delivers an awe-inspiring tale which resurrects DC Comics' original Emerald Archer -- the legendary Green Arrow! Stunningly rendered by the top talents of Phil Hester and Ande Parks, Green Arrow: Quiver follows Oliver Queen through man's most uncharted realms -- life, death, and back to life again. This deluxe hardcover edition collects the first ten issues of the best-selling Green Arrow monthly series, includes the original painted covers by Matt Wagner and features a new introduction by Kevin Smith.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
46 people are currently reading
2336 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Smith
453 books962 followersKevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, director, as well as a comic book writer, author, and actor. He is also the co-founder, with Scott Mosier, of View Askew Productions and owner of Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash comic and novelty store in Red Bank, New Jersey. He also hosts a weekly podcast with Scott Mosier known as SModcast. He is also known for participating in long, humorous Q&A Sessions that are often filmed for DVD release, beginning with An Evening with Kevin Smith.
His films are often set in his home state of New Jersey, and while not strictly sequential, they do frequently feature crossover plot elements, character references, and a shared canon in what is known by fans as the "View Askewniverse", named after his production company View Askew Productions. He has produced numerous films and television projects, including Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks II.
His films are often set in his home state of New Jersey, and while not strictly sequential, they do frequently feature crossover plot elements, character references, and a shared canon in what is known by fans as the "View Askewniverse", named after his production company View Askew Productions. He has produced numerous films and television projects, including Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks II.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
January 24, 2018
Snootchie motherlovin’ bootchies, what a fucking shitshow the first volume of Silent Bob’s Green Arrow was!
Ollie Queen’s dead, he’s not dead, he’s sorta dead, there’s another Green Arrow, there’s still another one – who can fucking follow, let alone care?! In TEN absurdly overwritten issues it takes Kevin Smith an age to get around to producing anything resembling a story and when he does it’s somehow even more boring than the meandering nothing that preceded it.
I grew up in the ‘90s so I remember Smith being talked about in the same breath as other auteur writer/directors like Quentin Tarantino whose scripts were notable for their snappy dialogue. I even thought that was an apt comparison though I don’t know whether Smith’s movies like Mallrats or Dogma stand up today as well as the timeless Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction do – I suppose the fact that I’ve been repeatedly drawn back to, and continued to enjoy, Tarantino over the years and become completely indifferent to Smith from my late teens on is an indication that they won’t.
It looks like the DC editors also believed the press about Smith’s sparkling banter because he’s been allowed to go hog-wild with the dialogue here though none of it is worth reading. The pages are overflowing with waffly chatter, little of it interesting, remotely funny, clever, or relevant to what’s happening in the scene. My heart sank every time I turned the page to be confronted with yet another mass of tedious text-filled word balloons to fruitlessly slog through.
Smith has more interest in cramming in dreary references to convoluted DC canon, shit jokes and tired pop culture bon mots than advance any kind of semi-compelling plotline which makes for a frustratingly static and dull read – unless you find Smith’s dated ‘90s-style of writing wildly entertaining, which, unfortunately, I don’t anymore. But the feeble story is as badly-dated as Smith’s writing and Phil Hester’s unappealing blocky art. Unless you’re already familiar with this era of DC history, you’re likely to be lost in the weeds as to why Ollie’s return is a Big Deal in the first place, let alone how and when he died, why Aquaman’s got a hook-hand or what Hal Jordan’s doing as The Spectre (not to mention Superman’s horrendous mullet!).
It’s basically one big pointless sprawling nostalgia trip for Smith as he recounts dull, obscure DC history. Considering how fairly straightforward the story turns out to be, the sheer number of gratuitous subplots was especially convoluted and laborious. The instantly forgettable villain does the clichéd villain trope of monologuing his entire life story and motivations at the end before the underwhelming finale puts a grateful kibosh to the misery.
A boring comic to struggle through from baffling beginning to thankful end, Green Arrow, Volume 1: Quiver is a horrendous read that completely fails to hit the target of anything resembling a decent comic. You’ll wish Ollie had stayed dead long before you reach the last page!
Ollie Queen’s dead, he’s not dead, he’s sorta dead, there’s another Green Arrow, there’s still another one – who can fucking follow, let alone care?! In TEN absurdly overwritten issues it takes Kevin Smith an age to get around to producing anything resembling a story and when he does it’s somehow even more boring than the meandering nothing that preceded it.
I grew up in the ‘90s so I remember Smith being talked about in the same breath as other auteur writer/directors like Quentin Tarantino whose scripts were notable for their snappy dialogue. I even thought that was an apt comparison though I don’t know whether Smith’s movies like Mallrats or Dogma stand up today as well as the timeless Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction do – I suppose the fact that I’ve been repeatedly drawn back to, and continued to enjoy, Tarantino over the years and become completely indifferent to Smith from my late teens on is an indication that they won’t.
It looks like the DC editors also believed the press about Smith’s sparkling banter because he’s been allowed to go hog-wild with the dialogue here though none of it is worth reading. The pages are overflowing with waffly chatter, little of it interesting, remotely funny, clever, or relevant to what’s happening in the scene. My heart sank every time I turned the page to be confronted with yet another mass of tedious text-filled word balloons to fruitlessly slog through.
Smith has more interest in cramming in dreary references to convoluted DC canon, shit jokes and tired pop culture bon mots than advance any kind of semi-compelling plotline which makes for a frustratingly static and dull read – unless you find Smith’s dated ‘90s-style of writing wildly entertaining, which, unfortunately, I don’t anymore. But the feeble story is as badly-dated as Smith’s writing and Phil Hester’s unappealing blocky art. Unless you’re already familiar with this era of DC history, you’re likely to be lost in the weeds as to why Ollie’s return is a Big Deal in the first place, let alone how and when he died, why Aquaman’s got a hook-hand or what Hal Jordan’s doing as The Spectre (not to mention Superman’s horrendous mullet!).
It’s basically one big pointless sprawling nostalgia trip for Smith as he recounts dull, obscure DC history. Considering how fairly straightforward the story turns out to be, the sheer number of gratuitous subplots was especially convoluted and laborious. The instantly forgettable villain does the clichéd villain trope of monologuing his entire life story and motivations at the end before the underwhelming finale puts a grateful kibosh to the misery.
