Absolute Green Arrow #1 hit shelves this week to much excitement. The Absolute Universe has been a big hit for DC Comics and fans had high expectations for the latest title. One question has been dominating discourse since the issue released – who is Absolute Green Arrow?
Major spoilers ahead for Absolute Green Arrow #1
Oliver Queen debut in Absolute Evil
Oliver Queen had a notorious debut in Absolute Evil #1. The issue introduced us to the Absolute Justice League, which was made up of the biggest villains. This group formed with the likes of Hector Hammand, Joker, and Veronica Cale subverted the norm of what is associated with the name Justice League. Similarly, the introduction of Oliver Queen to the issue, and following storyline, shocked readers.
The Oliver Queen we were introduced was passionate and idealistic. We saw him in his iconic Green Arrow outfit, but rusty and in-training; a novice. He was rich and powerful, but Queen did not care about that and had one mission. His goal was to kill Jubal Slade, who Oliver knew had been trafficking children to a private island.
Green Arrow’s plan goes disastrously and the next time he is shown is was a corpse. Ollie was dropped at the feet of the Justice League. His head had been caved in by the massive mace of Hawkman as a demonstration to Hammond about how far this group would go for results.
The Longbow Killer
At the time of release, many readers thought that Absolute Evil was the first and last we were going to see of Green Arrow. Anticipation and intrigue then met the announcement of Absolute Green Arrow, written by Pornsak Pichetshote.
The debut issue introduces a very different Green Arrow. This version, wonderfully illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque and coloured by Marcelo Maiolo, is much darker. With red eyes and a demonic mask, this Green Arrow brutally dispatches Jubal Slade and his elite bodyguards in the opening sequence.
Despite the original mission completed, this Longbow Killer does not seem content to stop there. Later in the issue they attack Reese Tyler, who was the ex-CEO of a pharmaceutical company that destroyed lives, and Hector Hammond.
Green Arrow manages to kill Tyler, but it was only the intervention of Queen’s ex-lover Dinah Lance that saw Hammond escape. He did not remain unscathed however as the Longbow Hunter took a hand, slicing it with a blade. The masked assassin fled while promising to come after Hammond again.
Who is behind the mask?
There are very few clues as to who is Absolute Green Arrow, so there have been many theories being floated. One of the most common of these is that is Oliver Queen himself. It has been suggested that this is some dark magic, which does link back to his murder. Hawkman was shown in Absolute Evil to be active in 1951 and then mysteriously wrapped in bandages 70+ years later. Perhaps Hawkman and Oliver Queen are both undead?
Or could it be one of the three suspects listed in Absolute Green Arrow #1? Roy Harper, Mia Dearden, and Tom Hallaway. In the main universe, these are Arsenal, Speedy, and Spider, all bow-users. Roy Harper was actually on the phone to Queen before his murder and knew of his plan to go after Slade. Could he behind it?
There are plenty of other theories that would be fascinating to see play out. Could the Spectre somehow be involved? Is this Deadshot avenging a trafficked daughter? Are there more than one person behind the mask, making a quiver of arrows?
Whoever, or whatever, Green Arrow is, the series is shaping up to be bloody and violent. We cannot wait for more.
Buy Absolute Green Arrow #1 Tula Lotay Variant – Forbidden Planet
Buy Green Arrow: Year One Compact Edition – Bookshop.org US
Buy Green Arrow: Year One Compact Edition – Bookshop.org UK
Any sales made by the links on this page earn Key Comics Vault a small commission.
Leave a Reply