What do you think?
Rate this book
Green Arrow (2023)
Green Arrow Vol. 4: Fresh Water Kills
An ecological disaster has rocked Star City to its core and left Oliver Queen with more questions than answers. Who is the Fresh Water Killer, and why does he seem inextricably linked to Queen himself?
Star City is in the crosshairs of a madman calling himself the Fresh Water Killer, leaving Green Arrow scrambling for answers as he tries to save the city he protects. But the Fresh Water Killer is more than meets the eye – and is harboring dark secrets of his own with connections to Ollie’s past.
Collects Green Arrow #17-24
Star City is in the crosshairs of a madman calling himself the Fresh Water Killer, leaving Green Arrow scrambling for answers as he tries to save the city he protects. But the Fresh Water Killer is more than meets the eye – and is harboring dark secrets of his own with connections to Ollie’s past.
Collects Green Arrow #17-24
168 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
4 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 11, 2025
A nice return to gritty urban social stories.
October 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The story was great and the artwork fits it perfectly. I like Oliver actually fighting street-level villains. The only problem I have with the book is similar to Nightwing. How does anyone not know Oliver is Green Arrow? Though to be fair Green Arrow has added a face mask to cover his very unique goatee.
Oliver is going solo in Star City. High-level executives and powerful people are being killed. Drowned in poisoned water. How is the Freshwater Killer and what is their connection to Oliver's past? Also whose side will Oliver take?
The message of this book is really hard-hitting. It is a moral question that needs to be answered. I do like the interaction between Batman in Oliver (only a page), however, I think in this case Batman is mad that Oliver did what he would have done during Absolute Power. I really like the direction on this series and hope it continues.
Oliver is going solo in Star City. High-level executives and powerful people are being killed. Drowned in poisoned water. How is the Freshwater Killer and what is their connection to Oliver's past? Also whose side will Oliver take?
The message of this book is really hard-hitting. It is a moral question that needs to be answered. I do like the interaction between Batman in Oliver (only a page), however, I think in this case Batman is mad that Oliver did what he would have done during Absolute Power. I really like the direction on this series and hope it continues.
September 27, 2025
4.5*
Chris Condon takes up Green Arrow on the foundations laid by Mike Grell 40 years ago. Urban, street-level, deeply attached to people and their fate; a leftist SJW in a nutshell.
And it's excellent. After flights of fancy in other dimensions and a refocusing on family by Williamson, Condon returns to Star City and embarks GA on a very dark plot, marked by the injustice that big corporations are capable of inflicting on ordinary people without batting an eyelid. And victory? What victory? It's a bitter one...
The plot is clearly politically oriented but avoids the pitfall of demonstrative heaviness that too often tends to ruin a good plot with ideas that I fundamentally agree with (yes, I'm thinking of you, Mark Russell).
Very good characterisation of Oliver, charming but 200% committed to fighting for ordinary people. Introduction – I believe – of the clever detective Lena Benitez, who should undoubtedly be a major asset for GA in the future (although I know the series will be cancelled after #31, sigh).
Until that fateful day arrives, enjoy this Green Arrow back to his roots.
Chris Condon takes up Green Arrow on the foundations laid by Mike Grell 40 years ago. Urban, street-level, deeply attached to people and their fate; a leftist SJW in a nutshell.
And it's excellent. After flights of fancy in other dimensions and a refocusing on family by Williamson, Condon returns to Star City and embarks GA on a very dark plot, marked by the injustice that big corporations are capable of inflicting on ordinary people without batting an eyelid. And victory? What victory? It's a bitter one...
The plot is clearly politically oriented but avoids the pitfall of demonstrative heaviness that too often tends to ruin a good plot with ideas that I fundamentally agree with (yes, I'm thinking of you, Mark Russell).
Very good characterisation of Oliver, charming but 200% committed to fighting for ordinary people. Introduction – I believe – of the clever detective Lena Benitez, who should undoubtedly be a major asset for GA in the future (although I know the series will be cancelled after #31, sigh).
Until that fateful day arrives, enjoy this Green Arrow back to his roots.
June 7, 2025
Condon is a masterful writer and knows how to treat Ollie as he deserves. His pace is frenetic and each moment jumps off the page. The art is stellar and this is everything a Green Arrow story should be: street-level thriller with messy politics and knotted moral questions.