A boring comic to struggle through from baffling beginning to thankful end, Green Arrow, Volume 1: Quiver is a horrendous read that completely fails to hit the target of anything resembling a decent comic. You’ll wish Ollie had stayed dead long before you reach the last page!
March 30, 2011
I like Green Arrow. He's not my favorite, but I've always thought he was cool in that crazy eco-warrior liberal kind of way.
I thought Smith did a decent job bringing him Back From The Dead. 'Cause you know it can't be all that easy, right? It wasn't an awesome story that blew me away, but there were enough funny quips to keep me distracted from the crazy parts. And there are crazy parts. However, I've come to expect crazy from DC.
I thought Smith did a decent job bringing him Back From The Dead. 'Cause you know it can't be all that easy, right? It wasn't an awesome story that blew me away, but there were enough funny quips to keep me distracted from the crazy parts. And there are crazy parts. However, I've come to expect crazy from DC.
October 18, 2022
When Green Arrow finds himself once again among the land of the living, he has a lot of unanswered questions...
I was a tremendous Kevin Smith fan when I was in my early twenties but I've never managed to read this until now.
I wasn't super impressed with my reread of Kevin Smith's Daredevil but I loved the shit out of this. Green Arrow is alive again but can't remember anything past his road trip with Green Lantern in the '70s. As Green Arrow fights crime and goes about his business, he befriends a wayward girl named Mia and gets reacquainted with people who thought he was dead. So who is responsible for Green Arrow returning to life and why can't he remember his life past a certain point?
Phil Hester and Ande Park do a masterful job here. I wasn't super excited about a Green Arrow not drawn by Neal Adams or Mike Grell but they did a great job. More than most art from the time period, it holds up very well today. It's moody but not too moody and cartoony without being too cartoony. Right in my wheelhouse.
Kevin Smith's writing feels a lot more natural in this, probably because Daredevil sold a kajillion copies and no one ran him out of town. It's much less wordy, more focused, and just better in general. He also showed some deep knowledge of the DC universe. I didn't expect some of the references and I was floored by a couple of them.
I'm glad I have the next volume on deck and this one will NOT be going to Half Price Books any time soon. Five out of five stars.
I was a tremendous Kevin Smith fan when I was in my early twenties but I've never managed to read this until now.
I wasn't super impressed with my reread of Kevin Smith's Daredevil but I loved the shit out of this. Green Arrow is alive again but can't remember anything past his road trip with Green Lantern in the '70s. As Green Arrow fights crime and goes about his business, he befriends a wayward girl named Mia and gets reacquainted with people who thought he was dead. So who is responsible for Green Arrow returning to life and why can't he remember his life past a certain point?
Phil Hester and Ande Park do a masterful job here. I wasn't super excited about a Green Arrow not drawn by Neal Adams or Mike Grell but they did a great job. More than most art from the time period, it holds up very well today. It's moody but not too moody and cartoony without being too cartoony. Right in my wheelhouse.
Kevin Smith's writing feels a lot more natural in this, probably because Daredevil sold a kajillion copies and no one ran him out of town. It's much less wordy, more focused, and just better in general. He also showed some deep knowledge of the DC universe. I didn't expect some of the references and I was floored by a couple of them.
I'm glad I have the next volume on deck and this one will NOT be going to Half Price Books any time soon. Five out of five stars.
May 15, 2020
Score: 3.45 out of 5
Grade: 69% (C+) | Decent
Back from the dead, Green Arrow seeks out answers to life, death and his conveniently forgotten past. Here is my review of Green Arrow Volume 1: Quiver:
The Good:
With a great opening sequence introducing us to all the characters, we’re quickly met with the return of the Green Arrow. What we thought would be a simple explanation of how he came back becomes a little “complicated”. It was awesome seeing Green Arrow partner up with some of the Justice League members, especially when it does a good job of making you feel like it’s just a couple of friends catching up. Only difference is, one of you came back from the dead…
I also love how Batman calls Ollie out for being a complete rip-off of himself. Normal guy, no powers, tragic past, heaps of money, fighting for their city – *strokes chin in deep thought* – sounds familiar. I was also able to enjoy some of the call-backs to previous storylines like Grant Morrison’s JLA run, which made me feel like Captain America from the first Avengers movie– “I understood that reference!”
One thing I need to praise Kevin Smith for is his ability to write fun, likable and interesting characters. He has this nonchalant way of writing, which makes liking the characters so much easier. Some standouts include Mia, Oliver and Stanley, especially when these characters are in conversation together. There’s a lot of quippy moments between them that gave me a good chuckle. I also love how Stanley got exactly what he wanted and deserved in the end…
The art in this book has this Saturday morning cartoon feel, which I really enjoyed! Most of the art is great, especially when Green Arrow starts kicking names and taking ass – *strokes chin in deep thought … again* – wait that’s not right! There’s also an awesome fight with this goblin-looking guy named Etrigan. In any Green Arrow book, you want to see some crazy arrows being used, and this does not disappoint. You never know when a fire extinguisher arrow will come in handy!
There’s this amazingly horrific moment when the mysterious shadowy figure (teased throughout the book) convinces a young boy to come with him only to “dream no more”. It was creepy and unexpectedly dark. I also love how the book has a re-readability factor, especially with some of the big reveals towards the end. You start flipping back in the book and seeing all these early hints. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t pick up on it earlier when it was RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME THE WHOLE TIME!
The Bad:
I understand now what people meant by ”too much text”. I have no problem with a lot of writing, only as long as it flows and feels organic, but there are moments here where Kevin Smith drownsss the pages with text. You feel overwhelmed and discouraged as you drag yourself across these sections. Characters tend to ramble on and on and on and on … and on – almost making it feel like a chore to read. I think this is the case where more wasn’t necessarily better.
This story severely lacks direction. It was probably over halfway through before I realized the direction we were headed, and I was slightly disappointed. The book introduces a certain level of mysticism that begins to feel very Dr. Strange-esque, which suddenly became less interesting to me. The beginning is great, genuine and likable characters, story is interesting with lots of mystery. But then there’s a point where we get all the answers, reveals become more supernatural, absurd, and it lost me.
I’m not a fan of dumb conveniences or gaps in the story that are left unexplained. Unfortunately, this book had a few.
Connor (Green Arrow Jr.) wasn’t the most interesting character and lacked any real personality. He also somehow “senses” his dad is still alive and in need of help. Is Connor force sensitive or something? (Wait, wrong franchise!) Connor disappears for a good chunk of the story before showing up exactly at the right place and exactly at the right time to help his old man out. Although, he did have a nice ending with his dad.
Towards the end, the mystery villain, which is teased throughout the book, somehow knocks Ollie out with a single *BONK* to the head. Considering the story makes mention that Ollie is at his prime here, there is no way this mystery villain could knock him out. Heck, even if I threw a swing at the Green Arrow, my fist would bounce off his face and he would just laugh at how pathetic I am.
It’s dumb coincidences like this that are just there to push the plot forward, but it’s these things that pull me out of the story. It also bothers me that the story lacked any real conclusion. We get our final showdown, big climactic finale, then “the end” – roll credits! A short epilogue with a quick wrap-up for all the storylines and characters would have been a better and more satisfying conclusion.
Conclusion:
There’s definitely a lot to enjoy in this book. It’s funny, has great action sequences and some interesting characters. But there’s also dumb coincidences, odd narrative choices, and inconsistent pacing that didn’t work for me. At the end of the day, I was disappointed that this wasn’t the definitive Green Arrow story I was looking for. My search continues…
Recommended for: Superfans of Green Arrow or fans of Fatman on Batman’s writing style (who has actually lost quite a bit of weight recently – right on Kevin Smith)
Thanks for reading! :)
Grade: 69% (C+) | Decent
Back from the dead, Green Arrow seeks out answers to life, death and his conveniently forgotten past. Here is my review of Green Arrow Volume 1: Quiver:
The Good:
With a great opening sequence introducing us to all the characters, we’re quickly met with the return of the Green Arrow. What we thought would be a simple explanation of how he came back becomes a little “complicated”. It was awesome seeing Green Arrow partner up with some of the Justice League members, especially when it does a good job of making you feel like it’s just a couple of friends catching up. Only difference is, one of you came back from the dead…
I also love how Batman calls Ollie out for being a complete rip-off of himself. Normal guy, no powers, tragic past, heaps of money, fighting for their city – *strokes chin in deep thought* – sounds familiar. I was also able to enjoy some of the call-backs to previous storylines like Grant Morrison’s JLA run, which made me feel like Captain America from the first Avengers movie– “I understood that reference!”
One thing I need to praise Kevin Smith for is his ability to write fun, likable and interesting characters. He has this nonchalant way of writing, which makes liking the characters so much easier. Some standouts include Mia, Oliver and Stanley, especially when these characters are in conversation together. There’s a lot of quippy moments between them that gave me a good chuckle. I also love how Stanley got exactly what he wanted and deserved in the end…
The art in this book has this Saturday morning cartoon feel, which I really enjoyed! Most of the art is great, especially when Green Arrow starts kicking names and taking ass – *strokes chin in deep thought … again* – wait that’s not right! There’s also an awesome fight with this goblin-looking guy named Etrigan. In any Green Arrow book, you want to see some crazy arrows being used, and this does not disappoint. You never know when a fire extinguisher arrow will come in handy!
There’s this amazingly horrific moment when the mysterious shadowy figure (teased throughout the book) convinces a young boy to come with him only to “dream no more”. It was creepy and unexpectedly dark. I also love how the book has a re-readability factor, especially with some of the big reveals towards the end. You start flipping back in the book and seeing all these early hints. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t pick up on it earlier when it was RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME THE WHOLE TIME!
The Bad:
I understand now what people meant by ”too much text”. I have no problem with a lot of writing, only as long as it flows and feels organic, but there are moments here where Kevin Smith drownsss the pages with text. You feel overwhelmed and discouraged as you drag yourself across these sections. Characters tend to ramble on and on and on and on … and on – almost making it feel like a chore to read. I think this is the case where more wasn’t necessarily better.
This story severely lacks direction. It was probably over halfway through before I realized the direction we were headed, and I was slightly disappointed. The book introduces a certain level of mysticism that begins to feel very Dr. Strange-esque, which suddenly became less interesting to me. The beginning is great, genuine and likable characters, story is interesting with lots of mystery. But then there’s a point where we get all the answers, reveals become more supernatural, absurd, and it lost me.
I’m not a fan of dumb conveniences or gaps in the story that are left unexplained. Unfortunately, this book had a few.
Connor (Green Arrow Jr.) wasn’t the most interesting character and lacked any real personality. He also somehow “senses” his dad is still alive and in need of help. Is Connor force sensitive or something? (Wait, wrong franchise!) Connor disappears for a good chunk of the story before showing up exactly at the right place and exactly at the right time to help his old man out. Although, he did have a nice ending with his dad.
Towards the end, the mystery villain, which is teased throughout the book, somehow knocks Ollie out with a single *BONK* to the head. Considering the story makes mention that Ollie is at his prime here, there is no way this mystery villain could knock him out. Heck, even if I threw a swing at the Green Arrow, my fist would bounce off his face and he would just laugh at how pathetic I am.
It’s dumb coincidences like this that are just there to push the plot forward, but it’s these things that pull me out of the story. It also bothers me that the story lacked any real conclusion. We get our final showdown, big climactic finale, then “the end” – roll credits! A short epilogue with a quick wrap-up for all the storylines and characters would have been a better and more satisfying conclusion.
Conclusion:
There’s definitely a lot to enjoy in this book. It’s funny, has great action sequences and some interesting characters. But there’s also dumb coincidences, odd narrative choices, and inconsistent pacing that didn’t work for me. At the end of the day, I was disappointed that this wasn’t the definitive Green Arrow story I was looking for. My search continues…
Recommended for: Superfans of Green Arrow or fans of Fatman on Batman’s writing style (who has actually lost quite a bit of weight recently – right on Kevin Smith)
Thanks for reading! :)
October 12, 2015
Writer Kevin Smith may be Brian Bendis' equal when it came to filling up the dialogue boxes but he paced his ten chapter story briskly that it felt like it was half the number of chapters, even though it had twice the dialogue.
