Green Arrow #42 Review

Writer: Mairghread Scott
Artist: Matthew Clark
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 4, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

What DC Said:

It's Parasite Season for Green Arrow. The Emerald Archer must hunt down the power-sapping purple powerhouse-alone, in a maximum-security prison, running low on arrows-and after the tapeworm terror has feasted on a buffet full of metahuman criminals. Prison reform, Ollie? You shoot arrows in people; that's straight up medieval!

The issue opens kind of where we left off last and after a page of recap we are on our way.  Before I start, it still bothers me that nobody put a dampening collar on Parasite before the last issue began...especially after hearing about his powers over and over.

That's not here or now, though, as Parasite sneaks up from behind and the fight is on.  Scott seems to have a little bit better handle on the character with one issue already under her belt, but even so, it's obvious that Ollie needs other characters to bounce off of as his inner dialogue can be a bit too one-shot heavy...The Island, am I right?!?

The fight shifts suddenly when Parasite shows obvious fear of going back to jail and then it stalls as we get a sudden therapy session in the sewers.  We learn this Parasite's origin and how Superman "saved" him when he wanted something far different.  Then, just as you start feeling bad for the power sucking guy, he rages out and the fight is back on like it's straight out of They Live!

It all ends when the Warden shows up, but even though Ollie has to save the wee little guy, he doesn't like him or trust him.  It all ends with a "who you think is right is a matter of perspective" thing and I'll give it to Mairghread Scott, there is a definite grey area there.

This issue was better than the last, but not by a whole lot.  I already mentioned the overuse of the one-note inner monologue and while Parasite's plight was the highlight, it too was forced in to fit the story.  I think I am just getting tired of Ollie (and other heroes as well) having to tell us the ills of society and then explain to us why they are heroes.  I would rather see it!  

I know (and want) my heroes to be good guys and gals, but the way it's usually portrayed now is with lip service and that's just not good enough.  Is it because most people would rather tweet about problems than actually work to end them?  I don't know, but it's a very similar trend going on and again...I don't like it.  It makes the heroes seem more like grandstanders and attention seekers than...well, heroes.

I did like Matthew Clark's art here a bit more than last months issue and that's a pretty good thing, because I liked it last month.  It has an old-school tone to it that I dig.

Bits and Pieces:

Green Arrow continues to be a pretty run of the mill read under Mairghread Scott.  It looks good and there is enough of the do-gooder vibe that people like to keep some fans satisfied until the Bensons begin their run.  

6.0/10