GRAPHIC NOVEL
Green Arrow
Quiver

Author: Kevin Smith
Artist: Phil Hester
Titan Books
RRP: £14.99
ISBN 1 84023 509 8
Available now


Oliver Queen's mysterious disappearance in the DC Universe had fans constantly guessing about how Queen survived death aboard an exploding aeroplane. What really happened on that fateful day? Now we get the chance to uncover the truth as Green Arrow sets out on his quest to track down the media-dubbed "Star City Slayer"...

Quiver sees Oliver Queen reappear years after he was thought to have died a heroes death. Suffering a serious bout of amnesia, he still believes he has just returned from the mission that seemed to have cost him his life.

I have to admit I was never a huge fan of Green Arrow. I always thought he was a bit of a pompous queen in a Robin Hood costume desperate to be Batman - if you can follow that reasoning. Quiver, on the other hand leaps on the Green Arrow universe and rips it to shreds.

Kevin Smith asks some interesting questions in this collection - questions fans have been asking for years. Like, why does Queen believe that no one suspects he is the Green Arrow when he has the most ridiculous facial hair that sort of gives it away? And why do vigilantes seem to recruit young teenage boys as sidekicks?

As with Smith's movies, there is an obsession with homosexuality, God being a woman and crisis of faith. But don't let that put you off. If, like me, you are a huge fan of his movies, then you will appreciate the same subtleties throughout Quiver.

This collection is a joy to read from beginning to end - even if you work out who the surprise villain is going to be by the time you get half way through the book. It was also interesting to read that Smith had actually done a little research by having a go at playing with a bow and arrow.

A must for anyone who enjoys great story telling - Quiver is the Green Arrow equivalent of The Dark Knight Returns.

Darren Rea

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