BATMAN /GREEN ARROW /THE QUESTION : ARCADIA #2 (DC COMICS)
“Arcadia” has drawn together three of the DCU’s most complex characters.
Vic Sage is trying to unlock a mystery involving human trafficking. Oliver Queen is attempting to rebuild his status with Queen Industries. Bruce Wayne is on a search for those involved with an assassination attempt.
Last readers saw, The Question was taken prisoner. Green Arrow was fighting the good fight but ran into new opposition: Batman?!
BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION: ARCADIA #2 by Gabriel Hardman, Romulo Fajardo Jr. & Simon Bowland heads further into its dangerous web of smoke and mirrors.
Let’s take a closer look at where events stand now.
BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION: ARCADIA #2 by Gabriel Hardman, Romulo Fajardo Jr. & Simon Bowland (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Hardman launches into this issue with a hard look at Sage’s current status. The rough conditions are only a precursor for what’s coming next. This slides away to focus on Queen vs. Batman. Even with a valiant effort, Queen’s best attempts fall short. Rotha’s dialogue with Batman sells a larger dream in the making. Appealing to Bat’s wide-spread appeal for justice, it throws a new look at the reader. This gives some pause on if Batman has been swayed at all. Even in his stoic scowl, there appears to be a chance.
This is very different than Rotha’s talk with Queen. It becomes tense and filled with Anger. Queen’s unbreakable will doesn’t cater to the thought of a false utopia. Once an explosion commences, the story starts spiraling out sorts. Queen and Batman have a very intense heart-to-heart concerning the human violations. The writing doesn’t dodge that point. It filters into an all points event where Sage returns with some allies to his cause. Action picks up just enough to offset Rotha’s speech to one of the heroes. It is one filled with a cold reveal and future unknown. The talk brings readers to the final moments. In this sequence, One hero seems to declare his stance which changes everything heading into the final issue.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
The extremes of the prisoners begins visuals for this book. Under the gloom of Sage’s eyes, the aura of despair rings true. Events shift to Queen’s stand against Rotha’s forces. A Two-page splash delivers on Oliver Queen unleashed. Pacing moves fast as he fights against the odds. There’s plenty of high-impact panels flooding these pages. Once events calm down, the art leans into a more grounded approach. It cements Sage’s conflict and why this mission has to desperately win.
Batman’s face-off with Rotha brims with tough stances. In one panel, there seems as Batman is contemplating all that he’s being sold. This doesn’t last too long before he goes back investigating. Sage is orchestrating his escape. Readers see many moving parts unfold. Once Queen confronts Rotha, business picks up tenfold. The explosion at the site is given huge panels. The aftermath is more simple but coveys the emotions of what’s gone down.
It does not compare to one single page in the book. Seeing the Arcadia forces attack the prisoners is a chilling visual. Hardman presents it tastefully and with enough venom to hit readers. This comes back up later in the book when both Oliver and Batman see first hand the evil side of Utopia. This moves to the thrilling escape of Sage and company. The panels go big for broke with action. Queen’s appearance is give a half page shot. It stands in the shadow of the final page. The full closing visual makes a bold statement to conclude before the finale. Solid work.
FINAL POINT: 9
The dark truths about a dream project come to surface for this DC trio of heroes in an excellent second chapter. Hardman’s writing connects on the grave stakes involved in Arcadia. The art balances out the high stakes action with the conflicting thoughts on what is happening in Greenland. For those looking for that hard-boiled crime drama, this is your book.
Let me know your thoughts on BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION: ARCADIA #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