May 29, 2025
3.5 Incredible beginning, lack luster middle, unexpected ending but I liked it a lot and I respect it. Very different then what I thought but it’s fits well with the whole run and I’ll probably continue with the rest of the run, maybe with the trades instead
June 4, 2025
Part 5 & 6 were a little lack luster but I really enjoyed this story! Could have definitely been shorter/more complex. Great ideas for a story tho
July 5, 2025
Really remarkable first arc to what I hope is a long run for these creators. The whole book has a classic, 80s Vertigo feel, with a story that deftly tackles real world issues and stunning art. Condon’s dialogue and story are great - you can see his crime comic chops coming through with a gripping mystery that unravels nicely over the arc - but Montos’ art is the star of the show. Every issue has some sequence that had me gobsmacked. His textured, almost chiaroscuro line work is such a perfect fit for Green Arrow action.
I also need to commend the editorial team for curating this kind of story that deals with environmental racism in a sophisticated and nuanced way.
I also need to commend the editorial team for curating this kind of story that deals with environmental racism in a sophisticated and nuanced way.
July 10, 2025
Williamson's run was consistently great, but Condon immediately came in and gave me one of the best stories in modern DC. Gorgeous artwork ties together Condon's script. Maybe I fucking love Green Arrow.
November 6, 2025
... So close. This comes SO CLOSE to being a genuinely great Green Arrow story... but it's ultimately let down by the fact that it can only go so far with its messaging.
Delves into the incredibly heavy moral subjects of industrial dumping, environmental contamination, and the effects these things can have on impacted communities-- and how money isn't necessarily enough to make up for the harms done. But rather than digging into the systemic failures that allowed for such tragedies to occur, writer Chris Condon gets deeply invested in the personal tragedies endured by the people affected, suggesting even that their choice to resort to retributive murder is understandable and even reasonable... but then decrying them for going too far and getting Green Arrow to kick their asses.
The extent that the story assigns culpability for this situation is by labeling the chemical corporation that did the dumping a "bad company", and vaguely suggesting that the senator involved in the deal was personally corrupt as well. It completely ignores the systemic incentives, campaigns of deregulation, and governmental failures that make such tragedies inevitable. It fails to reckon with the fact that this ISN'T an isolated incident, and that assisting these specific survivors doesn't actually solve the larger problems.
And it's a shame, too, because otherwise, this is a pretty compelling little crime thriller! Condon has Ollie's characterization down pat, and I love that he thought to give Green Arrow a scarf to bring up over his INSANELY DISTINCTIVE AND INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE Van Dyke goatee! The artwork also happens to be GORGEOUS throughout-- even if I think some of the sequential storytelling is a teeny bit hard to follow, especially during the action scenes.
It should be a great book. It almost IS a great book! But there's just... there's a single line Oliver has at the end of the book that gives the whole game away:
"Business at the expense of others is dead at Horton Chemical. You've got yourself a NEW business plan. You're investing in PEOPLE now, Max."
... This is a SHOCKINGLY ignorant thing for Oliver Queen to say. What does he think a corporation DOES? How does he think profit works? Does he even understand how capitalism functions as an economic system?! It's ALL at the expense of others!
So yeah. Just a tad disappointed to discover that this isn't "leftist firebrand" Green Arrow, but "mealy-mouthed liberal" Green Arrow. But hey-- maybe that's the best we can hope for from a comic publisher owned by a multimedia conglomerate.
Delves into the incredibly heavy moral subjects of industrial dumping, environmental contamination, and the effects these things can have on impacted communities-- and how money isn't necessarily enough to make up for the harms done. But rather than digging into the systemic failures that allowed for such tragedies to occur, writer Chris Condon gets deeply invested in the personal tragedies endured by the people affected, suggesting even that their choice to resort to retributive murder is understandable and even reasonable... but then decrying them for going too far and getting Green Arrow to kick their asses.
The extent that the story assigns culpability for this situation is by labeling the chemical corporation that did the dumping a "bad company", and vaguely suggesting that the senator involved in the deal was personally corrupt as well. It completely ignores the systemic incentives, campaigns of deregulation, and governmental failures that make such tragedies inevitable. It fails to reckon with the fact that this ISN'T an isolated incident, and that assisting these specific survivors doesn't actually solve the larger problems.
And it's a shame, too, because otherwise, this is a pretty compelling little crime thriller! Condon has Ollie's characterization down pat, and I love that he thought to give Green Arrow a scarf to bring up over his INSANELY DISTINCTIVE AND INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE Van Dyke goatee! The artwork also happens to be GORGEOUS throughout-- even if I think some of the sequential storytelling is a teeny bit hard to follow, especially during the action scenes.
It should be a great book. It almost IS a great book! But there's just... there's a single line Oliver has at the end of the book that gives the whole game away:
"Business at the expense of others is dead at Horton Chemical. You've got yourself a NEW business plan. You're investing in PEOPLE now, Max."
... This is a SHOCKINGLY ignorant thing for Oliver Queen to say. What does he think a corporation DOES? How does he think profit works? Does he even understand how capitalism functions as an economic system?! It's ALL at the expense of others!
So yeah. Just a tad disappointed to discover that this isn't "leftist firebrand" Green Arrow, but "mealy-mouthed liberal" Green Arrow. But hey-- maybe that's the best we can hope for from a comic publisher owned by a multimedia conglomerate.
July 3, 2025
This was such a great read and kinda what a Green arrow story should be!
Its street level with serial killer happenings targeting all those people who were involved with Freshwater community and it was a toxic dump site, horton chemicals - the company build affordable housing on it and sold to people and they suffered because of it and you see what happens next! The twists and all so expected sometimes but its the way is written and also how Ollie was involved in the above deal and how personal it is for GREEN ARROW, and the partnership with the police was really well written. I really like the character of Detective Benitez and she is a great addition to this book!
Her interactions with Ollie were really god and how they worked off each other, plus Ollies leftist politics was fun lol and then you see their arguments but how he saves her in one of the issues and also the reveal of the motives of why they were doing this and you feel for them, for what they went through and in particular the character of Kenny and like his mother and all, and him being the start or rather head of these group of killers.
Its a story well written asking you certain things, inspired by real life happenings obviously and really testing Ollie's characters and choices he makes and her emerges an hero because of it and by the end you see a comment about sanctity of human life and how it needs to be preserved and that shot of him and the Arrow family!! <3
Its street level with serial killer happenings targeting all those people who were involved with Freshwater community and it was a toxic dump site, horton chemicals - the company build affordable housing on it and sold to people and they suffered because of it and you see what happens next! The twists and all so expected sometimes but its the way is written and also how Ollie was involved in the above deal and how personal it is for GREEN ARROW, and the partnership with the police was really well written. I really like the character of Detective Benitez and she is a great addition to this book!
Her interactions with Ollie were really god and how they worked off each other, plus Ollies leftist politics was fun lol and then you see their arguments but how he saves her in one of the issues and also the reveal of the motives of why they were doing this and you feel for them, for what they went through and in particular the character of Kenny and like his mother and all, and him being the start or rather head of these group of killers.
Its a story well written asking you certain things, inspired by real life happenings obviously and really testing Ollie's characters and choices he makes and her emerges an hero because of it and by the end you see a comment about sanctity of human life and how it needs to be preserved and that shot of him and the Arrow family!! <3
August 7, 2025
Everybody was saying this run is really good, with great political themes, but in the story itself, these people are trying to fight back against a corrupt, capitalist government which has knowingly poisoned and killed MANY in their community, but somehow these poor people are the villain?????? Green Arrow is trying to save corrupt politicians and billionaires from being killed, but the countless people who were slaughtered due to cancer from the poison - he didn’t do anything to save them????? This is literally some “mass murdering billionaire lives matter” propaganda. This is “politicians who sentence you to die for the sake of capital lives matter” propaganda. It’s SHIT!!! Utter and total shit. Luigi Mangione is a hero because he (allegedly) defeated a supervillain. It’s that simple. Green Arrow is not the hero here, at all. I stand with the families who were poisoned by the government. I believe they are in the right. It is ridiculous to watch Green Arrow turn them over to the police. Green Arrow is basically an Ice agent at this point. He’s despicable.
I am SO TIRED of this trope where the villains are actually doing the right thing, but the writer forces them to be the villain anyway, either by sabotaging their character, or by claiming they “went too far/didn’t fight for change the right way.” This essentially suggests that any attempt to change the status quo is evil.
I am SO TIRED of this trope where the villains are actually doing the right thing, but the writer forces them to be the villain anyway, either by sabotaging their character, or by claiming they “went too far/didn’t fight for change the right way.” This essentially suggests that any attempt to change the status quo is evil.
October 1, 2025
This comic was such a great surprise to me. I started reading the Green Arrow issues and although I don't think the earlier issues were bad per se, but I really don't like the multiversal and alien crap when it comes to street levels like Ollie, so when I finally got to this storyline, I was pleasantly surprised.
It's not flawless by any means, but this shit is why I wanted to read Green Arrow in the first place. Political commentary is integral to GA, and I don't mean subtle commentary, but BLATANT ones. No sugarcoating anything, just calling out the system as it is. You might call it preachy, but I call it Green Arrow.
Do I think the Freshwater Killers are right? Well... yes! So does Oliver Queen, but we have to understand that GA isn't some perfect revolutionary. He himself may agree with the Freshwater Killers were initially doing, but as soon as it affected someone her personally knew, he can't just let them die, that's why he's inconsistent with cops, that's why he's friend with Hal and Hawkman.
I like that part of him, I think it's a problem that a lot of people have. As easy as it is to say I let politics choose who I befriend, there is sometimes some leeway depending how much you know about a person, and how much you know they can change.
It's not flawless by any means, but this shit is why I wanted to read Green Arrow in the first place. Political commentary is integral to GA, and I don't mean subtle commentary, but BLATANT ones. No sugarcoating anything, just calling out the system as it is. You might call it preachy, but I call it Green Arrow.
Do I think the Freshwater Killers are right? Well... yes! So does Oliver Queen, but we have to understand that GA isn't some perfect revolutionary. He himself may agree with the Freshwater Killers were initially doing, but as soon as it affected someone her personally knew, he can't just let them die, that's why he's inconsistent with cops, that's why he's friend with Hal and Hawkman.
I like that part of him, I think it's a problem that a lot of people have. As easy as it is to say I let politics choose who I befriend, there is sometimes some leeway depending how much you know about a person, and how much you know they can change.
November 29, 2025
THIS IS WHAT I WANT IN GREEN ARROW STORIES. Chris Condon takes up the reigns of Green Arrow, and man does he deliver. So many writers try to do these massive grand adventures with Ollie, when in reality, grounding him is where you get his most compelling stuff. Mike Grell for example did this masterfully, and his run is arguably the best Green Arrow run ever. Condon takes this approach and it works so well.
Ollie is back in Star City, with a new look, and trying to figure out a mystery. The story here is grounded, and grittier than the previous Arrow runs. A lot of it is Ollie investigating on his own, with the help from the police sometimes, and trying to figure out what ties all this together. I don't want to reveal too much, but it's a great return to form for Ollie. Supporting characters are great, and the Arrow family isn't really involved at all so far. I wish we got more Dinah, but making this mostly a solo Ollie story was a good call. Too many writers flood Green Arrow stories with a large cast of characters that often weaken the story.
Overall I loved this book. The art was great, and reminded me of the early Mike Grell issues with the style. This has potential to be the best modern Green Arrow run, and I'm excited to see where Condon takes it.
Ollie is back in Star City, with a new look, and trying to figure out a mystery. The story here is grounded, and grittier than the previous Arrow runs. A lot of it is Ollie investigating on his own, with the help from the police sometimes, and trying to figure out what ties all this together. I don't want to reveal too much, but it's a great return to form for Ollie. Supporting characters are great, and the Arrow family isn't really involved at all so far. I wish we got more Dinah, but making this mostly a solo Ollie story was a good call. Too many writers flood Green Arrow stories with a large cast of characters that often weaken the story.
Overall I loved this book. The art was great, and reminded me of the early Mike Grell issues with the style. This has potential to be the best modern Green Arrow run, and I'm excited to see where Condon takes it.
July 16, 2025
This arc definitely needed an extra issue to really unpack the morals the story is presenting. It kind of just felt like Ollie was just a walking contradiction in his morals regarding murder, and also so we could actually get a follow up on his signature on the document continuously haunting him. I wasn’t a big fan that the villain was just the trope of a person having the right idea but taking it too far, although they didn’t super focus on it, so I’m happy about that. I did like the monologue that Ollie gives about the victims being “like ghosts relieving the same tragedies over and over… running in place”. The speech that the “villain” says on his mother’s grave was also very well written. So, that’s just another reason why this should’ve been an issue longer. Another really impecable aspect of the book were the colors and illustrations, the paneling was very dynamic and the colors added a lot to the pencils, it honestly gave me David Aja vibes at certain points (and it’s not just cause Ollie is another archer). Overall, there are definitely some improvements to be made, but I could very well see the iffy morality having something to do with editorial. Excited for the next arc.
July 25, 2025
Blink and you'll think you're back in the early 90s and reading a Mike Grell, 'Green Arrow' book...
He went big with the double cross of Waller and having his memory tampered with by Martian Manhunter. He 'helped' his friends get power drained and locked up. Hard to be a trusted teammate in the Justice League with all that baggage.
Yet, here he is...
With a promise of some soul searching on his own, Ollie goes off for a bit. He's back to basics. No time travel. No aliens beaming in. It's just boxing glove arrows and grappling hooks. There's been an increase in murders in the area. All of it (including Oliver) has connections to the town of Freshwater. It's a former hazardous waste dumping ground that was sold as a affordable place to live.
People are dying and nobody cares...
The Freshwater Killer has vowed to make it right
======
Bonus: This is even drawn with certain similarities to the 90s Green Arrow in Seattle time...
He went big with the double cross of Waller and having his memory tampered with by Martian Manhunter. He 'helped' his friends get power drained and locked up. Hard to be a trusted teammate in the Justice League with all that baggage.
Yet, here he is...
With a promise of some soul searching on his own, Ollie goes off for a bit. He's back to basics. No time travel. No aliens beaming in. It's just boxing glove arrows and grappling hooks. There's been an increase in murders in the area. All of it (including Oliver) has connections to the town of Freshwater. It's a former hazardous waste dumping ground that was sold as a affordable place to live.
People are dying and nobody cares...
The Freshwater Killer has vowed to make it right
======
Bonus: This is even drawn with certain similarities to the 90s Green Arrow in Seattle time...
September 10, 2025
Oliver gets back to his roots when a bad decision from his past comes back to haunt him, and a serial killer starts targeting CEOs. Usually, that'd be fine - but he's one of them.
There are a few little niggles I have about this book; jettisoning the Arrow family almost entirely after the last 17 issues feels unfortunate, but they're back next arc, so I can live with that. And this is probably an issue or two too long.
But overall, it works really well. Condon spins a mystery yarn that kicks Ollie right in the socialist agenda as he tries to work out where the line between right and wrong lies. Montos's artwork is phenomenal, and he seems to be really fast too, which helps too.
Also, there's a dog. Extra points for the dog.
There are a few little niggles I have about this book; jettisoning the Arrow family almost entirely after the last 17 issues feels unfortunate, but they're back next arc, so I can live with that. And this is probably an issue or two too long.
But overall, it works really well. Condon spins a mystery yarn that kicks Ollie right in the socialist agenda as he tries to work out where the line between right and wrong lies. Montos's artwork is phenomenal, and he seems to be really fast too, which helps too.
Also, there's a dog. Extra points for the dog.
June 1, 2025
El arco de Fresh Water Kills que involucra la mayoría de este compilado está increíble. Me hizo recordar mucho el trabajo de Mike Grell donde se tocaban temas sociales. Si has leído esos cómics y te gusta la manera que tuvo de abordar a Oliver Queen estoy seguro que este arco te gustará. Quizás el único pero es que con la intención de escribir para el compilado son demasiados números (siete), pero en realidad no es algo que desmerezca la historia.
December 11, 2025
This street level story for Green Arrow was AMAZING! I found myself unable to put it down and blasted through it quickly. The art was a bit ... meh ... for me but the story was awesome.
Overall - 5/5
Overall - 5/5
July 27, 2025
O green arrow é fixe :O
July 29, 2025
probably the worst one of the modern green arrow comics
September 28, 2025
So sad it’s not continuing. Condon has done an incredible job writing Green Arrow.
October 4, 2025
outstanding. the best green arrow since Ben percy.
great art and colours. a well done story. I wish this wasn't being cancelled.
great art and colours. a well done story. I wish this wasn't being cancelled.
October 11, 2025
really good! immediately putting Chris Condon on my radar
October 12, 2025
Woke nonsense.
November 24, 2025
Great to be a green arrow story focusing on green arrow himself. A little preachy at moments but it does work for the story being told.
December 10, 2025
Gorgeous art and perfect characterization of Ollie with a nuanced story about corporate greed and environmental classism. Really liked this book and looking forward to completing Condon's run.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews