Another String to Ollie’s Bow: Diggle talks "Green Arrow: Year One"

[andy khouri]

Writer Andy Diggle talks at length with CBR News about his retelling of the Emerald Archer's origin in the upcoming “Green Arrow: Year One” and why he thinks modern-day updates of super hero origins are essential.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10178

[JimmyDee]

Well, this sounds excellent. Diggle's passion for the character is evident and he and Jock did great stuff on "The Losers" together. While this is a year one story, how does this tie in with previous continuity though? Does it ignore it? Build upon it? I'm sure we'll learn more once it's solicited.

Great interview, though. Some really interesting things touched on here. I liked his explanation about why YEAR ONE type stories are necessary, it makes sense, but sadly so many of them have been really, really bad.

[DWEarhart]

All over this. It's been difficult to get back into Ollie. I was actually enjoying the previous Green Arrow series, with Connor under the mantle.

I am a big mark for Jock and usually Diggle. I really enjoyed the Loser and I can't miss them working together again.

[glennsim]

Well, this sounds excellent. Diggle's passion for the character is evident and he and Jock did great stuff on "The Losers" together. While this is a year one story, how does this tie in with previous continuity though? Does it ignore it? Build upon it? I'm sure we'll learn more once it's solicited.

I just hope it ties in (or doesn't contradict) the stories he's had since Infinite Crisis, since everything before that is rather up for grabs.

He doesn't have to be consistent with 60 years of continuity - just the last year or so.

[phantom1592]

I hope its kind of like the Year one Annual they did back in the day. That was one of my favorite Y1 annuals along with Spectre.

Now is the PERFECT time for Year Ones. We just had a whole continuity altering event go on, and I want to see all the new origins. Just like the first Crisis, I want to see Emerald dawns, Man of steels.. ALL of them :)

I hope they keep the Spirit of "early" ollie intact. Even the last Y1 screwed some of it up. Its easy to forget that the Green Arrow we have NOW is NOT the one that started. Case in point...

1) Early ollie did not use Sharp Arrows for hurting... He was all about Trick Arrows.

2) He was not overly socially conscious. He did it for the swashbuckling Kicks and of course the ladies.

I have NO problem if they want to completly retcon the Green t-shirt costume out and put his classic one as the starting costume, but if they have him START as the liberal humanitarian with the sharp sticks.... then it negates all the growth he had.

That would disappoint me.

[hondobrode]

Ollie is a great character and obviously a synthesis of his original swashbuckling Robin Hood roots and the hippie / extreme liberal activist of the late 60's & early 70's.

I like what Judd has done with him, but am really looking forward to this. Diggle and Jock were great on Losers.

Diggle adding the opium farmer bit on the island is awesome ! We haven't seen that before.

I read where Green Arrow will be relaunched after he marries Black Canary as a book with both of them in it. I think Green Arrow & Black Canary could be a great married superhero book esp if Dinah occasionally doesn't agree with Ollie on some issues.

That could be great. This year one really sounds great and that image was wonderful. I'd like to see more of a mix of a limited selection of trick arrows and some real Punisher-style out for blood arrows Ollie uses depending upon the situation.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I got no problem with seeing another version of Ollie's origin done in a more First Blood-style. If it tweaks or messes with Ollie's ever-malleable history, so be it. And I don't think Ollie must be only into trick arrows at the start. On that island, it was all about the pure skill of archery, not the gadgets.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

If it can make us forget Judd Winick's pathetic Green Arrow I'm all for it.

[Mart]

Quote from Andy D: "It just has everything going for it: “The Losers” team reuniting for an action book with a fan-favorite DCU character."

Who does he like second best?

[BWilly]

I'm a HUGE Ollie fan, but not a fan of Winick writing Ollie, so I will most likely be picking this 6 issue mini up.

[DavidAllred]

I am so excited and fearful all at the same time. I've collected all things Ollie for 25 years now. I dropped the title during OYL because I'd had enough Judd. Making sex quips in a microphone during his first public address as Mayor -- while Star City still smoldered -- was not the Oliver Queen I know and love. I refused to read it and took a year-long break from a life-long obsession.

I am excited to read Diggle's comments. I agree that he seems to know and love this character. I am fine with a little retcon on origin. Oliver Queen has been void of passion and emotion, painted over with locker room humor, colored with testerone jock talk, and absolutely 100% dismantled by poor writing over the past 4 years or better.

Examples:

Oliver Queen would never support mind-wiping Batman. Never. He's all about freedom, choice, and personal responsibility.

Oliver Queen would have talked it over with Batman. He wouldn't keep hiding it years later. Or apologize to Bats only when Bruce is out of earshot. Oliver tells the truth, even when it hurts everyone around him.

Oliver Queen would not abandon his son. He would not meet his son years later and tell a bold face lie.

Oliver Queen would not cheat on Dinah immediately after getting a chance to patch things up again.

Oliver Queen would not need a lecture from Mia about the Aids crisis. He would not need an education about the facts of HIV, nor would he need to have his misunderstandings corrected by a teenage girl.

Oliver Queen would never let his city become the hell that Winick turned it into while sitting on billions of dollars of his own money. Oliver would spend every last dime of his own money improving his city and championing the poor. It seems that DC and Judd Winick forgot why Oliver ever even wanted to be Mayor of Star City.

Green Arrow deserves another chance. Yeah, he's a social lib. He has strong opinions, but he's man enough to admit he's wrong sometimes. I'm tired of a skin deep Ollie. I hope Diggle breathes new life in the character.