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Green Arrow (2023)
Green Arrow Vol. 5: Crimson Sands
160 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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February 14, 2026What a shame that the series was cancelled. Williamson's revival of GA didn't convince me, but Condon did.
He took GA back into his own hands and returned to the urban crime/thriller genre, which I think suits the character better, and even revisited some of Williamson's themes, such as family... but better.
The theme of this final arc is drugs. Here, GA has to find out who OD'd his son, which gives us some good family scenes between Ollie and Roy and between Roy and Lian without being overly sentimental. The arc is solid, with good scenes of tension and a touch of leftism à la Queen, but I regret a villain a little too mwah ah ah, coming out of nowhere and - as luck would have it - linked to Ollie's past.
It would have been worth a simple 3.5*, but between the very good final episode - not easy to write a good final episode - and the excellent team formed by Montos - with top-notch artwork and storytelling - and Adriano Lucas' garish but never vulgar colours, we can confidently give it a solid 4*.
He took GA back into his own hands and returned to the urban crime/thriller genre, which I think suits the character better, and even revisited some of Williamson's themes, such as family... but better.
The theme of this final arc is drugs. Here, GA has to find out who OD'd his son, which gives us some good family scenes between Ollie and Roy and between Roy and Lian without being overly sentimental. The arc is solid, with good scenes of tension and a touch of leftism à la Queen, but I regret a villain a little too mwah ah ah, coming out of nowhere and - as luck would have it - linked to Ollie's past.
It would have been worth a simple 3.5*, but between the very good final episode - not easy to write a good final episode - and the excellent team formed by Montos - with top-notch artwork and storytelling - and Adriano Lucas' garish but never vulgar colours, we can confidently give it a solid 4*.
Review of advance copy
Review from reading the issues monthly.
This was a special, special run (Vol. 4 and 5 by Condon); one I can only hope I see the likes of again in my life. Condon and Montos did a really incredible thing over 14 issues and I'm sad it's over.
This volume of Green Arrow (the series, not this book) was only meant to be a 7 issue mini during Dawn of DC to bring Ollie back after Dark Crisis and it turned into a 31 issue run of a "second string" character as far as DC is concerned. These back 14 issues were the stuff I've been craving since the first time I read Grell in high school.
I'm glad it happened, I'm sad it's over and more sad that--though GA is moving to Detective Comics--it will not be written by Condon going forward as he signed exclusively with Marvel for a few years.
You don't need to read all 31 issues of this run, just these 14 Condon did and you'll get one of the best takes on one of my favourite heroes.
This was a special, special run (Vol. 4 and 5 by Condon); one I can only hope I see the likes of again in my life. Condon and Montos did a really incredible thing over 14 issues and I'm sad it's over.
This volume of Green Arrow (the series, not this book) was only meant to be a 7 issue mini during Dawn of DC to bring Ollie back after Dark Crisis and it turned into a 31 issue run of a "second string" character as far as DC is concerned. These back 14 issues were the stuff I've been craving since the first time I read Grell in high school.
I'm glad it happened, I'm sad it's over and more sad that--though GA is moving to Detective Comics--it will not be written by Condon going forward as he signed exclusively with Marvel for a few years.
You don't need to read all 31 issues of this run, just these 14 Condon did and you'll get one of the best takes on one of my favourite heroes.
January 1, 2026
How could they cancel their best character when it became peak in the second arc 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
May 3, 2026
Some idiots said no one reads green arrow anymore… they should rethink that.
I LOVE OLLIE SM 😭😭😭 he just loves his family bro 🥲
I LOVE OLLIE SM 😭😭😭 he just loves his family bro 🥲
May 13, 2026
Pouring one out for the best Green Arrow solo run, period. Over WAY too soon; DC really f@$#ed up cancelling this. (My guess is that any potential readers of the title were turned off by this volume's bizarre first seventeen issues; Josh Williamson's a hack, and his approach to Green Arrow was idiotic.)
Condon brings a tremendous amount of compassion and empathy to the book-- exploring the opiod epidemic in a way that doesn't judge drug users, or even necessarily low-level pushers who are trying to escape desperate circumstances. But he DOES lavish ire upon the people who create the infrastructure of addiction, be they legitimate (i.e. pharmaceutical companies) or illicit (drug smuggling). I think it's a pointed decision that Condon makes the face of BOTH sides of this problem into the same guy: the Crimson Archer, a former C.I.A.-backed mercenary who exploits a rare Vietnamese flower to build a drug empire, then faked his death and uses the money to build a legit pharmaceutical empire in the U.S. (Hilariously, he originally tried to go legit in Asia, but found the government regulation and oversight too intensive-- so he came to America, where he knew he could get away with anything as long as he had money!)
But the story doesn't just linger on the bad guys. We also spend a LOT of time with Roy Harper, a.k.a. Arsenal, and his daughter Lian (who apparently has a superhero identity now?) as Roy is confronted with his history of addiction and helps Lian process how she feels about it-- and then the two go out and help someone in crisis. It's powerful stuff!
Then the trade (and the run) ends with a final, wrap-up issue, where Ollie connects with the lady cop (that's literally all he calls her-- I don't even know if she has a real NAME) who's been helping him out for the whole run. It's a great, down-to-Earth story that sums up Condon's take on Green Arrow: a human hero, who can do as much good with small acts of kindness and empathy as he can with grand feats of heroism. It's... well, it's basically everything I wanted in a Green Arrow run.
Fingers crossed Chris Condon gets another shot at the Emerald Archer someday soon...
Condon brings a tremendous amount of compassion and empathy to the book-- exploring the opiod epidemic in a way that doesn't judge drug users, or even necessarily low-level pushers who are trying to escape desperate circumstances. But he DOES lavish ire upon the people who create the infrastructure of addiction, be they legitimate (i.e. pharmaceutical companies) or illicit (drug smuggling). I think it's a pointed decision that Condon makes the face of BOTH sides of this problem into the same guy: the Crimson Archer, a former C.I.A.-backed mercenary who exploits a rare Vietnamese flower to build a drug empire, then faked his death and uses the money to build a legit pharmaceutical empire in the U.S. (Hilariously, he originally tried to go legit in Asia, but found the government regulation and oversight too intensive-- so he came to America, where he knew he could get away with anything as long as he had money!)
But the story doesn't just linger on the bad guys. We also spend a LOT of time with Roy Harper, a.k.a. Arsenal, and his daughter Lian (who apparently has a superhero identity now?) as Roy is confronted with his history of addiction and helps Lian process how she feels about it-- and then the two go out and help someone in crisis. It's powerful stuff!
Then the trade (and the run) ends with a final, wrap-up issue, where Ollie connects with the lady cop (that's literally all he calls her-- I don't even know if she has a real NAME) who's been helping him out for the whole run. It's a great, down-to-Earth story that sums up Condon's take on Green Arrow: a human hero, who can do as much good with small acts of kindness and empathy as he can with grand feats of heroism. It's... well, it's basically everything I wanted in a Green Arrow run.
Fingers crossed Chris Condon gets another shot at the Emerald Archer someday soon...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2026
Utterly outstanding. The one shot that ties off this volume is one of the best single issues I've ever read, and it's one of only 2 or 3 comics that have ever had me tear up whilst reading them.
This distills everything that is right about Green Arrow as a character and delivers it in a neat, poignant and incredibly topical package here. GA has always felt more current and real than other DC heroes, but his grounded humanity is on full form here, even when facing a distinctly comic booky villain that happens to be once again linked to the modern troubles facing the people of the world today.
Montos' art was made for this kind of book. It manages to cover the range of standard shots to splashes in all kinds of lighting without ever feeling like it's out of place or overreaching. It nails the basics and the spectacle on every page.
Condon very clearly gets what GA is all about, but he doesn't labour the point on family etc in the way that I felt Williamson did on his run. He does exactly enough without going overboard, and he knows that we don't need a full volume of cameos and callbacks to enjoy what we already love about Ollie and his many friends and foes.
As usual, Green Arrow comes in, delivers a modern classic run, and is cut short at the peak of its quality. A masterpiece of a run brought to a tragically early close. I hope this isn't the last time Chris Condon and Montos get to take the reins in Star City.
This distills everything that is right about Green Arrow as a character and delivers it in a neat, poignant and incredibly topical package here. GA has always felt more current and real than other DC heroes, but his grounded humanity is on full form here, even when facing a distinctly comic booky villain that happens to be once again linked to the modern troubles facing the people of the world today.
Montos' art was made for this kind of book. It manages to cover the range of standard shots to splashes in all kinds of lighting without ever feeling like it's out of place or overreaching. It nails the basics and the spectacle on every page.
Condon very clearly gets what GA is all about, but he doesn't labour the point on family etc in the way that I felt Williamson did on his run. He does exactly enough without going overboard, and he knows that we don't need a full volume of cameos and callbacks to enjoy what we already love about Ollie and his many friends and foes.
As usual, Green Arrow comes in, delivers a modern classic run, and is cut short at the peak of its quality. A masterpiece of a run brought to a tragically early close. I hope this isn't the last time Chris Condon and Montos get to take the reins in Star City.
Review of advance copy
Like Chris Condon's previous Green Arrow volume, Crimson Sands outstays its welcome a bit. Six issues for a story that really only has enough plot for four, and then a single issue to wrap up the run and give us some background on the supporting character we're (probably) not going to see again, which is a shame.
I was more invested in the stuff going on with Roy and Lian, than the Oliver stuff, honestly. This series kicked off by bringing the Arrow family back together, and then Condon's first arc sent them all packing again, so having them eke back just a little was enough to entice me, but they're definitely the B plot, compared to the A one which feels like something out of the Arrow TV show (which I love, but that's not meant to be a compliment this time around).
The art's great though - Montos has drawn every issue of this series with aplomb, and I wonder sometimes if that might be why things feel dragged out - Condon gets out of his way and lets him draw beautiful fight scenes and splash pages, but then there's little real estate left to move the story forward.
Not my favourite Green Arrow run, but not bad overall. Just needed a little squashing down.
I was more invested in the stuff going on with Roy and Lian, than the Oliver stuff, honestly. This series kicked off by bringing the Arrow family back together, and then Condon's first arc sent them all packing again, so having them eke back just a little was enough to entice me, but they're definitely the B plot, compared to the A one which feels like something out of the Arrow TV show (which I love, but that's not meant to be a compliment this time around).
The art's great though - Montos has drawn every issue of this series with aplomb, and I wonder sometimes if that might be why things feel dragged out - Condon gets out of his way and lets him draw beautiful fight scenes and splash pages, but then there's little real estate left to move the story forward.
Not my favourite Green Arrow run, but not bad overall. Just needed a little squashing down.
April 7, 2026
WHY DID THIS GET CANCELLED. Chris Condon really had something special here. There were so many directions I could see this book going. This volume in particular was stellar, with Roy coming back, themes of drug abuse, pharmaceutical companies taking advantage of people, evil rich people, and I could go on.
Condon understood what made the grounded urban storytelling in Grell's run so amazing, and weaving that into the fun comic booky Green Arrow stuff. Ollie looking out for the little guy is what I love about his comics, and how much he wears his heart on his shoulders. Issue 31 was one of my favorite, and was a great send off to this run--even if I think it was cut waaaaayyyy too short.
Loved Condon's short stint on the character. You can tell through his writing how much this character means to him. I hope someday we get another Green Arrow run, and maybe Condon will come back for that. I look forward to the new Absolute Green Arrow run dropping next month. Hopefully that will get more people interested in this amazing character.
Condon understood what made the grounded urban storytelling in Grell's run so amazing, and weaving that into the fun comic booky Green Arrow stuff. Ollie looking out for the little guy is what I love about his comics, and how much he wears his heart on his shoulders. Issue 31 was one of my favorite, and was a great send off to this run--even if I think it was cut waaaaayyyy too short.
Loved Condon's short stint on the character. You can tell through his writing how much this character means to him. I hope someday we get another Green Arrow run, and maybe Condon will come back for that. I look forward to the new Absolute Green Arrow run dropping next month. Hopefully that will get more people interested in this amazing character.
December 24, 2025
This run was SO GOOD I’m so sad it’s ending :(
This was the first comic run I pulled that had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next issue. Hopefully Condon will be put on Green Arrow again in the future
This was the first comic run I pulled that had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next issue. Hopefully Condon will be put on Green Arrow again in the future
April 12, 2026
absolutely excellent.
art and colours are great.
story about corporate/pharmaceutical greed was spot on. a new villain who can return.
great familial plot with Roy, Lian and Oliver.
that lady tissue was beautiful. very obvious what was going on but cliches are cliches for a reason - they work.
art and colours are great.
story about corporate/pharmaceutical greed was spot on. a new villain who can return.
great familial plot with Roy, Lian and Oliver.
that lady tissue was beautiful. very obvious what was going on but cliches are cliches for a reason - they work.
Review of advance copy
this series had so much potential! especially after condon took over in the All In phase. it's a shame they cancelled it
Review of advance copy
Sometimes the best comics are under-appreciated until it's too late. It's unfortunate low readership is ending Chris Condon's run so quickly, and on such a high note.
April 7, 2026
End of a great green arrow series and I like the serious tone of this one with the drug villain.
April 12, 2026
3.50
Very personal and builds on a lot of G.A. lore.
Very personal and builds on a lot of G.A. lore.
May 12, 2026
4.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews