Green Arrow, Vol. 2: Family First

Green Arrow (2023)

by Joshua Williamson, Sean Itaakse (Artist), Phil Hester (Penciler)

After months of time travel and space adventures, the Emerald Archer is back with his family in the present day. But will the reunion be short-lived? A member of the Green Arrow family goes missing, and Oliver hits the streets of Star City to investigate, running into…Onomatopoeia?! It doesn’t take long to discover there are many secrets swirling, and Amanda Waller and her agents have a part to play…but to what ends?

New York Times bestselling author and DC architect Joshua Williamson returns with a new creative team, including Carmine Di Giandomenico and Trevor Hairsine.

Collects GREEN ARROW (2023) #7-12.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics

136 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

Reviews

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised at the quality of this series so far. I like the underlying theme of family.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 stars

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. Especially as I did not think much of the first volume, but I am very glad I gave this book a chance. I would have given this 4.5 stars, but I could not round the book down.

Olives Queen is back, but the whole world has changed, and his family is still split up, with Roy/Arsenal missing. How do the Arrow family fit into Amanda Waller's plans? What is Oliver and hus greatest rival's end fame?

This has been my favourite Green Arrow book to date, I am looking forward to the next book to come. This is a very good ending to the current story arc. I loved the reversals throughout the book. The only thing I can say bad about this book is that it seemed to finish too quickly. I guess time and the pages fly by when I am having fun.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mission to bring the whole Arrow family together that started in the last Volume continues and ends here. Of course this means that chaos and tragedy are about to strike in the next Volume, but I'm glad to see them all together again.
Merlyn is back, but taken away by Diggle by the end, and Waller has a lot to answer for. (And my question... how does all this relate to the upcoming "All In" story?)
Overall, a very good, fast paced read.
Recommend.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshua Williamson continua fazendo um bom trabalho no Arqueiro Verde que, inicialmente, estava previsto para ser uma minissérie, somente com o volume um. O escritor ao lado de desenhistas como Sean Isaakse, Tom Derenick e o veterano no personagem, Phil Hester, não decepcionam em trabalhar a mitologia e o universo do personagem. Ao mesmo tempo, este é um dos poucos quadrinhos da DC Comics atual que podemos sentir que os acontecimentos das revistas de outros super-heróis reverberam aqui. Neste arco, Oliver Queen está em busca do seu tutorado, Roy Harper, o Arsenal, que foi capturado por Amanda Waller. A "muralha" manda Oliver em uma missão em troca da libertação de seu tutorado, para que Oliver e Roy possam, então, finalmente reunir sua família.

[tyrosine · Rating 4 out of 5]

OLIVER QUEEN, CONGRATULATIONS ON EARNING POOKIE STATUS. I LOVE YOU AND YOUR ARCHERY FAMILY FT. BLACK CANARY

[Hira Chaudhary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver and Connor are on the search for Roy, and I loved getting to see these two and the bond between them. But also just how much Oliver loves Roy, and how he kept calling him "his boy" and "his son." I love how Oliver and Connor have each other's backs and trust each other without question.

Emiko, Mia, Cissie, and Red Canary all being together and the way they were presented was a little cringey, but I did love getting to see them all and how this whole family is finally all together again. I loved the Ollie and Mia hug. I do still need us to find Jade and make sure she's okay.

This was a fun volume, and I loved getting more of Oliver's found family.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oliver and his family... okay, okay, I get it, no need to go on and on and on...

Everyone's back together, everyone's happy. It's perfect. Can we get down to business now?

3* because despite the irony of my review, I have to be honest: it's well written, even if it doesn't interest me much.

[Nikita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Evan Horad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story by williamson. Love the last issue it was great.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it more that i thought i would.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing Lian and Roy reunite was so wholesome.

[Raul Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending definitely could've been better (ie seeing merlyn actually train and see his plan throughout all of issues making him someone to keep our mind on, instead of just having an info dump at the second to last issue) because the merlyn really came out of nowhere since we pretty much exclusively dealt with waller this whole volume and I had forgotten his confrontation with Ollie on the last volume, and his final battle with ollie felt very anticlimactic because it lasted 5 seconds, but unlike last volume's plot the waller mystery was really compelling and made me more excited for absolute power, and seeing the arrow family reunited was nice (even though again it all happened really fast)

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anche meglio del primo! Complice il fatto che arrivavo anche scarico nel leggere il nome di Joshua Williamson, che - come già detto in altre recensioni - ho finito per non sopportare per via della sua gestione scadente su Flash. Qui invece (a miei occhi, almeno) l'autore ha occasione di riscattarsi, ma anche, obiettivamente, di spendersi meglio poiché Oliver Queen e il suo parco comprimari e antagonisti è molto più adatto allo stile e alle tematiche dell'autore.

