Green Arrow Is DC’s Most Relevant 21st Century Superhero (So Why Are They Wasting Him?)

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Since its inception, Green Arrow has consistently distinguished himself as an advocate for the people, championing human rights both in and out of his costume. Whether it’s standing up against exploitative corporations that prey upon marginalized groups or street-level criminals, this Emerald Crusader is a staunch defender of the common man. At times, he even finds himself at odds with his own shareholders who wish to dismantle his company and its principles. Essentially, Green Arrow embodies the modern-day Robin Hood, albeit with an unexpected twist – a wealthy individual working to reclaim from the rich and redistribute to the community. In today’s polarized American politics and an increasingly unequal world where wealth and power are concentrated among the few, Green Arrow is more pertinent than ever. Regrettably, DC Comics has yet to fully capitalize on this character’s potential.

More recently, Chris Condon’s ongoing series has seen a resurgence of political themes in the Green Arrow stories. Drawing inspiration from Oliver Queen’s past, Condon has delicately woven back Oliver’s mistrust towards those in power and his connection with Star City’s police force. Once more, Oliver recognizes that no one else is protecting the city’s downtrodden areas, prompting him to stand up for the oppressed. The latest story arc concluded with Oliver using his own fortune to assist the Freshwater community, positioning himself as a people’s billionaire by performing heroic deeds both in and out of costume. Given the relevance and character-fitting nature of this development for Green Arrow, it is puzzling why DC Comics isn’t capitalizing more on this iconic hero. The reasons are multifarious.

Green Arrow became a shadow of himself

In 2023, Green Arrow made a comeback after a long hiatus, with Joshua Williamson steering the ship. Williamson’s work was commendable, but it was cut short by the Absolute Power incident. Interestingly, Oliver Queen played a pivotal role as a secret hero, disguised as Amanda Waller’s new agent. Prior to this, his initial twelve issues focused on restoring his standing after years of being a minor character, since before the Flashpoint. However, the storyline took another twist, leading to changes in Oliver’s character for reasons that wouldn’t bear fruit for several months. Despite the story eventually resolving itself, many of his allies and fans turned against him, not just the character but also his new series, where he became his own adversary.

Following a powerful comeback, Oliver found himself embodying everything he had previously avoided. Until the last moment when stopping Waller in “Absolute Power”, Oliver was once more adrift. Williamson initially excelled with this novel but ultimately faced challenges due to “Absolute Power” and setting up numerous other exceptional books. This is not to imply that he did a poor job, merely that he had numerous other tasks at hand, which didn’t serve the Green Arrow character well. After his exit from “Green Arrow”, Chris Condon, known for “That Texas Blood” and “Ultimate Wolverine”, took control.

As a movie critic, I’d say that Condon skillfully reimagined the Green Arrow storyline, making it more in line with 80’s standards while still preserving its unique aspects. The upcoming narrative promises more of the extended cast, which sets us up for another exciting journey with our “Hard-Traveling Hero.” Oliver Queen, with his ideologies now centrally embedded, feels authentically himself after a long time.

However, the “Fresh Water Kills” story arc could have been promoted more effectively by DC. While Williamson’s return was heavily publicized, Condon’s take seemed to deliver more on the promises made. As a Green Arrow fan, this felt like Oliver returning home, which indicates that the character is ripe for stories that challenge norms, push boundaries, and embody the risk-taking, authority-questioning, socially conscious hero we’ve come to expect from Green Arrow.

Risky Green Arrow is the Best Green Arrow

It appears that DC Comics might be hesitant to revert Oliver Queen back to his original, somewhat extreme and risky character traits. Whether this is an attempt to avoid alienating their less liberal audience or not, they seem to continually lean towards the “Green Arrow” archetype which embodies social justice. Historically, Oliver Queen has been a strong advocate for social justice and keeping him away from these core values seems like a misrepresentation of the character. Among DC characters, Green Arrow is particularly political, using his stories as a reflection and amplification of real-world issues, encouraging readers to ponder deeply. By not delving deeper into this aspect, DC has been passing up on some remarkable storytelling possibilities.

In my humble opinion, Oliver Queen’s return to his gritty roots under Condon’s direction seems promising for the Green Arrow. It appears that DC is finally recognizing the importance of its most unconventional hero in shaping their superhero universe. The familiar face of the Green Archer seems to be back in full swing, hopefully here to stay. If “Fresh Water Kills” serves as an indicator, I’m optimistic about more accolades coming his way. His tales are definitely relevant, and maybe now more than ever.

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2025-07-11 21:18