That said, it was an enjoyable read and Smith made it reader-friendly, despite the numerous references to DC Comics events that predated this story initial release. Usually, such continuity-heavy backstory would work against a relaunch but it works here since Green Arrow actually has a few legendary stories in its pocket. It also helped that Smith was pretty enthusiastic in bringing back Oliver Queen from a graveyard of fan apathy and poor sales.
That said, it was an enjoyable read and Smith made it reader-friendly, despite the numerous references to DC Comics events that predated this story initial release. Usually, such continuity-heavy backstory would work against a relaunch but it works here since Green Arrow actually has a few legendary stories in its pocket. It also helped that Smith was pretty enthusiastic in bringing back Oliver Queen from a graveyard of fan apathy and poor sales.
June 6, 2017
Didn't really care for this one. The art didn't click for me and I don't think Kevin Smith is as clever as he thinks he is. Miss.
November 13, 2009
Well that was an interesting introduction to Oliver Queen in the DC Comics. You might know him as Green Arrow. I got to know him the backhanded way, through watching the Justice League Unlimited, and drooling. I love a guy who is a master at an art. For Oliver Queen, it's archery. And it takes some bravery to walk around wearing a Robin Hood-like costume in modern times.
I like Queen's wit, ably handled by the oh-so witty Kevin Smith. But there was also some real angst and philosophical moments in this story. Queen had lost a lot, and he didn't even know how much. In this graphic novel (ten chapters), Queen has forgotten ten years of his life. I won't tell you why. Suffice it to say it's complicated. You need to read Quiver to discover the whys and wherefore.
I will definitely be reading more Green Arrow. He's moving up the ranks in my list of favorite superheroes. Okay I guess I'll lose some comic book geek cred by saying this, but Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow is hot! He just is. It's so sad when you're drooling over a comic book drawing. I totally was. And he's got great genes because his son, Connor Hawke, is just as hot! He's ripped, very skilled in various ways, and he has a great sense of humor. I don't even mind that he's broke in this book. Billions don't substitute for other qualities. :)
Wow, you do get your money's worth with this graphic novel. It's quite, long. Not that I'm complaining. On the downside, I have to admit that the art was not always to my taste. I loved the way Green Arrow was drawn, but I didn't really like the look of some of the other JL greats, with a few exceptions. I really liked the writing though. I enjoyed all the inside references Mr. Smith threw in (even though I haven't read any JL comics--some I picked up through my study of the characters via Wikipedia and other comic book websites). I liked that there were footnotes for the comic issues that the references came from, as well.
This book has some of everything in it. Do read it, if you're a fan of the Justice League, as some of the pivotal characters show up. Not to mention some of the more interesting characters in the DC Universe, such as Dead Man, Spectre, Etrigan/Jason Blood. I think if you've been introduced to the Justice League via the Cartoon Network show, you'll do just fine, and likely you will feel the need to delve deeper into the DC Universe. I think you will become a fan of Green Arrow, if you weren't already. So.. When are they making a Green Arrow movie? Animated or otherwise??? I'll be waiting, not so patiently.
I like Queen's wit, ably handled by the oh-so witty Kevin Smith. But there was also some real angst and philosophical moments in this story. Queen had lost a lot, and he didn't even know how much. In this graphic novel (ten chapters), Queen has forgotten ten years of his life. I won't tell you why. Suffice it to say it's complicated. You need to read Quiver to discover the whys and wherefore.
I will definitely be reading more Green Arrow. He's moving up the ranks in my list of favorite superheroes. Okay I guess I'll lose some comic book geek cred by saying this, but Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow is hot! He just is. It's so sad when you're drooling over a comic book drawing. I totally was. And he's got great genes because his son, Connor Hawke, is just as hot! He's ripped, very skilled in various ways, and he has a great sense of humor. I don't even mind that he's broke in this book. Billions don't substitute for other qualities. :)
Wow, you do get your money's worth with this graphic novel. It's quite, long. Not that I'm complaining. On the downside, I have to admit that the art was not always to my taste. I loved the way Green Arrow was drawn, but I didn't really like the look of some of the other JL greats, with a few exceptions. I really liked the writing though. I enjoyed all the inside references Mr. Smith threw in (even though I haven't read any JL comics--some I picked up through my study of the characters via Wikipedia and other comic book websites). I liked that there were footnotes for the comic issues that the references came from, as well.
This book has some of everything in it. Do read it, if you're a fan of the Justice League, as some of the pivotal characters show up. Not to mention some of the more interesting characters in the DC Universe, such as Dead Man, Spectre, Etrigan/Jason Blood. I think if you've been introduced to the Justice League via the Cartoon Network show, you'll do just fine, and likely you will feel the need to delve deeper into the DC Universe. I think you will become a fan of Green Arrow, if you weren't already. So.. When are they making a Green Arrow movie? Animated or otherwise??? I'll be waiting, not so patiently.
June 18, 2019
Look, this dialogue is... bad. I've heard better dialogue in porn.
I get the sense Smith wanted to draw on the classic Green Arrow comics with this one. In a (slightly) clever method, he had Oliver forget the past 10 years and continue talking like he would have decades ago. Unfortunately, that's only part of the problem.
Read this comic and drink every time Ollie says "fat cat". Also, drink every time a woman in unnecessarily sexualized. Bad enough Mia was introduced as a teenage prostitute. There was a period of time I think every single DC book had a prostitute or a teenage runaway being abused by older men. I do not understand why this happened so often??? Anyway, Mia's fifteen and left an abusive father and met a pimp. She was repeatedly sexually abused and yet she's still sexualized in the art. Every person she comes into contact with mentions her beauty, even the gay man. And then we're shown her sleeping in her underwear. Why was any of this necessary?
On top of that, people don't talk like people? Mia gives a tirade that sounds like a middle aged man trying to write empowering dialogue for a teenage girl. The effort was there but I felt like I was reading a well meaning text book. Then Dinah's line "I'm probably just PMS-ing", you know, like we constantly say things like that as women.
The cherry on top was Ollie's line of "In my experience, when a guy punches you in the face and takes your pants off, he's either hazing you or dating you." Why? Why the implication that gay men subdue their partners? And I got the sense Smith thought he was being progressive with the old guy and Ollie jokingly hitting on him but when Ollie has a"no homo" freakout because the other leaguer's hugged him, that's not progressive. Strangely enough, I read a 1989 comic that featured Roy Harper showing 10x more progressive views on gay men. So, this is all just Smith.
I get the complaints that this book was all dialogue. Normally, something like that really wouldn't bother me... if the dialogue was good. Unfortunately, this is one of those books where I got the sense the writer was so focused on proving how funny they are and not all that concerned with the story.
I get the sense Smith wanted to draw on the classic Green Arrow comics with this one. In a (slightly) clever method, he had Oliver forget the past 10 years and continue talking like he would have decades ago. Unfortunately, that's only part of the problem.
Read this comic and drink every time Ollie says "fat cat". Also, drink every time a woman in unnecessarily sexualized. Bad enough Mia was introduced as a teenage prostitute. There was a period of time I think every single DC book had a prostitute or a teenage runaway being abused by older men. I do not understand why this happened so often??? Anyway, Mia's fifteen and left an abusive father and met a pimp. She was repeatedly sexually abused and yet she's still sexualized in the art. Every person she comes into contact with mentions her beauty, even the gay man. And then we're shown her sleeping in her underwear. Why was any of this necessary?
On top of that, people don't talk like people? Mia gives a tirade that sounds like a middle aged man trying to write empowering dialogue for a teenage girl. The effort was there but I felt like I was reading a well meaning text book. Then Dinah's line "I'm probably just PMS-ing", you know, like we constantly say things like that as women.
The cherry on top was Ollie's line of "In my experience, when a guy punches you in the face and takes your pants off, he's either hazing you or dating you." Why? Why the implication that gay men subdue their partners? And I got the sense Smith thought he was being progressive with the old guy and Ollie jokingly hitting on him but when Ollie has a"no homo" freakout because the other leaguer's hugged him, that's not progressive. Strangely enough, I read a 1989 comic that featured Roy Harper showing 10x more progressive views on gay men. So, this is all just Smith.
I get the complaints that this book was all dialogue. Normally, something like that really wouldn't bother me... if the dialogue was good. Unfortunately, this is one of those books where I got the sense the writer was so focused on proving how funny they are and not all that concerned with the story.
March 5, 2018
"All the characters do is talk!" writer Kevin Smith on some of the complaints about the book
I have to agree with the criticism. Quiver felt very heavy on the dialogue and too light on the action, and that wasn't a good ratio. The artwork, however - somewhat reminiscent of the Batman and Superman animated series from the 90's - was good. Lastly, any book that features appearances by Batman and Black Canary is not a complete waste of time, but I wish they had been utilized in a more interesting story.
I have to agree with the criticism. Quiver felt very heavy on the dialogue and too light on the action, and that wasn't a good ratio. The artwork, however - somewhat reminiscent of the Batman and Superman animated series from the 90's - was good. Lastly, any book that features appearances by Batman and Black Canary is not a complete waste of time, but I wish they had been utilized in a more interesting story.
July 6, 2015
What I wouldn't give to spend an hour inside Kevin Smith's brain, just to find out where his ideas come from...like his resurrection story for Oliver Queen! Holy mother of God, this was the most bizarre plot-twist ever in regards to Ollie's missing 10-year chunk of memories. I thought amnesia, like Smith wanted me to. Let's just say I was wrong!
The rest of the book, that seemed mostly superpower/magic/supernatural weirdness free, deals with Satanism, reincarnation (of a sort), the afterlife, and is just all kinds of existential. Way to go Smith, the dated language at the beginning had me going "HUH?" and losing interest fast. I had put this down and picked it back up multiple times at this point. Congrats, you got one over on me. Now I want to know what the hell else you're going to make Ollie deal with. I'm hooked!
The rest of the book, that seemed mostly superpower/magic/supernatural weirdness free, deals with Satanism, reincarnation (of a sort), the afterlife, and is just all kinds of existential. Way to go Smith, the dated language at the beginning had me going "HUH?" and losing interest fast. I had put this down and picked it back up multiple times at this point. Congrats, you got one over on me. Now I want to know what the hell else you're going to make Ollie deal with. I'm hooked!
October 2, 2013
Fun! Although it starts out a bit slow, things pick up fairly quickly. Green Arrow is dead, so who's that running around Star City with the bow and arrow then? There are nods to all sorts of classic DC stories throughout. Smith eventually brings everything to a satisfying conclusion. Good stuff!
August 11, 2025
Kevin Smith always seems to get more freedom in his stories than most other writers, and this ends up being a good thing for the readers. While this story got a little more existential than I'd expect from a Green Arrow story, it was still pretty damn good. I liked some of the obscure easter eggs he threw in as well. Plus he got to use a ton of characters from the DCU as well.
Overall an interesting take on how Green Arrow comes back from the dead, as almost every super hero or villain eventually does.
Overall an interesting take on how Green Arrow comes back from the dead, as almost every super hero or villain eventually does.
November 5, 2016
Check out this review on my blog
What's the point of Robon Hood's copy cats sharing the stories with god like beings or adn tricksters worthy of ancient myths? I don't know either. Yet somehow, movies made Hawkeye work quite naturally next to likes of Iron Man and Thor and CW's Green Arrow series was enjoyable for about three seasons if you are as forgiving as me. A couple years ago it was proven to me that Hawkeye comics can work so it was only fair to give a chance to his DC counterpart.
I will be honest. I probably chose the wrong comic for that. The amount of lore required as an entry point is staggering and it the first and biggest red flag. This book is meant for the long time fans and readers of Green Arrow stories. Quiver reintroduces Oliver Queen as the Green Arrow; he rises from the dead after 6 years absence from the comics (and 10 years in the comic's world). Many things have changed since the last time Oliver dwelled among the living; customs, technology, his friends. Conveniently for the reader Oliver suffers from partial amnesia and does not recollect many events from before his death. Thanks to that everything is neatly summarized to us (or as neatly as several doomsday scenarios including caped vigilantes can be). However at the same time we are left to be flooded with repetitive exposition as our Green Arrow is so incredibly stubborn and does not accept the truth.
Oliver is not a likeable here. He is stubborn, self-righteous, deaf to common sense. Also he is so damn corny. It shows the old school character of this hero and how outdated he is. He is such an unbelievable theatrically bigger than life liberal and misoginyst at the same time! At one point he even explains how the serial killer roaming in his city could never be a woman, because women are too frail and sensitive to commit such monstrous deeds.
