Green Arrow #30 Review

Out of Order

Written by: Ben Percy
Art by: Otto Schmidt and Nate Piekos
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 6, 2017

The Hard Traveling Hero story continues and this issue we get to see Ollie teamup with Hal Jordan which may not make sense much in the current state of things, but it's certainly legacy and isn't that what Rebirth is supposed to be about?  So, while I know I will love seeing Oliver and Hal back together again, will the story get a bump from it?  Let's find out...


The issue starts off with a little SJW page that didn't upset me as much as I imagined it would.  Maybe it's because that isn't my thing, but it did seem a bit out of nowhere here.  It continues in Nevada with the Ninth Circle version of a Burning Man get together that resembles a biker rally by way of Mad Max.  I really don't know what the hell is going on, but Ollie is there to stop whatever it is! 

Afterwards, he hits the road and heads to Area 51 because where else are you supposed to find a Green Lantern?  Hal does show up (go figure) and after some good back and forth (and reintroductions) between the old friends, it's off to space.

I'll admit that at this point, I was having a good time as Ollie and Hal head into space in a construct car/spaceship, but that's when  Ben Percy slams on the brakes.  Why did he fell the need to give the readers a lesson in satellites?  It really felt like something that he is passionate about, but also something he might bore people at a party about.  I know I was pretty bored.

we then head off to see what Black Canary and Emiko are up to, but unfortunately, that ends just as it gets good and it's back to lesson time.  After learning what the "Clark Belt" is (and no, it's not something Dick Clark used to keep his pants up), we finally get going again when they find the Ninth Circle Satellite...surprise, it's the biggest and ugliest one!

Entering the satellite, both of our heroes do their best to attract attention and Surprise! They do! The issue then ends with Mecha-Burned, Hal in trouble and Oliver more so.  It's an okay cliffhanger in the fact that I'm not sure how they will get out of their predicament, but I'm not even sure if I care anymore.

I really want this Hard Traveling Hero story to end.  I know that Ben Percy is trying to have fun with it, but I'm not.  The guest stars are there, but the story binding it all together is weak and meaningless.  It still seems all setup just to get to the next Justice League member instead of being good on it's own.  Reading it, I keep forgetting that Oliver is wanted for murder and that's one of the most important things going on in the story.  What's Kate Spencer been doing this whole time?!?

I did like Otto Schmidt's art in this issue.  In fact, it may be my favorite art he's done so far. The character models look great and the Mecha-Burned was a nice touch.

Bits and Pieces:

The Hard Traveling Hero arc continues chugging along and while I like seeing Oliver and Hal together again, the story making it possible is weak and by this point, inconsequential. The art is good, but I just want this arc to end and hopefully get on with something better.

6.0/10