Green Arrow #23 Review

Seeing Red

Written by: Ben Percy
Art by: Juan Ferreyra and Nate Piekos
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 17, 2017

I have really been enjoying the Rise of Star City so far, but I will admit, it's time to get to the meat and cheese of the story.  Ben Percy has done a real good job of setting up the Four Horseman as a legitimate threat and Rebirth readers already know how disgustingly bad the Burned and the 9th Circle so it's time for some major Team Arrow vs Team Broderick in a knock down, drag out fight, right?  Let's find out...

The issue opens with Dinah heading off to do a little library research while the narration shows that Emiko is none too happy with how Oliver has messed up the best thing that ever happened to him. Now, I may agree a bit with Emiko here, but Oliver did need to grow a pair and at least tell Dinah to meet him half way when it comes to his family and fortune.

We then see Emiko investigating a 911 call at a water treatment plant and Oliver thinking the worst as far as Henry goes.  While this is going on, Canary has set up a meeting with the busiest woman in news, Victoria Much.  After some cattiness to start things off, the gals come together for their common causes...Oliver and Seattle.

Back to Emiko, she catches Cheshire red (maybe green?) handed and they square off.  Cheshire explains she is young and needed the money and the fight is pretty even...until Roy Harper shows up. I love Roy and also love that Ben Percy acknowledges his and Cheshire's past relationship.  However, Roy could use trash talking tips.

We then go off to Queen Industries and see that Henry is quite alive.  Why is he there?  To be seduced by Broderick and the tech that he is developing.  I would have told Henry to join the bad guys in the past, but Oliver has actually treated him a lot better lately.  Don't do it Henry!

Back with Emiko and Roy, it's cool to see the former and current Red Arrows together and I had a big smile on my face when Emi told Roy she redeem the name.  There isn't a whole lot to this scene, but I still loved it.

We end the issue with Oliver facing (and pretty much destroying) Eddie while Broderick does some rooftop golfing while imparting his evil wisdom on Mayor Domini.  With everyone else looking for Oliver, the pace really picks up and leads to the big, explosive cliffhanger that is bound to make anyone from Seattle sad...or mad...or both!

This was a fast paced issue and was really setup on a handful of fronts.  We are left with a bunch of questions...will Henry join Broderick?  Will Oliver and Dinah break up?  What did Veronica and Dinah find out?  What else can Broderick do to Seattle before it just snaps?  I am interested in all of them and hope we get some good answers soon.

Do I have to tell you Juan Ferreyra's art is great?  I shouldn't, but I will.  It's not just the pencils, but the awesome coloring that always sets the perfect mood for each scene.  I love it.

Bits and Pieces:

I have enjoyed the Rise of Star City, but we are still waiting for answers.  Granted, it's been brutally fun waiting for them, but still...I want more answers.  This issue adds a couple more questions to the mix, but the crazy cliffhanger and Juan Ferreyra's art still has me excited for more.

7.5/10