Deja Vu
Written by: Ben PercyArt by: Otto Schmidt and Nate Piekos
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 7, 2016
Green Arrow is back where he belongs...Seattle! Sure, I wasn't a big fan of the Empire Express storyline, but I am ready to fall in love with Green Arrow all over again. Of course, it's not just Ollie that I want, but the whole gang...Diggle, Dinah and Emiko to be exact. So, do I get what I want or am I left feeling all empty inside? Let's find out...
The issue opens with an extended news story all about Green Arrow and the word on the street is mixed when it comes to whether he is a hero or a zero. Of course, the media seems to want to paint him as an outlaw, but there are still people in Seattle that look at him as their protector and savior.
We then head out to the woods where we see that Dinah, Diggle and finally Ollie have made a tree house base that Wicket would have been jealous of. It's all part of what Dinah insists is a new life...one that has Oliver thinking of others before himself. I like the message here, but it really felt heavy handed and went a bit too far when she insists that Emiko will be safe with her mother. I don't know about you, but if I was Ollie I would want her as far away from Shado as possible!
The heavy handedness continues when we see the Sergeant who bad mouthed Green Arrow on TV earlier act like a complete asshole because he "hates filth". He is beating the crap out of a guy (all of which is being recorded) when Green Arrow swoops in to save the day.
We then head off to a campaign rally for Nathan Domini and while he talks a good game, Ben Percy makes sure you realize that he is just another piece of shit that seems to be gathering in Seattle. There is a bit of a twist when we find out that him and Oliver were kind-of friends back in the day, but when Ollie asks him for a big favor, Nathan wants no parts of it. It's pretty obvious that this will lead to problems for Domini...not if, but when.
Next, Oliver and Black Canary are investigating a fire in Pennytown and meet an old man that is a Picasso with an arrow (don't ask). He shows them that some people in higher places may be up to no good...which is surprising to no one. The issue then ends with Broderick starting a plan to get rid of Green Arrow once and for all...again.
I know this is the first issue of the "Emerald Outlaw" and thus is a lot of setup, but the setup part wasn't a problem for me. The problem was the been there, done that feeling that I got reading this issue. Seattle's lower class citizens being used and abused? Check. Black Canary telling Oliver to think of others before himself? Check. Broderick trying to ruin Oliver's life by making him look like a bad guy? Check. CHECK CHECK CHECK!!!!!!! Please, I liked this story the first time we saw it at the beginning of Rebirth and just spinning it around to be Green Arrow and not Oliver Queen this time just feels stale.
One thing that didn't feel stale was Otto Schmidt's art. It was awesome as usual and continues the trend of this book having the best art of most of the Rebirth books. There are a bunch of full page spreads that were just awesome and Schmidt's art is easily the highlight of this issue.
Bits and Pieces:
I have been growing tired of this book lately and this story felt like deja vu all over again. While I'm happy Oliver is back in Seattle, I hope that Ben Percy finds something new to do with him and fast. Otto Schmidt's art may be worth the price of admission, but I want a good story as well. Is that too much to ask for?
6.0/10
I get where you're coming from now that I think about it, but I have to say I liked this issue way more than the last 3-4. I could have really done without that first bit with the reporter though, I read like 2 panels and just skipped it. Reading basically the same thing over and over is annoying as hell.
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