Qui ritorna prepotentemente e da assoluta protagonista la tematica già espressa in precedenza sulla gestione dell'alter-ego di Barry Allen: la famiglia in tutte le sue forme; acquisita (Black Canary), scelta (la Justice League, Hal Jordan), allargata (Red Canary, Arrowette, Speedy), incasinata (Amiko e Connor Hawke), disfunzionale (Roy e Liam Harper) e imposta per legami di sangue. Ma ciò che Freccia Verde non ha rispetto a Flash, è la leva con la Forza di Velocità; a posteriori mi sento di dire che le storie su Flash sono più legate ad un senso di comunità, proprio perché la fonte del potere dei velocisti fa da comunione, è quindi si è quasi più costretti a fare gruppo poiché, se divisi, i poteri vengono meno.
Qui invece, non avendo questa leva, le scelte dei protagonisti della "Arrow Family" e i loro tentativi di creare un nucleo famigliare basato sul sincero affetto è molto più vero, genuino e sincero, perché non c'è "il torna conto personale" di non diminuire il proprio potere; c'è solo la voglia di coltivare rapporti. E questo leitmotiv a smuovere tutte le azioni dei personaggi: il desiderio di stare insieme; se poi hai un personaggio come Oliver Queen, in bilico tra cavaliere senza macchia e fetente mascalzone, allora il divertimento è assicurato.

Se devo proprio impegnarmi per trovare un difetto, questo è anche il suo pregio. E' tanto veloce e frenetico come volume, forse anche troppo, qualcosa non ce lo si gode fino in fondo. Ma forse perché c'è un Williamson talmente tanto a suo agio, con un personaggio che troppo spesso non viene illuminato dalle luci della ribalta, che si vuole di più. Ma forse è meglio così. Sappiamo come è andata l'ultima volta che all'autore hanno affidato gestioni lunghe.
In più c'è spesso il ritorno di Phil Hester - matita iconica del personaggio, che ha firmato cicli famosissimi del personaggio (su tutti "Quiver", con i testi di Kevin Smith e "The Archer Quest") - e l'approdo di Carmine Di Giandomenico per pochissime pagine, ma graditissime. Considerando che si è sempre rifiutato di disegnare il personaggio perché non apprezza disegnare l'arco, è un bel colpo.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty fun comic and I really liked it, people might find it controversial and all but I just love the way it brings the family together like from the start Ollie finding the league and teaming with other heroes and learning it has disbanded and you see what the team meant to him but its cool to see that and then the stuff with Onomatopeia which was a fun reverse twist, and you can see it coming but the twist was nicely done and Brick's reaction.. lol.

Then there is the reunion of the family after he learns what Waller did to Roy after he looks for him, and wow so many girl sidekicks and some I didn't know about but it was so cool to see Mia but the best part is Emiko's and Conner's interaction lol, and I just want an Arrow family book now seeing these wild interactions and I guess thats what the whole run has been about, Ollie has always been so lonely and preferred himself, and he would abandon his family at every turn and now finally he realized what should be first.. Family.. and the title of this volume is so apt.

I love how the end basically shows why Merlyn is the definitive nemesis for Ollie and I love their fight and how brutal it gets and its across the ages and I love the retcon of the origin that Williamson did, some may not find it good but it works for me and where it leaves the character and his family is so awesome.. like it feels like eternity since they have been together and seeing them like this on the beach.. some may find it controversial or what but I freaking love this, its been so long since they have been together and newer characters too and so I am excited to see the bonds that develop and what the deal with Waller means for the book and the character.

It will be interesting to see going forward the interactions and all that, and what it means for this book. But overall I really liked this volume with its emphasis on Ollie and what matters first aka family and the reunion and all that and the big battle, this is the kind of comics that just makes me love this universe and the medium of comics.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuando parecía que la familia de Green Arrow era nútrida, este recopilatorio aún descubre (o recuerda) unas cuantas integrantes más de los lanzaflechas que acaban reuniéndose en torno a un Oliver Queen que de cara el final de estos números va anunciando su alianza con una Amanda Waller que por fin tiene un plan maestro para ser El Muro contra el que se estamparán los superhéroes. Así, el arquero esmeralda dirige a sus familiares y púpilos a un lugar que oculta grandes secretos de los mayores héroes de la tierra. Un Santuario descubierto por Tom King en Héroes en Crisis, que Joshua Williamson tiene a bien a recuperar en el canon DCita como un mecanismo más para el Poder Absoluto de Waller.

Esta cabecera de Green Arrow sigue dejando bien clara la importancia de los personajes que conforman el círculo familiar y de amistad estrecha de Oliver. Exponiendo una humanidad y vulnerabilidad bastante apreciable en este tipo de historias que llevarán a una decisión bastante individual por buscar una protección de sus más allegados. Así, el tener antagonistas como Onomatopeya y, sobre todo Merlyn, busca espolonear a Oliver a su decisión final con Waller. Quizás de forma más "gratuita" en tener más acción que reflexión real. Pero en lo que entiendo como márgenes hiper acotados de un personaje que poco podría faltar para comparar con Batman, puedo valorar en un arranque bastante díficil a la hora de volverlo a situar en la acción y tenerlo de elemento esencial para la parta antagónica del más reciente evento DCita.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

How are you with your Oliver Queen history?

This book is a love song to all the memories that Green Arrow has made over the years. Ollie has made it through Dark Crisis only to come back to Earth and find the world moving on without a Justice League to hold them up. Having been his foundation for years, losing the team rocks Oliver to his core. He sets out to bring Roy home. Oliver makes a deal with the devil (Amanda Waller, natch!) to finish Roy's mission and get something she's been searching for.

Family themes keep popping up in this series, and definitely in this volume. It's nice to see them enjoy a moment before there's more superhero chaos to leap into.


Speaking of 'Arrow Family'...
Black Canary (Oliver's SO)
John Diggle (from the TV show. Originally in the 'New 52' era relaunch)
Connor Hawke (back after some Fight Club'ing on Lazarus Island)
Arsenal (not even Sanctuary can keep him...dead)
Arrowette (tangentially connected to the other bow and arrow users...oh..and retired YJ member)
Red Canary (fangirl extraordinare)
Red Arrow (Emiko, Ollie's half-sister)
Mia Dearden (HIV positive(?) aka Speedy)

(that's a stacked team, right?)
=====
Bonus: Waller has been building as the 'big bad' in DC...this is just another step forward
Bonus Bonus: Merlyn's origins and story are inextricably linked to the 'Arrow' TV show

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many Arrow-related characters, and I'm sure most people forget about them. Joshua Williamson isn't one of them. With Oliver still all over the place in terms of timelines and realities, the other Arrow characters rally around Roy Harper to rescue him, even if it brings them right into the crosshairs (ha, arrow pun) of Amanda Waller.

DC does family better than anyone else, and there's a good reason for this volume to be called Family First. It feels like a return to the Green Arrow series of old, with everyone and anyone working in tandem, even characters that we haven't seen much of lately, like Red Canary, and Cheshire.

Plus the art's lovely - Sean Isaakze is still a beautiful penciller, and Phil Hester is no stranger to Oliver's world.

Superb. Nostalgic and progressive all at once.

[Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Перша арка Стріли від Джошуа Вільямсона мені цілком сподобалася, незважаючи на те, що сюжет пішов зовсім не в ту сторону яку очікуєш від коміксу про Зелену Стрілу це була приємна та динамічна історія. Тож давайте дізнаємося якої вийшла друга арка.

Після того як Рой зник розслідуючи зникнення Олівера, Квін разом з Конором самі починають його розшукувати й всі зачіпки ведуть до Аманди Воллер. 7 номер це такий експозиційний номер в якому Зелена Стріла дізнається, що відбувається у життях та серіях його колег по Лізі, головним гайлайтом у номері є досить душевна розмова між Оллі та Гелом. У 8 номері відбувається конфронтація Зелених Стріл з Ономатопеєю та Бріком і у кінці номера Квін дізнається, що Арсенал тепер працює на Воллер. У 9 номері, який відбувається після Біст Ворлду, Зелена Стріла проникає в зал справедливості який тепер є новою базою Аманди й укладає з нею угоду. В обмін на Роя, усю його родину та місцезнаходження Мерліна Оллі почне працювати Воллер та дістане для неї записи усіх сповідей зі святилища… ох бля, не думав, що "Heroes in Crisis" мене і ту дістане. Ну і в трьох останніх номерах нам показують як ця місія проходить, а також конфронтацію родини Стріли із Малькомом Мерліном.

Головною метою цього рану для Вільямсона було повернути Стрілі його родину і після цієї арки можу впевнено сказати, що йому це вдалося. Якщо в першому сюжеті ми отримали повернення Ліан та Конора, то тут повертаються Червона Стріла, Аровета, Спіді, Червона Канарка та Діґл. Звісно постійні обнімашки між персонажами дещо змушують дещо закотити очіч, але блін їх реально приємно бачити. І от слово "приємно" ідеально описує цю серію, її хочеться читати, сюжет непоганий і я навіть не проти того, що він підв'язаний під Волер та "Absolute Power", малюнок хороший, а персонажі дуже радують. Я був повністю задоволений, особливо, я вас задовбаю цим словом, приємним вийшов фінал з усією родиною на острові. Далі в серії тай-іни до Абсолютної Влади та фінал рану Вільямсона, сподіваюся він не розчарує.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't mind the multiple universe shenanigans in the first volume, but I think that's because it largely felt self-contained. Ollie's back in the real world now, which means he's been shunted into whatever big event DC corporate is setting up. Looks like it's gonna be some Amanda Waller thing since she's taken over the Justice League headquarters.

For the most part, this volume is fine, but it feels like a lot of retread of the first volume, plus all the crossover stuff. Ollie is hunting for Roy, but also being hunted by a past foe (Merlyn). And he's working for Waller - or is he? Very eh, and much more dependent on your knowing Green Arrow lore.

[Jamie King · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 but it's no insult to the book, it just wasn't as good as the previous volume. I can't help but smile at the story. Seeing the whole Arrow clan brought together is special, and it centres Ollie on one of his most important pillars (family). The art is excellent again (still not my style, but it was really kinetic in the fights which I appreciated), though I didn't really enjoy the guest artist's work much.

I do feel the theme wearing a little thin, and I'm excited for the shift in focus that I know is waiting in volume 4, but this is still a really nice run for Ollie and the crew, and I'm enjoying it.

[Davi Bampi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good arc with more focus on nostalgia, classic characters and family themes. Good if you are a fan of long date of green arrow. But newcomers might not get much out of this first 2 volumes. Which is weird since the story is so simple and basic superhero stuff, but it requires pre knowledge of the character's cronology and lore to appreciate. Anyway, good but not great. At least it does not offend me lol there are better green arrow stories.

[Aidan Hepler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this just as much as the last book in the series, and for all the same reasons!! They characters are fun, the morals are great, everything else is great too!! But, same as the last one, I think this had some pacing issues, and a last minute, batman style save that fell kinda flat. However, I think this book improved on the main plot and the most important part of this run: Olivers family.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "Arrow Family" has gotten entirely ridiculously large. That's the problem with legacy heroes if you never actually advance the legacy. But this is still a fun visit with all of them that ties up the issues with Merlyn from V1 and sets up issues with Amanda that underlie the entire future of the DC Universe. An enjoyable but light read.

[Will Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Green Arrow as a character a bunch, but man Williamson is really shoe-horning in that there is a Green Arrow family, like the Bat-family. And if Ollie does something against his family one more time because he's trying to protect them... >:(

jk, I've already read past this and he does. >:(

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit better, love to see onomatopeia even if it wasn't technically him. the justice league thing was a bit confusing but definitely worth the sanctuary storyline bit. MIA DEARDEN, EMIKO QUEEN, CISSIE KING-JONES AND SIENNA? IN ONE ISSUE? i like that roy and lian got reunited and it was a bit more emotional this time.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy, Ollie has a large extended family of arrow vigilantes, more than I even realized. Ollie's back after Dark Crisis and he's upset there's no longer a Justice League. Enter Amanda Waller to make things even worse in this leadup to Absolute Power.

[Roberto Diaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume continues the mistery of the previous one, and gives us resolution about the real mastermind behind Oliver and company's recent troubles.

Some cameos here and there and good action makes it enjoyables for the ones that continued the ride from volume 1.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying

Josh does an ample job of trying to sort through th complicated history if Green Arrow. HR provides a no e reset for the character and his extended family which now rivals the Bat family. The accompanying artwork us nice and clean and fits the story well.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun!