ABSOLUTE GREEN ARROW #3 (DC COMICS)
As the body count climbs, so does Dinah Lance’s anxiety.
Hired to protect Hector Hammond form the Green Arrow Killer, Lance has become very conflicted on the case. Her past with Oliver Queen as made this assignment all the more personal. Finding the killer’s identity has consumed her every waking thought.
The journey has led to another familiar face in one Roy Harper. What she discovers with Queen’s running buddy will shake her to her core.
ABSOLUTE GREEN ARROW #3 by Pornsak Pichetshote, Rafael Albuquerque, Marcelo Maiolo & Jeff Powell (DC COMICS) delivers an amazing chapter of mystery.
Let’s take a closer look at where events lead now.
ABSOLUTE GREEN ARROW #3 by Pornsak Pichetshote, Rafael Albuquerque, Marcelo Maiolo & Jeff Powell (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Pichetshote takes Lance into darker aspects of her quest for the truth in this latest installment. Her meeting with Star City’s finest proves insightful as Hammond’s influence is clouding police judgement. It opens up some personal wounds before shifting gears to Roy Harper. Their exchange is frank and bullish. There’s no warm pleasantries. Harper’s proclamations throw Dinah and readers for a loop as it lays foundation for possible hope.
This allows a tense flashback to take over pages. The sting to capture Green Arrow backfires on multiple levels. None greater than seeing the people rally around the serial killer’s escape. The writing shows his growing influence over the residents as some risk everything to protect the vigilante. This serves as an excellent break point to let Harper unload his case. Readers get many different insights into Roy’s view of events. Whether truthful or not remains to be seen. This leads into a chilling close. Harper exposes more secrets to the light as he sees them. This creates an instant conflict for Dinah as another problem arises. Judging by the last page, surviving this meeting will prove costly.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW!
Albuquerque & Maiolo open with a heavy meeting with Dinah and her police ally. Panels wear the weight of the search for truth in their sleeves. This fuels Dinah with more fire as she begins the search for Roy Harper. Their initial encounter is gifted a strong half panel of Dinah done messing around. Her stern looks offsets Harper’s more uncertain looks as both head into the next phase of the chapter.
The flashback sequences of Merlyn’s trap display the brutality of Green Arrow’s fight. The escape via explosives gets an impeccable half panel. This speeds up the pace as the bullets start flying. Readers watch as “guardian angels” jump into the fray. Their sacrifice allows the killer to elude their attackers. The quiet escape leads into more social commentary reflective of Star City’s pulse. Arrow’s “cause” has struck a nerve amongst the people. Maiolo’s coloring shines again during the Oliver/Roy flashbacks. This mood pauses as Dinah and Roy head into the uneasy finish. Events become more unsettling in the final pages. It leads to a terrifying full page finish which leaves the door wide open for more destructive elements.
FINAL POINT: 9.7
Dinah Lance’s search for answers take her into a maddening place with no room to escape. Pichetshote flawlessly crafts the danger and tension with each page. Albuquerque & Maiolo deliver an extraordinary look at the conflicted views of Star City. A magnificent look at the struggles and perils of morally right and wrong.
Let me know your thoughts on ABSOLUTE GREEN ARROW #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