The story in Quiver is too inconsistent. It includes life after death, 30 years of family and relationship drama, occultism, scuba diving drug smugglers, rhyming demon and a serial killer. I believe it was supposed to be a heartfelt story celebrating returning hero but ultimately it came out to be unfocused mess. The art only adds to this chaos. It is pleasant, however not exactly in my style, but it is too comical for a story that despite its comedic quips is quite dark. This book is very much a product of its times. Not as corny and kitsch as the stories in the 90s but still too cheesy for today's standards.
The only thing that I truly enjoyed is a reference to my beloved Casablanca on the very last page.
What's the point of Robon Hood's copy cats sharing the stories with god like beings or adn tricksters worthy of ancient myths? I don't know either. Yet somehow, movies made Hawkeye work quite naturally next to likes of Iron Man and Thor and CW's Green Arrow series was enjoyable for about three seasons if you are as forgiving as me. A couple years ago it was proven to me that Hawkeye comics can work so it was only fair to give a chance to his DC counterpart.
I will be honest. I probably chose the wrong comic for that. The amount of lore required as an entry point is staggering and it the first and biggest red flag. This book is meant for the long time fans and readers of Green Arrow stories. Quiver reintroduces Oliver Queen as the Green Arrow; he rises from the dead after 6 years absence from the comics (and 10 years in the comic's world). Many things have changed since the last time Oliver dwelled among the living; customs, technology, his friends. Conveniently for the reader Oliver suffers from partial amnesia and does not recollect many events from before his death. Thanks to that everything is neatly summarized to us (or as neatly as several doomsday scenarios including caped vigilantes can be). However at the same time we are left to be flooded with repetitive exposition as our Green Arrow is so incredibly stubborn and does not accept the truth.
Oliver is not a likeable here. He is stubborn, self-righteous, deaf to common sense. Also he is so damn corny. It shows the old school character of this hero and how outdated he is. He is such an unbelievable theatrically bigger than life liberal and misoginyst at the same time! At one point he even explains how the serial killer roaming in his city could never be a woman, because women are too frail and sensitive to commit such monstrous deeds.
The story in Quiver is too inconsistent. It includes life after death, 30 years of family and relationship drama, occultism, scuba diving drug smugglers, rhyming demon and a serial killer. I believe it was supposed to be a heartfelt story celebrating returning hero but ultimately it came out to be unfocused mess. The art only adds to this chaos. It is pleasant, however not exactly in my style, but it is too comical for a story that despite its comedic quips is quite dark. This book is very much a product of its times. Not as corny and kitsch as the stories in the 90s but still too cheesy for today's standards.
The only thing that I truly enjoyed is a reference to my beloved Casablanca on the very last page.
VERDICT
One out of five punching glove arrows.
November 19, 2008
I read it because Kevin Smith wrote it. The man is clearly a total comic fanboy, but his homage to a character killed off years ago is surprisingly rich and textured. I read it cover to cover twice back to back. Its *that* good. Sure, there are the usual failings of almost any comic book, but it seems to be something that comes with the territory. Only the darkest of story lines seem impervious (Dark Knight Returns, A Death in the Family), but then again, its been years since I read them, so maybe they have pages or panels that would make me cringe today!
I have complaints, but I find I can't voice them without also requiring huge changes in the structure and moral of the story arc. I'm not the biggest fan of hell dimensions and alternate realities (of the Doctor Strange-type), but to tell this story, they seem to be necessary elements. The writing is verbose, but if you didn't expect that, you shouldn't have been reading it in the first place.
As a non-Green Arrow fan going in, I can honestly say I was wrapped up in the story in just a few pages, and am now curious how many other works he appears in (I well recall his appearance in 'Dark Knight Returns' with an apparently different outcome to the whole arm-cut-off-to-disarm-the-bomb-on-the-airplane decision that plays such a huge role in this book.)
I have complaints, but I find I can't voice them without also requiring huge changes in the structure and moral of the story arc. I'm not the biggest fan of hell dimensions and alternate realities (of the Doctor Strange-type), but to tell this story, they seem to be necessary elements. The writing is verbose, but if you didn't expect that, you shouldn't have been reading it in the first place.
As a non-Green Arrow fan going in, I can honestly say I was wrapped up in the story in just a few pages, and am now curious how many other works he appears in (I well recall his appearance in 'Dark Knight Returns' with an apparently different outcome to the whole arm-cut-off-to-disarm-the-bomb-on-the-airplane decision that plays such a huge role in this book.)
November 29, 2011
I read this a few years back when it first came out but I found myself wondering if it still held up as a good superhero story, of if I just loved it because I loved Kevin Smith a lot at the time. I was surprised to learn that I liked it more now, almost 10 years later, then I did when I was at the height of my fandom. This book is still maddeningly complex and seeped in the Green Arrow mythology, but even without ever reading any of those comics, I was still able to understand the story easily. Smith rolls in the backstory slowly, letting the reader get invested in a small cast with amnesiac Ollie, ex-pro Mia, and even oddball Stanley, before the inevitable onslaught of decades worth of continuity. And still the piece retains the unique Kevin Smith-ness -- the witty and sometimes profane one-liners paired with characters of unexpected heart that constantly surprise you.
While the ending is a bit cliche, sometimes the classics just keep getting done for a reason. When they are done well, like in this story, it makes for a powerful ending. Highly recommend to any fan of the superhero genre.
While the ending is a bit cliche, sometimes the classics just keep getting done for a reason. When they are done well, like in this story, it makes for a powerful ending. Highly recommend to any fan of the superhero genre.
April 23, 2010
I understand the whimsical nature with which Kevin Smith writes. And on some nostalgic level, it was destined to be used in comics. Quiver, his first foray into the Green Arrow mythos, shows independent moments of brilliance, that unfortunately get tripped up by Smith's unmistakeable banter. In other words, like many writers before him, Smith just doesn't know when to get out of his own way. Maybe I'm being too picky (it doesn't help that I've read comics for nearly 20 years now), but Smith interjects his voice too much into characters who have developed their own for over 75 years. For example, Batman should not sound like Jay from Clerks. What evens things out is that Smith's diction absolutely jives 100% with Oliver Queen. He was born to write the liberal, angry, fluffy Emerald Archer. That, and the story is never boring, no matter how out of control it gets as we reach the climax. Quiver is, above all things, a stroll down memory lane for a dedicated Green Arrow and DCU fan. If you fall into that category, read it immediately.
