The compelling “Freshwater Kills” storyline from Chris Condon and Montos rolls on in Green Arrow #22! Oliver Queen delves into his history, uncovering a shocking revelation. But has he waited too long to learn it? Let’s find out!
The comic kicks off with a nostalgic VHS recording for the Freshwater Community – a support group, for victims of the nefarious Horton Chemical, the corporation poisoning Freshwater’s residents. This immediately grounds us in the story’s core conflict. We’re then reintroduced to Kenny Gordan, a character familiar to long-time readers since issue #18, where we saw him as a child. This arc has been strong for Green Arrow, perfectly aligning with his “Robin Hood” persona as he tackles issues affecting the common people. Condon has handled this with impressive grace, poise, and tact.
The scene then smoothly transitions to the arrest of the other Freshwater Killer who attacked Oliver in the previous issue, leading to a genuinely funny exchange between Oliver and the detective. Oliver’s sharp wit is on full display as he cleverly extracts crucial information about Detective Benitez, propelling the plot forward. Next, we shift focus to Detective Benitez, who’s found herself in a sticky situation – thankfully, she’s not without backup, as her loyal canine companion has her covered. The issue culminates with Green Arrow’s arrival. The journey was long, and Condon’s continued commitment to grounding this superhero story in believable logistics is appreciated, further elevating what is already a compelling story line.
Credits: DC Comics
Chris Condon’s Green Arrow take has been a highlight this year for me. He masterfully elevates the character to the iconic status we all know by grounding him in reality, all while staying utterly true to who Green Arrow is. Although the issue is short, it’s impactful, with every panel serving a purpose and moving the story forward at a consistently engaging pace.
The scene where Oliver plays the oblivious rich guy with the cops was genuinely hilarious and perfectly captured his persona as someone seemingly unaware of the struggles of others due to his wealth.
Continuing to stand out is the Freshwater Killers’ design by Montos and Colorist Adriano Lucas. The red overcoat, black gas masks, and striking red circular lenses create a cohesive and appropriately menacing look, especially when seen together as a group. Even though we know they are regular people, some even sickly, their appearance is nonetheless unsettling.
The panel with Oliver, decked out on his wonderfully campy arrow bike, is simply great. Montos has struck a nice balance between silly and cool here. Moreover, Montos adds a nice touch by visually depicting Oliver weaving through traffic, using a green line to indicate his movements and speed.
Overall, Montos’s depiction of Green Arrow continues to impress. Something about the lower half of his face being covered adds a cool layer of mystery to the character. While I’m not usually one to nitpick the impracticality of comic book costumes, Oliver Queen is one of those rare instances where his distinct facial hair makes it hard to believe no one could recognize him. However, Montos and Condon subtly address this by covering him up a bit, which grounds this superhero story just a little more.
Credits: DC Comics
The “VVRRMMMMMM” of Oliver Arrow’s bike hitting the city street is fantastic and adds an extra layer of cool to an already cool scene by letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. While Arrow’s (the dog) “ARKARARK” has often been grating in this series, letterer Otsmane-Elhaou tones it down yet increases the impact, making it especially scary when paired with Mostos’ striking visual of Arrow attacking. Finally, the “CHK, CHK, CK, CK” of the arrows landing on the lightpost are small details, but they effectively immerse you in the action.
Green Arrow #22 continues the compelling “Freshwater Kills” storyline with Oliver uncovering a shocking personal revelation while tackling corporate corruption affecting the community. This impactful issue showcases sharp writing, engaging pacing, and striking visuals that effectively balance grounded realism with classic Green Arrow elements.
‘Green Arrow’ #22 Review: Freshwater Kills, Fresh Secrets Exposed!
Green Arrow #22 continues the compelling “Freshwater Kills” storyline with Oliver uncovering a shocking personal revelation while tackling corporate corruption affecting the community. This impactful issue showcases sharp writing, engaging pacing, and striking visuals that effectively balance grounded realism with classic Green Arrow elements.
