Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Andrea Sorrentino
Publish: DC
Remember how Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino’s run on Green Arrow ended last month, in Green Arrow #34? Well it actually didn’t end there! The duo got to return for the bittersweet Future’s End one-shot! Sure, I would have preferred that they did Green Arrow #35, but I’m just glad that we got another issue of the two doing Green Arrow. Those who have read the entire run, or even parts of it, will ease right into the book. It’s pretty much just a continuation of the story the two were telling, and this seems like a direction that the story may have gone in, had the creative team remained on the book for another five years.
Right off the bat, this issue makes changes to Green Arrow’s character, as we’ve known him in the New 52. First and foremost, he has the beard back, beautifully drawn by Andrea Sorrentino. In addition, he’s very much the Green Arrow from the pre-New 52 era, just minus most of the quips. But the social crusader aspect of his character is here in full force, evidenced by a scene towards the end where Oliver is being interviewed on TV, as well as in a line of dialogue when he’s meeting with the leaders of the Outsiders. It’s great to see Lemire bringing back this aspect of his character, even if it is only for one issue. Even though he redefined the character in his 17 issue run, it’s obvious in this issue that he could have easily taken the character back to his pre-New 52 status quo.
Of course, there are differences, most importantly that there are two Green Arrows in this issue. Those who have followed the run who haven’t yet read this issue will likely be able to surmise who the second Green Arrow is, and yes, she’s great in the role. She, of course, being Emiko, Green Arrow’s younger half sister. Even more surprising than her having taken on the hood is that she’s running around with Naomi, who has also taken on a crime fighting identity as Dart, solidifying the end of her character arc in the main book. As with every other issue he’s written, Lemire makes the characters completely dynamic and engaging.
Really, this issue could have been the perfect send off for Lemire and Sorrentino. It checks up with all of the characters from their run (though Fyff is surprisingly absent), and ties up some loose plot threads. As I mentioned earlier, even the Outsiders return, along with Shado. That being said, the fact that this is pretty much a direct tie-in to the Future’s End weekly series hurts the issue immensely, especially if you aren’t reading it. The whole plot is concerned with Oliver going after Cadmus, who apparently is holding Earth 2’s heroes captive. As someone who isn’t reading the main book, it’s hard to follow. It seems like an interesting plot, and those reading Future’s End will likely have more appreciation for this issue than those who aren’t.
However, that flaw is easily overlooked, especially for those looking for more of Lemire and Sorrentino writing and drawing Green Arrow. Really, this issue is a bittersweet send off for the two, and kind of hard to read because of how great it would be to see them take the characters on the voyages that would have led them to where they are in this one shot. But if you can get over that, Green Arrow Future’s End #1 is really a stellar issue of the series.