July 31, 2013
The only Green Arrow I had read was the Green Arrow/Black Canary book (which I loved). I was interested in learning more about the character so I picked up Quiver, written by Kevin Smith. This takes place when Ollie returns, having been dead for years.
Oliver Queen appears in Star City, thinking he’s only been gone a few weeks, when really, he’s been presumed dead for 10 years. Helping him get to the bottom of this is Black Canary, Arsenal, Connor Hawke, and Batman. As someone who knows nothing about the Green Arrow continuity, I was so happy with how Kevin Smith constructed this story, revealing backstory through the twists and turns. I also enjoyed his characterization of Green Arrow in all his belligerently liberal glory (one of the reasons I was drawn to this character in the first place).
I really enjoyed this book! A great “in" for people interested in Green Arrow.
Oliver Queen appears in Star City, thinking he’s only been gone a few weeks, when really, he’s been presumed dead for 10 years. Helping him get to the bottom of this is Black Canary, Arsenal, Connor Hawke, and Batman. As someone who knows nothing about the Green Arrow continuity, I was so happy with how Kevin Smith constructed this story, revealing backstory through the twists and turns. I also enjoyed his characterization of Green Arrow in all his belligerently liberal glory (one of the reasons I was drawn to this character in the first place).
I really enjoyed this book! A great “in" for people interested in Green Arrow.
December 10, 2014
Leído y poseído en la edición de cinco tomitos de Norma Editorial, que conseguí en pack.
El promedio de los capítulos da claramente tres, pero lo llevo a cuatro porque, aunque se trata de una resurrección medio tirada de los pelos e innecesaria, la calidad de los diálogos y el buen uso que hace Smith de la fauna DC logran poner este Carcaj por encima de varios comics de superhéroes, tanto actuales como de la época en la que se editó este.
De todos modos, con el Batman de Smith también me ilusioné en el primer tomo y mandó todo al carajo en el segundo. Así que veremos si mantiene el nivel en "El sonido de la violencia" o se tira a chanta en seguida.
El promedio de los capítulos da claramente tres, pero lo llevo a cuatro porque, aunque se trata de una resurrección medio tirada de los pelos e innecesaria, la calidad de los diálogos y el buen uso que hace Smith de la fauna DC logran poner este Carcaj por encima de varios comics de superhéroes, tanto actuales como de la época en la que se editó este.
De todos modos, con el Batman de Smith también me ilusioné en el primer tomo y mandó todo al carajo en el segundo. Así que veremos si mantiene el nivel en "El sonido de la violencia" o se tira a chanta en seguida.
July 3, 2015
I gotta say I was very impressed with this book. Had me hooked from start to finish. It can't be easy to try and bring a character back from the dead, especially a high profile one as Green Arrow but Kevin Smith did it beautifully. One thing I love about Smith in the comic book world is you can tell just how much of a fan he is. Throwing every character he wants in this. Like we know he's a big Batman fan and who is in the book the most besides Ollie???? I felt the story was very well rounded covering all its bases. I'm looking forward to more Green Arrow
January 20, 2016
Ummmmmmmmm. I was fully expecting to give this a four star review but the last third was just too much. Like it went from a weird but fun time to NOPE NOPE NOPE in one page flat. Soooo yeah.
January 21, 2018
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3+/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>
STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>
March 21, 2023
All I did was a lot of cringing, and why was Connor white?!
August 8, 2020
NOTE: I read this story in the original monthly issues . . . . .
This was kind of a big deal when it was released. DC had held off on re-booting Green Arrow for a few years and fans were clamoring for Oliver Queen’s return. Film-maker and comics fan Kevin Smith was assigned to write (and the delays began, naturally), with DC hoping to strike lightening the same way Marvel did with Smith’s re-boot of Daredevil for Marvel Knights. Not even close, I’m sorry to say.
I picked this up as a discounted set some years back and shelved it until now. It’s pretty lackluster, feels like Smith was just going through the motions.
Ollie suddenly shows up in the poor side of town, looking disheveled and wearing a tattered costume, with no memory of the past ten years or the incidence of his death (supposedly atomized in a plane explosion, verified by Superman).
Things get a little bit interesting in Issue #5 when Batman decides to give him a complete exam, just to make sure he’s the real deal and not a clone planted by the opposition to sabotage the Justice League. Batman shows him the Oliver Queen newspaper obituary and film of the battle with Parralax (Green Lantern Hal Jordan) but he doesn’t remember anything and refuses to believe he died. More return to memory sites, like the abandoned Queen mansion. Batman feels he’s figured out the cutoff point and the reason for Oliver’s memory loss but still needs to determine the how when Jason Blood/The Demon shows up. This was the first issue so far that I actually enjoyed reading. Took you long enough, Smitty.
This was kind of a big deal when it was released. DC had held off on re-booting Green Arrow for a few years and fans were clamoring for Oliver Queen’s return. Film-maker and comics fan Kevin Smith was assigned to write (and the delays began, naturally), with DC hoping to strike lightening the same way Marvel did with Smith’s re-boot of Daredevil for Marvel Knights. Not even close, I’m sorry to say.
I picked this up as a discounted set some years back and shelved it until now. It’s pretty lackluster, feels like Smith was just going through the motions.
Ollie suddenly shows up in the poor side of town, looking disheveled and wearing a tattered costume, with no memory of the past ten years or the incidence of his death (supposedly atomized in a plane explosion, verified by Superman).
Things get a little bit interesting in Issue #5 when Batman decides to give him a complete exam, just to make sure he’s the real deal and not a clone planted by the opposition to sabotage the Justice League. Batman shows him the Oliver Queen newspaper obituary and film of the battle with Parralax (Green Lantern Hal Jordan) but he doesn’t remember anything and refuses to believe he died. More return to memory sites, like the abandoned Queen mansion. Batman feels he’s figured out the cutoff point and the reason for Oliver’s memory loss but still needs to determine the how when Jason Blood/The Demon shows up. This was the first issue so far that I actually enjoyed reading. Took you long enough, Smitty.
November 8, 2025
One of the most comic booky comics I've read recently. This book had people coming back from the dead, magic/occult stuff, heaven, ghosts, and a huge cast of characters. It was a wild ride, and a story you can really only tell in a comic book-so with that in mind it does have a charm to it I enjoy.
Kevin Smith had the task of bringing back Oliver Queen from the dead (classic comic book shenanigans). Does he do this well?? I'd say so. However, I do think that he really wanted to leave no loose ends in this story. He explained EVERYTHING, and at times this book felt really dense with dialogue. Smith is known for not condensing his writing, and A LOT of the time I felt like the story could've been cut down. Bringing back dead characters is always a mess, but Smith did it in a pretty straightforward way (well.... as straightforward as you can in a story like this).
Overall this was a solid comic, and pretty compelling if you've read the Grell run on Green Arrow before this. Very few resurrection stories in comics are well done, and most of the time they just make the canon even more confusing. So this was a nice change of pace, however that doesn't mean this was one the best comic books I've read though. I probably won't reread this, but glad I have the context for this part of Green Arrow's story.
Kevin Smith had the task of bringing back Oliver Queen from the dead (classic comic book shenanigans). Does he do this well?? I'd say so. However, I do think that he really wanted to leave no loose ends in this story. He explained EVERYTHING, and at times this book felt really dense with dialogue. Smith is known for not condensing his writing, and A LOT of the time I felt like the story could've been cut down. Bringing back dead characters is always a mess, but Smith did it in a pretty straightforward way (well.... as straightforward as you can in a story like this).
Overall this was a solid comic, and pretty compelling if you've read the Grell run on Green Arrow before this. Very few resurrection stories in comics are well done, and most of the time they just make the canon even more confusing. So this was a nice change of pace, however that doesn't mean this was one the best comic books I've read though. I probably won't reread this, but glad I have the context for this part of Green Arrow's story.
November 8, 2024
Maybe a 1.5?
Oh boy. I'm 2 for 2 in not liking highly praised, "quintessential" Green Arrow runs. So maybe I just don't like Green Arrow? Or I only like him when he's written by certain writers.
Smith's writing is just way too wordy. Way too quippy and overall self-indulgent. (I’ve never seen Batman talk and make wise cracks so much in my life, Smith should not be writing Batman.) It definitely feels dated in a lot of places - the gay "jokes" and the way the women are written and talked about. The pacing is also pretty slow, probably due to how self-indulgent the writing is. It shouldn't take 70+ pages to get to the actual plot and action. So much of this could have been told in half the amount of overall pages.
Some positives: This is my introduction to Mia Dearden. I like what I've seen so far.
The art: The art is perfectly fine, but my biggest concern is the page layouts. There's way too much crammed onto one page, and that's almost every page that I can say that about.
Oh boy. I'm 2 for 2 in not liking highly praised, "quintessential" Green Arrow runs. So maybe I just don't like Green Arrow? Or I only like him when he's written by certain writers.
Smith's writing is just way too wordy. Way too quippy and overall self-indulgent. (I’ve never seen Batman talk and make wise cracks so much in my life, Smith should not be writing Batman.) It definitely feels dated in a lot of places - the gay "jokes" and the way the women are written and talked about. The pacing is also pretty slow, probably due to how self-indulgent the writing is. It shouldn't take 70+ pages to get to the actual plot and action. So much of this could have been told in half the amount of overall pages.
Some positives: This is my introduction to Mia Dearden. I like what I've seen so far.
The art: The art is perfectly fine, but my biggest concern is the page layouts. There's way too much crammed onto one page, and that's almost every page that I can say that about.
February 25, 2025
The only thing about this story that didn't convince me where the parts early on where Stanley Dover Sr. acted creepy. I thought for sure his involvement was a red herring and I was genuinely disappointed when the twist turned to be that he was super-mega-evil instead of just evil. It struck me as poorly done especially since the reveal of his involvement consisted of him explaining his whole life story. That said, I would love to read some of the old comics where the character first appeared.
While the book is wordy, the words are very easy to digest. The dialogue is snappy and the story is extremely clear to follow while still dealing with some interesting themes. The appearances of secondary characters are appropriate and not overdone, with them not taking over the book at any point but still playing a pivotal role when necessary. Basically it's a comic book, written like a pretty good movie. I liked it.
While the book is wordy, the words are very easy to digest. The dialogue is snappy and the story is extremely clear to follow while still dealing with some interesting themes. The appearances of secondary characters are appropriate and not overdone, with them not taking over the book at any point but still playing a pivotal role when necessary. Basically it's a comic book, written like a pretty good movie. I liked it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2018
This book is a perfect example of why you shouldn't give up on a book too early. It made me miserable early on, but that was 100% intentional and giving up before I had all the relevant details would've caused me to miss what wound up being a pretty fun and zany story.
December 19, 2020
Um, wow. This is a lot of build up to a bit of an eye roll, with a lot of cringing along the way. But I did laugh a little in the beginning.
Read
April 17, 2023what the actual heck was that
December 18, 2014
This graphic novel encompasses the first 10 issues of the newly reinvented Green Arrow, written by actor/director Kevin Smith. Having previously been killed while attempting a rescue, the book deals with the death and return of Oliver Queen, the first Green Arrow. Kevin Smith manages to successfully blend urban grit, the supernatural & the spiritual.
There are a host of other DC heroes making cameos, including Batman, Etrigan, Black Canary and The Spectre.
Kevin Smith also adds his trademark humour, and some of the dialogue could be straight out of Mallrats or Dogma.
The story starts with the death of Oliver Queen, and then briefly follows Parallax (Hal Jordan) just before he sacrifices himself to save the world. I won't mention any more, but its definitely worth checking out
There are a host of other DC heroes making cameos, including Batman, Etrigan, Black Canary and The Spectre.
Kevin Smith also adds his trademark humour, and some of the dialogue could be straight out of Mallrats or Dogma.
The story starts with the death of Oliver Queen, and then briefly follows Parallax (Hal Jordan) just before he sacrifices himself to save the world. I won't mention any more, but its definitely worth checking out
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