Showcase Presents Green Arrow

[prince hal]

There's been talk about some of the other books in this series. Anyone read this one? I was a fan of GA as a kid, probably because I loved Robin Hood to begin with, so I was looking forward to this collection.

I'm in the middle of it now, and have to mention a couple of points. Yes, the stories are often ridiculous even by DC Silver Age standards, and yes, the plots can be repetitive when you're reading a few stories at a sitting, and yes, the lack of characterization and a recurring villain or two is annoying, but...

the artwork by Lee Elias is unbelievably good. Man, does the black and white reproduction do his work justice. I liked him to begin with, but looks like Caniff here: great use of blacks, beautiful line work, and despite the six-panel layouts on virtually every page, superb draftsmanship: there's a lot going on in many panels, but it's always clear and easy to follow.

By contrast, I don't like the Kirby stories in b and w as much as in color. They were reprinted a short time ago in a special issue and looked great.

A ouple of odd observations: from issue to issue, the residence(s) of Oliver Queen change shape and location; although a backup feature, GA featured appearances by Superman and Aquaman, and a mention of Batman, who wrote a congratulations letter to GA for capturing the Red Dart gang (!). Virtually no costumed villains - the Red Dart and Clock King are the only ones I've seen thus far. (I'm jumping around.) On the other hand, many criminal scientist types: Volar, Mr. Miniature, Dr. Davis, the Wizard (who resembles Wally Wood), etc.

Anyway, it's been nothing but fun, and the Elias artwork is an unexpected bonus!

[Captain Jim]

This is on my "to buy" list when I have a short week. Looking forward to it; I used to have a lot of these stories.

Question: Does anybody know why DC started this reprint at the point they did? I know the Superman Showcase was started at the point they figured the "silver age" began. Is the same true here? And if so, what are the criteria? Was Kirby's brief stint the reason for starting here? Did Elias do any earlier issues? Any ideas?

[prince hal]

Wondered the same, especially since the book has a big 1 on the binding, implying more GAs will be issued. I'll have to check the GCD to see if there's some perceptible dividing line. Maybe it's the Elias and Kirby art?

Just checked GCD quickly. In ADVENTURE at least, it seems it was George Papp drawing GA throughout the 50s; the change to Kirby and then to Elias was a step up in sophistication in the art. (No disrespect intended to the always easy-to-follow Papp, whom I always thought was the perfect SUPERBOY artist.)

[Agentum]

The storys are not good but the art is nice in B&W.
GA as an Batman clone is not my cup of tea and i can understand why he didn't get his own book until the 80s.
I hope for a number 2 maybe with Adams reformed version.

I guess they chose to start the reprints here because the Showcase line is mostly for silverage comics, they have Archives and such for Golden Age.

[The Wayner]

This has to be the first (okay, second - can't get into TT, either) Showcase volume which hasn't interested me. Wasn't until the later team-ups with GL that I could truly start diggin' on GA...

[noodleboy]

The best thing about this one is the 6 page stories. Just about the right length for a quick story here or there. Sure the stories are very dated and usually real similar, but in moderation it's not too bad. That's the beauty of the Showcase books for me, I usually read a story at a time and then move on to something else.

[Agentum]

I agree, small doses is the best way to read this.

[roach04]

Stupidly, I haven't bought this yet. But, reading the Kirby GA stories, I imagine I'll agree with a few of the sentiments echoed here; GA only became a unique character when O'Neil/Adams took over, a character that went even further under Mike Grell. Prior to that...well, he had an Arrow-cave and Arrowjet...LOL.

[Agentum]

Well Neal Adams gave him his new look in the 60s sometimes (before the good O'neil run) and he lost his fortune etc, that is were it really began imho.

[roach04]

Well Neal Adams gave him his new look in the 60s sometimes (before the good O'neil run) and he lost his fortune etc, that is were it really began imho.

Yep - in Brave & The Bold!

[Lone Ranger]

Anyway, it's been nothing but fun, and the Elias artwork is an unexpected bonus!

Great review PH.

I am a big fan of Lee Elias too (I believe he was one of the first Underappreciated Artists back on the pre-meltdown board). I have read many of these stories as back-ups here and there and I have that Jack Kirby collection.

Sure, the Neal Adams version was pretty frickin' cool. Sure, it's easy to poke fun at the Silver Age Green Arrow and his Arrowcave, Arrowcar and Arrow-Mite. All of that kind of misses the point, though. Silver Age stories are fun because they are Silver Age stories. Sometimes you just want to sit down and read a quick 6-page story about thugs at the county fair or some crazy submarine used in bank robberies.

These stories are fun and inventive - they have fine tuned the best elements of Golden Age storytelling.

These stories are what they are - and if people buy this expecting Longbow Hunters, they will be in for a real surprise.

That being said, I am in no real rush to pick this one up - I have a real backlog of reading materials. I'll get it one day - should be fun to read with my son when he's a bit older.

[Slam_Bradley]

The storys are not good but the art is nice in B&W.



I'd say that it depends on what you want them for. If you're looking for a quick plot-driven story then they are the ticket. I haven't picked this one up yet, but I have the earlier Kirby collection. It is my 10 year old sons favorite comic. Nope...they aren't Watchmen. But maybe that's a good thing.

[roach04]

Sure, it's easy to poke fun at the Silver Age Green Arrow and his Arrowcave, Arrowcar and Arrow-Mite. All of that kind of misses the point, though. Silver Age stories are fun because they are Silver Age stories.

I wasn't poking fun or missing the point! IMO the Silver Age GA isn't as entertaining as the Silver Age Batman. The 1970s GA (thinking about the Action back-ups by Maggin) was a really fun hero without the same number of obvious Batman derivatives to his character, and reading those stories (before I'd read the Adams ones) gave me my first appreciation of the character.

When he used to fly using the jet arrow? That's gold man!

[Lone Ranger]

I wasn't poking fun or missing the point! IMO the Silver Age GA isn't as entertaining as the Silver Age Batman.

Fair enough. I wasn't trying to single out your post. Sorry if I came across too harshly. I was just trying to make a general statement about criticisms of DC Silver Age stories.

[Slam_Bradley]

That being said, I am in no real rush to pick this one up - I have a real backlog of reading materials. I'll get it one day - should be fun to read with my son when he's a bit older.

I have every confidence that Logan will love them. I know that Nathan does. Too the extent that he went as Green Arrow for Halloween a couple years back. I'm getting those photos put on disk...I'll post them as soon as they're done.

[roach04]

Fair enough. I wasn't trying to single out your post. Sorry if I came across too harshly. I was just trying to make a general statement about criticisms of DC Silver Age stories.

No worries guy - I just wanted to make sure I didn't come across as a man who makes fun of comics!

The other thing with Silver Age GA - he had nobody to switch identities with. The World's Finest or other Batman/Superman team-ups - any time the key plot device was:

Superman: "Oh, the Krytonite didn't work because that wasn't me! It was Batman disguised as me!"

Batman: "Well, the bullet didn't kill me because it wasn't me! It was Superman disguised as me!"

Was just awesome. Even re-reading those types of stories now, you get a big smile at those types of reveals. That's what makes comics fun! (And, the WORST post-Crisis change was that Batman and Superman were no longer friends. I really, really hope this new Infinite Crisis restores that.)

[The Wayner]

I have every confidence that Logan will love them. I know that Nathan does. Too the extent that he went as Green Arrow for Halloween a couple years back. I'm getting those photos put on disk...I'll post them as soon as they're done.

Ha! That'd be cool to see, man! :D

[Agentum]

The other thing with Silver Age GA - he had nobody to switch identities with.


No he drowe his sidekick Speedy to be a JUNKIE!!!
Just because he didn't have anyone to switch identitys with but Black Canary.

[The Wayner]

I wonder if Dinah ever wanted to see Ollie wearing her fishnets? With such a sex-fiend as himself, I doubt he'd say no. Hmm. :rolleyes:

[Jolly Mon]

I wonder if Dinah ever wanted to see Ollie wearing her fishnets? With such a sex-fiend as himself, I doubt he'd say no. Hmm. :rolleyes:

That was one image I really didn't need to get stuck in my head....

[Captain Jim]

Just checked GCD quickly. In ADVENTURE at least, it seems it was George Papp drawing GA throughout the 50s; the change to Kirby and then to Elias was a step up in sophistication in the art. (No disrespect intended to the always easy-to-follow Papp, whom I always thought was the perfect SUPERBOY artist.)

Yeah, after posting that I went to the Mile High website and decided pretty much the same thing. Couldn't find any info on who was drawing the WF stories, though. I presume they just printed the WF stories that fit into the same timeline as the Adventure stories?

Speaking of Superboy...I'd love to see a Superboy Showcase reprinting stories from SB & Adventure. :)

[Captain Jim]

Wasn't until the later team-ups with GL that I could truly start diggin' on GA...

IIRC, those immediately followed the material in this volume, as this volume ends with the first Adams Green Arrow from Brave & the Bold. I believe the GL team-ups came right after that.

[prince hal]

IIRC, those immediately followed the material in this volume, as this volume ends with the first Adams Green Arrow from Brave & the Bold. I believe the GL team-ups came right after that.


Pretty soon after. Those plus the backups in THE FLASH and other B&B teamups would be in a second volume that seems implied by that "1" on the spine.

[prince hal]

Yeah, after posting that I went to the Mile High website and decided pretty much the same thing. Couldn't find any info on who was drawing the WF stories, though. I presume they just printed the WF stories that fit into the same timeline as the Adventure stories?

Speaking of Superboy...I'd love to see a Superboy Showcase reprinting stories from SB & Adventure. :)

It was Elias over in WF, too.

And I second the motion for a Superboy edition!