I had a legendary comic-con once upon a time. Going through the dollar bins, I had come across another issue of Grell's prestige mature reader's format 'The Longbow Hunters.' Well, this the second time I've seen an issue for this...but they were in different booths/auctions. Backchecking between the two, I found out they were issues 1 and 3. Well, hell...I buy them from both retailers, and then I start thinking..."The hunt is on!" Another hour or two later, from yet a third vendor, looking through Green Arrow back issues, I find only one issue of TLB...and it's issue 2~I did it! Found them all!
Well, I read them then, and man, what a great treat! For these 3 issues, in 1987, Grell got to re-vitalize Oliver Queen for yet another time in the character's long history. The pages were formatted in whatever style of storytelling he chose. He broke panes and borders, did multi-page shots, visuals that weren't framed, watercolors, charcoal pencil on rough grey boards, colored charcoal prints. Amazing expansion of art for the time!
That, and the 'graphic novel' was truly graphic back then. Ollie and Dinah had loving, open panels of sex (but, carefully shown in shadowed blacks.) There was rage and fury at killings and murders, with swearing that occurred in place due to the tragedy witnessed. There was killing...by the titular hero. A killing that hung heavy and weighed down the soul and heart of the hero. Done in anger, done in fury, done in the heat of the moment...but one that echoed!
So, I loved this little book, and what I found on Amazon in the last few months was that Grell's work was being reprinted in trades-I snapped up the first 2 trades, with trade 3 to come in April or May or August. Some time this next year.
The art? Holds up. Ed Hannigan with Dick Giordano on inks has a beautiful, full, well rendered look. It's not as immediately memorable as Jim Aparo art (where I seem to remember Giordano mostly from), but I'd say that Hannigan actually had a better overall visual acuity to his work.
I've only caught up on the first trade of Grell's work from 1988, 'Hunters Moon.' The stories are 2 parters-done well! The world outside is a large place of aliens, Justice leagues, villains beyond thought, but in Ollie's stake, there are still bad men & women, and innocent citizens who need to be looked after. There are plenty of minor characters who grow quickly over the framework of the first 6 issues. The police liason. The worker in Dinah's floral shop. A therapist with links to a terrible crime in the past. Everyone has an amazing voice to be heard-singular to themselves, but just as important as the Emerald Archer. Their lives, their wants matter.
Reading this, I think to current titles-which I love. But the same gripes still seem to keep occurring. Where are the life moments of our heroes occurring? Where is Clark Kent with his journalist peers? Where is Peter Parker with his old friends having a drink; sharing a moment? Where are our heroes enjoying the fruits of their labors? I believe there is still time for these moments, and I want them back.
Yet, going back to this, 'Arrow' has helped me come more and more into the Green Arrow fold. I've had more than a few runs of GA comics. I had the Longbow Hunter, read of some of the Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams hard traveling heroes, Kevin Smith's return of the character, Brad Meltzer's Arrow Quest, the strength of Ollie in Identity Crisis, Cry for Justice, the pivotal arcs under Lemire & Sorrentino...
I guess I'm a Green Arrow fan. Gimme more!